SEPTEMBER 26, 2015 : SATURDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 454

Reading 1ZEC 2:5-9, 14-15A

I, Zechariah, raised my eyes and looked:
there was a man with a measuring line in his hand.
I asked, “Where are you going?”
He answered, “To measure Jerusalem,
to see how great is its width and how great its length.”

Then the angel who spoke with me advanced,
and another angel came out to meet him and said to him,
“Run, tell this to that young man:
People will live in Jerusalem as though in open country,
because of the multitude of men and beasts in her midst.
But I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the LORD,
and I will be the glory in her midst.”

Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion!
See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,
and they shall be his people and he will dwell among you.

Responsorial PsalmJEREMIAH 31:10, 11-12AB, 13

R. (see 10d) The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd guards his flock.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the LORD’s blessings.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

AlleluiaSEE 2 TM 1:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Christ Jesus destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 9:43B-45

While they were all amazed at his every deed,
Jesus said to his disciples,
“Pay attention to what I am telling you.
The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” 
But they did not understand this saying;
its meaning was hidden from them
so that they should not understand it,
and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

www.usccb.org

Meditation: "They were astonished at the majesty of God"

Do you know the majesty of God? When we ascribe majesty to someone or something we acknowledge greatness in that person or thing and voice our respect for it. The miracles of Jesus revealed the awesome power and majesty of God and his favor and blessing (grace) - especially towards the lowly and humble of heart. 

God's way to victory and glory is through the cross
But with the miracles Jesus also gave a prophetic warning: There can be no share in God's glory without the cross. Jesus prophesied concerning his own betrayal and crucifixion - but it did not make any sense to the disciples because it did not fit their understanding of the Messiah who was supposed to come and free his people from tyranny and oppression. Little did they know that the way to victory over sin and death would be through the cross and resurrection of Christ.

Our fear of suffering betrays our lack of hope in Christ's victory
When the disciples heard Jesus' prediction of suffering and betrayal they were afraid to ask further questions. Like a person who might receive bad news from the doctor about some tumor or disease that could destroy them and then refuse to ask any further questions, the disciples of Jesus didn't want to know any more about the consequences of possible suffering, defeat, and death on a cross. They couldn't understand how the cross could bring victory and lead to new life and freedom in Christ. 

How often do we reject what we do not wish to see? We have heard God's word and we know the consequences of accepting it or rejecting it. But do we give it our full allegiance and mold our lives according to it? Ask the Lord Jesus to show you his majesty and glory that you may grow in reverence of him and in godly fear (reverence) of his word.

"Lord Jesus, by your cross you have redeemed the world and revealed your glory and triumph over sin and death. May I never fail to see your glory and victory in the cross. Help me to conform my life to your will and to follow in your way of love and holiness."

www.dailyscripture.net

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, LUKE 9:43b-45
Weekday
(Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15a; Jeremiah 31)

KEY VERSE: "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men" (v 44).
TO READ: The people were amazed by the power of God at work in Jesus. In the midst of this adulation, Jesus told his disciples that he was the suffering "Son of Man" (v 44), his most characteristic way of speaking of himself. In saying this, he identified himself with the figure in the book of Daniel, which speaks of one like a 'son of man' coming on the clouds from heaven (Dn 7:13-14). When Jesus used the term, he was referring not only to himself, but also to all those who believed in him. As “the son of man” (Hebrew, ben Adam) Jesus is the new and true son of Adam. Where Adam failed and led the entire human race into captivity to sin and death, Jesus brought life and freedom. Like the people of Israel who opposed the "beast-like" kingdoms of the world, Jesus triumphed over his enemies. In Luke's gospel, this was Jesus' second prediction of his passion (see 9:22), yet his disciples still failed to understand his meaning.
TO REFLECT: Do I pay attention to what Jesus is telling me? 
TO RESPOND: Lord Jesus, help me to be faithful to you in adversity and in victory.

