JULY 3 Mon St Thomas, Apostle Eph 2:19-22/Jn 20:24-29 

4 Tue Weekday [USA: Independence Day] Gn 19:15-29/Mt 8:23-27 

5 Wed [St Anthony Zaccaria, St Elizabeth of Portugal] Gn 21:5, 8-20a/Mt 8:28-34 

6 Thu Weekday [St Maria Goretti] Gn 22:1b-19/Mt 9:1-8 

7 Fri Weekday Gn 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67/Mt 9:9-13

8 Sat Weekday[BVM] Gn 27:1-5, 15-29/Mt 9:14-17 

9 14th SUNDAY Zec 9:9-10/Rom 8:9, 11-13/Mt 11:25-30

We’re celebrating July 4th in the USA this week, our Independence Day. Parades, fireworks, speeches, hot dogs. What else? How about the meaning of it all?

There are special readings suggested by the church, but I wonder if there are plenty of suggestions in the readings we have this week from the Old and New Testaments.Our first readings this week about Abraham and Lot speak of the separation of peoples, nations. There are stories of hospitality that speak of the benefit newcomers bring to a nation. There are readings–Hagar and Sarah– that speak of the injustices brought about by slavery. The Old Testament readings offer the story of an imperfect world that God still loves and guides to the Kingdom to come. The feast of St. Thomas the Apostle is a story of doubt and cynicism. Plenty of that around these days.

In Matthew’s gospel Jesus teaches in chapters  5-7; he heals and works wonders in chapters 8-9, which we’re reading this week. He not only heals a leper (Mt 8: 1-4), a paralyzed man (Mt 8:5-16) and others, but he calms the sea (Mt 8: 23-27)and has power over the animal world. (Mt 8: 27-34) He also calls others– Matthew the tax collector– to share in his  mission. (Mt 9:23-27)

We need his teaching and healing today. Plenty to pray for.