Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 481
Lectionary: 481
Brothers and sisters:
The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
And the one who searches hearts
knows what is the intention of the Spirit,
because he intercedes for the holy ones
according to God's will.
We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.
For those he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
so that he might be the firstborn
among many brothers.
And those he predestined he also called;
and those he called he also justified;
and those he justified he also glorified.
The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
And the one who searches hearts
knows what is the intention of the Spirit,
because he intercedes for the holy ones
according to God's will.
We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.
For those he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
so that he might be the firstborn
among many brothers.
And those he predestined he also called;
and those he called he also justified;
and those he justified he also glorified.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 13:4-5, 6
R.(6a) My
hope, O Lord, is in your mercy.
Look, answer me, O LORD, my God!
Give light to my eyes that I may not sleep in death
lest my enemy say, "I have overcome him";
lest my foes rejoice at my downfall.
R. My hope, O Lord, is in your mercy.
Though I trusted in your mercy,
Let my heart rejoice in your salvation;
let me sing of the LORD, "He has been good to me."
R. My hope, O Lord, is in your mercy.
Look, answer me, O LORD, my God!
Give light to my eyes that I may not sleep in death
lest my enemy say, "I have overcome him";
lest my foes rejoice at my downfall.
R. My hope, O Lord, is in your mercy.
Though I trusted in your mercy,
Let my heart rejoice in your salvation;
let me sing of the LORD, "He has been good to me."
R. My hope, O Lord, is in your mercy.
AlleluiaSEE 2 THES 2:14
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
God has called us through the Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God has called us through the Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 13:22-30
Jesus passed through towns and villages,
teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone asked him,
"Lord, will only a few people be saved?"
He answered them,
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
'Lord, open the door for us.'
He will say to you in reply,
'I do not know where you are from.'
And you will say,
'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.'
Then he will say to you,
'I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!'
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God
and you yourselves cast out.
And people will come from the east and the west
and from the north and the south
and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God.
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last."
teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone asked him,
"Lord, will only a few people be saved?"
He answered them,
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
'Lord, open the door for us.'
He will say to you in reply,
'I do not know where you are from.'
And you will say,
'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.'
Then he will say to you,
'I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!'
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God
and you yourselves cast out.
And people will come from the east and the west
and from the north and the south
and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God.
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last."
Meditation: Do
not risk being shut out
What
does the image of a door say to us about the kingdom of God? Jesus' story about
the door being shut to those who come too late suggests they had offended their
host and deserved to be excluded. It was customary for teachers in Jesus' time
to close the door on tardy students and not allow them back for a whole week in
order to teach them a lesson in discipline and faithfulness.
Who
will be invited to enter God's kingdom?
Jesus told this story in response to the question of who will make it to heaven - to God's kingdom of everlasting peace and eternal life. Many rabbis held that all Israel would be saved and gain entry into God's kingdom, except for a few blatant sinners who excluded themselves! After all, they were specially chosen by God when he established a covenant relationship with them.
Jesus told this story in response to the question of who will make it to heaven - to God's kingdom of everlasting peace and eternal life. Many rabbis held that all Israel would be saved and gain entry into God's kingdom, except for a few blatant sinners who excluded themselves! After all, they were specially chosen by God when he established a covenant relationship with them.
Jesus
surprised his listeners by saying that one's membership as a people who have
entered into a covenant relationship with God does not automatically mean entry
into the everlasting kingdom of God. Second, Jesus asserts that many from the
Gentile (non-Jewish) nations would enter God's kingdom. God's invitation is
open to Jew and Gentile alike.
Jesus
is the door to the kingdom of heaven
But Jesus warns that we can be excluded if we do not strive to enter by the narrow door. What did Jesus mean by this expression? The door which Jesus had in mind was himself. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved (John 10:9). God sent his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to open the way for us to have full access to the throne of God's grace (his favor and blessing) and mercy (his pardon for our sins). Through Jesus' victory on the cross he has freed us from slavery to sin and hurtful desires and addictions, and he has made us sons and daughters of God and citizens of his heavenly kingdom. We are free now to choose which kingdom we will serve - the kingdom of light and truth ruled by God's justice and wisdom or the kingdom of darkness and falsehood ruled by Satan and a world system or society of people who are opposed to God and his laws.