Optional Memorial of Cosmas and Damian, martyrs 

Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers and early Christian physicians. They were born in Arabia, and practiced the art of healing in Cilicia, Asia Minor, and attained a great reputation. They accepted no pay for their services and were, therefore, called "the silverless." In this way they brought many to the Catholic Faith. When the Diocletian persecution began, Cosmas and Damian were arrested, and ordered to renounce their faith. They remained constant under torture, in a miraculous manner suffered no injury, and were finally beheaded with the sword, probably in the year 287. The remains of the martyrs were buried in the city of Cyrus in Syria. Having been cured of a dangerous illness by the intercession of Cosmas and Damian, the Emperor Justinian I (527-565), in gratitude rebuilt and adorned their church at Constantinople, and it became a celebrated place of pilgrimage. Cosmas and Damian are regarded as the patrons of physicians and surgeons and are sometimes represented with medical emblems. 

NOTE: The Roman Emperor Diocletian's name is associated with the last and most terrible of all the ten persecutions of the early Church (called the Era of the Martyrs). This persecution was occasioned partly by the increasing number and growing luxury of the Christians, and the hatred of Galerius, the adopted son of Diocletian, who, being stimulated by his mother, a bigoted pagan, never ceased persuading the emperor to enter upon the persecution, until he had accomplished his purpose.

www.togetherwithgodsword.com

Saturday 26 September 2015

AT 26TH. Ss Cosmas and Damian. Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15. The Lord will guard us, like a shepherd guarding his flock—Jeremiah 31:10-13. Luke 9:43-45.

Readings

We are all the children of God.

The first reading and the psalm speak of the saving work of God. They predict a great Jerusalem, a golden age of joyfulness and gladness. But Jesus tells a different story—the Son of Man will be handed over!

Lord, your greatness was in rejecting the way of popular success. Even when people were full of admiration, you chose the cross instead. This is how you save us. You did not come to take away our troubles but to share them. In you we see that joy and sorrow go together and are intertwined. In you we see that it is through struggle that we are saved.

Help us, Lord, to struggle together as family, parish, community, nation and world. For it is in struggling together, amidst the joy and sorrow, that we will find that deeper gladness and peace.

www.pray.com.au

MINUTE MEDITATIONS 

The Splendor of Love

We are created in order to love, as a reflection of God and his love. When a man and woman celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony, God as it were “is mirrored” in them; he impresses in them his own features and the indelible character of his love. Marriage is the icon of God’s love for us.

— from The Blessing of Family 

September 26
Sts. Cosmas and Damian
(d. 303?)

Nothing is known of their lives except that they suffered martyrdom in Syria during the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian.

A church erected on the site of their burial place was enlarged by the emperor Justinian. Devotion to the two saints spread rapidly in both East and West. A famous basilica was erected in their honor in Constantinople. Their names were placed in the canon of the Mass (Eucharistic Prayer I) , probably in the sixth century.

Legend says that they were twin brothers born in Arabia, who became skilled doctors. They were among those who are venerated in the East as the "moneyless ones" because they did not charge a fee for their services. It was impossible that such prominent persons would escape unnoticed in time of persecution: They were arrested and beheaded.

Nine centuries later, Francis of Assisi (October 4) rebuilt the dilapidated San Damiano chapel outside Assisi.

Comment:

For a long time, it seems, we have been very conscious of Jesus' miracles as proofs of his divinity. What we sometimes overlook is Jesus' consuming interest in simply healing people's sickness, whatever other meaning his actions had. The power that "went out from him" was indeed a sign that God was definitively breaking into human history in final fulfillment of his promises; but the love of God was also concrete in a very human heart that was concerned about the suffering of his brothers and sisters. It is a reminder to Christians that salvation is for the whole person, the unique body-spirit unity.

Quote:

In the Preface for Martyrs I, the Church acknowledges that a martyr's blood shows God "marvelous works, by which in our weakness you perfect your powerand on the feeble bestow power to bear you witness, through Christ our Lord."

Patron Saint of:

Barbers
Pharmacists
Physicians
Surgeons

www.americancatholic.org

LECTIO DIVINA: LUKE 9,43B-45

Lectio: 

 Saturday, September 26, 2015

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.

