Closed hearts - prejudiced minds

[Weedy]

Closed hearts - prejudiced minds

The prophet Isaiah had warned that some would hear God's word, but not
believe, some would see God's actions and miracles, and remain
unconvinced. Ironically some of the greatest skeptics of Jesus'
teaching and miracles were the learned scribes and Pharisees who
prided themselves on their knowledge of Scripture, especially on the
law of Moses. They heard Jesus' parables and saw the great signs and
miracles which he performed, but they refused to accept both Jesus and
his message. How could they "hear and never understand" and "see but
never perceive"? They were spiritually blind and deaf because their
hearts were closed and their minds were blocked by pride and
prejudice. How could a man from Galilee, the supposed son of a
carpenter, know more about God and his word, than these experts who
devoted their lives to the study and teaching of the law of Moses?
Scripture: Matthew 13:10-17

<<>><<>><<>>
August 6th – St. Schetzelon, Hermit (AC)
(Also known as Schetzel, Scocelin, Jocelin, Gislain, Ghislain)

Died 1141. Very little is known with certainty about Schetzelon, a
well-known saint in Luxembourg. He was raised in a pious household and
believed that he could grow in holiness only by withdrawing from the
world. He began his fifteen-year life as a hermit in Grünewald Forest
near Trier, Germany, where the locals can still identify the grotto
near a fountain named after him.

Escaping distractions is not always easy, even for a hermit. One day
snow fell overnight covering Schetzelon entirely—except for his face.
A freezing hare found that warm spot and settled comfortably on the
hermit's face. Schetzelon later reproached himself for allowing this
incident to distract him from his prayers.

He foraged for food when it was available and begged for it at the
local farmhouses during winter. The farmers came to know him and left
pieces of stale bread for the hermit, knowing that he would have
refused anything that was fresh. Out of respect for the life he had
chosen, they never tried to speak to him, nor to see him. It is said
that he would approach houses at night because he had no clothes
except a monk's cincture. Saint Bernard once brought him a tunic and
pair of shoes, which Schetzelon tried on to please the monk, but he
soon discarded them saying that he did not need them.

When he died, a chapel was built in his honor which drew pilgrims. The
water at his spring was blessed each year. In 1150, his body was
translated to Munster Abbey to make the pilgrimage more convenient.
The abbey was destroyed by Charles V in 1544, and it is believed
Schetzelon's relics were moved to the church of Our Lady at the castle
of Luxembourg. Schetzelon is sometimes confused with another called
Gezelin (Encyclopedia).


Reflection:
St. Joseph Cottolengo recommended daily Mass for everyone, and said
that those who do not go to daily Mass practice bad time management

Bible Quote:
For as the body is one and hath many members; and all the members of
the body, whereas they are many, yet are one body: So also is Christ.
For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or
Gentiles, whether bond or free: and in one Spirit we have all been
made to drink. [1 Co 12:12-13 ] DRB


<><><><>
Excerpt from commentary on the Transfiguration

Come down, Peter. You were eager to go on resting on the mountain;
come down, preach the word, press on in season, out of season,
censure, exhort, rebuke in all long-suffering and teaching. Toil away,
sweat it out, suffer some tortures, so that by means of the brightness
and beauty of right and good activity, you may come to possess in
charity what is to be understood by the Lord's white garments. We
heard the praises of charity, you see, when the apostle was being
read: It does not seek its own advantage. It does not seek it own
advantage, because it gives away what it possesses.
Peter didn't understand this yet, when he was eager to live with
Christ on the mountain. He was keeping that for you, Peter, after
death. But now he himself says to you, "Go down to labor on earth, to
serve on earth, to be despised, crucified on earth." Life came down,
to be killed; bread came down, to go hungry; the way came down, to
grow weary on a journey; the fountain came down, to experience thirst;
and are you refusing to endure toil? Don't seek your own profit. Have
charity and love, preach the truth; then you will arrive at eternity,
where you will find security.
--Augustine of Hippo