Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 452
Lectionary: 452
Vanity of vanities,
says Qoheleth,
vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
What profit has man from all the labor
which he toils at under the sun?
One generation passes and another comes,
but the world forever stays.
The sun rises and the sun goes down;
then it presses on to the place where it rises.
Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north,
the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds.
All rivers go to the sea,
yet never does the sea become full.
To the place where they go,
the rivers keep on going.
All speech is labored;
there is nothing one can say.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing
nor is the ear satisfied with hearing.
What has been, that will be;
what has been done, that will be done.
Nothing is new under the sun.
Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!”
has already existed in the ages that preceded us.
There is no remembrance of the men of old;
nor of those to come will there be any remembrance
among those who come after them.
vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
What profit has man from all the labor
which he toils at under the sun?
One generation passes and another comes,
but the world forever stays.
The sun rises and the sun goes down;
then it presses on to the place where it rises.
Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north,
the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds.
All rivers go to the sea,
yet never does the sea become full.
To the place where they go,
the rivers keep on going.
All speech is labored;
there is nothing one can say.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing
nor is the ear satisfied with hearing.
What has been, that will be;
what has been done, that will be done.
Nothing is new under the sun.
Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!”
has already existed in the ages that preceded us.
There is no remembrance of the men of old;
nor of those to come will there be any remembrance
among those who come after them.
Responsorial Psalm PS 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 AND 17BC
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.
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.
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.
Gospel LK 9:7-9
Herod the tetrarch
heard about all that was happening,
and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
“John has been raised from the dead”;
others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;
still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.
and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
“John has been raised from the dead”;
others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;
still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.
Meditation: Suppressing truth to ease a guilty conscience
Who do you most admire and want to be like? People with power,
influence, fame, or wealth? Scripture warns us of such danger (see Proverbs
23:1-2). King Herod had respected and feared John the Baptist as a great
prophet and servant of God. John, however did not fear to rebuke Herod for his
adulterous affair with his brother's wife. Herod, however, was more of a people
pleaser than a pleaser of God. Herod not only imprisoned John to silence him,
but he also beheaded him simply to please his family and friends.
God's truth cannot be suppressed
Now when reports of Jesus' miracles and teaching reach Herod's court, Herod became very troubled in conscience. He thought that John the Baptist had risen from the dead! Herod sought to meet Jesus more out of curiosity and fear than out of a sincere desire to know God's will. He wanted to meet Jesus - not to follow him but to prevent him from troubling his conscience any further.
Now when reports of Jesus' miracles and teaching reach Herod's court, Herod became very troubled in conscience. He thought that John the Baptist had risen from the dead! Herod sought to meet Jesus more out of curiosity and fear than out of a sincere desire to know God's will. He wanted to meet Jesus - not to follow him but to prevent him from troubling his conscience any further.
We can try to rid ourselves of guilt and sin by suppressing the
truth or by ridding ourselves of anyone or anything that points us to the
truth. No power on earth, however, can remove a guilty conscience or free us
from slavery to sin - only God can set us free through the atoning sacrifice
which his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ made for us on the cross.
Whose voice and message do you follow?
How can we find true peace with ourselves and with God? The Lord Jesus shows us the way. Jesus explained to his followers, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:31-32). Only Jesus can set us free - if we listen to his voice and obey his word, we will find true peace, joy, and freedom to live as sons and daughters of God.
How can we find true peace with ourselves and with God? The Lord Jesus shows us the way. Jesus explained to his followers, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:31-32). Only Jesus can set us free - if we listen to his voice and obey his word, we will find true peace, joy, and freedom to live as sons and daughters of God.
Does God's word take priority in your daily life? Or do you
allow other voices and messages to distract you or lead you astray. The Lord
Jesus promises to be with us and to guide us continually if we will listen to
his voice and obey his word.
"Heavenly Father, form in me the likeness of your Son, our
Lord Jesus Christ, and deepen his life within me that I may be like him in word
and deed. Increase my eagerness to do your will and help me to grow in the
knowledge of your love and truth."
