Scripture Scribbles: July 2, 2023
the Gospel
Matthew 10:37-42
Jesus said to his apostles:
"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
"Whoever receives you receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet's reward,
and whoever receives a righteous man
because he is a righteous man
will receive a righteous man's reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water
to one of these little ones to drink
because the little one is a disciple—
amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward."
the devotion
The moon was high above the tallest palm in the Florida sky. Warm humid air wrapped around me as I stepped out of the adoration chapel that evening. I had just poured my heart out to the Lord in the tiny little beachside chapel. On all sides, friends and loved ones are suffering. And my heart aches, too. Brokenness abounds, doesn’t it?
In prayer, he asked me three questions:
Do you believe I can heal you/this person you love/change this situation?
Yes. I have come to believe you are the Lord.
Do you believe I know and love you/this person and am working for your good?
Yes, Lord. I have come to know your love and goodness.
Will you trust me?
This is the heart of it. Will I trust him?
“Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”
Before my conversion, I did not know God’s heart. Jesus’ words in our Gospel today would have felt so harsh to me then. But as I come to know him more and more, I see that in loving God and trusting God above all, I am freed from the tyranny of the circumstances of my life. Because I know his mercy, I am freed from the need to see justice done to those who hurt me or those I love. Because I know his power, I am freed from the need to control everything. Because I know his goodness, I am freed from the need to understand why something is happening.
Like the woman of influence in Shunem from the first reading, I can live my ascent to God’s will in all of the small and hidden opportunities of my life. I can lay my desires, plans, and whole life down while trusting in the faithfulness of God. Even as her heart was aching for a child, it remained open to doing God’s will and seeing God’s goodness and care through the presence of the prophet Elisha.
Will you trust me?
Yes, Lord. I have come to know your faithfulness.
The promises of the LORD I will sing forever,
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever;"
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
- Responsorial Psalm 89:2-3
Today’s devotion is written by Lucia Parker DeMarco
