Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 441
Lectionary: 441
Brothers and sisters:
If I preach the Gospel, this is no reason for me to boast,
for an obligation has been imposed on me,
and woe to me if I do not preach it!
If I do so willingly, I have a recompense,
but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
What then is my recompense?
That, when I preach, I offer the Gospel free of charge
so as not to make full use of my right in the Gospel.
Although I am free in regard to all,
I have made myself a slave to all
so as to win over as many as possible.
I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
All this I do for the sake of the Gospel,
so that I too may have a share in it.
Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race,
but only one wins the prize?
Run so as to win.
Every athlete exercises discipline in every way.
They do it to win a perishable crown,
but we an imperishable one.
Thus I do not run aimlessly;
I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing.
No, I drive my body and train it,
for fear that, after having preached to others,
I myself should be disqualified.
If I preach the Gospel, this is no reason for me to boast,
for an obligation has been imposed on me,
and woe to me if I do not preach it!
If I do so willingly, I have a recompense,
but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
What then is my recompense?
That, when I preach, I offer the Gospel free of charge
so as not to make full use of my right in the Gospel.
Although I am free in regard to all,
I have made myself a slave to all
so as to win over as many as possible.
I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
All this I do for the sake of the Gospel,
so that I too may have a share in it.
Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race,
but only one wins the prize?
Run so as to win.
Every athlete exercises discipline in every way.
They do it to win a perishable crown,
but we an imperishable one.
Thus I do not run aimlessly;
I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing.
No, I drive my body and train it,
for fear that, after having preached to others,
I myself should be disqualified.
Responsorial Psalm PS 84:3, 4, 5-6, 12
R. (2) How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty
God!
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young—
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
their hearts are set upon the pilgrimage.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
For a sun and a shield is the LORD God;
grace and glory he bestows;
The LORD withholds no good thing
from those who walk in sincerity.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young—
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
their hearts are set upon the pilgrimage.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
For a sun and a shield is the LORD God;
grace and glory he bestows;
The LORD withholds no good thing
from those who walk in sincerity.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Gospel LK
6:39-42
Jesus told his disciples a parable:
“Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained,
every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”
“Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained,
every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”
Meditation: "Do
you not see the log in your own eye?"
Are you clear-sighted, especially in your perception of sin and
the need for each of one of us to see ourselves correctly as God sees us - with
our faults,weaknesses, and strengths? Jesus' two parables about poor vision
allude to the proverb: Without vision the people perish! (Proverbs
29:18) What can we learn from the illustration of a blind guide and a bad eye
(the log in the eye)? A bad eye left
untreated and a blind guide can cause a lot of trouble that
will only end in misery and disaster for us! We can only help and teach
others what we have learned and received from wise teachers and guides. And how
can we help others overcome their faults if we are blinded by our own faults
and misperceptions? We are all in need of a physician who can help us overcome
the blind spots and failing of own sins, weaknesses, and ignorance.
Overcoming blind spots in our own lives
The Gospel of Luke was written by a disciple who was trained as a physician. Luke, with keen insight, portrays Jesus as the good physician and shepherd of souls who seeks out those who desire healing, pardon,and restoration of body, mind, and spirit. Jesus came to free us from the worst oppression possible - slavery to sin, fear, and condemnation. Like a gentle and skillful doctor, the Lord Jesus exposes the cancer of sin, evil, and oppression in our lives so we can be set free and restored to wholeness. A key step to healing and restoration requires that we first submit to the physician who can heal us. The Lord Jesus is our great Physician because he heals the whole person - soul and body, mind and heart - and restores us to abundant life both now and in eternity.
The Gospel of Luke was written by a disciple who was trained as a physician. Luke, with keen insight, portrays Jesus as the good physician and shepherd of souls who seeks out those who desire healing, pardon,and restoration of body, mind, and spirit. Jesus came to free us from the worst oppression possible - slavery to sin, fear, and condemnation. Like a gentle and skillful doctor, the Lord Jesus exposes the cancer of sin, evil, and oppression in our lives so we can be set free and restored to wholeness. A key step to healing and restoration requires that we first submit to the physician who can heal us. The Lord Jesus is our great Physician because he heals the whole person - soul and body, mind and heart - and restores us to abundant life both now and in eternity.