 Conversion of the Heart |
|
September 25, 2014. Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in
Ordinary Time.
|
|
Luke 9:7-9
Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he
was greatly perplexed because some were saying, "John has been raised
from the dead"; others were saying, "Elijah has appeared";
still others, "One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” But Herod said,
"John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?"
And he kept trying to see him.
Introductory Prayer: As I enter your presence today, Lord, I know that I am
not worthy to be with you. “But you alone, Lord, have the words of eternal life
and I believe; I have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.” I kneel
before you in contrition, adoration and hope in your mercy.
Petition: Help me, Lord, to be converted to you more fully.
1. Our Daily Conversion to God: Herod’s desire to see
Jesus is not precisely based on faith or on motives of conversion.
During the entire time of his imprisonment, John the Baptist had constantly
invited Herod to conversion. “Herod was in awe of John, knowing him to be a
good and upright man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him
speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him” (Mark 6:20).
Yet Herod continually postponed converting. We need to convert daily. It
isn’t enough just to say that we have accepted Jesus as our personal lord and
savior and have been “born again,” we have to start living that new life,
renewing our option for Christ each day. Today I want to convert from my
weaknesses and shortcomings. I want to draw closer to you, Lord.
2. What Is the Truth? There comes a moment in life when
we have to look in the mirror and see ourselves as we truly are. It takes
courage to look directly and ask, “Who are you really? What are you making of
yourself and the talents God has given you? What is the truth?” Now, not everything
in Herod’s life is relative; there is one truth he does accept: “John I
beheaded.” This could have been the point of departure for true conversion
and acceptance of God’s mercy in his life. He at least recognized he had made
one mistake. All that he was hearing about Jesus made his conscience uneasy.
He was afraid that his sin was coming back to haunt him. Conversion always
begins with the acceptance of our failures and inclination to evil. It is
said that St. Philip Neri used to look at himself in the mirror in the
morning and say: “Lord, watch out for Philip today lest again he betray you.”
3. Blessed Are the Pure of Heart… Jesus himself taught us
in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.”
Explaining this beatitude a little more in detail St. Gregory of Nyssa says:
“The man who sees God possesses in this act of seeing all there is of the
things that are good. By this we understand life without end, eternal
incorruption and undying beatitude. With these we shall enjoy the everlasting
kingdom of unceasing happiness; we shall see the true light and hear the
sweet voice of the Spirit; we shall exult perpetually in all that is good in
the inaccessible glory.” Seeing and possessing God is the result of our daily
conversion. It is the promise of peace of heart, true happiness and
everlasting life. It is the fullness of everything man can desire in this
life and in the life to come. It is the very meaning of our existence. What
more could we ask for?
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I truly long to see your face.
Do not hide your face from me. Help me to accept myself as I truly am and
strive to overcome my weaknesses and my inclination to sin. Help me purify my
heart so that I might see you in my everyday life and possess you forever in
the life to come.
Resolution: I will seek true conversion today by reciting a sincere
Act of Contrition and trying to attend Mass or at least make a visit to
Christ in the Eucharist.
By Father Barry O’Toole, LC
|
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25,
LUKE 9:7-9
(Ecclesiastes 1:2-11; Psalm 90)
(Ecclesiastes 1:2-11; Psalm 90)
KEY VERSE: "Who then is this about whom I hear such things?" (v 9).
READING: Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, was the son of Herod the Great, the bloody ruler who ordered the slaughter of the innocents (Mt 2:16-18). Contrary to Jewish law, Herod Antipas divorced his wife and married Herodias, the wife of his half-brother Philip. At the bidding of Herodias, Herod put John the Baptist to death for protesting their illicit marriage (Mk 6:17-29). When Herod heard the reports circulating about Jesus, he wondered who he was. Some said that Jesus was John who had risen from the dead. Others said that Elijah had returned, a sign announcing the arrival of the Messiah (Mal 3:23). Herod was curious and expressed a desire to meet Jesus, but like his ambitious father, his real motive was to eliminate this threat to his own power.
REFLECTING: Am I committed to serving the Lord no matter what the cost?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to know you personally, not just what others say about you.
Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year (Begins at
Sunset)
Rosh Hashanah, which means "head of the year," occurs on the first and second days of Tishri (September/October), and is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. This name is somewhat deceptive, because there is little similarity between Rosh Hashanah (one of the holiest days of the year) and the New Year's festivities. There is, however, one important similarity: Many use the New Year as a time to plan a better life, making "resolutions." Likewise, the Jewish New Year is a time to look back at the mistakes of the past year and plan the changes to make in the new year. The holiday was instituted in Lev. 23:24-25 and referred to as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar).
NOTE: The shofar is a ram's horn which is blown somewhat like a trumpet. The Bible gives no specific reason for this practice. No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Much of the day is spent in synagogue, where the regular daily liturgy is somewhat expanded. Another popular observance during this holiday is eating apples or bread dipped in honey, a symbol of our wish for a sweet new year.
In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge
For all our toil, what do we gain?The prophet seems pessimistic about the shortness of life, but we are given the time we need for what we have been sent to do. I recently found a card with a message of thanks. What I did I have no idea, but it reminded me of the last judgement when people said, ‘When did I feed you, visit you, comfort you …?’ Often, we have no idea what our task is. Even Thomas Merton and Cardinal Newman expressed their unknowing, and Oscar Romero reminds us that we sow what we may not reap and we cannot do everything. The wisdom we need we can learn from discerning in the light of Jesus and his message.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Basic Core Truths
There are basic core truths that have stood the test of time: that
God is a Trinity; that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human; that the
human person is created in the image and likeness of God; that the Holy Spirit
empowers us to witness to the divine presence in the world through history;
that the Bible is the inspired word of God.
September
25
Blesseds Louis Martin and Zelie Guerin
(1823-1894) (1831-1877)
Blesseds Louis Martin and Zelie Guerin
(1823-1894) (1831-1877)
Born into
a military family in Bordeaux, Louis trained to become a watchmaker. His desire
to join a religious community went unfulfilled because he didn’t know Latin.
Moving to Normandy, he met the highly-skilled lacemaker, Zélie, who also had
been disappointed in her attempts to enter religious life. They married in
1858, and over the years were blessed with nine children, though two sons and
two daughters died in infancy.
Louis
managed the lacemaking business that Zélie continued at home while raising
their children. She died from breast cancer in 1877.
Louis
then moved the family to Lisieux to be near his brother and sister-in-law, who
helped with the education of his five surviving girls. His health began to fail
after his 15-year-old daughter entered the Monastery of Mount Carmel at Lisieux
in 1888. Louis died in 1894, a few months after being committed to a
sanitarium.
The home
that Louis and Zélie created nurtured the sanctity of all their children, but
especially their youngest, who is known to us as St. Therese of the Child
Jesus. Louis and Zélie were beatified in 2008.
Comment:
In life Louis and
Zélie knew great joy and excruciating sorrow. They firmly believed that God was
with them throughout every challenge that married life, parenting, and their
occupations presented.
Quote:
Therese once wrote,
"God gave me a father and a mother more worthy of heaven than of
earth."
LECTIO DIVINA:
LUKE 9,7-9
Lectio:
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father,
guide us, as you guide creation
according to your law of love.
May we love one another
and come to perfection
in the eternal life prepared for us.
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.
guide us, as you guide creation
according to your law of love.
May we love one another
and come to perfection
in the eternal life prepared for us.
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 9,7-9
Herod the tetrarch had heard about all that was going on; and he
was puzzled, because some people were saying that John had risen from the dead,
others that Elijah had reappeared, still others that one of the ancient
prophets had come back to life.
But Herod said, ‘John? I beheaded him. So who is this I hear such reports about?’ And he was anxious to see him.
But Herod said, ‘John? I beheaded him. So who is this I hear such reports about?’ And he was anxious to see him.
3) Reflection
• Today’s Gospel presents a reaction from Herod listening to the
preaching of Jesus. Herod does not know how to place himself before Jesus He
had killed John the Baptist and now he wants to see Jesus close to him. It is
always threatening.
