Monday of the Thirty-fourth Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 503
Lectionary: 503
I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion,
and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand
who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.
I heard a sound from heaven
like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder.
The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.
They were singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne,
before the four living creatures and the elders.
No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand
who had been ransomed from the earth.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
They have been ransomed as the first fruits
of the human race for God and the Lamb.
On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.
and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand
who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.
I heard a sound from heaven
like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder.
The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.
They were singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne,
before the four living creatures and the elders.
No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand
who had been ransomed from the earth.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
They have been ransomed as the first fruits
of the human race for God and the Lamb.
On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 24:1BC-2, 3-4AB, 5-6
R. (see 6) Lord,
this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
AlleluiaMT 24:42A, 44
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Stay awake!
For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stay awake!
For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 21:1-4
When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, "I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, "I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."
Meditation: "She put in all that she had"
Do you know the joy of selfless giving and generous
love for others? True love doesn't calculate - it spends lavishly! Jesus drove
this point home to his disciples while sitting in the temple and observing
people offering their tithes. Jesus praised a poor widow who gave the smallest
of coins in contrast with the rich who gave greater sums. How can someone in
poverty give more than someone who has ample means? Jesus' answer is very
simple - love is more precious than gold or wealth!
Love grows with gratitude and generous giving
Jesus taught that real giving must come from the heart. A gift that is given with a grudge or for display loses its value. But a gift given out of love, with a spirit of generosity and sacrifice, is precious. The amount or size of the gift doesn't matter as much as the cost to the giver. The poor widow could have kept one of her coins, but instead she recklessly gave away all she had! Jesus praised someone who gave barely a penny - how insignificant a sum - because it was everything she had, her whole living.
Jesus taught that real giving must come from the heart. A gift that is given with a grudge or for display loses its value. But a gift given out of love, with a spirit of generosity and sacrifice, is precious. The amount or size of the gift doesn't matter as much as the cost to the giver. The poor widow could have kept one of her coins, but instead she recklessly gave away all she had! Jesus praised someone who gave barely a penny - how insignificant a sum - because it was everything she had, her whole living.
Nothing given in love is worthless
What we have to offer may look very small and not worth much, but if we put all we have at the Lord's disposal, no matter how insignificant it may seem, then God can do with it and with us what is beyond our reckoning. Do you give out of love and gratitude for what God has already given to you?
What we have to offer may look very small and not worth much, but if we put all we have at the Lord's disposal, no matter how insignificant it may seem, then God can do with it and with us what is beyond our reckoning. Do you give out of love and gratitude for what God has already given to you?
"Lord Jesus, your love knows no bounds and you
give without measure. All that I have comes from you. May I give freely and
generously in gratitude for all that you have given to me. Take my life and all
that I possess - my gifts, talents, time and resources - and use them as you
see fit for your glory."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Mercy and compassion are never worthless,
by Leo the Great, 400-461 A.D.
"Although the spite of some people does not grow
gentle with any kindness, nevertheless the works of mercy are not fruitless,
and kindness never loses what is offered to the ungrateful. May no one, dearly
beloved, make themselves strangers to good works. Let no one claim that his
poverty scarcely sufficed for himself and could not help another. What is
offered from a little is great, and in the scale of divine justice, the
quantity of gifts is not measured but the steadfastness of souls. The
"widow" in the Gospel put two coins into the "treasury,"
and this surpassed the gifts of all the rich. No mercy is worthless before God.
No compassion is fruitless. He has given different resources to human beings,
but he does not ask different affections." (excerpt from Sermon 20.3.1)
MONDAY,
NOVEMBER 26, LUKE 21:1-4
Weekday (Thirty-Fourth or Last Week in Ordinary time)
(Revelation 14:1-3, 4b-5; Psalm 24)
Weekday (Thirty-Fourth or Last Week in Ordinary time)
(Revelation 14:1-3, 4b-5; Psalm 24)
KEY VERSE: "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest" (v. 3).
TO KNOW: As Jesus was teaching in the Women's Court of the Temple, he observed a poor widow putting two mites (lepta, the smallest coins in circulation) into the treasury box. The widow gave every penny she had to live on, and placed her hope and trust in God. The charity of this lowly woman stood in sharp contrast to the prideful religious leaders who loved to be honored and respected for their generosity, yet failed to carry out the law that required them to care for God's poor (Lk 20:45-47). Jesus said that the woman's gift was worth more than the large offerings of those who gave from their surplus wealth. The woman represents the poor, the "anawim," who humbly depended upon God to supply their needs.
