Welcome to Green Reflections, the blog dedicated to reflections on the readings from the Roman Catholic Sunday Lectionary, with particular sensitivity to the needs of the earth. Use this blog to deepen your own awareness of our Creator's desires for the planet and ways that we can appreciate God's goals for the earth,giving it the loving care that it deserves.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

July 3, 2011 – 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Zech 9:9-10 Rom 8:9, 11-13 Mt 11:25-30

The following reflection is part of an on-going dialog between second century catechumen, Respecta, and her teacher, Petras.

“Whew! It sure is growing hot!” Petras commented as they left the catechumen’s meeting together.

“Well, I’m glad to have company on the way home, Petras,” Respecta responded. “I wonder why Matthew’s gospel remarked on Christianity being revealed to the simple? I mean, Paul and Peter sound terribly wise to me in their writings.”

“Yes, you’re right about that, Respecta, but Peter and Paul were not always so wise. Peter was a simple fisherman when he met up with Jesus. Yet after that fateful first Pentecost, he became so wise a leader that others looked to him for leadership. And Paul! He was certainly a lettered man before he met up with Jesus on the road, but he wasn’t wise in God’s eyes. It’s not always easy to remember that he was so stuck on maintaining Mosaic Law that he persecuted the early Church, even to death. Once he met Jesus Christ, Paul’s heart softened and he was ready to see both Christ and others through God’s eyes. He did become one of our greatest teachers.”

“Well, I guess I only know of them through their writing. When I look at our Church today, I am amazed that God is able to do so many wonders of healing and bring peace through such frail instruments as us. Really! Many of us are slaves, and the remainder is made up of simple peasants for the most part. Jesus was right in praising God for revealing the good news to so-called infants.”

“I’m with you on that, Respecta.”

“I especially loved the part of today’s gospel when Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’ My friend suffered terribly through the last year before she died, yet she maintained her trust in Jesus so that even her suffering was made sweet knowing she was carrying her share of the cross.”

“She was a remarkable soul; but so are you! You have been such a faithful friend, always ready to feed her, change her clothes and wash her linens. You’ve been on the cross right alongside your friend.”

“Oh, my, Petras. I didn’t do all that much. Please don’t make me out to be a hero.”

“You are more heroic than you know, Respecta. You took on your friend’s cross and in so doing, took on the yoke of Christ’s loving service. No wonder your friend was able to trust in Jesus’ love, she had only to look at you and know Christ loved her to the end. The fact that you don’t think your companionship was anything great just bears witness to the fact that you already have the gentle and humble heart of Jesus within. I hope that all our community is able to learn the servant love of Christ in the concrete circumstances of their lives.”
“When I think of Jesus’ extraordinary love for us, from the moment that he became a human baby to his horrible suffering on the cross, it becomes easy to love others regardless of the cost, Petras. His gentleness really does give rest to my soul. I know that He is always carrying the heavier burden and just sharing a sliver of my cross with me in return.”

“The reason you feel that way, Respecta, is that Jesus’ Spirit already dwells in you and directs your heart.”

“Well, here we are at my house. Thanks for the walk and talk, Petras. I feel like praising God with the words of Zechariah today: ‘Rejoice greatly, daughter Jerusalem. Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is He!’ Our Lord makes love easier and hope strong. I know that my friend lives in glory with Him, and I hope to join her one day, too. ”

“Amen, Respecta. A double-amen to that!”

Key words

Bible, Scripture, Christian, environment, ecology, lectionary, reflection, homily, sermon, Catholic, green, environmentally friendly, sustainability, the common good, the commons

About Me

The Green Nun earned an MA in theology from the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley and is currently completing a Masters degree in Earth Literacy from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana. This blog spot is being done as an integration project for the MA.

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