WHITE HOUSE JESUIT RETREAT

St. Louis, MO 63129

1-800-643-1003

Jesuit retreat center high on the bluffs of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, MO.  Since 1922, thousands of people from around the world make annual three-day silent, guided retreats here to relax, reconnect with God and strengthen their spirituality.  A true gem in the Midwest!  Call 314-416-6400 or 1-800-643-1003.  Email reservations@whretreat.org  7400 Christopher Rd.  St. Louis, MO 63129

Both men's and women's retreats are offered as well as recovery retreats.

Take Spirituality to the Next Level!

Weekend Reflections for 6/23/17

June 23, 2017  /  Joe Parisi

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 69 - Responsory, "Lord, in your great love, answer me."

The psalm gets overlooked in the Mass readings, even though they are the very prayers that the Lord Jesus used and that from the days of the disciples we have heard the voice of Jesus in the psalms. This one is used in the accounts the Passion as it gives voice to the suffering of an innocent person.

It's a lament, a passionate expression of grief, often suffering and colored with anger. It demands that God do something, now! The psalmist complains of alienation from God and rehearsed a litany of estrangement from family, community and justice. "Save me, God," the speaker demands, "I am weary with crying out; / My throat is parched, / My eyes fail, / From looking for my God." I've had it, do something and do it quick, God.

There are times I feel that distress in an urgent moment and Jesus too could give voice to such an insistent demand for God's action and in a tone more than tinged with anger. Often repeating a verse of a psalm like this one can express those deep emotions that rise up in relationship with God.

Francis X. Ryan, SJ

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE ON RETREAT THIS WEEK AS WELL AS OUR DECEASED RETREATANTS.

PLEASE PRAY FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITY