Jeremiah prophesied a day when the leaders would be wise and just, a day when people would look at their king and proclaim, «The Lord is our justice.” Usually when we hear the term «justice» we think of court cases. We refer to justice as a decision that safeguards the rights of all people. Biblical justice is much deeper than that. Biblical justice describes a way of life that reflects the presence of God. Biblical justice is based on faith in God resulting in a particular way of acting. Biblical justice refers to integrity.
Now there’s a word that we do not hear a lot, at least not in the public forum. Integrity. The word integrity means to be whole, complete. A person with integrity is a person of sincerity, a person’s whose actions are a natural reflection of his or her interior. A person with integrity has a firm hold on the truth. He does not create truth. He respects truth. What qualities, then, should we look for in a leader? Today’s readings answer this question: 1) a leader must be capable of uniting the people in truth, as St. Paul tells the Corinthians, and 2) a leader must be both strong and compassionate, as the Lord Jesus was. When we think of leaders, we naturally tend to think about those in the highest echelons of authority: the Holy Father, the leaders of the Church, the president, the leaders of governments throughout the world. But leadership does not stop here. Through the sacrament of marriage, husbands and wives assume the responsibility of leading their spouses and their children to God. Through the sacrament of Holy Orders, deacons, priests and bishops assume the responsibility of leading in word and sacrament. By the grace of the sacrament of confirmation we are all given the responsibility of being leaders in the Church. The leadership we all share in as confirmed Catholics is directly related to the leadership entrusted to the Apostles on Pentecost Sunday. When the Apostles received the Holy Spirit, the Spirit spoke through them and they proclaimed Jesus Christ. This is an area where we all need help. We are all tempted to compromise with a society that has rejected Christ. Or, at least, we are tempted to keep quiet when others are attacking the faith. We need to pray for each other that we be compassionate while never deserting the Truth that is Christ. So, today we pray for all leaders: in the Church, in the world, in our families, among our ordained clergy, and among all the confirmed. We pray that we and all leaders may combine the Christ-like characteristics of being strong and compassionate. We have to be people of integrity. We have to have the courage to demand the truth in our own lives as well as in the lives of all we love. People need leaders to show them the love and the compassion of Christ. They need leaders who have a firm hold on integrity. They need us to be those leaders. We can do this. We must do this. The prophet Jeremiah said, “A day is coming when people will say, ‘The Lord is our justice, our integrity.’» That day is upon us. Jesus is with us. Jesus is yearning to be reflected in our lives. He is calling us to be the people we can be • AE
St. Joseph Catholic Church (Dilley, TX) • Weekend Schedule
Fr. Agustin E. (Parish Administrator)
Saturday July 20, 2024.
5.00 p.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation
6.00 p.m. Santa Misa.
Sunday, July 21, 2024
8.00 a.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation
8.30 a.m. Holy Mass.
10.30 p.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation.
11.00 a.m. Holy Mass.
XVI Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario (Ciclo B)
La escena está cargada de ternura. Llegan los discípulos cansados del trabajo realizado. La actividad es tan intensa que no encuentran tiempo para comer. Y entonces Jesús decide llevarlos a un sitio tranquilo a descansar.
Los cristianos olvidamos hoy con demasiada frecuencia que un grupo de cristianos no es sólo una comunidad de oración, reflexión y trabajo, sino también una comunidad de descanso y alegría, aunque no siempre ha sido así. Las frases que siguen no son de ningún teólogo progresista. Están redactadas allá por el siglo IV, por aquel gran Obispo poco sospechoso de frivolidades que fue Agustín de Hipona: «Un grupo de cristianos es un grupo de personas que rezan juntas, pero también conversan juntas. Ríen en común y se intercambian favores. Están bromeando juntas y juntas están en serio. Están a veces en desacuerdo, pero sin animosidad, como se está a veces con uno mismo, utilizando ese desacuerdo para reforzar siempre el acuerdo habitual. Aprenden algo unos de otros o lo enseñan unos a otros. Echan de menos, con pena, a los ausentes. Acogen con alegría a los que llegan. Hacen manifestaciones de este u otro tipo: chispas del corazón de los que se aman, expresadas en el rostro, en la lengua, en los ojos, en mil gestos de ternura»
Tal vez, lo que más nos sorprende hoy en este texto es que san Agustin mencione a unos cristianos que saben rezar pero saben también reír. Saben estar serios y saben también bromear. Y es que la Iglesia aparece ¡tantas veces! grave y solemne. Pareciera que los cristianos le tenemos miedo a la risa, como si la risa fuera siempre signo de frivolidad y falta de responsabilidad ante los problemas. Quién no recuerda aquella escena de la película «El Nombre de la Rosa». Sin embargo hay un humor y un saber reír que es signo más bien de madurez y sabiduría. Es la risa del creyente que sabe reír porque sabe relativizar lo que es relativo, sin dramatizar sin necesidad los problemas. Es una risa que nace de la confianza última de ese Dios que nos mira a todos con compasióm y ternura. Una risa que distiende, libera y da fuerzas para seguir caminando. Esta risa une. Los que ríen juntos no se atacan ni se hacen daño porque la risa verdaderamente humana nace de un corazón que sabe comprender y amar, de un corazón que se sabe bajo la mirada amorosa de Dios • AE
lEcTUrAS dE vEraNo
LA MEDITACION DE LA ESPOSA 