But Jesus warns that we can be excluded if we do not strive to enter by the narrow door. What did Jesus mean by this expression? The door which Jesus had in mind was himself. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved (John 10:9). God sent his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to open the way for us to have full access to the throne of God's grace (his favor and blessing) and mercy (his pardon for our sins). Through Jesus' victory on the cross he has freed us from slavery to sin and hurtful desires and addictions, and he has made us sons and daughters of God and citizens of his heavenly kingdom. We are free now to choose which kingdom we will serve - the kingdom of light and truth ruled by God's justice and wisdom or the kingdom of darkness and falsehood ruled by Satan and a world system or society of people who are opposed to God and his laws.
Following
the Lord requires effort and commitment on our part
If we want to enter God's kingdom and receive our full inheritance which is stored up for us in heaven, then we must follow the Lord Jesus in his way of the cross through a willing renunciation of our own will for his will - our own life for his life - our own way for his way.
If we want to enter God's kingdom and receive our full inheritance which is stored up for us in heaven, then we must follow the Lord Jesus in his way of the cross through a willing renunciation of our own will for his will - our own life for his life - our own way for his way.
Why
did Jesus say we must strive to enter his kingdom of
righteousness and peace? The word strive can also be
translated as agony. To enter the kingdom of God we must struggle
against every force or power of opposition - even the temptation to remain
indifferent, apathetic, or compromising in our faith and personal trust in
Jesus, our hope in holding firm to the promises of Jesus, and our
uncompromising love for God above all else (the "love that has been poured
into our hearts through the gift of the Spirit which has been given to us"
- Romans 5:5).
The
Lord is with us to strengthen us in our trials and struggles
The good news is that we do not struggle alone. God is with us and his grace is sufficient! As we strive side by side for the faith of the Gospel with the help and support of our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Philippians 1:27), Jesus assures us of complete victory! Do you trust in God's grace and help, especially in times of testing and temptation?
The good news is that we do not struggle alone. God is with us and his grace is sufficient! As we strive side by side for the faith of the Gospel with the help and support of our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Philippians 1:27), Jesus assures us of complete victory! Do you trust in God's grace and help, especially in times of testing and temptation?
"Lord
Jesus, may I never doubt your guiding presence and your merciful love towards
me. Through the gift of your Spirit fill me with courage and persevering faith
to trust you in all things and in every circumstance I find myself. Give me the
strength to cling to your promises when the world around me begins to shake or
crumble. And when my love and zeal begin to waver, fan into my heart a flame of
consuming love and dedication for you who are my All."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: To enter the narrow door, by Cyril
of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"'Wide
is the door, and broad the way that brings down many to destruction.' What are
we to understand by its broadness? ...A stubborn mind will not bow to the yoke
of the law [the commandments of God]. This life is cursed and relaxed in all
carelessness. Thrusting from it the divine law and completely unmindful of the
sacred commandments, wealth, vices, scorn, pride and the empty imagination of
earthly pride spring from it. Those who would enter in by the narrow door must
withdraw from all these things, be with Christ and keep the festival with
him." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 99)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, LUKE 13:22-30
Weekday
Weekday
(Romans 8:26-30; Psalm 13)
KEY VERSE: "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able" (v. 24).
TO KNOW: As Jesus traveled on his journey toward his passion in Jerusalem, someone asked him, "Lord, are those who are to be saved few in number?" (Lk 13:23). The assumption was that the kingdom of God was for the Jews and that the Gentiles would be shut out. Jesus shocked his questioner by saying that the door to the kingdom was narrow and would not remain open indefinitely. He stressed the urgency of God's call. He said that many would put off their conversion until it was too late. After the master had locked the door, they would beg to enter, but they would hear the Lord pronounce the dreadful words: "I do not know you!" Those faithless ones would be cast out, while the faithful would be welcomed from the four corners of the earth to share fellowship with the saints of old. Although the Gentiles were called last, they would take precedence over the ones who were called first, but had rejected the invitation.