Thinking the best of others
The Lord Jesus wants to heal and restore us to wholeness, not only for our own sake alone. He also wants us to be his instruments of healing, pardon, and restoration for others as well. What can hinder us from helping others draw near to Jesus the divine Physican? The Rabbis taught: "He who judges his neighbor favorably will be judged favorably by God." How easy it is to misjudge others and how difficult it is to be impartial in giving good judgment. Our judgment of others is usually "off the mark" because we can't see inside the other person, or we don't have access to all the facts, or we are swayed by instinct and unreasoning reactions to people. It is easier to find fault in others than in oneself. A critical and judgmental spirit crushes rather than heals, oppresses rather than restores, repels rather than attracts. "Thinking the best of other people" is necessary if we wish to grow in love. And kindliness in judgment is nothing less that a sacred duty.
The Lord Jesus wants to heal and restore us to wholeness, not only for our own sake alone. He also wants us to be his instruments of healing, pardon, and restoration for others as well. What can hinder us from helping others draw near to Jesus the divine Physican? The Rabbis taught: "He who judges his neighbor favorably will be judged favorably by God." How easy it is to misjudge others and how difficult it is to be impartial in giving good judgment. Our judgment of others is usually "off the mark" because we can't see inside the other person, or we don't have access to all the facts, or we are swayed by instinct and unreasoning reactions to people. It is easier to find fault in others than in oneself. A critical and judgmental spirit crushes rather than heals, oppresses rather than restores, repels rather than attracts. "Thinking the best of other people" is necessary if we wish to grow in love. And kindliness in judgment is nothing less that a sacred duty.
What you give to others will return to you
Jesus states a heavenly principle we can stake our lives on: what you give to others (and how you treat others) will return to you (Mark 4:24). The Lord knows our faults and he sees all, even the imperfections and sins of the heart which we cannot recognize in ourselves. Like a gentle father and a skillful doctor he patiently draws us to his seat of mercy and removes the cancer of sin which inhabits our hearts. Do you trust in God's mercy and grace? Ask the Lord to flood your heart with his loving-kindness and mercy that you may only have room for charity, forbearance, and kindness towards your neighbor.
Jesus states a heavenly principle we can stake our lives on: what you give to others (and how you treat others) will return to you (Mark 4:24). The Lord knows our faults and he sees all, even the imperfections and sins of the heart which we cannot recognize in ourselves. Like a gentle father and a skillful doctor he patiently draws us to his seat of mercy and removes the cancer of sin which inhabits our hearts. Do you trust in God's mercy and grace? Ask the Lord to flood your heart with his loving-kindness and mercy that you may only have room for charity, forbearance, and kindness towards your neighbor.
"O Father, give us the humility which realizes its
ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts
rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather
than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at
their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for thy name's sake." (Prayer
of William Barclay, 20th century)
 Leading Others to Heaven |
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September 12, 2014. Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary
Time
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Luke 6: 39-42
He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a
blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the
teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do
you see the speck in your neighbor´s eye, but do not notice the log in your
own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ´Friend, let me take out the
speck in your eye,´ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You
hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see
clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor´s eye.
Introductory Prayer: God the Father, thank you for the gift
of creation, including my own life. God the Son, thank you for redeeming me
at the price of your own Body and Blood. God the Holy Spirit, thank you for
being the sweet guest of my soul, enlightening my mind, strengthening my
spirit and kindling the fire of your love in my heart.
Petition: Lord, help me to grow in humility.