TO LOVE: How does my parish serve the widowed and bereaved?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to be generous with my earthly goods.
Monday 26
November 2018
St John Berchmans.
Apocalypse 14:1-5. Psalm 23(24):1-6. Luke 21:1-4.
Apocalypse 14:1-5. Psalm 23(24):1-6. Luke 21:1-4.
Lord, this is the people that longs to see
your face – Psalm 23(24):1-6.
‘I heard a sound coming out of heaven like the sound of the
ocean or the roar of thunder; it was like the sound of harpists playing their
harps.’
In today’s Gospel Jesus affirms the offering of a poor widow,
who gave from her whole livelihood, not just what was surplus wealth. The
teaching here is about self-sacrifice, renunciation, faith and commitment. How
much it is against what our culture – our logic even – tells us to do!
What happens when we give our all? Give without counting the
cost? Do we dare? How can we be generous today? May we be among those of pure
heart who desire not worthless things. Today’s psalm invites us to enter into
the images of God’s loving care – guiding, accompanying, blessing us.
Saint Columban
Saint of the Day for November 26
(543 – November 21, 615)
 |
| Saint Columba | photo by Lawrence | flickr |
Saint Columban’s Story
Columban was the greatest of the Irish missionaries who worked
on the European continent. As a young man who was greatly tormented by
temptations of the flesh, he sought the advice of a religious woman who had
lived a hermit’s life for years. He saw in her answer a call to leave the
world. He went first to a monk on an island in Lough Erne, then to the great
monastic seat of learning at Bangor.
After many years of seclusion and prayer, he traveled to Gaul
with 12 companion missionaries. They won wide respect for the rigor of their
discipline, their preaching, and their commitment to charity and religious life
in a time characterized by clerical laxity and civil strife. Columban
established several monasteries in Europe which became centers of religion and
culture.
Like all saints, he met opposition. Ultimately he had to appeal
to the pope against complaints of Frankish bishops, for vindication of his
orthodoxy and approval of Irish customs. He reproved the king for his
licentious life, insisting that he marry. Since this threatened the power of
the queen mother, Columban was deported back to Ireland. His ship ran aground
in a storm, and he continued his work in Europe, ultimately arriving in Italy,
where he found favor with the king of the Lombards. In his last years he
established the famous monastery of Bobbio, where he died. His writings include
a treatise on penance and against Arianism, sermons, poetry, and his monastic
rule. The Liturgical Feast of Saint Columban is November 23.
Reflection
Now that public sexual license is becoming extreme, we need the
Church’s memory of a young man as concerned about chastity as Columban. And now
that the comfort-captured Western world stands in tragic contrast to starving
millions, we need the challenge to austerity and discipline of a group of Irish
monks. They were too strict, we say; they went too far. How far shall we go?
LECTIO DIVINA: LUKE 21:1-4
Lectio Divina:
Monday, November 26, 2018
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord,
increase our eagerness to do your will
and help us to know the saving power of your love.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
increase our eagerness to do your will
and help us to know the saving power of your love.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel reading - Luke 21:1-4
Looking up, Jesus saw rich people
putting their offerings into the treasury and He noticed a poverty-stricken
widow putting in two small coins, and He said, 'I tell you truly, this poor
widow has put in more than any of them; for these have all put in money they
could spare, but she in her poverty has put in all she had to live on.'
3) Reflection
• In today’s Gospel, Jesus weaves the
praise of a poor widow who knows how to share more than the rich. Many poor
people today do the same. People say: “The poor do not let the poor starve to
death”. But sometimes even this is not possible. A woman who went to live out
in the country in the periphery of a city in Brazil, in Paraiba, said: “In the
country the people are poor, but they always have something to share with the
poor who knock at their door. Now that I am here in the city, when I see a poor
person who knocks on the door, I hide because I feel ashamed, because I have
nothing in the house to share with him!” On one side, there are rich people who
have everything but do not know how to share and on the other side, there are
poor people who have hardly anything but who want to share the little they
have.
