Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 477
Lectionary: 477
Brothers and sisters:
I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh.
The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.
For I do not do the good I want,
but I do the evil I do not want.
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it,
but sin that dwells in me.
So, then, I discover the principle
that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.
For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self,
but I see in my members another principle
at war with the law of my mind,
taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Miserable one that I am!
Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh.
The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.
For I do not do the good I want,
but I do the evil I do not want.
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it,
but sin that dwells in me.
So, then, I discover the principle
that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.
For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self,
but I see in my members another principle
at war with the law of my mind,
taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Miserable one that I am!
Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 119:66, 68, 76, 77,
93, 94
R.(68b) Lord,
teach me your statutes.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge,
for in your commands I trust.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
You are good and bountiful;
teach me your statutes.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Never will I forget your precepts,
for through them you give me life.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge,
for in your commands I trust.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
You are good and bountiful;
teach me your statutes.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Never will I forget your precepts,
for through them you give me life.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
AlleluiaSEE MT 11:25
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 12:54-59
Jesus said to the crowds,
“When you see a cloud rising in the west
you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;
and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south
you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.
You hypocrites!
You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;
why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,
make an effort to settle the matter on the way;
otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,
and the judge hand you over to the constable,
and the constable throw you into prison.
I say to you, you will not be released
until you have paid the last penny.”
“When you see a cloud rising in the west
you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;
and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south
you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.
You hypocrites!
You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;
why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,
make an effort to settle the matter on the way;
otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,
and the judge hand you over to the constable,
and the constable throw you into prison.
I say to you, you will not be released
until you have paid the last penny.”
Meditation: Heed the warning
signs before it is too late
How
good are you at reading warning signs? Jesus expects his disciples to
accurately read the signs of the times! Seafarers and farmers know
the importance of spotting weather conditions for safe travel and planting. A
lot of effort is made today, with the help of science and technology, to
discern potential natural dangers, such as tropical storms, hurricanes, floods,
tornadoes, earth quakes, and erupting volcanoes, so that people can be warned
to take shelter before disaster hits.
Don't
miss God's kingdom and power to transform your life
Our need for accurately discerning the spiritual condition and moral climate around us is vital if we want to avert spiritual crisis and moral disaster. The Lord is ready to transform our lives by offering us his kingdom of righteousness (moral goodness), peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). - But we can miss it if we allow a permissive attitude that takes sin lightly or puts off repairing wrongdoing before it is too late to get reconciled with God.
Our need for accurately discerning the spiritual condition and moral climate around us is vital if we want to avert spiritual crisis and moral disaster. The Lord is ready to transform our lives by offering us his kingdom of righteousness (moral goodness), peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). - But we can miss it if we allow a permissive attitude that takes sin lightly or puts off repairing wrongdoing before it is too late to get reconciled with God.
Jesus
used a very vivid illustration of a threatening lawsuit to show the urgency of
settling a bad case outside of court before a worse sentence could be passed
against us. Why did the neighbor in Jesus' story make an effort to come to an agreement
with his adversary before the matter was sent to court for judgment? The
accused knew that he had a bad case which would likely go against him in court.
He quickly tried to come to an agreement with his adversary to avoid receiving
a worse sentence of being thrown into prison and given a costly fine as well.
Jesus
will set us free and fill us with the Holy Spirit
We all stand in need of God's mercy, grace, and protection. The Lord Jesus is our physician and healer and he is ready to set us free from any sinful patterns of thinking, acting, and speaking. If we give our lives over to him he will fill us with his Holy Spirit and give us a new heart and a transformed mind that is filled with his truth, love, and goodness. If you want lasting peace and joy with God, then allow the Lord Jesus to transform every area of your life, your home, your work, your relationships, and possessions so that he may truly be the Lord and Giver of abundant life and righteousness. Are you ready to surrender all to him - and to receive all from him?
We all stand in need of God's mercy, grace, and protection. The Lord Jesus is our physician and healer and he is ready to set us free from any sinful patterns of thinking, acting, and speaking. If we give our lives over to him he will fill us with his Holy Spirit and give us a new heart and a transformed mind that is filled with his truth, love, and goodness. If you want lasting peace and joy with God, then allow the Lord Jesus to transform every area of your life, your home, your work, your relationships, and possessions so that he may truly be the Lord and Giver of abundant life and righteousness. Are you ready to surrender all to him - and to receive all from him?
"Lord
Jesus, flood my heart with your love and free me from all that would keep me
from doing your will. Transform my mind that I may discern what is right and
choose what is good and pleasing to you."
Daily Quote from the
early church fathers: Signs from the Law point
to the dawn of the Mystery of Christ, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"People
focus their attention on things of this kind. From long observation and
practice they tell beforehand when rain will fall or violent winds will blow.
One especially sees that sailors are very skillful in this matter. He says that
it would be suitable for those who can calculate things of this sort and may
foretell storms that are about to happen to focus the penetrating eyes of the
mind also on important matters. What are these? The law showed beforehand the
mystery of Christ, that he would shine out in the last ages of the world on the
inhabitants of the earth and submit to be a sacrifice for the salvation of all.
It even commanded a lamb to be sacrificed as a type of him who died towards
evening and at lighting of lamps (Exodus 12:6).
"We might now understand that when, like the day, this world was declining to its close, the great, precious and truly saving passion would be fulfilled. The door of salvation would be thrown wide open to those who believe in him, and abundant happiness be their share. In the Song of Songs, we also find Christ calling to the bride described there. The bride personally represents the church, in these words, 'Arise, come, my neighbor, my beautiful dove. Look, the winter is past, and the rain is gone. It has passed away. The flowers appear on the ground. The time of the pruning has come' (Song 2:10-12). As I said, a certain springlike calm was about to arise for those who believe in him." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 95)
"We might now understand that when, like the day, this world was declining to its close, the great, precious and truly saving passion would be fulfilled. The door of salvation would be thrown wide open to those who believe in him, and abundant happiness be their share. In the Song of Songs, we also find Christ calling to the bride described there. The bride personally represents the church, in these words, 'Arise, come, my neighbor, my beautiful dove. Look, the winter is past, and the rain is gone. It has passed away. The flowers appear on the ground. The time of the pruning has come' (Song 2:10-12). As I said, a certain springlike calm was about to arise for those who believe in him." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 95)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, LUKE 12:54-59
Weekday
(Romans 7:18-25a; Psalm 119)
Weekday
(Romans 7:18-25a; Psalm 119)
KEY VERSE: "Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?" (v. 57).
TO KNOW: Jesus warned the people that they were facing God's coming judgment, yet they refused to make a decision for or against him. He chastised them for being able to observe the weather signs that predicted rain or shine, yet they ignored the signs of the coming of God's reign. Jesus told his followers that God's judgment was already taking place. There might be little time left to be reconciled to God and to put one's affairs in order. He said that it would be much easier to settle "out of court" than to face the ominous judgment of Almighty God. At such time they would be required to pay the full price for their misdeeds. Then they would regret that they did not heed Jesus' words.
TO LOVE: What are the signs of the times that I must pay attention to today?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to listen to your words while there is still time to act on them.
Friday 25 October 2019
Day of Penance
Romans 7:18-25. Psalm 118(119):66, 68, 76-77, 93-94. Luke
12:54-59.
Teach me your laws, O Lord – Psalm 118(119):66, 68, 76-77, 93-94
‘Why not judge for yourselves what is right?’
Throughout his public life, Jesus was followed by people asking
questions. Sometimes these were asked in all sincerity, but often they were
designed to entrap him. One day, in exasperation, he asked, ‘Why do you not
know how to interpret the present time?’ These people had come not seeking the
truth or to hear what he had to say or to understand who he was, but to fill
their own agendas, wanting to trip him up.
It can be difficult to set aside our own personal agendas and to
sit quietly and listen to what Jesus might be trying to say to us. Today, let
us turn to Jesus with all our searching and wondering. Lord of my heart, be for
me the end of all my desiring. Help me to attend to this time with your eyes,
always guided by your Spirit of grace and peace.
Saint Antônio
de Sant’Anna Galvão
Saint of the Day for
October 25
(1739 – December 23,
1822)
 |
| Statue of Saint Antônio de Sant’Anna Galvão | Cathedral of Saint Anthony, Guaratinguetá | photo by Zééh.mané |
Saint Antônio de Sant’Anna Galvão’s Story
God’s plan in a person’s life often takes unexpected turns which
become life-giving through cooperation with God’s grace.
Born in Guarantingueta near São Paulo, Antônio attended the
Jesuit seminary in Belem, but later decided to become a Franciscan friar.
Invested in 1760, he made final profession the following year and was ordained
in 1762.
In São Paulo, he served as preacher, confessor, and porter.
Within a few years, Antônio was appointed confessor to the Recollects of
Saint Teresa, a group of nuns in that city. He and Sister Helena Maria of
the Holy Spirit founded a new community of sisters under the patronage of Our
Lady of the Conception of Divine Providence. Sister Helena Maria’s premature
death the next year left Father Antônio responsible for the new congregation,
especially for building a convent and church adequate for their growing
numbers.
He served as novice master for the friars in Macacu and as
guardian of St. Francis Friary in São Paulo. He founded St. Clare Friary in
Sorocaba. With the permission of his provincial and the bishop, Antônio spent
his last days at the Recolhimento de Nossa Senhora da Luz, the convent of the
sisters’ congregation he had helped establish.
Antônio de Sant’Anna Galvão was beatified in Rome on October 25,
1998, and canonized in 2007.
Reflection
Holy women and men cannot help calling our attention to God, to
God’s creation, and to all the people whom God loves. The lives of holy people
are so oriented toward God that this has become their definition of “normal.”
Do people see my life or yours as a living sign of God’s steadfast love? What
might have to change for that to happen?
Lectio
Divina: Luke 12:54-59
Lectio Divina
Friday, October 25, 2019
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Almighty and everlasting God,
our source of power and inspiration,
give us strength and joy
in serving you as followers of Christ,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
our source of power and inspiration,
give us strength and joy
in serving you as followers of Christ,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading -
Luke 12: 54-59
Jesus said again to the crowds, 'When you see a cloud looming up
in the west you say at once that rain is coming, and so it does. And when the
wind is from the south you say it's going to be hot, and it is. Hypocrites! You
know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not
know how to interpret these times? 'Why not judge for yourselves what is
upright?
For example: when you are going to court with your opponent,
make an effort to settle with him on the way, or he may drag you before the
judge and the judge hand you over to the officer and the officer have you
thrown into prison. I tell you, you will not get out till you have paid the
very last penny.'
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today presents the call on the part of Jesus to
learn to read the signs of the times. This was the text which inspired the Pope
John XXIII to convoke the Church to be more attentive to the signs of time and
to better perceive the calls of God in the events of the history of humanity.
• Luke 12: 54-55: Everybody knows how to interpret the face
of the earth and of the sky... “When you see a cloud looming up in the west you
say at once that rain is coming, and so it does. And when the wind is from the
south you say it’s going to be hot and it is”. Jesus reports a universal human
experience. Everybody in his own country or region, knows how to read the face
of the sky and of the earth. The body itself understands when there is threat
of rain or when the time begins to change. They may say “It will rain”. Jesus
refers to the contemplation of nature since it is one of the most important
sources of knowledge and of experience which He himself had of God. It was the
contemplation of nature that helped his discovery of new aspects of faith and
in the history of His people. For example, rain which falls on the good and the
bad, and the sun which rises on the upright and on the unjust, helped Him to
formulate one of the revolutionary messages: “Love your enemies!” (Mt
5: 43-45).
• Luke 12: 56-57: ..., but they do not know how to read the
signs of the time. And Jesus draws the conclusion for his contemporaries and
for all of us: “Hypocrites!” You know how to interpret the face of the earth
and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret these times? Why not
judge for yourselves what is upright? Saint Augustine said that nature,
creation, is the first book that God wrote. Through nature, God speaks to us.
Sin mixes up the letters of the book of nature, and because of this, we have
not succeeded in reading God’s message printed in the things of nature and in
the facts of life. The bible is the second book of God, it was written not to
occupy or substitute life but to help us interpret nature and life and to learn
again to discover the calls of God in the facts of life. “Why not judge for
yourselves what is upright?” Sharing among ourselves what we see in nature, we
will be able to discover God’s call in life.
• Luke 12: 58-59: To know how to draw lessons for life.
“When you are going to court with your opponent , make an effort to settle with
him on the way, or he may drag you before the judge and the judge will hand you
over to the officer and the officer will have you thrown into prison. I tell
you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny”. One of the
points on which Jesus insists most is reconciliation. At that time there were
many tensions and conflicts among the radical groups which had different
tendencies, without dialogue: Zelots, Essenes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and
Herodians... No one wanted to give in before others. The words of Jesus on
reconciliation which require acceptance and understanding enlighten this
situation, because the only sin which God does not forgive is our lack of
forgiveness toward others (Mt 6: 14). This is why He advises to seek
reconciliation before it is too late! When the time of judgment comes, it will
be too late. When there is still time try to change life, behavior, and way of
thinking, and seek to act justly (cf. Mt 5: 25-26; Col 3:13; Ep
4: 32; Mk 11: 25).
4) Personal
questions
• Read the signs of the Times. When I listen or read the news on
TV or in the newspaper am I concerned with perceiving God’s call in these
facts?
• Reconciliation: to be reconciled is the most insistent request of Jesus. Do I try to collaborate in reconciliation between persons, the races, the people, the tendencies?
• Reconciliation: to be reconciled is the most insistent request of Jesus. Do I try to collaborate in reconciliation between persons, the races, the people, the tendencies?
5) Concluding prayer
To Yahweh belong the earth and all it contains,
the world and all who live there;
it is He who laid its foundations on the seas,
on the flowing waters fixed it firm. (Ps 24:1-2)
the world and all who live there;
it is He who laid its foundations on the seas,
on the flowing waters fixed it firm. (Ps 24:1-2)
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