1. Blind Guides: Jesus poses a rhetorical question to
the crowd: “Can a blind person guide a blind person?” It is obvious that a
guide needs to see. If we are talking about guiding people to the kingdom of
God, then Jesus is the way. He is the one who has come from his Father; he
knows the way. First, we can reflect on his importance and centrality to our
journey to heaven. Second, we can also think about ourselves as guides for
others. There should be a certain hesitancy, which is not reluctance, when we
consider the task of leading others to God. We should be humble and remain
very close to the Church that Christ founded to continue his mission on
earth.
2. Disciples: Christ’s next statement emphasizes
that while the disciple is not above his teacher, he can learn as much as the
teacher. The disciple of Jesus can learn from him the steps which lead to
salvation and eternal life. Christ not only founded the Church to continue
his teaching, but he also endowed her with the gift of his Spirit to preserve
her from error. Our confidence in teaching others should derive from the
knowledge that we are in union with the Church and seek to follow her
teachings. Learning is a lifelong process, but religious instruction often
ceases with First Communion or Confirmation, and many adults have only the
religious formation of a child. What are we doing to become fully qualified
in our knowledge of the faith?
3. Hypocrites: Evangelization begins with us. It does
seem that we are much quicker to detect faults in others than to notice them
in ourselves. We can even be really irritated by another person’s faults,
even though we ourselves possess them in greater measure than does the person
about whom we are complaining. The proud person complains loudly of the
conceit and arrogance he sees in his neighbor, but he is blind to his own
vice. We need to consider our own condition first – humbly –, and then we
need to work on truly becoming more Christ-like. The more we allow God’s
grace to transform our lives, the more we can help others.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I am very proud. I so easily get
wrapped up in myself, my perspective, my needs and my wants. I put myself
before others. Help me to see the faults in myself that you want me to start
working on. Give me the courage to address them before I start looking at others.
Resolution: I will identify two or three practical things I can do
this week to grow in the virtue of humility.
By Father Paul Campbell, LC
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, LUKE 6:39-42
(1 Corinthians 9:1-6-19, 22b-27; Psalm 84)
(1 Corinthians 9:1-6-19, 22b-27; Psalm 84)
KEY VERSE: "Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?" (v 41).
READING: Jesus taught his disciples to love their enemies (v 27-36) and to be forgiving, non-judgmental and generous toward others (v 37-38). His disciples must be clear-sighted in their understanding of the gospel. They would be hypocrites if they criticized the mistakes of others and were blind to their own faults. A blind person would be unable to guide another blind person as both might stumble and fall. The disciples could not lead others unless they were able to see their own defects and limitations. Then they would be compassionate when others failed, and could help them overcome their wrongdoings. When these future leaders of the Church were fully trained, they would resemble their teacher, Jesus.
REFLECTING: Am I quick to point out the mistakes of others that I make myself?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, open my eyes to my own faults so that I will not be judgmental of another's shortcomings.
Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of
the Mary
The feast of the Holy Name Mary is a counterpart to the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (January 3). In 1683, John Sobieski, King of Poland, brought an army to the outskirts of Vienna in Austria to stop the advance of Moslem armies. After the king entrusted himself to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he and his soldiers thoroughly defeated the enemy. Pope Innocent XI ordered the feast of Mary's Most Holy Name, which had already been honored in some parts of the Christian world, to be celebrated each year by the universal Church as a perpetual memorial of the great blessing of that victory. Mary always points us to Jesus, reminding us of God's infinite goodness. She helps us to open our hearts to God's ways. Honored under the title “Queen of Peace,” Mary encourages us to cooperate with Jesus in building a peace based on justice and respect for the fundamental human rights of all peoples.
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
‘Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never
notice the plank in your own?’Pope Francis deflected a question about the morality of a particular lifestyle with the now famous quote: ‘Who am I to judge?’ In teaching about the psychological defence mechanism of projection, it is often commented that the behaviours we find most annoying in others can turn out to mirror our own failings. On a larger scale, just this year, some of those who most loudly condemned corruption in a rival political party have been indicted for their own corrupt behaviour. Jesus, you showed us how to live among all kinds of people with an attitude of acceptance and empathy. You welcomed and invited outsiders, often praising their courage to approach you and risk the condemnation of bystanders. Help us to follow your example.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Nothing to Fear
The Most High God came down to us in a perfect way through the
humble Virgin Mary, without losing anything of his divinity or holiness. It is
likewise through Mary that we poor creatures must ascend to almighty God in a perfect
manner without having anything to fear. —St. Louis de Montfort
September
12
Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This feast is a counterpart to the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
(January 3); both have the possibility of uniting people easily divided on
other matters.