2) Gospel Reading - Luke 9,43b-45

Everyone was awestruck by the greatness of God. But while everyone was full of admiration for all he did, he said to his disciples, ‘For your part, you must have these words constantly in mind: The Son of man is going to be delivered into the power of men.’
But they did not understand what he said; it was hidden from them so that they should not see the meaning of it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

3) Reflection

• The Gospel today presents the second announcement of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. The disciples do not understand the words about the cross, because they are neither capable to understand a Messiah who becomes the servant of his brothers. They continue to dream about a glorious Messiah.
• Luke 9, 43b-44: The contrast. “Everyone was full of admiration for all he did”. Jesus said to his disciples “For your part you must have these words constantly in mind: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the power of men”. The contrast is very big. On one side, the vibration and admiration of the people for everything that Jesus said and did. Jesus seems to correspond to all that people dream, believe and expect. On the other side, the affirmation of Jesus that he will be put to death and delivered in the hands of men, that is, the opinion of the authority on Jesus is totally contrary to the opinion of the people.
• Luke 9, 45: The announcement of the Cross. “But they did not understand what he said; for them it was so mysterious, that they did not understand the sense and were afraid to ask questions concerning this argument”. The disciples listened to him but they did not understand the words about the cross. But even in this way, they do not ask for any clarification. They are afraid to show their ignorance!
• The title Son of Man. This name appears quite frequently in the Gospels: 12 times in John, 13 in Mark, 28 in Luke, 30 in Matthew. In all, it appears 83 times in the four Gospels. This is the name which pleased Jesus the most. This title comes from the Old Testament. In the Book of Ezekiel, is indicated the very human condition of the prophet (Ez 3, 1.4.10. 17; 4, 1 etc.). In the Book of Daniel, the same title appears in the apocalyptic vision (Dn 7, 1-28), in which Daniel describes the empires of the Babylonians, of the Medes, of the Persians and of the Greeks. In the vision of the prophet, these four empires have the appearance of “monstrous animals” (cf. Dn 7, 3-8). They are animal empires which are brutal, inhuman, which persecute, dehumanize and kill (Dn 7, 21.25). In the vision of the prophet, after the anti-human kingdoms, the Kingdom of God appears which has the appearance, not of an animal, but rather of a human person, Son of Man. That is, a Kingdom with the appearance of people, a human kingdom, which promotes life, it humanizes (Dn 7, 13-14). In the prophecy of Daniel the Son of Man represents, not an individual, but rather, as he himself says, the “people of the Saints of the Most High” (Dn 7, 27; cf. Dn 7, 18). It is the People of God who do not allow themselves to be dehumanized nor deceived or manipulated by the dominating ideology of the animal empires. The Mission of the Son of Man, that is, of the People of God, consists in realizing the Kingdom of God like a human kingdom. That is, a Kingdom which promotes life, which humanizes persons.
Presenting himself as Son of Man to the disciples, Jesus makes his own this mission which is the mission of all the People of God. It is as if he would say to them and to all of us: “Come with me! This mission is not only mine, but it belongs to all of us! Let us go together to carry out the mission which God has entrusted to us, and thus realize the human and humanizing Kingdom which he dreamt!” And he did this during all his life, especially during the last three years. Pope Leo the Great said: “Jesus was so human, but so human, like only God can be human”. The more human he was, the more divine he was. The more he is “Son of Man” the more he is “Son of God!” Everything which dehumanizes persons draws away from God. That was condemned by God, who has placed the good of the human person above all the laws, above the Sabbath or Saturday (Mk 2, 27). At the moment when he was condemned to death by the religious tribunal of the Synedrium, Jesus assumes this title. When he was asked if he was “the Son of God” (Mk 14, 61), he answered that he is the “Son of Man”: “I am. And you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty” (Mk 14, 62). Because of this affirmation he was declared, by the authority, guilty deserving death. He himself knew it because he had said: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10, 45).

4) Personal questions

• How do you combine in your life, suffering and faith in God?
• In the time of Jesus there was contrast: people thought and expected or hoped in a certain way; the religious authority thought and expected or hoped in a different way. Today, this same contrast exists.

5) Concluding Prayer

For ever, Yahweh,
your word is planted firm in heaven.
Your constancy endures from age to age;
you established the earth and it stands firm. (Ps 119,89-90)

www.ocarm.org