Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 483
Lectionary: 483
Paul and Timothy,
slaves of Christ Jesus,
to all the holy ones in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,
with the bishops and deacons:
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you,
praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you,
because of your partnership for the Gospel
from the first day until now.
I am confident of this,
that the one who began a good work in you
will continue to complete it
until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right that I should think this way about all of you,
because I hold you in my heart,
you who are all partners with me in grace,
both in my imprisonment
and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel.
For God is my witness,
how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer:
that your love may increase ever more and more
in knowledge and every kind of perception,
to discern what is of value,
so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God.
to all the holy ones in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,
with the bishops and deacons:
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you,
praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you,
because of your partnership for the Gospel
from the first day until now.
I am confident of this,
that the one who began a good work in you
will continue to complete it
until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right that I should think this way about all of you,
because I hold you in my heart,
you who are all partners with me in grace,
both in my imprisonment
and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel.
For God is my witness,
how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer:
that your love may increase ever more and more
in knowledge and every kind of perception,
to discern what is of value,
so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God.
Responsorial Psalm PS 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. (2) How great are the works of the Lord!
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
He has made known to his people the power of his works,
giving them the inheritance of the nations.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
He has made known to his people the power of his works,
giving them the inheritance of the nations.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel LK 14:1-6
On a sabbath Jesus
went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.
In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy.
Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking,
“Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?”
But they kept silent; so he took the man and,
after he had healed him, dismissed him.
Then he said to them
“Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern,
would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?”
But they were unable to answer his question.
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.
In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy.
Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking,
“Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?”
But they kept silent; so he took the man and,
after he had healed him, dismissed him.
Then he said to them
“Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern,
would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?”
But they were unable to answer his question.
Meditation: "They were watching Jesus"
How do you approach
the commandment to observe the sabbath as a day of rest to honor the Lord? The
Pharisees were convinced that Jesus was a reckless Sabbath-breaker. The Gospels
record seven incidents in which Jesus healed people on the Sabbath - the
seventh day of the week set apart for rest and the worship of God. You would
think Jesus' miracles on the Sabbath day of rest would draw admiration and
gratitude from all. Unfortunately, each incident seemed to incite increasing
hostility from the religious leaders who held an interpretation that went
beyond God's intention for the Sabbath day of rest. They were certain that
Jesus was a dangerous and irreligious man, a Sabbath-breaker, who must be
stopped at all costs!
Why did the Pharisees
invite Jesus to dinner on the Sabbath, after he had already repeatedly broken
their Sabbath regulations? Luke, a physician and keen observer of the human
condition, notes the disposition of the Pharisees as they bring Jesus into
their table fellowship. Body language often communicates more truthfully than
words. Luke says the scribes and Pharisees were watching Jesus,
no doubt with great suspicion. They wanted to catch Jesus in the act of
breaking the Sabbath ritual so they might accuse him of breaking God's law and
find some way to discredit him. Jesus' attention and affection quickly turned
to a person who had a physical ailment called dropsy. How did such a pitiable
person get into this dinner party? In the hot arid climate of Palestine, homes
were open and people freely dropped in without much fuss or attention. For the
religious minded it was considered uncharitable to exclude beggars. And if a
rabbi came to dinner, it would be expected for him to speak a few words. So,
famous rabbis obviously drew crowds of bystanders wherever they went.
God's work of
love and mercy never rests
Jesus already knew that his hosts wanted to catch him in the act of breaking their Sabbath rituals. So when Jesus gave his defense for healing on the Sabbath, they treated him with cold silence. They were ensnared in their own legalism and could not understand or see the purpose of God in allowing a work of healing to take precedence over rest. Why did God give the commandment to keep holy the Sabbath and enjoined his people to refrain from work on that day? The "Sabbath rest" was meant to be a time to remember and celebrate God's goodness and the goodness of his works, both in creation and redemption. It was a day set apart for the praise of God, his work of creation, and his saving actions on our behalf. It was intended to bring everyday work to a halt and to provide needed rest and refreshment. It was not, however, intended to put a stop to love of God and love of neighbor. The law of love supercedes the law of rest! Jesus shows the fallacy of the Pharisees' legalism by pointing to God's intention for the Sabbath: to do good and to heal.
Jesus already knew that his hosts wanted to catch him in the act of breaking their Sabbath rituals. So when Jesus gave his defense for healing on the Sabbath, they treated him with cold silence. They were ensnared in their own legalism and could not understand or see the purpose of God in allowing a work of healing to take precedence over rest. Why did God give the commandment to keep holy the Sabbath and enjoined his people to refrain from work on that day? The "Sabbath rest" was meant to be a time to remember and celebrate God's goodness and the goodness of his works, both in creation and redemption. It was a day set apart for the praise of God, his work of creation, and his saving actions on our behalf. It was intended to bring everyday work to a halt and to provide needed rest and refreshment. It was not, however, intended to put a stop to love of God and love of neighbor. The law of love supercedes the law of rest! Jesus shows the fallacy of the Pharisees' legalism by pointing to God's intention for the Sabbath: to do good and to heal.
God's word has power
to heal and to set us free from ignorance, error, intolerance, and prejudice.
Do you honor the Lord's Day with appropriate rest and worship
of God, and do you treat your neighbor with love and mercy in all situations?
"Lord Jesus, may
I always honor you, both in my work and in my rest, and in the way I
treat my neighbor. Fill me with your love and keep me free from a critical and
intolerant spirit that I may always seek to please you and to bring good to my
neighbor as well."
 You Are Being Watched |
|
October 31, 2014.
Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
|
|
Luke 14: 1-6
On a sabbath Jesus
went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people
there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering
from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply,
asking, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?" But they kept
silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then
he said to them, "Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern,
would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?" But they were
unable to answer his question.
Introductory
Prayer: Lord, I believe in you
with a faith that never seeks to test you. I trust in you, hoping to learn to
accept and follow your will, even when it does not make sense to the way that
I see things. May my love for you and those around me be similar to the love
you have shown to me.
Petition: Lord, may I be a witness to you in the face of a world
that often does not care.
1. And They
Watched Him: The Lord knows the
thoughts of these men. With his question, he makes public their foolishness:
God blesses on the seventh day, while they prevent good works on that day. It
would seem that a day that does not allow the doing of good works is
accursed. Let us be sure always to seek the will of God in our lives, so that
we might use every minute of every day for the glory of God.
2. They Kept
Silent: The man with dropsy does
not ask to be healed, perhaps out of fear of the watching Pharisees, yet
Christ knows what he desires in his heart. Jesus is not concerned that this
good work might scandalize the Pharisees; he is concerned about doing good.
The Pharisees keep silent because they know that Jesus will give this man
something they don’t have – their hearts have become closed to the man. We
need to desire good for everyone. A sign that our hearts are becoming
hardened to Our Lord, perhaps like the Pharisees, is when we begrudge the
good that befalls others or even wish others harm. When we are mindful that
we are beggars before God, it’s much easier to be merciful with others.
3. Keep Your Eyes
on Christ: In this Gospel
passage, both the Pharisees and the man suffering from dropsy are looking at
Christ. The Pharisees look at Christ with skepticism that will not be
overcome by any miracle; the suffering man looks at Christ with the eyes of
his heart. This man desires something that only Christ can give him, and
Christ will not be outdone in generosity. We don’t know what becomes of this
man. We can only imagine the great testimony he gives to all about Christ and
how he cured him, even under the scrutiny of the Pharisees. As Pope Saint
John Paul II told us so many times, “Do not be afraid!”
Conversation with
Christ: Lord, help me to see with
the eyes of faith all that you do in my life, especially when I don’t
understand why you are doing it. Help me to witness to others all that you
have done for me and my family. May I never take for granted the graces that
you give me.
Resolution: I will say a prayer today for someone I know who has
not opened his heart to Christ because of lack of faith or skepticism.
Through my prayers and example, may I once again try to bring Christ into
that person’s heart.
By Father Patrick
Langan, LC
|
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, LUKE 14:1-6
(Romans 9:1-5; Psalm 147)
(Romans 9:1-5; Psalm 147)
KEY VERSE: "Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath or not?" (v 3)
READING: The most amazing thing about the scribes and Pharisees was their lack of proportion, going to endless trouble to obey their petty rules and regulations while ignoring the true purpose of the law: mercy and justice. When Jesus dined in the home of a leading Pharisee, he observed a man suffering from dropsy (accumulation of fluid in the body), and without hesitation he healed the man. The religious leaders regarded Jesus as a law-breaker since he healed on the Sabbath. They considered healing to be work, a violation of the Sabbath law. Jesus knew perfectly well what the legal experts were thinking, and he quoted their own law and practice to them. If a child or an ox fell into a well, would they not immediately pull it out on a Sabbath? (Open wells were quite common in Palestine, and often the occasion for accidents; see Ex 21:33). But the religious leaders refused to have compassion for this man who was held bound by a disease. These scholars of the law remained silent as they were determined to keep people bound by the law.
REFLECTING: Do I try to respond to people's needs whenever I am aware of them?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to understand the true meaning of the Lord's Day?
HALLOWEEN --"ALL HALLOWS"
The traditions of Halloween that we celebrate in this country were brought here by Irish and Scottish immigrants. The celebration and many of the practices of this night pre-date Christianity. The word "Halloween" comes from the words "All Hallow's Eve," literally, the evening before the "Feast of All Saints." For centuries, the night before November 1st marked the beginning of the pagan Celtic New Year. Hollowed-out gourds with candles inside were made into makeshift lanterns to help light the way of the spirits back to where they came from. The Celtic belief that spirits, both benign and malignant, were in intimate contact with human life became a regular feature of Celtic Christianity. God and Mary and the saints were always a hovering, helping presence in Celtic spirituality.
A woman was asked by her co-worker, "What is it like to be a Christian?" The co-worked replied, "It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in and washes all of the dirt off of you. Then God cuts off the top and scoops out all of the yucky stuff. God removes the seeds of things like doubt, hate and greed. God replaces them with seeds of love, faith, hope and trust. Then God carves you a new smiling face and God's light shines inside of you for all of the world to see.
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) is a Mexican celebration to honor the departed. It is believed that the spirit of the dead visit their families on October 31 and leave on November 2. In order to celebrate, the families make altars and place ofrendas(offerings) of food such as pan de muertos, bread baked in shapes of skulls and figures. Candles, incense, yellow marigolds and, most importantly, a photo of the departed soul is placed on the altar. It might sound somewhat morbid, but the Mexicans react to death with mourning along with happiness and joy. Living alongside death means that Mexicans have learned to accept it within their lives.
Friday 31 October 2014
Day of penance.
Philippians 1:1-11. How great are the works of the Lord!—Ps
110(111):1-6. Luke 14:1-6.
‘Is it
against the law to cure someone on the Sabbath, or not?’
On the face of it, Jesus’
cure on the Sabbath of a man afflicted with dropsy was a breach of the law he
himself had pledged to uphold (Matthew 5:17). However, Jesus knew better than
his critics that there was a higher law than the law to rest,—the law to love
one’s neighbour as oneself (Mark 12:31). As he rightly claimed,
‘The Sabbath was made for
humankind, not humankind for the Sabbath’ (Mark 2:27).
We distort the true face of
the church whenever, in our attempts to follow Jesus’ teaching and example, we
legalistically assign primacy to authority over charity. ‘At the end of our
life we will be judged on love’ (St John of the Cross).
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
Against the Grain
|
Keep your gaze always on our most beloved Jesus, asking him in the
depths of his heart what he desires for you, and never deny him anything even
if it means going strongly against the grain for you. –Blessed Maria Sagrario
of St. Aloysius Gonzaga
October
31
St. Wolfgang of Regensburg
(c. 924-994)
St. Wolfgang of Regensburg
(c. 924-994)
Wolfgang was born in Swabia, Germany, and was educated at a school
located at the abbey of Reichenau. There he encountered Henry, a young noble
who went on to become Archbishop of Trier. Meanwhile, Wolfgang remained in
close contact with the archbishop, teaching in his cathedral school and
supporting his efforts to reform the clergy.