The feast
of the Most Holy Name of Mary began in Spain in 1513 and in 1671 was extended
to all of Spain and the Kingdom of Naples. In 1683, John Sobieski, king of
Poland, brought an army to the outskirts of Vienna to stop the advance of
Muslim armies loyal to Mohammed IV in Constantinople. After Sobieski entrusted
himself to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he and his soldiers thoroughly defeated the
Muslims. Pope Innocent XI extended this feast to the entire Church.
Comment:
Mary always points us to God, reminding us of God's infinite goodness. She helps us to open our hearts to God's ways, wherever those may lead us. Honored under the title “Queen of Peace,” Mary encourages us to cooperate with Jesus in building a peace based on justice, a peace that respects the fundamental human rights (including religious rights) of all peoples.
Mary always points us to God, reminding us of God's infinite goodness. She helps us to open our hearts to God's ways, wherever those may lead us. Honored under the title “Queen of Peace,” Mary encourages us to cooperate with Jesus in building a peace based on justice, a peace that respects the fundamental human rights (including religious rights) of all peoples.
Quote:
“Lord our God, when your Son was dying on the altar of the cross, he gave us as our mother the one he had chosen to be his own mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary; grant that we who call upon the holy name of Mary, our mother, with confidence in her protection may receive strength and comfort in all our needs” (Marian Sacramentary, Mass for the Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary).
“Lord our God, when your Son was dying on the altar of the cross, he gave us as our mother the one he had chosen to be his own mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary; grant that we who call upon the holy name of Mary, our mother, with confidence in her protection may receive strength and comfort in all our needs” (Marian Sacramentary, Mass for the Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary).
LECTIO DIVINA:
LUKE 6,39-42
Lectio:
Friday, September 12, 2014 (All day)
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
God our Father,
you redeem us
and make us your children in Christ.
Look upon us,
give us true freedom
and bring us to the inheritance you promised.
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.
you redeem us
and make us your children in Christ.
Look upon us,
give us true freedom
and bring us to the inheritance you promised.
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 6,39-42
Jesus also told them a parable, ‘Can one blind person guide another?
Surely both will fall into a pit? Disciple is not superior to teacher; but
fully trained disciple will be like teacher.
Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the great log in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out that splinter in your eye,” when you cannot see the great log in your own? Hypocrite! Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter in your brother’s eye.
Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the great log in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out that splinter in your eye,” when you cannot see the great log in your own? Hypocrite! Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter in your brother’s eye.
3) Reflection
• Today’s Gospel gives us some passages of the discourse which
Jesus pronounced on the plains after having spent the night in prayer (Lk 6,
12) and after he had called the twelve to be his apostles (Lk 6, 13-14). Many
of the phrases in this discourse had already been pronounced on other
occasions, but Luke, imitating Matthew, puts them together in this Discourse of
the Plains.
• Luke 6, 39: The parable of the blind man who guides another blind man. Jesus tells a parable to the disciples: “Can a blind man guide another blind man? Will not both of them fall into a hole?” A parable of one line, quite similar to the warnings which, in Matthew’s Gospel, are addressed to the Pharisees: “Alas for you, blind guides!” (Mt 23, 16.17.19.24.26) Here in the context of the Gospel of Luke, this parable is addressed to the animators of the communities who consider themselves the masters of truth, superior to others. Because of this they are blind guides.