• Luke 9, 7-8: Who is Jesus? The text begins with the exposition of the opinion of the people and of Herod on Jesus. Some associated Jesus to John the Baptist and to Elijah. Others identified him with a Prophet, that is, with a person who speaks in the name of God, who has the courage to denounce injustices of those in power and who knows how to give hope to the little ones. He is the Prophet announced in the Old Testament like a new Moses (Dt 18, 15). These are the same opinions that Jesus received from the disciples when he asked them: “Who do people say I am?” (Lk 9, 18). Persons tried to understand Jesus starting from things that they knew, thought and expected. They tried to set him against the background of the familiar criteria of the Old Testament with its prophecies and hopes, and of the Tradition of the Ancients with their laws. But these were insufficient criteria; Jesus could not enter into them, he was much bigger!
• Luke 9, 9: Herod wants to see Jesus. But Herod said: “John, I beheaded him; so who is this of whom I hear such things?” “And he was anxious to see him”. Herod, a superstitious man without scruples, recognizes that he was the murderer of John the Baptist. Now, he wants to see Jesus. Luke suggests thus that the threats begin to appear on the horizon of the preaching of Jesus. Herod had no fear to kill John. He will not be afraid to kill Jesus. On the other side, Jesus does no fear Herod. When they tell him that Herod wanted to take him to kill him, he sent someone to tell him: “You may go and give that fox this message: Look, today and tomorrow I drive out devils and heal, and on the third day I attain my end.” (Lk 13, 32). Herod has no power over Jesus. When at the hour of the passion, Pilate sends Jesus to be judged by Herod, Jesus does not respond anything (Lk 23, 9). Herod does not deserve a response.
• From father to son. Some times the three Herods, who lived during that time are confused, then the three appear in the New Testament with the same name: a) Herod, called the Great, governed over the whole of Palestine from 37 before Christ. He appears at the birth of Jesus (Mt 2, 1). He kills the new-born babies of Bethlehem (Mt 2, 16). b) Herod, called Antipas, governed in Galilee from the year 4 to 39 after Christ. He appears at the death of Jesus (Lk 23, 7). He killed John the Baptist (Mk 6, 14-29). c) Herod, called Agrippa, governed all over Palestine from the year 41 to 44 after Christ. He appears in the Acts of the Apostles (Ac 12, 1.20). He killed the Apostle James (Ac 12, 2).
When Jesus was about four years old, King Herod, the one who killed the new-born babies of Bethlehem died (Mt 2, 16). His territory was divided among his sons, Archelaus, would govern Judea. He was less intelligent than his father, but more violent. When he assumed the power, approximately 3000 persons were massacred on the square of the Temple! The Gospel of Matthew says that Mary and Joseph, when they learnt that Archelaus had taken over the government of Galilee, were afraid and returned on the road and went to Nazareth, in Galilee, which was governed by another son of Herod, called Herod Antipas (Lk 3, 1). This Antipas governed over 40 years. During the thirty-three years of Jesus there was no change of government in Galilee.
Herod, the Great, the father of Herod Antipas, had constructed the city of Caesarea Maritime, inaugurated in the year 15 before Christ. It was the new port to get out the products of the region. They had to compete with the large port of Tyron in the North and, thus, help to develop trade and business in Samaria and in Galilee. Because of this, from the time of Herod the Great, the agricultural production in Galilee began to orientate itself no longer according to the needs of the families, as before, but according to the demands of the market. This process of change in the economy continued during all the time of the government of Herod Antipas, another forty years, and found in him an efficient organizer. All these governors were ‘servants of power’. In fact, the one who commanded in Palestine, from the year 63 before Christ, was Rome, the Empire.
• Luke 9, 7-8: Who is Jesus? The text begins with the exposition of the opinion of the people and of Herod on Jesus. Some associated Jesus to John the Baptist and to Elijah. Others identified him with a Prophet, that is, with a person who speaks in the name of God, who has the courage to denounce injustices of those in power and who knows how to give hope to the little ones. He is the Prophet announced in the Old Testament like a new Moses (Dt 18, 15). These are the same opinions that Jesus received from the disciples when he asked them: “Who do people say I am?” (Lk 9, 18). Persons tried to understand Jesus starting from things that they knew, thought and expected. They tried to set him against the background of the familiar criteria of the Old Testament with its prophecies and hopes, and of the Tradition of the Ancients with their laws. But these were insufficient criteria; Jesus could not enter into them, he was much bigger!