• At the beginning, in the Church, the great majority of the first Christian communities were formed by poor people. (1 Co 1, 26). After a short time, well- to-do people also entered these communities and this caused several problems. The social tensions which were present in the Roman Empire began to appear in the life of the communities. For example, it manifested itself when they met together to celebrate the supper (1Co 11, 20-22), or when they held a meeting (Jm 2, 1-4). This is why the teaching of the act of the widow was very meaningful, both for them as well as for us today.
• Luke 21, 1-2: The widow’s mite. Jesus was near the treasury in the temple and observed people who put in their offering. The poor put in a few pennies, the rich put in offerings of great value. The treasury of the temple received much money. All gave something for the maintenance of the worship, to support the clergy and for the preservation of the building. Part of this money was used to help the poor, because at that time there was no social security. The poor lived at the mercy of public charity. The persons who had the greatest needs were the orphans and the widows. They depended on the charity of others for everything, but even in this way, they tried to share with others the little that they had. Thus, a very poor widow put her offering into the treasury of the temple of just two pennies!
• Luke 21, 3-4: The comment of Jesus. Which is worth more: the few pennies of the widow or the great amount of the rich? According to the majority, the money of the rich was more useful for charity, than the few pennies of the widow. For example, the disciples thought that the problems of the people could be resolved only with much money. On the occasion of the multiplication of the loaves, they had suggested buying bread to feed the people (Lk 9, 13; Mk 6, 37). Philip succeeded in saying: “Two-hundred denarii of bread are not even enough for everyone to have a piece of bread” (Jn 6, 7). In fact, for anyone who thinks like that, the two pennies of the widow do not serve for anything. But Jesus says: “I tell you truly, this poor widow has put in more than any of them.” Jesus has a different criteria. Calling the attention of the disciples to the act of the widow, He teaches them and us where we have to look for the manifestation of God’s will: in the poor and in sharing. This is a very important criteria: “In fact all these have put in money they could spare, but she in her poverty has put in all she had to live on”.
• Alms, sharing, riches. The practice of giving alms was very important for the Jews. It was considered to be a “good work”, because the law of the Old Testament said: “Of course, there will never cease to be poor people in the country, and that is why I am giving you this command: Always be open handed with your brother, and with anyone in your country who is in need and poor” (Dt 15, 11). The alms put into the treasury of the temple, whether for worship or for the needy, orphans, or widows, were considered a pleasing act to God (Eccl 35, 2; cf. Eccl 17, 17; 29, 12; 40, 24). To give alms was a way to recognize that all goods of the earth belong to God and that we are only the administrators of these gifts. But the tendency to accumulate continues to exist and is very strong. It always arises anew in the human heart. Conversion is always necessary. This is why Jesus said to the rich young man: “Go, sell all you possess, and give it to the poor!” (Mk 10, 21). In the other Gospels the same requirement is repeated: “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Get yourselves purses that do not wear out, treasure that will not fail you, in heaven where no thief can reach it and no moth destroy it” (Lk 12, 33-34; Mt 6, 9-20). The practice of sharing and of solidarity is one of the characteristics which the Spirit of Jesus wants to realize in the community. The result of the effusion of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost was this: “None of the members was ever in want, as all those who owned land or houses would sell them, and bring the money from the sale of them, to present it to the apostles” (Ac 4,34-35ª; 2,44-45). This money, deposited at the feet of the Apostles, was not accumulated but “it was then distributed to any who might be in need” (Ac 4, 35 b; 2, 45). The entry of the rich into the Christian communities on the one side rendered possible the expansion of Christianity, providing better conditions for the missionary voyages. But on the other side, the tendency to accumulate blocked the movement of solidarity and of sharing. James helped people to become aware that they were following a mistaken path: “Well now you rich! Lament, weep for the miseries that are coming to you. Your wealth is rotting; your clothes are all moth-eaten.” (Jm 5,1-3). To undertake the way to the Kingdom, all need to become pupils of that poor widow, who shared with others what was necessary for her living (Lk 21, 4).
• At the beginning, in the Church, the great majority of the first Christian communities were formed by poor people. (1 Co 1, 26). After a short time, well- to-do people also entered these communities and this caused several problems. The social tensions which were present in the Roman Empire began to appear in the life of the communities. For example, it manifested itself when they met together to celebrate the supper (1Co 11, 20-22), or when they held a meeting (Jm 2, 1-4). This is why the teaching of the act of the widow was very meaningful, both for them as well as for us today.
