Daily Reflection for Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Wednesday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/082521.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
Responsorial: Psalm 139:7-8, 9-10, 11-12ab
Gospel: Matthew 23:27-32
Our reflection on Wednesday’s readings:
“You have searched me and know me Lord.” The Responsorial Psalm
“Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.” The Alleluia 1 John 2:5
It is not often that I quickly see the connection between the first reading, Gospel, Responsorial Psalm and Alleluia. Today there is a message that threads through all the readings. It is our personal authenticity and the authenticity of our words, as well as recognizing the authenticity of the people and their words that inspire us.
There are many charismatic and inspiring speakers, today and throughout history. It can be difficult to discern who speaks Jesus’ truth and who twists it for their own motives. Many good, Christian people have been fooled by others and even themselves.
God calls us to be authentic Christians. Not perfect. Not without errors and fault. Authentic. Honest with ourselves and others. Humble in our struggle to open our hearts and understand Christ’s teachings. Christ, the authentic son of God, sent to show us the way to the Father. Our true spiritual guide. Stay focused on him and we will not be led astray.
In the 1970’s when Al and I were starting our family, we spent a lot of weekends in Des Moines with his cousin Sandy and her husband Jerry who also had a young family. One Saturday, Jerry’s Oma and Opa invited all of us to their house to enjoy Oma’s freshly baked cookies. It was our first trip to their home. As we chatted in their living room, it was impossible not to stare at the life-size wall mural of Oma and Opa’s young family in Germany. It was created from a portrait taken just before Opa left to fight and protect his family, country, and their way of life. He was proudly wearing his Nazi uniform.
Opa sat in his chair and watched our faces filled with confusion. He waited patiently as we tried to process how this good Catholic, kind, loving, Christian man could have been a Nazi. Finally, Opa said the mural is to remind him and everyone who enters his house, that Jesus Christ - the son of God sent by our Father to show us the way - is the only true leader we trust and follow. No one else.
Stay connected to Christ, my friends, and follow him. Opa learned this in the middle of a war machine he could not stop. From then on, he followed Christ’s teachings moment by moment knowing he could be executed at any time. He prayed he’d live to see his family again and promised to share his message the rest of his days.
Blessings to you,
Ruth Mytty