Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 129
Lectionary: 129
Who can know God’s
counsel,
or who can conceive what the LORD intends?
For the deliberations of mortals are timid,
and unsure are our plans.
For the corruptible body burdens the soul
and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.
And scarce do we guess the things on earth,
and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty;
but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?
Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom
and sent your holy spirit from on high?
And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.
or who can conceive what the LORD intends?
For the deliberations of mortals are timid,
and unsure are our plans.
For the corruptible body burdens the soul
and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.
And scarce do we guess the things on earth,
and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty;
but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?
Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom
and sent your holy spirit from on high?
And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.
Responsorial PsalmPS 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14-17
R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our
refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Reading 2PHMN 9-10, 12-17
I, Paul, an old
man,
and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus,
urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,
whose father I have become in my imprisonment;
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
I should have liked to retain him for myself,
so that he might serve me on your behalf
in my imprisonment for the gospel,
but I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.
Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,
that you might have him back forever,
no longer as a slave
but more than a slave, a brother,
beloved especially to me, but even more so to you,
as a man and in the Lord.
So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus,
urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,
whose father I have become in my imprisonment;
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
I should have liked to retain him for myself,
so that he might serve me on your behalf
in my imprisonment for the gospel,
but I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.
Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,
that you might have him back forever,
no longer as a slave
but more than a slave, a brother,
beloved especially to me, but even more so to you,
as a man and in the Lord.
So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
GospelLK 14:25-33
Great crowds were
traveling with Jesus,
and he turned and addressed them,
“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’
Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
In the same way,
anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”
and he turned and addressed them,
“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’
Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
In the same way,
anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”
Scripture Study
September 8, 2013
Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
The
readings for the Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time ask us to look at our
commitment to discipleship and the process by which we make decisions. Where do
we seek wisdom and how committed are we to the values and ideals of Jesus? What
has been the cost of discipleship for me? Is there good news for me to be found
in that cost? What is required for me to move closer to radical discipleship?
First Reading: Wisdom 9: 13-18b
13 For what man knows God's counsel, or who can conceive what our LORD intends? 14 For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. 15 For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. 16 And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out? 17 Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given Wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? 18 And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight, and men learned what was your pleasure, and were saved by Wisdom.
NOTES on First Reading:
This reading is taken from Solomon's prayer for wisdom which makes up all of Chapter 9. In it Solomon seems to equate Wisdom with the Holy Spirit.
* 9:14 "Timid" means uncertain.
* 9:15 This verse does not call matter evil; it merely says that our deliberations and understanding is weak and earthbound because of the body and its concerns.
* 9:17 "Counsel" here and in verse 13 probably refers to what God wishes people to do rather than God's plan.
Second Reading: Philemon 9-10, 12-17
9 I rather urge you out of love, being as I am, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus. 10 I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, 11 who was once useless to you but is now useful to (both) you and me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary. 15 Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord. 17 So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
NOTES on Second Reading:
The letter to Philemon is very short, only one chapter long. It comes with a very interesting context. Onesimus was Philemon's runaway slave. He met Paul while the Apostle was in prison, probably in Ephesus. Eventually Onesimus was converted and baptized by Paul. Paul wrote the letter for Onesimus to carry back with him when he returned to Philemon. Philemon as owner had the legal right to severely punish Onesimus for running away or even to execute him as a warning to other slaves. Paul reminds Philemon that Onesimus is now his brother in Christ. This relationship precludes any harsh treatment. We have no record of Philemon's response. We don't know what he did. In some sense each of us are called to make similar choices. How do we respond to the radical equality that baptism creates when it demolishes the social and economic barriers separating us and forms the bonds linking each of us to Jesus and to each other as brothers and sisters? How do we react when the requirements of the Gospel clash with social and economic conventions in our lives?
* 9 The word, "presbytes", meaning "old man" appears in all manuscripts. Some prefer to read it as "presbeutes" which means ambassador as in 2 Cor 5:20 and a few insist that "presbytes" itself can have this meaning (2 Macc 11:34). Most consider this meaning unlikely in this context and think that Paul is referring to his status as an elder in ministry and in age.
* 10 This refers to Onesimus's conversion (See 1 Cor 4:15,17; Gal 4:19). It may also be a play on words referring to the name, Onesimus, which means "Profitable One" or "useful." Implication is that now, as a Christian, Onesimus will live up to his name.
* 14 Paul does not challenge Philemon's right to the slave but expresses a desire to have him stay to help him.
* 15-16 The Greek translated "was away from" literally means "was separated from" and is a euphemism for running away. Forever has a double meaning including both greater faithfulness in this life and a new relationship as brothers in Christ that even death can't break. They are brothers now since they are both God's children as Christians.
Gospel Reading: Luke 14: 25-33
25 Great crowds were traveling with him, and he turned and addressed them, 26"If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? 29 Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him 30 and say, 'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.' 31 Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 32 But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 33 In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple."
NOTES on Gospel:
* 14:26-27 The English translation seems somewhat more harsh than the original because English does not normally use such extreme language. The use of extreme terms such as love/hate is part of the manner of expression of the place and time. The point is that total commitment is required of a disciple of Jesus. Too much softening of the language may deprive the statement of its power. The totality and completeness of the commitment is stated starkly. Nothing, not spouse, not children, not even life itself is to be placed ahead of our commitment to Jesus.
* 14:28-32 These two parables focus on the need for proper reflection before making the choice and taking action. Those who wish to follow Jesus must carefully consider the cost of discipleship and then after choosing, they must steadfastly refuse to be deterred by any obstacle or required sacrifice. They must be willing to give up anything and everything to follow Jesus.
* 14:33 This verse is not a command to give up all your possessions. Rather it requires that one must be willing to renounce all for the sake of the Kingdom.
13 For what man knows God's counsel, or who can conceive what our LORD intends? 14 For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. 15 For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. 16 And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out? 17 Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given Wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? 18 And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight, and men learned what was your pleasure, and were saved by Wisdom.
NOTES on First Reading:
This reading is taken from Solomon's prayer for wisdom which makes up all of Chapter 9. In it Solomon seems to equate Wisdom with the Holy Spirit.
* 9:14 "Timid" means uncertain.
* 9:15 This verse does not call matter evil; it merely says that our deliberations and understanding is weak and earthbound because of the body and its concerns.
* 9:17 "Counsel" here and in verse 13 probably refers to what God wishes people to do rather than God's plan.
Second Reading: Philemon 9-10, 12-17
9 I rather urge you out of love, being as I am, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus. 10 I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, 11 who was once useless to you but is now useful to (both) you and me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary. 15 Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord. 17 So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
NOTES on Second Reading:
The letter to Philemon is very short, only one chapter long. It comes with a very interesting context. Onesimus was Philemon's runaway slave. He met Paul while the Apostle was in prison, probably in Ephesus. Eventually Onesimus was converted and baptized by Paul. Paul wrote the letter for Onesimus to carry back with him when he returned to Philemon. Philemon as owner had the legal right to severely punish Onesimus for running away or even to execute him as a warning to other slaves. Paul reminds Philemon that Onesimus is now his brother in Christ. This relationship precludes any harsh treatment. We have no record of Philemon's response. We don't know what he did. In some sense each of us are called to make similar choices. How do we respond to the radical equality that baptism creates when it demolishes the social and economic barriers separating us and forms the bonds linking each of us to Jesus and to each other as brothers and sisters? How do we react when the requirements of the Gospel clash with social and economic conventions in our lives?
* 9 The word, "presbytes", meaning "old man" appears in all manuscripts. Some prefer to read it as "presbeutes" which means ambassador as in 2 Cor 5:20 and a few insist that "presbytes" itself can have this meaning (2 Macc 11:34). Most consider this meaning unlikely in this context and think that Paul is referring to his status as an elder in ministry and in age.
* 10 This refers to Onesimus's conversion (See 1 Cor 4:15,17; Gal 4:19). It may also be a play on words referring to the name, Onesimus, which means "Profitable One" or "useful." Implication is that now, as a Christian, Onesimus will live up to his name.
* 14 Paul does not challenge Philemon's right to the slave but expresses a desire to have him stay to help him.
* 15-16 The Greek translated "was away from" literally means "was separated from" and is a euphemism for running away. Forever has a double meaning including both greater faithfulness in this life and a new relationship as brothers in Christ that even death can't break. They are brothers now since they are both God's children as Christians.
Gospel Reading: Luke 14: 25-33
25 Great crowds were traveling with him, and he turned and addressed them, 26"If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? 29 Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him 30 and say, 'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.' 31 Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 32 But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 33 In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple."
NOTES on Gospel:
* 14:26-27 The English translation seems somewhat more harsh than the original because English does not normally use such extreme language. The use of extreme terms such as love/hate is part of the manner of expression of the place and time. The point is that total commitment is required of a disciple of Jesus. Too much softening of the language may deprive the statement of its power. The totality and completeness of the commitment is stated starkly. Nothing, not spouse, not children, not even life itself is to be placed ahead of our commitment to Jesus.
* 14:28-32 These two parables focus on the need for proper reflection before making the choice and taking action. Those who wish to follow Jesus must carefully consider the cost of discipleship and then after choosing, they must steadfastly refuse to be deterred by any obstacle or required sacrifice. They must be willing to give up anything and everything to follow Jesus.
* 14:33 This verse is not a command to give up all your possessions. Rather it requires that one must be willing to renounce all for the sake of the Kingdom.
Meditation: Whoever does not bear his own cross"
Why does
Jesus say we must 'hate' our families and even ourselves? The expression 'to
hate' often meant to 'prefer less'. Jesus used strong language to make clear
that nothing should take precedence or first place in our lives over God. Jesus
knew that the way of the cross was the Father's way to glory and victory over
sin and death. He counted the cost and said 'yes' to his Father's will. We,
too, must 'count the cost' and be ready to follow Jesus in the way of the cross
if we want to share in his glory and victory. What is the 'way of the cross'
for you and for me? When my will crosses with God's will, then his will must be
done. The way of the cross involves sacrifice, the sacrifice of laying down my
life each and every day for Jesus' sake. What makes such sacrifice possible and
"sweet" for us is the love of God poured out for us in the blood of
Jesus Christ. Paul the Apostle reminds us that "God's love has
been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit" (Romans
5:5). We can never outgive God. He always gives us more than we can expect or
imagine. Do you allow the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with the love of God?
What does
the parable of the tower builder and a ruler on a war campaign have in common?
Both risk serious loss if they don't carefully plan ahead. In a shame and honor
culture people want to avoid at all costs being mocked by their community for
failing to complete a task they began in earnest. This double parable echoes
the instruction of Proverbs: "By wisdom a house is built" and
"by wise guidance you can wage a war" to ensure victory (Proverbs
24:3-6). Every landowner who could afford it walled in his orchard as a protection
from intruders who might steal or harm his produce. A tower was usually built
in a corner of the wall and a guard posted especially during harvest time when
thieves would likely try to make off with the goods. Starting a
building-project, like a watchtower, and leaving it unfinished because of poor
planning would invite the scorn of the whole village. Likewise a king who
decided to wage a war against an opponent who was much stronger, would be
considered foolish if he did not come up with a plan that had a decent chance
of success.
Jesus
tells his would-be disciples that they, too, must count the cost if they want
to succeed as his disciples. Jesus assures success for those willing to pay the
price. All it cost is everything! What does Jesus have to offer that's worth
giving up everything else? More than we can imagine! Jesus offers the gift of
abundant life and everlasting peace and happiness with God. (See the parable of
the treasure hidden in the field and the pearl of
great price in Matthew 13:44-45). It's natural to ask
what will it require of me or cost me before I sign up or agree to pay for
something. Jesus was utterly honest and spared no words to tell his disciples
that it would cost them dearly to follow after him. There can be no room for
compromise or concession with God. We either give our lives over to him
entirely or we keep them for ourselves. Paul the Apostle says, "We
are not our own. We were bought with a price" ( 1 Corinthians
6:19b,20). That price is the precious blood of Jesus Christ shed for us
upon the cross to redeem us from slavery to sin and death.
The love
of God compels us to choose who or what will be first in our lives. To place
any relationship or any possession above God is a form of idolatry. Jesus
challenges his disciples to examine who they love first and foremost. Jesus'
way to glory and power is opposite the world's way of glory, power, and
success. The choice is ours, but the Lord does not leave us alone if we choose
to follow him. Does the love of Christ compel you to put God first in all you
do (see 2 Corinthians 5)?
"Lord
Jesus, may your love transform me that I may truly desire nothing more than life
with you. May you always be first in my thoughts and intentions, and in my
words and actions."
 |
|
Twenty-Third Sunday
in Ordinary Time
|
|
Father Patrick
Butler, LC
Luke 14: 25-33
Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and
he turned and addressed them, "If any one comes to me without hating his
father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own
life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come
after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for
its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself
unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ´This
one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.´ Or what king
marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten
thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him
with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will
send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you
who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple."
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to you once again in prayer. Even though I
cannot see you, my faith tells me that you are present. You are ready to
listen and desire to speak with me. Your presence gives me hope, because you
are the all-powerful God, the creator of heaven and earth. You are the source
of all that is good in my life. Nothing happens to me without your knowing
and permitting it. My hope leads me to love. I want to be one with you in
mind and heart, identifying myself with your will and your standards.
Petition: Lord, help me to pick up my cross and follow
you.
1. The Crowd and the Disciples: “Great crowds” followed Jesus. His popularity
increased. The time was ripe to win over the crowds with some promise of
well-being. However, Jesus does not act like a politician. It’s not about
winning votes, but about winning souls with a message of salvation. It’s not
about empty promises, but about promises of eternal fulfillment for those who
follow him. He calls me to be one of his few faithful disciples, who esteem
all things as rubbish to attain Christ.
2. Hate and Love: St. John tells me that “God is love.” Jesus
himself tells me that the greatest commandments are to love God above all
else and to love my neighbor as myself. Why then does he ask me to “hate” so
many lovable people and things? Perhaps the better expression is to
“renounce.” Jesus asks me to love only one thing — rather, one person —
absolutely. Only God should be the absolute center of my life. All other
loves come after and are at the service of this supreme love. Is there
something or someone that competes with God for first place in my life?
3. Opt for the Cross: If Jesus’ message is not softened, it is a
difficult message. Carrying one’s own cross, shouldering the instrument of
torture and death is the equivalent of cooperating in one’s own death. That’s
what Christ asks me to “sit down and decide” if I am willing to do. It is the
condition for becoming his disciple and for making it to the end of my life
as a faithful friend and follower of my Lord.
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus Christ, you lead me by example. I
thank and praise you, because you go before me and show me the way. You also
give me strength to carry my cross every day. So, as I kneel down and
consider what you ask of your followers, I decide to undertake this arduous
task out of love for you.
Resolution: Looking ahead to what this day holds for me,
I can identify my cross. I will resolve to carry it, asking God’s help in
prayer and striving to bear it with spiritual joy.
|
SUNDAY,
SEPTEMBER 8
TWENTY
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
LUKE 14:25-33
(Wisdom 9:13-18b; Psalm 90; Philemon 9-10, 12-17)
KEY VERSE: "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple" (v 27).
READING: As Jesus drew closer to his destiny in Jerusalem, he asked his followers to consider whether or not they were prepared to continue the journey. Were they ready to renounce everything, even personal relationships that might interfere with their following him? Jesus asked his disciples to think carefully about the demands that were ahead of them before they made this commitment. He used two examples to explain the need to be prepared. Before a builder could begin construction, he must make an assessment of his materials; otherwise, he might not be able to complete the job. A ruler should weigh the strength of his army before going to battle, or else he might be defeated. Only those who were fully prepared would be able to follow Jesus to the cross that awaited him.
REFLECTING: Pray for those in ministry who make great sacrifices for the sake of the gospel.
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to examine my spiritual strengths and weaknesses so that I can follow you
In every age, O Lord, you have been
our refuge.
Who then can discover what is in the heavens?The readings today bring a deep humility to our thinking. The psalm reminds us of the timelessness of God; the Book of Wisdom suggests we cannot comprehend God’s intentions nor ‘discover what is in the heavens’. Here we learn that through the Holy Spirit our lives begin to make more sense by the workings of Wisdom. Indeed it seems we need to draw on that wisdom to understand and follow Jesus’ teachings.
In Luke’s reading, we hear how we need to ‘hate’ the closest members of our family - in effect, to detach ourselves from the things of the secular world. How can we live as functioning members of our world in the ways of the Spirit? How can we bring that Spirit into every encounter? How can we be the voice of Wisdom in all our dealings?
September 8
Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Church has celebrated Mary's birth since at least the sixth
century. A September birth was chosen because the Eastern Church begins its
Church year with September. The September 8 date helped determine the date for
the feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 (nine months earlier).
Scripture
does not give an account of Mary's birth. However, the apocryphalProtoevangelium
of James fills in the gap. This work has no historical value, but it
does reflect the development of Christian piety. According to this account,
Anna and Joachim are infertile but pray for a child. They receive the promise
of a child that will advance God's plan of salvation for the world. Such a
story (like many biblical counterparts) stresses the special presence of God in
Mary's life from the beginning.
St.
Augustine (August 28) connects Mary's birth with Jesus' saving work. He tells
the earth to rejoice and shine forth in the light of her birth. "She is
the flower of the field from whom bloomed the precious lily of the valley.
Through her birth the nature inherited from our first parents is changed."
The opening prayer at Mass speaks of the birth of Mary's Son as the dawn of our
salvation and asks for an increase of peace.
Comment:
We can see every human birth as a call for new hope in the world. The love of two human beings has joined with God in his creative work. The loving parents have shown hope in a world filled with travail. The new child has the potential to be a channel of God's love and peace to the world.
We can see every human birth as a call for new hope in the world. The love of two human beings has joined with God in his creative work. The loving parents have shown hope in a world filled with travail. The new child has the potential to be a channel of God's love and peace to the world.
This is all true in a
magnificent way in Mary. If Jesus is the perfect expression of God's love, Mary
is the foreshadowing of that love. If Jesus has brought the fullness of
salvation, Mary is its dawning.
Birthday celebrations
bring happiness to the celebrant as well as to family and friends. Next to the
birth of Jesus, Mary's birth offers the greatest possible happiness to the
world. Each time we celebrate her birth we can confidently hope for an increase
of peace in our hearts and in the world at large.
Quote:
"Today the barren Anna claps her hands for joy, the earth radiates with light, kings sing their happiness, priests enjoy every blessing, the entire universe rejoices, for she who is queen and the Father's immaculate bride buds forth from the stem of Jesse" (adapted from Byzantine Daily Worship).
"Today the barren Anna claps her hands for joy, the earth radiates with light, kings sing their happiness, priests enjoy every blessing, the entire universe rejoices, for she who is queen and the Father's immaculate bride buds forth from the stem of Jesse" (adapted from Byzantine Daily Worship).
LECTIO: 23RD
SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)
Lectio:
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Conditions of discipleship of Jesus
Luke 14:25-33
Luke 14:25-33
Opening prayer
Shaddai, God of the mountain,
You who make of our fragile life
the rock of your dwelling place,
lead our mind
to strike the rock of the desert,
so that water may gush to quench our thirst.
May the poverty of our feelings
cover us as with a mantle in the darkness of the night
and may it open our heart to hear the echo of silence
until the dawn,
wrapping us with the light of the new morning,
may bring us,
with the spent embers of the fire of the shepherds of the Absolute
who have kept vigil for us close to the divine Master,
the flavour of the holy memory.
Shaddai, God of the mountain,
You who make of our fragile life
the rock of your dwelling place,
lead our mind
to strike the rock of the desert,
so that water may gush to quench our thirst.
May the poverty of our feelings
cover us as with a mantle in the darkness of the night
and may it open our heart to hear the echo of silence
until the dawn,
wrapping us with the light of the new morning,
may bring us,
with the spent embers of the fire of the shepherds of the Absolute
who have kept vigil for us close to the divine Master,
the flavour of the holy memory.
1. LECTIO
a) The text:
25 Now
great multitudes accompanied him; and he turned and said to them, 26 "If
any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and
children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my
disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be
my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit
down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise,
when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin
to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build, and was not able to finish.'
31 Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down
first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who
comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a
great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace. 33 So therefore,
whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
b) A
moment of silence:
Let us allow the voice of the Word to resonate within us.
2. MEDITATIO
Let us allow the voice of the Word to resonate within us.
2. MEDITATIO
a) Some
questions:
- If
any man comes to me without hating . . . . he cannot be my disciple: Are we
convinced that we must get to the point of separating ourselves from all that
ties our hearts: affection received and given, life itself, in order to follow
Jesus?
- Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple: Do I possess the logic of the cross, that is, the logic of love freely given?
- The means to fulfil this: does my capability to think inform my life of faith or is it just an interior impulse that dissolves with time and slips by the events of my daily life?
- To avoid having onlookers make fun of something started: does the reward of someone who started to follow the Lord and then did not have the human resources to go on, that is, derision for inability, apply to me?
- None of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions: am I convinced that the key to discipleship is the poverty of non-possession and the beatitude of belonging?
- Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple: Do I possess the logic of the cross, that is, the logic of love freely given?
- The means to fulfil this: does my capability to think inform my life of faith or is it just an interior impulse that dissolves with time and slips by the events of my daily life?
- To avoid having onlookers make fun of something started: does the reward of someone who started to follow the Lord and then did not have the human resources to go on, that is, derision for inability, apply to me?
- None of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions: am I convinced that the key to discipleship is the poverty of non-possession and the beatitude of belonging?
b) A
key to the reading:
We are
among those who follow Jesus, with all our baggage of the past. One among so
many, our name can be lost. But when He turns around and his word strikes the
pain of the ties that strongly bind the pieces of our life, questions roll in
the most ancient valley of echoes and one single humble reply comes forth from
the ruins of unfinished edifices: Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the
words of eternal life.
v.
25-26. Great crowds accompanied him on his way and he turned and
spoke to them: «If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife,
children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my
disciple”. The Lord is not interested in counting those who come to
him. His words are strong and are free of all illusion. Is there anyone who
does not know what it means to hate? If I hate a person, I stay away from that
person. This choice between the Lord and affection for parents is the first demand
of discipleship. To learn from Christ, it is necessary to find once more the
nucleus of every love and interest. The love of a follower of the Lord is not a
possessive love, but a love of freedom. To follow someone without any
guarantees such as blood relationship can give, namely, family ties and one’s
own blood, that is, one’s life, is discipleship, a place where life is born of
divine Wisdom.
v. 27. Anyone who does not carry his cross
and come after me cannot be my disciple. The only tie that
helps us follow Jesus is the cross. This symbol of love that cannot be taken
back, capable of being word even when the world silences everything by
condemnation and death, is the lesson of the Rabbi born in the smallest village
in Judea. .
v. 28. Which
of you here, intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and work out
the cost to see if he had enough to complete it? To
build a tower requires a large sum for someone who has limited resources. A
good intention to build is not enough, it is necessary to sit down, calculate
expenses, seek the means to bring the project to completion. Man’s life is
incomplete and unsatisfied because the larger the project the larger the debt!
A project made to measure: not to know how to calculate what is within our
means to accomplish is not the wisdom of those who after having ploughed wait
for the rain, but the lack of awareness of those to expect flowers and harvest
from seed thrown among stones and brambles, without making the effort to loosen
the soil.
v.
29-30. Otherwise if he laid the foundation and then found himself
unable to finish the work, the onlookers would all start making fun of him and
saying: “Here is a man who started to build and was unable to finish”. The
derision of others which grates like sand on one’s the feelings of hope of the
person who wanted to reach high on his own, is the reward of one’s own
arrogance clothed in good will. How many humiliations do we not carry with us,
but what little fruit do we reap from these painful experiences! Putting down
foundations and then not finish the building is useless. Shattered desires
sometimes are good tutors to our naïve self-affirmation… but we fail to
understand them so long as we try to cover up our failures and the delusion of
our waking up from the fairytale world of the dreams of our childhood. Yes,
Jesus does tell us to become childlike, but a child will never pretend to build
a “real” tower! The child will be happy with a small tower on the beach,
because he/she knows well his/her capacity.
vv.
31-32. Or, again, what king marching to war against another king
would not first sit down an consider whether with ten thousand men he could
stand up to the other who advanced against him with twenty thousand? If not,
then while the other king was still a long way off, he would send envoys to sue
for peace. No one can win a war without first sending envoys of
peace. To fight for royal supremacy over every other is in itself a lost
battle, because man is not called to be a ruling king, but the lord of peace.