• Luke 21, 1-2: The widow’s mite. Jesus was near the treasury in the temple and observed people who put in their offering. The poor put in a few pennies, the rich put in offerings of great value. The treasury of the temple received much money. All gave something for the maintenance of the worship, to support the clergy and for the preservation of the building. Part of this money was used to help the poor, because at that time there was no social security. The poor lived at the mercy of public charity. The persons who had the greatest needs were the orphans and the widows. They depended on the charity of others for everything, but even in this way, they tried to share with others the little that they had. Thus, a very poor widow put her offering into the treasury of the temple of just two pennies!
• Luke 21, 3-4: The comment of Jesus. Which is worth more: the few pennies of the widow or the great amount of the rich? According to the majority, the money of the rich was more useful for charity, than the few pennies of the widow. For example, the disciples thought that the problems of the people could be resolved only with much money. On the occasion of the multiplication of the loaves, they had suggested buying bread to feed the people (Lk 9, 13; Mk 6, 37). Philip succeeded in saying: “Two-hundred denarii of bread are not even enough for everyone to have a piece of bread” (Jn 6, 7). In fact, for anyone who thinks like that, the two pennies of the widow do not serve for anything. But Jesus says: “I tell you truly, this poor widow has put in more than any of them.” Jesus has a different criteria. Calling the attention of the disciples to the act of the widow, He teaches them and us where we have to look for the manifestation of God’s will: in the poor and in sharing. This is a very important criteria: “In fact all these have put in money they could spare, but she in her poverty has put in all she had to live on”.
• Alms, sharing, riches. The practice of giving alms was very important for the Jews. It was considered to be a “good work”, because the law of the Old Testament said: “Of course, there will never cease to be poor people in the country, and that is why I am giving you this command: Always be open handed with your brother, and with anyone in your country who is in need and poor” (Dt 15, 11). The alms put into the treasury of the temple, whether for worship or for the needy, orphans, or widows, were considered a pleasing act to God (Eccl 35, 2; cf. Eccl 17, 17; 29, 12; 40, 24). To give alms was a way to recognize that all goods of the earth belong to God and that we are only the administrators of these gifts. But the tendency to accumulate continues to exist and is very strong. It always arises anew in the human heart. Conversion is always necessary. This is why Jesus said to the rich young man: “Go, sell all you possess, and give it to the poor!” (Mk 10, 21). In the other Gospels the same requirement is repeated: “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Get yourselves purses that do not wear out, treasure that will not fail you, in heaven where no thief can reach it and no moth destroy it” (Lk 12, 33-34; Mt 6, 9-20). The practice of sharing and of solidarity is one of the characteristics which the Spirit of Jesus wants to realize in the community. The result of the effusion of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost was this: “None of the members was ever in want, as all those who owned land or houses would sell them, and bring the money from the sale of them, to present it to the apostles” (Ac 4,34-35ª; 2,44-45). This money, deposited at the feet of the Apostles, was not accumulated but “it was then distributed to any who might be in need” (Ac 4, 35 b; 2, 45). The entry of the rich into the Christian communities on the one side rendered possible the expansion of Christianity, providing better conditions for the missionary voyages. But on the other side, the tendency to accumulate blocked the movement of solidarity and of sharing. James helped people to become aware that they were following a mistaken path: “Well now you rich! Lament, weep for the miseries that are coming to you. Your wealth is rotting; your clothes are all moth-eaten.” (Jm 5,1-3). To undertake the way to the Kingdom, all need to become pupils of that poor widow, who shared with others what was necessary for her living (Lk 21, 4).
4) Personal questions
• What difficulties and joys do
you find in practicing solidarity and sharing with others?
• How is it that the two pennies of the widow can be worth more than the large amounts of the rich? Which is the message of this text for us today?
• How is it that the two pennies of the widow can be worth more than the large amounts of the rich? Which is the message of this text for us today?
5) Concluding prayer
Be sure that Yahweh is God, He made us,
we belong to him, His people,
the flock of His sheepfold. (Ps 100,3)
we belong to him, His people,
the flock of His sheepfold. (Ps 100,3)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét