Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest
Lectionary: 439
Lectionary: 439
Brothers and
sisters:
If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ your life appears,
then you too will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly:
immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,
and the greed that is idolatry.
Because of these the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient.
By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way.
But now you must put them all away:
anger, fury, malice, slander,
and obscene language out of your mouths.
Stop lying to one another,
since you have taken off the old self with its practices
and have put on the new self,
which is being renewed, for knowledge,
in the image of its creator.
Here there is not Greek and Jew,
circumcision and uncircumcision,
barbarian, Scythian, slave, free;
but Christ is all and in all.
If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ your life appears,
then you too will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly:
immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,
and the greed that is idolatry.
Because of these the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient.
By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way.
But now you must put them all away:
anger, fury, malice, slander,
and obscene language out of your mouths.
Stop lying to one another,
since you have taken off the old self with its practices
and have put on the new self,
which is being renewed, for knowledge,
in the image of its creator.
Here there is not Greek and Jew,
circumcision and uncircumcision,
barbarian, Scythian, slave, free;
but Christ is all and in all.
Responsorial PsalmPS 145:2-3, 10-11, 12-13AB
R. (9) The Lord is compassionate toward all his
works.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
AlleluiaLK 6:23AB
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rejoice and leap for joy!
Your reward will be great in heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rejoice and leap for joy!
Your reward will be great in heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 6:20-26
Raising his eyes
toward his disciples Jesus said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.
For their ancestors treated the prophets
in the same way.
But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
But woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.
For their ancestors treated the prophets
in the same way.
But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
But woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”
Meditation: "Blessed
are you poor - yours is the kingdom of God"
When you encounter misfortune, grief, or tragic loss, how do you
respond? With fear or faith? With passive resignation or with patient hope and
trust in God? We know from experience that no one can escape all of the
inevitable trials of life - pain, suffering, sickness, and death. When Jesus
began to teach his disciples he gave them a "way of happiness" that
transcends every difficulty and trouble that can weigh us down with grief and
despair. Jesus began his sermon on the mount by addressing the issue of where
true happiness can be found. The word beatitude literally
means happiness orblessedness. Jesus' way of happiness,
however, demands a transformation from within - a conversion of heart and mind
which can only come about through the gift and working of the Holy Spirit.
True happiness can only be fulfilled in God
How can one possibly find happiness in poverty, hunger, mourning, and persecution? If we want to be filled with the joy and happiness of heaven, then we must empty ourselves of all that would shut God out of our hearts. Poverty of spirit finds ample room and joy in possessing God alone as the greatest treasure possible. Hunger of the spirit seeks nourishment and strength in God's word and Spirit. Sorrow and mourning over wasted life and sin leads to joyful freedom from the burden of guilt and oppression.
How can one possibly find happiness in poverty, hunger, mourning, and persecution? If we want to be filled with the joy and happiness of heaven, then we must empty ourselves of all that would shut God out of our hearts. Poverty of spirit finds ample room and joy in possessing God alone as the greatest treasure possible. Hunger of the spirit seeks nourishment and strength in God's word and Spirit. Sorrow and mourning over wasted life and sin leads to joyful freedom from the burden of guilt and oppression.
The beatitudes strengthen us in virtue and excellence
Ambrose (339-397 A.D), an early church father and bishop of Milan, links the beatitudes with the four cardinal virtues which strengthen us in living a life of moral excellence. He writes: "Let us see how St. Luke encompassed the eight blessings in the four. We know that there are four cardinal virtues: temperance, justice, prudence and fortitude. One who is poor in spirit is not greedy. One who weeps is not proud but is submissive and tranquil. One who mourns is humble. One who is just does not deny what he knows is given jointly to all for us. One who is merciful gives away his own goods. One who bestows his own goods does not seek another's, nor does he contrive a trap for his neighbor. These virtues are interwoven and interlinked, so that one who has one may be seen to have several, and a single virtue befits the saints. Where virtue abounds, the reward too abounds... Thus temperance has purity of heart and spirit, justice has compassion, patience has peace, and endurance has gentleness." (EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.62–63, 68).
No one can live without joy
God reveals to the humble of heart the true source of abundant life and happiness. Jesus promises his disciples that the joys of heaven will more than compensate for the troubles and hardships they can expect in this world. Thomas Aquinas said: "No person can live without joy. That is why someone deprived of spiritual joy goes after carnal pleasures." Do you know the joy and happiness of hungering and thirsting for God alone?
Ambrose (339-397 A.D), an early church father and bishop of Milan, links the beatitudes with the four cardinal virtues which strengthen us in living a life of moral excellence. He writes: "Let us see how St. Luke encompassed the eight blessings in the four. We know that there are four cardinal virtues: temperance, justice, prudence and fortitude. One who is poor in spirit is not greedy. One who weeps is not proud but is submissive and tranquil. One who mourns is humble. One who is just does not deny what he knows is given jointly to all for us. One who is merciful gives away his own goods. One who bestows his own goods does not seek another's, nor does he contrive a trap for his neighbor. These virtues are interwoven and interlinked, so that one who has one may be seen to have several, and a single virtue befits the saints. Where virtue abounds, the reward too abounds... Thus temperance has purity of heart and spirit, justice has compassion, patience has peace, and endurance has gentleness." (EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.62–63, 68).
No one can live without joy
God reveals to the humble of heart the true source of abundant life and happiness. Jesus promises his disciples that the joys of heaven will more than compensate for the troubles and hardships they can expect in this world. Thomas Aquinas said: "No person can live without joy. That is why someone deprived of spiritual joy goes after carnal pleasures." Do you know the joy and happiness of hungering and thirsting for God alone?
"Lord Jesus, increase my hunger for you and show me the way
that leads to everlasting happiness and peace. May I desire you above all else
and find perfect joy in doing your will."
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, LUKE 6:20-26
(Colossians 3:1-11; Psalm 145)
(Colossians 3:1-11; Psalm 145)
KEY VERSE: "Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours" (v 20).
TO READ: Luke's Gospel has a special concern for the "anawim," the poor and lowly of society who the world rejected but Jesus welcomed into God's reign. Unlike Matthew who recorded Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount," Luke has Jesus' "Sermon on the Plain," in which he addressed the poor who were following him as disciples. Luke also emphasized the persecutions that beset the disciples who were closely united to Jesus' own experience of suffering and rejection. Luke contrasted the blessings that came from being a disciple, and added condemnations of those who were not living a prophetic life-style. This series of "woes," or lamentations, show God's displeasure with people who were blind to the true values of the kingdom.
TO REFLECT: How can I bring the Lord's consolation to those who are suffering?
TO RESPOND: Lord Jesus, help me to see my blessings in the midst of my difficulties.
Memorial of Peter Claver, priest
A Jesuit from age 20, Peter Claver was influenced by St. Alphonsus Rodriguez to become a missionary in America. Peter ministered, physically and spiritually, to slaves when they arrived in Cartegena, converting a reported 300,000, and working for humane treatment on the plantations for 40 years. He organized charitable societies among the Spanish in America similar to those organized in Europe by Saint Vincent de Paul. Peter said of the slaves, "We must speak to them with our hands by giving, before we try to speak to them with our lips."
Wednesday 9 September 2015
WED 9TH. St Peter
Claver.Colossians 3:1-11. The Lord is compassionate to all his creatures—Ps
144(145):2-3, 10-13. Luke 6:20-26.
'We set our hearts and
minds on the things of heaven, not on the things of earth.'
Paul sets us a challenge.
We can often feel divided within ourselves in this life. We come to realise
that we long for something more, though we may not be able to describe or
articulate this yearning. Intuition can tell us that connection with some place
or thing will fulfil the yearning. The word ‘dichotomy’ originates from the
Greek dikhotomia, which means ‘a cutting in two’. This cutting in two can
aptly describe the Christian life on earth. We live in this duality because we
are citizens of two realms.
We hold temporary visas
during our earthly pilgrimage, but our spiritual birth certificates show that
we truly come from heaven. We are advised to keep our hearts and minds fixed on
heaven because that is where our real life with Christ is. Sometimes the parts
come together when we have heavenly experiences on earth, and we find deep
peace, fulfilment, love, and wholeness.
Such experiences are often
fleeting and the longing will surely return, but we pray for the strength to
endure until we meet God, who awaits our homecoming.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
Avoiding Sin
|
Our holiness is not marked by how little we are tempted but by our
actions when we are. Temptation is the first step to sin, but it is not sin
itself. Though God allows temptation, it is not He who tempts us. We are
tempted by the world around us, by our flesh, and by the devil.
September
9
St. Peter Claver
(1581-1654)
St. Peter Claver
(1581-1654)
A native of Spain, young Jesuit Peter Claver left his homeland
forever in 1610 to be a missionary in the colonies of the New World. He sailed
into Cartagena (now in Colombia), a rich port city washed by the Caribbean. He
was ordained there in 1615.
By this
time the slave trade had been established in the Americas for nearly 100 years,
and Cartagena was a chief center for it. Ten thousand slaves poured into the
port each year after crossing the Atlantic from West Africa under conditions so
foul and inhuman that an estimated one-third of the passengers died in transit.
Although the practice of slave-trading was condemned by Pope Paul III and later
labeled "supreme villainy" by Pius IX, it continued to flourish.
Peter
Claver's predecessor, Jesuit Father Alfonso de Sandoval, had devoted himself to
the service of the slaves for 40 years before Claver arrived to continue his
work, declaring himself "the slave of the Negroes forever."
As soon
as a slave ship entered the port, Peter Claver moved into its infested hold to
minister to the ill-treated and exhausted passengers. After the slaves
were herded out of the ship like chained animals and shut up in nearby yards to
be gazed at by the crowds, Claver plunged in among them with medicines, food,
bread, brandy, lemons and tobacco. With the help of interpreters he gave basic
instructions and assured his brothers and sisters of their human dignity and God's
saving love. During the 40 years of his ministry, Claver instructed and
baptized an estimated 300,000 slaves.
His
apostolate extended beyond his care for slaves. He became a moral force,
indeed, the apostle of Cartagena. He preached in the city square, gave missions
to sailors and traders as well as country missions, during which he avoided,
when possible, the hospitality of the planters and owners and lodged in the
slave quarters instead.
After
four years of sickness which forced the saint to remain inactive and largely
neglected, he died on September 8, 1654. The city magistrates, who had
previously frowned at his solicitude for the black outcasts, ordered that he
should be buried at public expense and with great pomp.
He was
canonized in 1888, and Pope Leo XIII declared him the worldwide patron of
missionary work among black slaves.
Comment:
The Holy Spirit's might and power are manifested in the striking decisions and bold actions of Peter Claver. A decision to leave one's homeland never to return reveals a gigantic act of will difficult for us to imagine. Peter's determination to serve forever the most abused, rejected and lowly of all people is stunningly heroic. When we measure our lives against such a man's, we become aware of our own barely used potential and of our need to open ourselves more to the jolting power of Jesus' Spirit.
The Holy Spirit's might and power are manifested in the striking decisions and bold actions of Peter Claver. A decision to leave one's homeland never to return reveals a gigantic act of will difficult for us to imagine. Peter's determination to serve forever the most abused, rejected and lowly of all people is stunningly heroic. When we measure our lives against such a man's, we become aware of our own barely used potential and of our need to open ourselves more to the jolting power of Jesus' Spirit.
Quote:
Peter Claver understood that concrete service like the distributing of medicine, food or brandy to his black brothers and sisters could be as effective a communication of the word of God as mere verbal preaching. As Peter Claver often said, "We must speak to them with our hands before we try to speak to them with our lips."
Peter Claver understood that concrete service like the distributing of medicine, food or brandy to his black brothers and sisters could be as effective a communication of the word of God as mere verbal preaching. As Peter Claver often said, "We must speak to them with our hands before we try to speak to them with our lips."
Patron Saint of:
African-Americans
Colombia
African-Americans
Colombia
LECTIO DIVINA:
LUKE 6,20-26
Lectio:
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
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 6,20-26
Then fixing his eyes on his disciples Jesus said: How blessed
are you who are poor: the kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are hungry now: you shall have your fill. Blessed are you who are weeping now: you shall laugh.
‘Blessed are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of man.
Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, look!-your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.
But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now.
Alas for you who have plenty to eat now: you shall go hungry. Alas for you who are laughing now: you shall mourn and weep.
‘Alas for you when everyone speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.
Blessed are you who are hungry now: you shall have your fill. Blessed are you who are weeping now: you shall laugh.
‘Blessed are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of man.
Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, look!-your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.
But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now.
Alas for you who have plenty to eat now: you shall go hungry. Alas for you who are laughing now: you shall mourn and weep.
‘Alas for you when everyone speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.
3) Reflection
• The
Gospel today presents four blessings and four curses in Luke’s Gospel. There is
a progressive revelation in the way in which Luke presents the teaching of
Jesus. Up to 6, 16, he says many times, that Jesus taught the people, but he
did not describe the content of the teaching (Lk 4, 15.31-32.44; 5, 1.3.15.17;
6, 6). Now, after having said that Jesus sees the crowd desirous to hear the
Word of God, Luke presents the first great discourse which begins with the
exclamation: “Blessed are you who are poor!” And “Alas for you, rich!” and then
takes up all the rest of the chapter (Lk 6, 12-49). Some call this Discourse
the “Discourse of the Plain” because, according to Luke, Jesus came down from
the mountain and stopped in a place which was plain and there he pronounced his
discourse. In Matthew’s Gospel, this same discourse is given on the mountain
(Mt 5, 1) and is called “The Sermon on the Mountain”. In Matthew, in this
discourse there are eight Beatitudes, which trace a program of life for the
Christian communities of Jewish origin. In Luke, the sermon is shorter and more
radical. It contains only four Beatitudes and four curses, directed to the
Hellenistic communities, formed by rich and poor. This discourse of Jesus will
be meditated on in the daily Gospel of the next days.
• Luke 6, 20: Blessed are you, poor! Looking at the disciples, Jesus declares: “Blessed are you who are poor, the Kingdom of Heaven is yours!” This declaration identifies the social category of the disciples. They are poor! And Jesus promises to them: “The Kingdom is yours!” It is not a promise made for the future. The verb is in the present. The Kingdom belongs to them already. They are blessed now. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus makes explicit the sense of this and says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit!” (Mt 5, 3). They are the poor who have the Spirit of Jesus; because there are some poor who have the mentality of the rich. The disciples of Jesus are poor and have the mentality of the poor. Like Jesus, they do not want to accumulate, but they assume their poverty and with him, they struggle for a more just life together, where there will be fraternity and sharing of goods, without any discrimination.
• Luke 6, 21-22: Blessed are you, who now hunger and weep. In the second and third Beatitude, Jesus says: “Blessed are who are hungry now, because you shall have your full! Blessed are you, who are weeping now, you shall laugh!” One part of the phrase is in the present and the other in the future. What we live and suffer now is not definitive; what is definitive is the Kingdom of God which we are constructing with the force of the Spirit of Jesus. To construct the Kingdom presupposes pain, suffering and persecution, but something is certain: the Kingdom will be attained, and you will have your fill and you will laugh!”
• Luke 6, 23: Blessed are you when people hate you...! The 4thBeatitude refers to the future: “Blessed are you when people hate you, drive you out on account of the Son of Man!” Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, look, your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way your ancestors treated the prophets!” With these words of Jesus, Luke encourages the communities of his time, because they were persecuted. Suffering is not death rattle, but the pain of birth pangs. It is a source of hope! Persecution was a sign that the future that had been announced by Jesus was arriving, being reached. The communities were following the right path.
• Luke 6, 24-25: Alas for you who are rich! Alas for you who now have your fill and who laugh! After the four Beatitudes in favour of the poor and of the excluded, follow four threats or curses against the rich and those for whom everything goes well and are praised by everybody. The four threats have the same identical literary form as the four Beatitudes. The first one is expressed in the present. The second and the third one have a part in the present and another part in the future. And the fourth one refers completely to the future. These threats are found only in Luke’s Gospel and not in that of Matthew. Luke is more radical in denouncing injustices.
Before Jesus, on the plains there are no rich people. There are only sick and poor people, who have come from all parts (Lk 6, 17-19). But Jesus says: “Alas for you the rich!” And this because Luke, in transmitting these words of Jesus, is thinking more of the communities of his time. In those communities there are rich and poor people, and there is discrimination of the poor on the part of the rich, the same discrimination which marked the structure of the Roman Empire (cf. Tg 5, 1-6; Rv 3, 17-19). Jesus criticizes the rich very hard and directly: You rich have already received consolation! You are already filled, but you are still hungry! Now you are laughing, but you will be afflicted and will weep! This is a sign that for Jesus poverty is not something fatal, nor the fruit of prejudices, but it is the fruit of unjust enrichment on the part of others.
• Luke 6, 26: Alas for you when everyone speaks well of you, because this was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets! This fourth threat refers to the sons of those who in the past praised the false prophets; because some authority of the Jews used its prestige and authority to criticize Jesus.
4) Personal questions
• Do
we look at life and at persons with the same look of Jesus? What do you think
in your heart: is a poor and hungry person truly happy? The stories which we
see on Television and the propaganda of the market, what ideal of happiness do
they present?
• In saying: “Blessed are the poor”, did Jesus want to say that the poor have to continue to be poor?
• In saying: “Blessed are the poor”, did Jesus want to say that the poor have to continue to be poor?
5) Concluding Prayer
Upright in all that he does,
Yahweh acts only in faithful love.
He is close to all who call upon him,
all who call on him from the heart. (Ps 145,17-18)
Yahweh acts only in faithful love.
He is close to all who call upon him,
all who call on him from the heart. (Ps 145,17-18)
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