TO LOVE: Am I over-confident that Jesus will welcome me into his reign?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to be converted to your will each day.
Wednesday 30 October 2019
Romans 8:26-30. Psalm 12(13):4-6. Luke 13:22-30.
All my hope, O Lord, is in your loving kindness – Psalm
12(13):4-6
‘The Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of
God’
Paul’s letter to the community in Rome is full of the
understanding and experience of the great love that God has for us. He writes
passionately and intimately about God’s love. He expresses well the gift we
have in Jesus, God in the flesh, who not only died for us, but rose to new life
for us. That’s how much God loves us.
Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Nothing can come between
us and the love that God has for us. Can we say that of our relationship with
God? Are we so in love with God that, whatever the day brings, we do not
separate ourselves from the great gift of love, the person of Jesus? In all our
trials and tribulations, in all our joys and sorrows, God remains with us. May
our awareness of God’s breath within fan into flame the desires of our hearts.
Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez
Saint of the Day for October 30
(1533 – October 30, 1617)
 |
| Detail | Vision of Alphonsus Rodriguez | Francisco de Zurbarán |
Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez’s Story
Tragedy and challenge beset today’s saint early in life, but
Alphonsus Rodriguez found happiness and contentment through simple service and
prayer.
Born in Spain in 1533, Alphonsus inherited the family textile
business at 23. Within the space of three years, his wife, daughter, and mother
died; meanwhile, business was poor. Alphonsus stepped back and reassessed his
life. He sold the business, and with his young son, moved into his sister’s
home. There he learned the discipline of prayer and meditation.
At the death of his son years later, Alphonsus, almost 40 by
then, sought to join the Jesuits. He was not helped by his poor education. He
applied twice before being admitted. For 45 years he served as doorkeeper at
the Jesuits’ college in Majorca. When not at his post, he was almost always at
prayer, though he often encountered difficulties and temptations.
His holiness and prayerfulness attracted many to him, including
Saint Peter Claver, then a Jesuit seminarian. Alphonsus’ life as doorkeeper may
have been humdrum, but centuries later he caught the attention of poet and
fellow-Jesuit Gerard Manley Hopkins, who made him the subject of one of his
poems.
Alphonsus died in 1617. He is the patron saint of Majorca.
Reflection
We like to think that God rewards the good, even in this life.
But Alphonsus knew business losses, painful bereavement, and periods when God
seemed very distant. None of his suffering made him withdraw into a shell of
self-pity or bitterness. Rather, he reached out to others who lived with pain,
including enslaved Africans. Among the many notables at his funeral were the sick
and poor people whose lives he had touched. May they find such a friend in us!
Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez is the Patron Saint of:
Majorca
Lectio Divina: Luke 13:22-30
Lectio Divina
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
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 13: 22-30
Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and
making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few
people be saved?" He answered them, "Strive to enter through the
narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong
enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will
you stand outside knocking and saying, 'Lord, open the door for us.' He will
say to you in reply, 'I do not know where you are from.' And you will say, 'We
ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.' Then he will say
to you, 'I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!'
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast
out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the
south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. For behold, some are
last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
3) Reflection
● The Gospel today narrates an episode that took place along the
road that Jesus was going through from Galilee to Jerusalem, the description of
which occupies one third of Luke’s Gospel (Lk 9:51 to 19:28).
● Luke 13:22: The journey toward Jerusalem. “Through towns and villages He went teaching, making His way to Jerusalem”. More than once Luke mentions that Jesus is on the way toward Jerusalem. During ten chapters he describes the journey to Jerusalem (Lk 9:51 to 19:28). Luke constantly recalls that Jesus is on the way toward Jerusalem (Lk 9:51,53,57; 10:1,38; 11:1; 13:22,33; 14:25; 17:11; 18:31; 18:37; 19: 1,11,28). What is clear and definitive from the beginning is the destiny or end of the journey: Jerusalem, the capital city where Jesus suffers His Passion and dies (Lk 9:31, 51). But Luke rarely tells us about the places through which Jesus passed. This he says only at the beginning of the journey (Lk 9:51), in the middle (Lk 17:11) and at the end (Lk 18:35; 19:1), and thus we know something about the places through which Jesus was passing. In this way, Luke suggests the following teaching: the objective of our life should be clear, and we should assume it decidedly as Jesus did. We have to walk; we cannot stop. The places through which we have to pass are not always clear and definitive. What is certain is the objective: Jerusalem, where the “exodus” awaits us (Lk 9:31), the Passion, Death and the Resurrection.
● Luke 13:23: The question regarding the number of those who are saved. Along the road all kinds of things happen: information on the massacre and the disasters (Lk 13: 1-5), the parable (Lk 13:6-9, 18-21), discussions (Lk 13:10-13) and, in today’s Gospel, a question from the people: “Sir will there be only a few saved?” It is always the same question concerning salvation!
● Luke 13:24-25: The narrow door. Jesus says that the door is narrow: “Try your hardest to enter by the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter but will not succeed”. Does Jesus, perhaps, says this to fill us with fear and to oblige us to observe the Law as the Pharisees taught? What does this narrow door signify? About which door is He speaking? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus suggests that the entrance into the Kingdom has eight doors. These are the eight categories of people of the Beatitudes: (a) the poor in spirit, (b) the meek, (c) the afflicted, (d) the hungry and thirsty for justice, (e) the merciful, (f) the pure of heart, (g) the peacemakers and (h) those persecuted for justice (Mt 5:3-10). Luke reduces them to four categories: (a) the poor, (b) the hungry, (c) those who are sad and (d) those who are persecuted (Lk 6:20-22). Only those who belong to one of these categories mentioned in the Beatitudes will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the narrow door. It is the new view of the salvation which Jesus communicates to us. There is no other door! It is a question of the conversion which Jesus asks of us. And He insists: “Try your hardest to enter by the narrow door, because I tell you many will try to enter and will not succeed. Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself standing outside knocking on the door, saying ‘Lord, open to us’, but He will answer, ‘I do not know where you come from’”. Concerning the hour of judgment, now is the favorable time for conversion, to change our opinion, our view of salvation and to enter into one of the eight categories.
● Luke 13:26-28: The tragic misunderstanding. God responds to the one who knocks at the door: “I do not know where you come from.” But they insist and argue, “We have eaten and we drank in Your presence, You taught on our streets!” It is not sufficient to have eaten with Jesus, to have participated in the multiplication of the loaves and to have listened to His teachings on the streets of the cities and villages! It is not sufficient to be in Church and to have participated in catechism class. God will answer, “I do not know where you come from; away from Me, all evil doers!” This is a tragic misunderstanding and a total lack of conversion. Jesus considers unjust what others consider just and pleasing to God. It is a totally new way of seeing our salvation. The door is truly narrow.
● Luke 13:29-30: The key that explains the misunderstanding. “People from east and west, from north and south, will come and sit down at the feast in the Kingdom of God. Look, there are those now last who will be the first, and those now first who will be last.” It is a matter of the great change which takes place with the coming of God down to us in Jesus. All people will have access and will pass through the narrow door.
● Luke 13:22: The journey toward Jerusalem. “Through towns and villages He went teaching, making His way to Jerusalem”. More than once Luke mentions that Jesus is on the way toward Jerusalem. During ten chapters he describes the journey to Jerusalem (Lk 9:51 to 19:28). Luke constantly recalls that Jesus is on the way toward Jerusalem (Lk 9:51,53,57; 10:1,38; 11:1; 13:22,33; 14:25; 17:11; 18:31; 18:37; 19: 1,11,28). What is clear and definitive from the beginning is the destiny or end of the journey: Jerusalem, the capital city where Jesus suffers His Passion and dies (Lk 9:31, 51). But Luke rarely tells us about the places through which Jesus passed. This he says only at the beginning of the journey (Lk 9:51), in the middle (Lk 17:11) and at the end (Lk 18:35; 19:1), and thus we know something about the places through which Jesus was passing. In this way, Luke suggests the following teaching: the objective of our life should be clear, and we should assume it decidedly as Jesus did. We have to walk; we cannot stop. The places through which we have to pass are not always clear and definitive. What is certain is the objective: Jerusalem, where the “exodus” awaits us (Lk 9:31), the Passion, Death and the Resurrection.