Approaching the other while still a long way away is the most beautiful sign of
victory where no one wins and no one loses, but all become servants of the one
true sovereignty in the world: peace and fullness of the gifts of God.
v. 33. So,
in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his
possessions. If we examine the capital sins, we shall discover them in
the manner of possessing that Jesus speaks of. A person who bases his/her life
on possessions is a dissolute person who pretends having power over all things
(pride), enjoying a life of pleasure (lust) going beyond the limits as a
personal right (anger), being hungry for material goods (gluttony), stealing
from others (envy), keeping things for him/herself (avarice), spoiling him/herself
apathetically without committing to anything (sloth). The disciple, on the
other hand, travels on the rails of the living virtues of the gifts of the
Spirit: he/she is a person who has a sense of the things of God (wisdom) and
shares it without keeping it to him/herself, and delves deep into the essential
meaning of all that is Life (knowledge), who listens to the voice of the Spirit
(counsel), and reflects on every discernment (counsel), who allows him/herself
to be protected by the limitations of his/her being (fortitude) and does not
give in to the allurement of sin, who knows the secrets of history (knowledge)
to build horizons of goodness, who does not take unto him/herself the right of
making sense, but who welcomes the source of divine intervention (piety) who
springs from the abyss of silence and is thankful for the marvels of grace of
his Creator (fear of God) without being afraid of his/her smallness. Thus a
disciple is another Jesus.
c)
Reflection:
Our
hearts are nets made of chain. We have ties of tenderness and gratitude, ties
of love and dependence, endless ties with everything that touches our feelings.
Jesus speaks of ties of consanguinity: father, mother, wife, children,
brothers, sisters, and of ties with life itself which in the Semitic mentality
is symbolised by blood. But the heart must be free of these ties in order to go
to Him and create a new tie that gives life because it gives the person freedom
to be his/her authentic self. Every disciple has but one task: to learn and not
to depend. Blood ties create dependence: how often does affective blackmail
stop people from building the tower of their existence? How often do the words:
If you love me, do this! Or: If you love me, do not do this…? Life itself can
imprison you when it ties you to that which does not suit you physically or
mentally thus influencing your complicated story, or when it ties you to that
which you choose haphazardly by a will made weak by a thousand grids of events
and blackmail. The cross does not tie, it urges that all that you have may be
shed, blood and water, even to the last drop: your whole life as a gift that
does not expect any reward. To belong rather than to possess is the secret of
the gratuitous love of the Master and of the disciple. Anyone who follows Jesus
is not just any disciple who learns a doctrine, but is one who becomes a
beloved disciple, capable of narrating the wonders of God when the fire of the
Spirit will turn him/her into a flame on the candlestick of the world.
3. ORATIO
Psalm
22
The
Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want;
he makes me lie down in green pastures.
I shall not want;
he makes me lie down in green pastures.
He
leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
he restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
I fear no evil;
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou
prepares a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.
in the presence of my enemies;
thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
4. CONTEMPLATIO
Lord,
as you turn around and look at me, your words go through my mind and challenge
me with everything that is my life. It is as though a pair of scissors
unhesitatingly but sweetly cut the umbilical cords that nourish me to keep me
going. And this certain and necessary action restores my full breath and my
freedom. Scripture says in its first pages of the human race: Man will leave
his father and mother and will go towards a new fullness, all his, towards the
unity of one person, capable of bearing fruit and new life. But we have not
grasped the key word of this magnificent project, a word that inconveniences
because it is like the waves of the sea where you cannot let yourself go with
no security, the word: movement. Life does not stop. A love and a life received
from a father and a mother. Yes, a full love, but one that does not limit
horizons. Man will leave… and will go… A man and a woman, two in one, children
who will be the face of their meeting of love, but who tomorrow will leave to
go in their turn… if you stop to grasp life, life dies in your grasp. And with
life also your unfulfilled dream dies, the dream of a full love that is never
exhausted. Lord, grant us to understand that to love is to follow, to listen,
to go, to stop, to lose oneself in order to find oneself in a movement of
freedom that fulfils every desire for eternal possession. Let me not, for the
sake of possessing a part of life, lose the joy of belonging to life, to that
divine Life that comes and goes in me for others and from others to me to make
of the days that go by waves of Freedom and of gift from God within the
limitations of each life. Grant that I may always be the beloved disciple of
your dying Life, capable of welcoming in inheritance the sonship and
guardianship, in your Spirit, of every authentic motherhood.
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