• Luke 6, 40: Disciple – Master. “The disciple is not greater than the teacher, but the well prepared disciple will be like the teacher” Jesus is the Master, not the professor. The professor in class teaches different subjects, but does not live with the pupils. The Master or Lord does not teach lessons, he lives with the pupils. His subject matter is himself, his life witness, his way of living the things that he teaches. Living together with the Master, the Lord has three aspects: (1) the Master is the model or example to be imitated (cf. Jn 13, 13-15). (2) The disciple not only contemplates and imitates, he commits himself to the same destiny of the Master, with his temptations (Lk 22, 28). His persecution (Mt 10, 24-25), his death (Jn 11, 16); (3) He not only imitates the model, he not only assumes the commitment, but arrives at identifying himself with him: “I live, but it is not I who live, but Christ lives in me!” (Ga 2, 20). This third aspect is the mystical dimension of the following of Jesus, fruit of the action of the Spirit.
• Luke 6,41-42: The splinter in the brother’s eye. “Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the great log in your own? How can you say to your brother: ‘Brother, let me take out that splinter in your eye, when you cannot see the great log in your own? Hypocrite! Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter in your brother’s eye”. In the Sermon on the Mountain, Matthew treats the same theme and explains a bit better the parable of the splinter in the eye. Jesus asks for a creative attitude which will make us capable to go and encounter the others without judging them, without preconceptions and rationalizing, but accepting the brother (Mt 7, 1-5). This total openness toward others considering them as brothers/sisters will arise in us only when we are capable of relating with God with total trust as his children (Mt 7, 7-11).
• Luke 6, 39: The parable of the blind man who guides another blind man. Jesus tells a parable to the disciples: “Can a blind man guide another blind man? Will not both of them fall into a hole?” A parable of one line, quite similar to the warnings which, in Matthew’s Gospel, are addressed to the Pharisees: “Alas for you, blind guides!” (Mt 23, 16.17.19.24.26) Here in the context of the Gospel of Luke, this parable is addressed to the animators of the communities who consider themselves the masters of truth, superior to others. Because of this they are blind guides.
• Luke 6, 40: Disciple – Master. “The disciple is not greater than the teacher, but the well prepared disciple will be like the teacher” Jesus is the Master, not the professor. The professor in class teaches different subjects, but does not live with the pupils. The Master or Lord does not teach lessons, he lives with the pupils. His subject matter is himself, his life witness, his way of living the things that he teaches. Living together with the Master, the Lord has three aspects: (1) the Master is the model or example to be imitated (cf. Jn 13, 13-15). (2) The disciple not only contemplates and imitates, he commits himself to the same destiny of the Master, with his temptations (Lk 22, 28). His persecution (Mt 10, 24-25), his death (Jn 11, 16); (3) He not only imitates the model, he not only assumes the commitment, but arrives at identifying himself with him: “I live, but it is not I who live, but Christ lives in me!” (Ga 2, 20). This third aspect is the mystical dimension of the following of Jesus, fruit of the action of the Spirit.
• Luke 6,41-42: The splinter in the brother’s eye. “Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the great log in your own? How can you say to your brother: ‘Brother, let me take out that splinter in your eye, when you cannot see the great log in your own? Hypocrite! Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter in your brother’s eye”. In the Sermon on the Mountain, Matthew treats the same theme and explains a bit better the parable of the splinter in the eye. Jesus asks for a creative attitude which will make us capable to go and encounter the others without judging them, without preconceptions and rationalizing, but accepting the brother (Mt 7, 1-5). This total openness toward others considering them as brothers/sisters will arise in us only when we are capable of relating with God with total trust as his children (Mt 7, 7-11).
4) Personal questions
• Splinter and log in the eye. How do I relate with others at
home and in my family, in work and with my colleagues, in community and with
the brothers and sisters?
• Master and disciple. How am I a disciple of Jesus?
• Master and disciple. How am I a disciple of Jesus?
5) Concluding Prayer
Lord, how blessed are those who live in your house;
they shall praise you continually.
Blessed those who find their strength in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. (Ps 84,4-5)
they shall praise you continually.
Blessed those who find their strength in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. (Ps 84,4-5)
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