Title: Meditation: Friday, July 19, 2002

The Catholic Calendar for Friday, July 19, 2002
    Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
    Isaiah 38:1-6,21-22,7-8
    Isaiah 38:10-12,16
    Matthew 12:1-8

A Reflection on today's Holy Scripture . . .

"It is mercy I desire" (Matthew 12:7)

These words kept running through my head. As I pondered them, it came to
me of the many ways that I do not show mercy to my fellow man on a daily
basis. All of us are guilty of giving an abrupt answer to a spouse or a
child, or a fellow worker; sitting in the car waiting for a chance to
inch forward into the traffic; in the supermarket as we lose patience
waiting on the long line; in Church as we struggle to understand a
visiting Priest from a foreign country; and the list goes on in our
daily struggle to follow the example of Christ.

We are now in the Liturgical Season called Ordinary Time and isn't it in
the ordinary things of everyday life that we meet the Lord? Christ is
there in the one that we give the abrupt answer to. He is there as we
sit in traffic (what a great moment to have a little chat with Him!). He
is there as you meet a grouchy cashier or an overworked young mother
trying to deal with cantankerous children. He is so present in the holy
man on the altar who has difficulty with our English language. Our God
is waiting at every turn to see if we are a merciful people. What would
Jesus do in any of the above examples? We all know that answer, and our
call today is to follow His example. The Holy Spirit, who lives in each
of us, awaits our call for help. So, what are we waiting for?

              Come Holy Spirit,
                   fill the hearts of your faithful
                   and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
                   Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,
                   And you shall renew the face of the earth!

- Deacon Bill Powers ([EMAIL PROTECTED])


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