
|
|
|
My Prayer Box the
Newsletter of My Catholic Tradition
To subscribe to the newsletter, please follow this
link. |
|
|
|
A Time for Reflection
| |
The Dead Church
A new Pastor in a small Oklahoma town spent the first four
days making personal visits to each of the members,
inviting them to come to his first services.
The following Sunday the
church was all but empty. Accordingly, the Pastor placed a
notice in the local newspapers, stating that, because the
church was dead, it was everyone's duty to give it a
decent Christian burial. The funeral would be held the
following Sunday afternoon, the notice said.
Morbidly curious, a large crowd turned out for the
"funeral." In front of the pulpit, they saw a closed
coffin, smothered in flowers. After the Pastor delivered
the eulogy, he opened the coffin and invited his
congregation to come forward and pay their final respects
to their dead church.
Filled with curiosity as to what would represent the
corpse of a "dead church," all the people eagerly lined up
to look in the coffin. Each "mourner" peeped into the
coffin then quickly turned away with a guilty, sheepish
look.
In the coffin, tilted at the correct angle, was a large
mirror. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gideon
The Sixth and Reluctant Judge, the Book of Judges |
| |
Introduction |
| |
|
|
|
 |
The Book of
Judges derives its title from the twelve heroes
of Israel whose deeds it records.
They were not
magistrates, but military leaders sent by God to
aid and to relieve his people in time of
external danger. They exercised their activities
in the interval of time between the death of
Joshua and the institution of the monarchy in
Israel.
Gideon is
the sixth of the judges and is one of the Major
Judges, along with Othniel, Ehud, Barak,
Jephthah and Samson.
Just as
Moses argued with the LORD over his being
chosen, Gideon was quite unsure of how he could
deliver Israel from their oppressors. |
|
|
The Call of
Gideon |
|
Again the
Israelites offend the LORD, who then delivers
them into the power of Midian holding them
subject for seven years. For fear of Midian the
Israelites establish the fire signals on the
mountains, the caves for refuge, and the
strongholds.
After the
Israelites complete their sowing, as
they’ve done before, Midian, Amalek and the
Kedemites encamp opposite them. They are intent
on destroying the produce of the land as far as
the outskirts of Gaza, leaving no sustenance in
Israel. There so many of them that
when they come into the land they lay it waste.
Being reduced
to misery by Midian the Israelites cry out to
the LORD, who then sends a prophet who says to
the Israelites that these are happening because
the LORD has told the Israelites repeatedly not
to venerate the gods of the Amorites in whose
land they are dwelling but they would not
listen. |
|
|
|
Then the angel
of the LORD comes and appears to Gideon, son
of Joash the Abiezrite. The LORD tells
Gideon that He will send him to save Israel
from the power of Midian. But Gideon answers
that how can he save Israel if his family is
the meanest in Manasseh, and he is the most
insignificant in his father's house. The
LORD tells Gideon that He shall be with him.
Gideon asks
the LORD not leave until he comes back with
his offering before him. The LORD answers
that he will await his return. So Gideon
goes and prepares a kid and unleavened
cakes. He puts the meat in a basket and the
broth in a pot, then presents them to the
LORD. |
 |
|
|
|
|
The angel of God
tells Gideon to lay the meat and unleavened cakes
on the rock; then pour out the
broth. When he had done so, the angel of the
LORD touches the meat and unleavened cakes with
the tip of the staff he is holding. Thereupon a
fire comes up from the rock which consumes the
meat and unleavened cakes, and the angel of the
LORD disappears from sight. |
|
|
|
Gideon
destroys the Altar to Baal |
|
Gideon, now afraid
for having seen the angel of the LORD face to
face, is assured by the LORD that he shall not
die. Gideon builds there an altar to the LORD
and calls it Yahweh-shalom.
That same night
the LORD tells Gideon to destroy his father's altar to
Baal and cut down the sacred pole that is by it.
The LORD tells Gideon to build on top of the
stronghold an altar to the LORD, instead. Then
he is told to take the seven-year-old spare bullock and offer
it as a holocaust on the wood from the sacred
pole he has cut down. And Gideon does as the
LORD commanded.
Early the next
morning the townspeople find that the altar of
Baal had been destroyed. Later they learn that
Gideon, son of Joash, had done it.
So the
townspeople say to Joash to bring out his son
that he may die. But Joash replies to all who were
standing around him, that if he whose altar has
been destroyed is a god, let him act for
himself! So on that day Gideon is called
Jerubbaal, meaning, "Let Baal take action
against him, since he destroyed his altar."
Now, all of Midian,
Amalek and the Kedemites gather and cross over
into the valley of Jezreel, where they encamp.
The spirit of
the LORD envelops Gideon. He blows the horn that
summons Abiezer to follow him. He also sends
messengers throughout Manasseh, through Asher,
Zebulun and Naphtali and these tribes advance to
meet the others. |
|
|
 |
Gideon asks
God for a sign, that if indeed He is going
to save Israel through him the LORD shall
make dew come on the wool alone, while all
the ground is dry.
Early the next
morning he wrings the dew from the fleece,
squeezing out of it a bowlful of water. Yet
the ground is dry.
Still unsure, Gideon again
asks for another sign - to make the ground wet
with dew and the fleece dry. That
night God does so; the fleece alone is dry,
but the ground is wet with dew.
Early the next
morning Gideon encamps by Enharod with all
his soldiers. The camp of Midian is in the
valley north of Gibeath-hammoreh.
|
|
|
|
|
Choosing
Gideon's Army
|
|
The LORD tells
Gideon that he has too many soldiers with
him. With so many men, there would be reason
for Gideon's army to claim the victory as
their own, instead of giving the credit to
the LORD. He tells Gideon to tell the
soldiers who are afraid or fearful to leave.
Twenty-two thousand of the soldiers leave,
but ten thousand remain.
The LORD
tells Gideon that there are still too many
soldiers. So He tells Gideon to lead them
down to the water so the LORD will test
them. At the water the LORD tells Gideon to
separate those who drink from the water like
a dog from those who drink water raised to
their mouths by hand. Of them, three
hundred chosen men drink water raised to
their mouths by hand. Gideon let the rest of
the soldiers go. |
 |
|
|
|
 |
That night the
LORD tells Gideon to attack the Midian camp.
After spying on Midian, Gideon tells them to
arise, for the LORD has delivered the camp
of Midian into their power. He divides the
three hundred men into three companies, and
provides them all with horns and with empty
jars and torches inside the jars. Then he
tells them to watch him and follow his lead,
and do exactly as he does.
Gideon goes to
the edge of the camp, blows his horn, and
breaks the jar he was holding and so do the
three hundred soldiers with him! Then they
hold the torches in their left hands, and in
their right they blow the horns, and cry
out, "A sword for the LORD and Gideon!"
They all
remain standing in place around the camp,
while the whole camp fall to running and
shouting |
|
|
and fleeing.
Throughout the camp the LORD set the sword
of one against another. The army flees. The
Israelites are called to arms from Naphtali,
from Asher, and from all Manasseh, and they
pursue Midian.
Gideon also sends
messengers throughout the mountain region of
Ephraim to seize the water courses against them
as far as Beth-barah, and the Jordan as well.
They capture the
two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, killing
Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeeb at the wine
press of Zeeb. Then they pursue Midian and carry
the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon beyond the
Jordan.
But the
Ephraimites quarreled bitterly with Gideon for
not calling them when he attacked Midian. But
Gideon tells the Ephraimites that the LORD has
delivered the princes of Midian
to them. He also tells them that what he has
done is nothing compared to what they have
accomplished. Thus their anger against him
subsides. |
|
|
|
Gideon reaches
and crosses the Jordan with his three
hundred men exhausted and famished. So
Gideon asks the men of Succoth to give his
followers some loaves of bread. But they
refuse and and indeed, they mock him.
So Gideon
tells them that when the LORD has delivered Zebah
and Zalmunna into his power, he will come
back and grind
their flesh in with the thorns and briers of
the desert.
Then Gideon
goes from there to Penuel and makes the same
request of them, but the men of Penuel
answer him as had the men of Succoth. So to
the men of Penuel, too, he says that when he
returns in triumph, he will demolish their
tower.
Now the two
kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna are in
Karkor with their force of |
 |
|
|
about fifteen
thousand men. Gideon goes up and attacks the
camp. Zebah and Zalmunna flee with Gideon in pursuit.
He takes them captive throwing the
entire army into panic.
Then Gideon returns from battle by the pass of Heres
where he captures a young man of Succoth. Upon being questioned
the young man lists for him the
seventy-seven princes and elders of Succoth.
Then he goes back
to Succoth and captures their princes and
elders. He gathers thorns and
briers of the desert, and grinds the captive men of
Succoth into them. He also demolishes the tower
of Penuel and slays the men of the city.
The Israelites
then asks Gideon to rule over them for he has
rescued them from the power of Midian. But
Gideon answers them that neither he nor his sons
but the LORD must rule over them.
Gideon goes on to
say for each of them to give him a ring from his
booty. And they spread out a cloak into which
everyone throws a ring from his booty. Gideon
receives gold rings weighing seventeen hundred
gold shekels, in addition to the crescents and
pendants, the purple garments worn by the kings
of Midian, and the trappings that were on the
necks of their camels.
Gideon makes an
ephod out of the gold and places it in his city
Ophrah. However, all Israel pays idolatrous
homage to it there, and causes the ruin of
Gideon and his family.
Thus Midian
becomes the subject of the Israelites and the
land is peaceful for forty years, during the
lifetime of Gideon. Then Jerubbaal, son of
Joash, goes back home to stay. Now Gideon has
seventy sons, his direct descendants, for he had
many wives. His concubine who lived in Shechem
also bears him a son, whom he names Abimelech.
At a good old age
Gideon, son of Joash, dies and is buried in the
tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the
Abiezrites. But after Gideon dies, the
Israelites again abandon themselves to the Baals,
making Baal of Berith their god and forgetting
the LORD, their God, who had delivered them from
the power of their enemies all around them. Nor
were they grateful to the family of Jerubbaal
(Gideon) for all the good he had done for
Israel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For further
reading on the heroes of the
Old Testament: |
 |
I & II Samuel: A Commentary (Old Testament Library)
First sentence in
the book: ""THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL contain that
part of the history of Israel which describes
the foundation of the State, running from the
close of the period of the Judges to the
establishment of the united kingdom." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The Sunday Readings |
June 17,
2007: Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
|
First Reading From the
2nd Book of Samuel: |
|
2 Sm 12:7-10, 13 |
| |
Nathan said to
David:
“Thus says the LORD God of Israel:
‘I anointed you king of Israel. I rescued you from
the hand of Saul. I gave you your lord’s house and
your lord’s wives for your own. I gave you the
house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were not
enough, I could count up for you still more.
Why have you
spurned the Lord and done evil in his sight? You
have cut down Uriah the Hittite with the sword;
you took his wife as your own, and him you killed
with the sword of the Ammonites.
Now, therefore,
the sword shall never depart from your house,
because you have despised me and have taken the
wife of Uriah to be your wife.’
Then David said
to Nathan,
“I have sinned against the LORD.”
Nathan answered
David:
“The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin: you
shall not die.” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Responsorial From the Book of Psalms:
|
|
Ps 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11 |
|
R. Lord,
forgive the wrong I have done.
Blessed is the one whose fault is taken
away, whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not
guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I
covered not.
I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
You are my shelter; from distress you will
preserve me;
with glad cries of freedom you will ring me
round.
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just;
exult, all you upright of heart.
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second Reading from
the Letter to the Galatians |
|
Gal 2:16, 19-21 |
| |
|
| |
Brothers and
sisters:
We who know that a person is not justified by
works of the law but through faith in Jesus
Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus that
we may be justified by faith in Christ
and not by works of the law, because by works of
the law no one will be justified.
For through the law
I died to the law, that I might live for God.
I have been
crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I,
but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in
the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who
has loved me and given himself up for me.
I do not nullify the
grace of God; for if justification comes through
the law, then Christ died for nothing. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reading From
the Gospel of Luke:
|
|
Lk 7:36—8:3 or
7:36-50 |
| |
A Pharisee invited
Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the
Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
Now there was a
sinful woman in the city who learned that he was
at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an
alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him
at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet
with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee
who had invited him saw this he said to himself,
“If this man were a prophet, he would know who and
what sort of woman this is who is touching him,
that she is a sinner.”
Jesus said to him in
reply,
“Simon, I have something to say to you.”
“Tell me, teacher, ”
he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain
creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and
the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to
repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of
them will love him more?”
Simon said in reply,
“The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was
forgiven.”
He said to him, “You
have judged rightly.”
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon,
“Do you see this woman? When I entered your house,
you did not give me water for my feet, but she has
bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her
hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not
ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil, but she
anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her
many sins have been forgiven because she has shown
great love. But the one to whom little is
forgiven, loves little.”
He said to her,
“Your sins are forgiven.”
The others at table
said to themselves,
“Who is this who even forgives sins?”
But he said to the
woman,
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Afterward he journeyed from one town and village
to another, preaching and proclaiming the good
news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were
the Twelve and some women who had been cured of
evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called
Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza,
Susanna, and many others who provided for them out
of their resources. |
|
|
|
or |
|
|
|
|
A Pharisee invited
Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the
Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
Now there was a
sinful woman in the city who learned that he was
at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an
alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him
at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet
with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee
who had invited him saw this he said to himself,
“If this man were a prophet, he would know who and
what sort of woman this is who is touching him,
that she is a sinner.”
Jesus said to him in
reply,
“Simon, I have something to say to you.”
“Tell me, teacher, ”
he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain
creditor; one owed five hundred day’s wages and
the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to
repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of
them will love him more?”
Simon said in reply,
“The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was
forgiven.”
He said to him, “You
have judged rightly.”
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon,
“Do you see this woman? When I entered your house,
you did not give me water for my feet, but she has
bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her
hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not
ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil, but she
anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her
many sins have been forgiven because she has shown
great love. But the one to whom little is
forgiven, loves little.”
He said to her,
“Your sins are forgiven.”
The others at table
said to themselves,
“Who is this who even forgives sins?”
But he said to the
woman,
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
References |
|
|
|
 |
I & II Samuel: A Commentary (Old Testament Library)
First sentence in
the book: ""THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL contain that
part of the history of Israel which describes
the foundation of the State, running from the
close of the period of the Judges to the
establishment of the united kingdom." |
|
|
|
|
Read more about the Liturgical Year |
| |
|
 |
The Origins of the Liturgical Year (Pueblo
Books)
by
Thomas J. Talley (Author) The Rev. Dr.
Thomas J. Talley, Professor of Liturgics
at the General Theological Seminary in New
York, is one of the leading liturgists in
the country. He gives us a fresh
examination of the complex history of the
Liturgical Year. |
| |
|
 |
The Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday, Cycle C. (Bestseller! the Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday)
by
John J. Pilch (Author) Reader
Review: The book by Pilch provides
those who not only fill the pulpits across
this country but also all interested in
the cultural world in which Jesus lived
with a lot of pertinent information that
sheds light on a lot of areas that have
been "muddled" in the past. Yes, I highly
recommend this book. - James Mauldin |
| |
|
|
Learn more and read the Old Testament. |
 |
Preaching from the Old Testament
by Elizabeth Achtemeier (Author) Reader
Review: The author of these
thirty-two short chapters begins and ends
with the assumption that problems we
experience with the Old Testament are our
problem, not the Bible's. This
subordinating of the Bible reader to the
well-weathered book he holds in his hand
opens doors, not to forced harmonisations
of problematic passages, but to fresh
reappraisal of difficult texts on their
own terms. -
David A. Baer |
| |
|
 |
The Navarre Bible: Pentateuch (The Navarre Bible: Old Testament)
This volume helps you make the first five
books of the Old Testament a vital part of
your spiritual reading and practical
growth in the Christian life. It contains
the full English and Latin texts of these
books, along with extensive and faithfully
Catholic commentaries. Like other volumes
in the world-renowned Navarre Bible
series, these commentaries draw on Church
documents, the exegesis of Fathers and
|
|
Doctors of the Church, and the works of contemporary
spiritual writers — particularly St. Josemaría
Escrivá, who initiated the Navarre Bible
project. |
|
|
|
|
b |
|
|
| |
Comments and
Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If
you have any comments or contributions, please
use the form in this link.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Some Hazards at the Beach
| |
Dealing with
Jellyfish
Jellyfish are among the most unpleasant seawater
calamities. Fortunately, most victims make a
complete recovery within days. If you or someone
you know is stung by a jellyfish, get to shore and
contact rescue workers immediately.
If none are present and you are required to
address the wound yourself, pour vinegar on
the wound to disable the nematocysts. If you
do not have vinegar present, use salt water,
but DO NOT use anything else. The slightest
change in PH level could elicit the release of
more venom. Once the nematocysts are disabled,
it is time to |
 |
|
| |
remove them. Before
doing so, make sure you have protective clothing,
as to ensure you are not wounded while attempting
to help. Then, pull the larger portions of the
jellyfish out of the wound. Next, take a sharp
edge and run it along the wound to remove the
smaller, remaining particles. A razor, credit
card, or knife will suffice. Then, get the victim
to medical care as soon as possible. Doctors will
most likely prescribe something to reduce skin
irritation. |
| |
|
| |
Dealing with Sharks
Sharks are the scariest of seawater horrors,
but unjustifiably so. Your chances of being
bitten by a shark are about as good as your
chances of being struck by lightning. Beyond
that, only 1% of shark bites are fatal.
Lastly, by following a few simple precautions,
swimmers and surfers can reduce their chances
almost to zero. To understand how to prevent
against a shark attack, you need to understand
what causes one. In California, there are no
sharks that act as natural predators to
humans. If someone is bitten by a shark, it is
an accident. So, what causes an accident on
the shark's part? Swimming in murky waters,
|
 |
|
| |
swimming near sunset
or sunrise (when sharks feed), swimming while
bleeding, or swimming alone. Sharks are much more
likely to confuse one human for a fish than many
humans as fish. Avoid those situations, and you
should be safe. Sorry, we can't help you with the
lightning. |
| |
|
| |
Understanding Rip Currents
Rip currents are actually a much more real concern
than sharks and jellyfish combined. Drowning is
one of the leading causes of death in children
under the age of 15, and a rip current is a scary
situation in which to find yourself. However, most
people who drown in a rip current do so because
they fight against
it, instead of taking the ride. See, rip
currents are caused by a large influx of water
(in the form of a large set of waves or
increased tide) coming to the shore.
Naturally, the water has to return to the
ocean. Since water seeks the lowest point,
sometimes a rushing underwater torrent of
water will form in a low point on the sea
floor, like an underwater river. If you get
caught in this, it may feel as though you are
being tugged underneath, but, in reality, you
are being towed out to sea. The good news is
|
 |
|
| |
that the current has
to come to an end, eventually.
Your best bet is either to swim parallel to the
beach (like swimming across a river) until you
have cleared the current or to simply take the
ride and let the next set of waves take you back
to shore. Whatever you do, don't fight against it.
You can't swim against a rip current anymore than
you can swim up Niagara Falls. |
| |
|
| |
Dealing with
Stingray A stingray wound
is serious and should receive medical
attention. If a stingray barbs you, you should
see a doctor as soon as possible.
Stingrays have venom on their barb that can
cause a “drastic decrease in blood pressure,
increased pulse, dizziness and possible
shock.” |
 |
|
| |
|
|
The barb may
break off in the wound and it must be removed by a
doctor. The wound will need to be cleaned to avoid
infection. The victim may also need a tetanus
shot.
If a stingray barbs you, get out of the water
and onto the beach and notify emergency services
immediately.
Apply pressure to control the bleeding.
If the wound is not serious but you are in a
lot of pain, soak wound in water as hot as you
can stand for half an hour to an hour.
Alternatively, wrap hot towels around the
wound. Heat helps break down the venom and
relieve the pain.
See a doctor
immediately. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Recipes |
| |
|
| |
|
Crisp Fried
Whitebait |
Ingredients
SERVES FOUR
Ingredients
Oil, for deep-frying
2/3 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 lb whitebait, thawed if frozen
Be very
careful with the hot oil in this recipe! |
 |
|
Click
here for a Printer Friendly Version |
| |
|
|
Roast Chicken with Herb
Cheese, Chili and Lime Stuffing |
Ingredients
SERVES FIVE TO SIX
4 lb chicken
1 lime
1/2 cup cream cheese with herbs and garlic
1 mild fresh red chili, seeded and finely
chopped
Click
here for a Printer Friendly Version |
 |
| |
|
|
Almond Cookies |
|
SERVES FOUR
1 1/4 lb apricots, halved and stoned (pitted)
1/2 cup caster (superfine) sugar
1 cup cream cheese
3 oz gingernut biscuits (gingersnaps), crushed to crumbs
For an even easier version, use 14 oz canned apricots in
juice. Use juice from the can to beat into the cream
cheese.
Click here for a Printer Friendly Version
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Engineering
Terms & What They REALLY Mean Part I |
| |
|
| |
PLEASE NOTE AND
INITIAL |
| |
What this actually means: |
| |
Let's spread the
responsibility for the screw up.
|
| |
GIVE US THE BENEFIT
OF YOUR THINKING |
| |
What this actually means: |
| |
We'll listen to
what you have to say as long as it doesn't
interfere with what we've already done.
|
| |
GIVE US YOUR
INTERPRETATION |
| |
What this actually means: |
| |
I can't wait to
hear this bull!
|
| |
SEE ME or LET'S
DISCUSS |
| |
What this actually means: |
| |
What did you do now!
|
| |
ALL NEW |
| |
What
this actually means: |
| |
Parts not
interchangeable with the previous design.
|
| |
RUGGED |
| |
What
this actually means: |
| |
Too d**n heavy to
lift!
|
| |
LIGHTWEIGHT |
| |
What
this actually means: |
| |
Lighter than
RUGGED.
|
| |
YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT |
| |
What
this actually means: |
| |
One finally
worked.
|
| |
ENERGY SAVING |
| | | | | | | | | | | |