• Luke 9, 9: Herod wants to see Jesus. But Herod said: “John, I beheaded him; so who is this of whom I hear such things?” “And he was anxious to see him”. Herod, a superstitious man without scruples, recognizes that he was the murderer of John the Baptist. Now, he wants to see Jesus. Luke suggests thus that the threats begin to appear on the horizon of the preaching of Jesus. Herod had no fear to kill John. He will not be afraid to kill Jesus. On the other side, Jesus does no fear Herod. When they tell him that Herod wanted to take him to kill him, he sent someone to tell him: “You may go and give that fox this message: Look, today and tomorrow I drive out devils and heal, and on the third day I attain my end.” (Lk 13, 32). Herod has no power over Jesus. When at the hour of the passion, Pilate sends Jesus to be judged by Herod, Jesus does not respond anything (Lk 23, 9). Herod does not deserve a response.
• From father to son. Some times the three Herods, who lived during that time are confused, then the three appear in the New Testament with the same name: a) Herod, called the Great, governed over the whole of Palestine from 37 before Christ. He appears at the birth of Jesus (Mt 2, 1). He kills the new-born babies of Bethlehem (Mt 2, 16). b) Herod, called Antipas, governed in Galilee from the year 4 to 39 after Christ. He appears at the death of Jesus (Lk 23, 7). He killed John the Baptist (Mk 6, 14-29). c) Herod, called Agrippa, governed all over Palestine from the year 41 to 44 after Christ. He appears in the Acts of the Apostles (Ac 12, 1.20). He killed the Apostle James (Ac 12, 2).
When Jesus was about four years old, King Herod, the one who killed the new-born babies of Bethlehem died (Mt 2, 16). His territory was divided among his sons, Archelaus, would govern Judea. He was less intelligent than his father, but more violent. When he assumed the power, approximately 3000 persons were massacred on the square of the Temple! The Gospel of Matthew says that Mary and Joseph, when they learnt that Archelaus had taken over the government of Galilee, were afraid and returned on the road and went to Nazareth, in Galilee, which was governed by another son of Herod, called Herod Antipas (Lk 3, 1). This Antipas governed over 40 years. During the thirty-three years of Jesus there was no change of government in Galilee.
Herod, the Great, the father of Herod Antipas, had constructed the city of Caesarea Maritime, inaugurated in the year 15 before Christ. It was the new port to get out the products of the region. They had to compete with the large port of Tyron in the North and, thus, help to develop trade and business in Samaria and in Galilee. Because of this, from the time of Herod the Great, the agricultural production in Galilee began to orientate itself no longer according to the needs of the families, as before, but according to the demands of the market. This process of change in the economy continued during all the time of the government of Herod Antipas, another forty years, and found in him an efficient organizer. All these governors were ‘servants of power’. In fact, the one who commanded in Palestine, from the year 63 before Christ, was Rome, the Empire.
4) Personal questions
• It is well always to ask ourselves: Who is Jesus for me?
• Herod wants to see Jesus. His was a superstitious and morbid curiosity. Others want to see Jesus because they seek a sense for their life. And I, what motivation do I have which moves me to see and encounter Jesus?
• Herod wants to see Jesus. His was a superstitious and morbid curiosity. Others want to see Jesus because they seek a sense for their life. And I, what motivation do I have which moves me to see and encounter Jesus?
5) Concluding Prayer
Each morning fill us with your faithful love,
we shall sing and be happy all our days;
let our joy be as long as the time that you afflicted us,
the years when we experienced disaster. (Ps 90,14-15)
we shall sing and be happy all our days;
let our joy be as long as the time that you afflicted us,
the years when we experienced disaster. (Ps 90,14-15)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét