By Fr. Andrew Kelly
12TH SUNDAY ORDINAL TIME – JUNE 23
Amazing things begin to happen when the believing community joins the risen Jesus in solitude and prayer. In the silence Jesus asks the community the question of Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 9:18-24): “But who do you say that I am?”
In solitude and prayer Peter proclaims who Jesus is: “The Messiah (Christ) of God.”
In solitude and prayer Jesus demands silence until the community totally understands that Jesus becomes the Messiah (Christ) of God only through suffering, rejection, death and resurrection.
In solitude and prayer the community slowly becomes the sign of the everyday commitment to follow Jesus’ way of life in every thought, word and deed.
In solitude and prayer the community lives a daily life, just as Jesus did, of total self-surrender and self-emptying for the sake of others.
In solitude and prayer the community realizes the implications of baptism when the community first professed and promised to live Jesus’ words and deeds unreservedly.
In solitude and prayer baptism begins to mean: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Truly amazing things do begin to happen when the believing community joins the risen Jesus in solitude and prayer.
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)
Scripture Readings for June 23-30
Sunday
Zec 12:10-11; 13:1
Gal 3:26-29
Lk 9:18-24
Monday
Is 49:1-6
Acts 13:22-26
Lk 1:57-66, 80
Tuesday
Gn 13:2, 5-18
Mt 7:6, 12-14
Wednesday
Gn 15:1-12, 17-18
Mt 7:15-20
Thursday
Gn 16:1-12, 15-16 or Gn 16:6b-12, 15-16
Mt 7:21-29
Friday
Gn 17:1, 9-10, 15-22
Mt 8:1-4
Saturday
Acts 12:1-11
2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18
Mt 16:13-19
Sunday
1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21
Gal 5:1, 13-18
Lk 9:51-62