● Luke 13:23: The question regarding the number of those who are saved. Along the road all kinds of things happen: information on the massacre and the disasters (Lk 13: 1-5), the parable (Lk 13:6-9, 18-21), discussions (Lk 13:10-13) and, in today’s Gospel, a question from the people: “Sir will there be only a few saved?” It is always the same question concerning salvation!
● Luke 13:24-25: The narrow door. Jesus says that the door is narrow: “Try your hardest to enter by the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter but will not succeed”. Does Jesus, perhaps, says this to fill us with fear and to oblige us to observe the Law as the Pharisees taught? What does this narrow door signify? About which door is He speaking? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus suggests that the entrance into the Kingdom has eight doors. These are the eight categories of people of the Beatitudes: (a) the poor in spirit, (b) the meek, (c) the afflicted, (d) the hungry and thirsty for justice, (e) the merciful, (f) the pure of heart, (g) the peacemakers and (h) those persecuted for justice (Mt 5:3-10). Luke reduces them to four categories: (a) the poor, (b) the hungry, (c) those who are sad and (d) those who are persecuted (Lk 6:20-22). Only those who belong to one of these categories mentioned in the Beatitudes will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the narrow door. It is the new view of the salvation which Jesus communicates to us. There is no other door! It is a question of the conversion which Jesus asks of us. And He insists: “Try your hardest to enter by the narrow door, because I tell you many will try to enter and will not succeed. Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself standing outside knocking on the door, saying ‘Lord, open to us’, but He will answer, ‘I do not know where you come from’”. Concerning the hour of judgment, now is the favorable time for conversion, to change our opinion, our view of salvation and to enter into one of the eight categories.
● Luke 13:26-28: The tragic misunderstanding. God responds to the one who knocks at the door: “I do not know where you come from.” But they insist and argue, “We have eaten and we drank in Your presence, You taught on our streets!” It is not sufficient to have eaten with Jesus, to have participated in the multiplication of the loaves and to have listened to His teachings on the streets of the cities and villages! It is not sufficient to be in Church and to have participated in catechism class. God will answer, “I do not know where you come from; away from Me, all evil doers!” This is a tragic misunderstanding and a total lack of conversion. Jesus considers unjust what others consider just and pleasing to God. It is a totally new way of seeing our salvation. The door is truly narrow.
● Luke 13:29-30: The key that explains the misunderstanding. “People from east and west, from north and south, will come and sit down at the feast in the Kingdom of God. Look, there are those now last who will be the first, and those now first who will be last.” It is a matter of the great change which takes place with the coming of God down to us in Jesus. All people will have access and will pass through the narrow door.
4) Personal questions
● To have a clear objective and to travel toward Jerusalem: are
the objectives of my life clear or do I allow myself to be blown around by the
wind of public opinion?
● The narrow door. What idea do I have of God, of life, and of salvation?
● If “only those who belong to one of these categories mentioned in the Beatitudes will enter the Kingdom of Heaven”, what of the Commandments? What constitutes belonging to one of these categories? Is there a “more perfect” belonging in some ways than in others? How does it all come together?
● The narrow door. What idea do I have of God, of life, and of salvation?
● If “only those who belong to one of these categories mentioned in the Beatitudes will enter the Kingdom of Heaven”, what of the Commandments? What constitutes belonging to one of these categories? Is there a “more perfect” belonging in some ways than in others? How does it all come together?
5) Concluding prayer
All Your creatures shall thank You, Yahweh,
and Your faithful shall bless You.
They shall speak of the glory of Your kingship
and tell of Your might. (Ps 145:10-11)
and Your faithful shall bless You.
They shall speak of the glory of Your kingship
and tell of Your might. (Ps 145:10-11)
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