At the
death of the archbishop, Wolfgang chose to become a Benedictine monk and moved
to an abbey in Einsiedeln, now part of Switzerland. Ordained a priest, he was
appointed director of the monastery school there. Later he was sent to Hungary
as a missionary, though his zeal and good will yielded limited results.
Emperor
Otto II appointed him Bishop of Regensburg near Munich. He immediately
initiated reform of the clergy and of religious life, preaching with vigor and
effectiveness and always demonstrating special concern for the poor. He wore
the habit of a monk and lived an austere life.
The draw
to monastic life never left him, including the desire for a life of solitude.
At one point he left his diocese so that he could devote himself to prayer, but
his responsibilities as bishop called him back.
In 994
Wolfgang became ill while on a journey; he died in Puppingen near Linz,
Austria. He was canonized in 1052. His feast day is celebrated widely in much
of central Europe.
Comment:
Wolfgang could be depicted as a man with rolled-up sleeves. He even tried retiring to solitary prayer, but taking his responsibilities seriously led him back into the service of his diocese. Doing what had to be done was his path to holiness—and ours.
Wolfgang could be depicted as a man with rolled-up sleeves. He even tried retiring to solitary prayer, but taking his responsibilities seriously led him back into the service of his diocese. Doing what had to be done was his path to holiness—and ours.
LECTIO DIVINA:
LUKE 14,1-6
Lectio:
Friday, October 31, 2014
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Almighty and ever-living God,
strengthen our faith, hope and love.
May we do with loving hearts
what you ask of us
and come to share the life you promise.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
strengthen our faith, hope and love.
May we do with loving hearts
what you ask of us
and come to share the life you promise.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Luke 14,1-6
It happened that on a Sabbath day Jesus had gone to share a meal
in the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. Now
there in front of him was a man with dropsy, and Jesus addressed the lawyers
and Pharisees with the words, 'Is it against the law to cure someone on the
Sabbath, or not?'
But they remained silent, so he took the man and cured him and sent him away.
Then he said to them, 'Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a Sabbath day without any hesitation?' And to this they could find no answer.
But they remained silent, so he took the man and cured him and sent him away.
Then he said to them, 'Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a Sabbath day without any hesitation?' And to this they could find no answer.
3) Reflection
• Today’s Gospel narrates an episode of the discussion between
Jesus and the Pharisees, which took place along his journey from Galilee up to
Jerusalem. It is very difficult to situate this fact in the context of the life
of Jesus. There are similarities with a fact narrated in the Gospel of Mark (Mk
3, 1-6). Probably it is a question of the many stories transmitted orally and,
in the oral transmission; they were adapted in accordance with the situation,
the need and the hopes, of the people of the communities.
• Luke 14, 1: The invitation on a Saturday. “On a Sabbath day Jesus went to share a meal in the house of one of the leading Pharisees and they watched him closely”. This initial information on the reception in the house of a Pharisee gives Luke the possibility to present several episodes which speak about welcoming, accepting to have a meal: the cure of the sick man (Lk 14, 2-6), choice of places where to eat (Lk 14, 7-11), choice of the guests invited (Lk 14, 12-14), those invited who do not accept the invitation (Lk 14,15-24). Many times Jesus is invited by the Pharisees to share a meal. Perhaps the reason for inviting him was out of curiosity and some malice, wishing to observe Jesus to see how he observes the prescriptions of the law.
• Luke 14, 2: The situation which brings about the action of Jesus. “There was a man with dropsy”. It is not said how a man with dropsy could enter the house of the head of the Pharisees. But if he is in front of Jesus it is because he wants to be cured. The Pharisees observe Jesus. It was a Saturday, and it is forbidden to cure on a Saturday. What to do? Can it be done or not?
• Luke 14, 3: The question of Jesus to the Scribes and the Pharisees. “Jesus addressing the lawyers and the Pharisees asked, Is it against the law to cure someone on the Sabbath or not? With his question Jesus explains the problem which they had before them: “Can one cure or not on Saturday? Does the law permit this, yes or no? In Mark’s Gospel the question is even more provocative: “Is it permitted on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” (Mk 3, 4).
• Luke 14, 4-6: The cure. The Pharisees do not respond and remain in silence. Before the silence of the one who neither approves nor disapproves, Jesus takes the man by the hand, cures him and sends him away. After, to respond to a possible criticism, he explains the reason that has moved him to cure: “Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a Sabbath day without any hesitation?” With this question Jesus shows the incoherence of the lawyers and of the Pharisees. If one of them has no problem, on Saturday, to help his son or even an animal, so Jesus also has the right to help the man with dropsy. Jesus’ question recalls the Psalm, where it is said that God himself helps men and animals (Ps 36, 8). The Pharisees “Could not respond anything to these words”; because before the evidence, there are no arguments which can deny it.
• Luke 14, 1: The invitation on a Saturday. “On a Sabbath day Jesus went to share a meal in the house of one of the leading Pharisees and they watched him closely”. This initial information on the reception in the house of a Pharisee gives Luke the possibility to present several episodes which speak about welcoming, accepting to have a meal: the cure of the sick man (Lk 14, 2-6), choice of places where to eat (Lk 14, 7-11), choice of the guests invited (Lk 14, 12-14), those invited who do not accept the invitation (Lk 14,15-24). Many times Jesus is invited by the Pharisees to share a meal. Perhaps the reason for inviting him was out of curiosity and some malice, wishing to observe Jesus to see how he observes the prescriptions of the law.
• Luke 14, 2: The situation which brings about the action of Jesus. “There was a man with dropsy”. It is not said how a man with dropsy could enter the house of the head of the Pharisees. But if he is in front of Jesus it is because he wants to be cured. The Pharisees observe Jesus. It was a Saturday, and it is forbidden to cure on a Saturday. What to do? Can it be done or not?
• Luke 14, 3: The question of Jesus to the Scribes and the Pharisees. “Jesus addressing the lawyers and the Pharisees asked, Is it against the law to cure someone on the Sabbath or not? With his question Jesus explains the problem which they had before them: “Can one cure or not on Saturday? Does the law permit this, yes or no? In Mark’s Gospel the question is even more provocative: “Is it permitted on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” (Mk 3, 4).
• Luke 14, 4-6: The cure. The Pharisees do not respond and remain in silence. Before the silence of the one who neither approves nor disapproves, Jesus takes the man by the hand, cures him and sends him away. After, to respond to a possible criticism, he explains the reason that has moved him to cure: “Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a Sabbath day without any hesitation?” With this question Jesus shows the incoherence of the lawyers and of the Pharisees. If one of them has no problem, on Saturday, to help his son or even an animal, so Jesus also has the right to help the man with dropsy. Jesus’ question recalls the Psalm, where it is said that God himself helps men and animals (Ps 36, 8). The Pharisees “Could not respond anything to these words”; because before the evidence, there are no arguments which can deny it.
4) Personal questions
• The liberty of Jesus before a situation. Even though he is
being observed by those who do not approve him, he does not lose his liberty.
Which is the liberty that I have?
• There are difficult moments in life, in which we are obliged to choose between the immediate need of our neighbour and the letter of the law. How should we act?
• There are difficult moments in life, in which we are obliged to choose between the immediate need of our neighbour and the letter of the law. How should we act?
5) Concluding prayer
I give thanks to Yahweh with all my heart,
in the meeting-place of honest people, in the assembly.
Great are the deeds of Yahweh,
to be pondered by all who delight in them. (Ps 111,1-2)
in the meeting-place of honest people, in the assembly.
Great are the deeds of Yahweh,
to be pondered by all who delight in them. (Ps 111,1-2)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét