Daily Reflection for Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Tuesday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/071922.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Micah 7:14-15, 18-20
Responsorial: Psalm 85:2-8
Gospel: Matthew 12:46-50
Our reflection on Tuesday’s readings:
For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother. Matthew 12:50
Wonder is the word and reality that pervaded my mind this past week. I’m in awe and wonder at the images provided by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. How wondrous to glimpse the 13 billion-years-ago origins of our universe and the vastness of innumerable other galaxies in our ever-expanding cosmos. I can only bow in homage and love to the artistry of our awesome God who created our infinite universe, yet finds time to love and attend to each of us.
The other invitation to wonder came from Shelly Francis’ insights offered in Franciscan Fr. Richard Rohr's weekly message. Similar to encountering the space images, her words invite me to humility about the limitations of my understanding and opinions.
In today’s gospel, Jesus defied His culture’s expectations and exponentially expanded His family, something like the mind-bending images from the James Webb telescope. The message is that being a brother or sister to Jesus means being a brother or sister to each other. We are family with all of God’s people not by blood but in the Spirit. Like a blood family, we may not always agree, but we’re called to remain open to each other.
Shelly Francis’ guidelines invite us to expand our mental horizons as we attempt to stay in conversation with brothers and sisters of diverse backgrounds and beliefs. Rather than reacting defensively or judgmentally, can I mull on a few questions:
- I wonder what brought him/her to that belief?
- I wonder what he/she is feeling right now?
- I wonder what my reaction teaches me about myself?
May God open our minds to see as God sees and to love each other as God love us.
Wishing you God’s blessings,
Jean Galanti