Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 484
Lectionary: 484
Brothers and
sisters:
I ask, then, has God rejected his people?
Of course not!
For I too am a child of Israel, a descendant of Abraham,
of the tribe of Benjamin.
God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.
Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah,
how he pleads with God against Israel?
Hence I ask, did they stumble so as to fall?
Of course not!
But through their transgression
salvation has come to the Gentiles,
so as to make them jealous.
Now if their transgression is enrichment for the world,
and if their diminished number is enrichment for the Gentiles,
how much more their full number.
I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers and sisters,
so that you will not become wise in your own estimation:
a hardening has come upon Israel in part,
until the full number of the Gentiles comes in,
and thus all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
The deliverer will come out of Zion,
he will turn away godlessness from Jacob;
and this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.
In respect to the Gospel, they are enemies on your account;
but in respect to election,
they are beloved because of the patriarch.
For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.
I ask, then, has God rejected his people?
Of course not!
For I too am a child of Israel, a descendant of Abraham,
of the tribe of Benjamin.
God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.
Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah,
how he pleads with God against Israel?
Hence I ask, did they stumble so as to fall?
Of course not!
But through their transgression
salvation has come to the Gentiles,
so as to make them jealous.
Now if their transgression is enrichment for the world,
and if their diminished number is enrichment for the Gentiles,
how much more their full number.
I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers and sisters,
so that you will not become wise in your own estimation:
a hardening has come upon Israel in part,
until the full number of the Gentiles comes in,
and thus all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
The deliverer will come out of Zion,
he will turn away godlessness from Jacob;
and this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.
In respect to the Gospel, they are enemies on your account;
but in respect to election,
they are beloved because of the patriarch.
For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.
Responsorial PsalmPS 94:12-13A, 14-15, 17-18
R. (14a) The Lord will not abandon his people.
Blessed the man whom you instruct, O LORD,
whom by your law you teach,
Giving him rest from evil days.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
For the LORD will not cast off his people,
nor abandon his inheritance;
But judgment shall again be with justice,
and all the upright of heart shall follow it.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
Were not the LORD my help,
my soul would soon dwell in the silent grave.
When I say, “My foot is slipping,”
your mercy, O LORD, sustains me.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
Blessed the man whom you instruct, O LORD,
whom by your law you teach,
Giving him rest from evil days.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
For the LORD will not cast off his people,
nor abandon his inheritance;
But judgment shall again be with justice,
and all the upright of heart shall follow it.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
Were not the LORD my help,
my soul would soon dwell in the silent grave.
When I say, “My foot is slipping,”
your mercy, O LORD, sustains me.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
AlleluiaMT 11:29AB
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 14:1, 7-11
On a sabbath Jesus
went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.
He told a parable to those who had been invited,
noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,
do not recline at table in the place of honor.
A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,
‘Give your place to this man,’
and then you would proceed with embarrassment
to take the lowest place.
Rather, when you are invited,
go and take the lowest place
so that when the host comes to you he may say,
‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’
Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.
He told a parable to those who had been invited,
noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,
do not recline at table in the place of honor.
A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,
‘Give your place to this man,’
and then you would proceed with embarrassment
to take the lowest place.
Rather, when you are invited,
go and take the lowest place
so that when the host comes to you he may say,
‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’
Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Meditation: "He
who exalts himself will be humbled"
Who wants to be last? Isn't it only natural to desire respect
and esteem from others? Jesus' parable of the guests invited to the marriage
feast probes our motives for seeking honor and position. Self-promotion is most
often achieved at the expense of others! Jesus' parable reinforces the teaching
of Proverbs: Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or
stand in the place of the great; for it is better to be told, "Come up
here," than to be put lower in the presence of the prince (Proverbs
25:6-7).
What is true humility and why should we make it a characteristic
mark of our life and action? True humility is not feeling bad about yourself,
or having a low opinion of yourself, or thinking of yourself as inferior to
others. True humility frees us from preoccupation with ourselves, whereas a low
self-opinion tends to focus our attention on ourselves. Humility is truth in
self-understanding and truth in action. Viewing ourselves truthfully, with
sober judgment, means seeing ourselves the way God sees us (Psalm 139:1-4). A
humble person makes a realistic assessment of himself or herself without
illusion or pretense to be something he or she is not. The humble regard
themselves neither smaller nor larger than they truly are.
True humility frees us to be our true selves and to avoid
despair and pride. A humble person does not have to wear a mask or put on a
facade in order to look good to others, especially to those who are not really
familiar with that person. The humble are not swayed by accidentals, such as
fame, reputation, success, or failure.
Humility is the queen or foundation of all the other virtues
because it enables us to view and judge ourselves correctly, the way God sees
us. Humility leads to true self-knowledge, honesty, realism, strength, and
dedication to give ourselves to something greater than ourselves. Humility
frees us to love and serve others selflessly, for their sake, rather than our
own. Paul the Apostles, gives us the greatest example and model of
humility in the person of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself, taking the
form of a servant, ...who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even
death on a cross (Philippians 2:7-8). The Lord Jesus gives grace to
those who seek him humbly. Do you want to be a servant as Jesus served?
"Lord Jesus, you became a servant for my sake to set me
free from the tyranny of sin, selfishness, and conceit. Help me to be humble as
you are humble and to love freely and graciously all whom you call me to
serve."
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, LUKE 14:1, 7-11
Weekday
(Romans 11:1-2a, 11-12, 25-29; Psalm 94)
Weekday
(Romans 11:1-2a, 11-12, 25-29; Psalm 94)
KEY VERSE: "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted" (v 11).
TO KNOW: When Jesus shared a Sabbath meal at the home of a leading Pharisee, he used the opportunity to teach a lesson on humility to both host and guests. Noticing the competition for the seat of honor at table, he suggested that the guests take the lowest place. Should the host move them to a higher position they would be honored, and they would not be embarrassed by being asked to take a lower place. Jesus reminded his host not to invite only the wealthy and important people to his home; he should also open his doors to the weak and powerless. Although these poor were in no position to repay their host for his generosity, he would be richly rewarded at the "resurrection of the just" (v 14).
TO LOVE: What is my attitude toward the underprivileged?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, teach me to imitate your charity toward all people.
OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Chapter V of the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, issued by the Holy See in December 2001, describes the Church's traditional dedication of Saturday to the Virgin Mary. "Saturdays stand out among those days dedicated to the Virgin Mary. These are designated as memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary" (218). The chapter also describes the importance of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, in Catholic devotional life, in the Liturgy, and reflections on popular devotions to Mary, her feast days, and the Rosary.
Halloween --"All Hallows"
The word "Halloween" comes from the words "All Hallow's Eve," literally, the evening before the "Feast of All Saints.” According to many scholars, All Hallows' Eve is a Christianized feast initially influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, with possible pagan roots. Typical festive Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, attending costume parties, decorating, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, and visiting haunted attractions.
A woman was asked by a friend, "What is it like to be a Christian?" The woman replied, "It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in and washes all of the dirt off of you. Then God cuts off the top and scoops out all of the yucky stuff. God removes the seeds of things like doubt, hate and greed. God replaces them with seeds of love, faith, hope and trust. Then God carves a smiling face and God's light shines inside of you for all of the world to see.
Saturday 31 October 2015
SAT
31ST. Romans 11:1-2, 11-12, 25-29. The Lord will not abandon his people—Ps
94:12-13, 14-15, 17-18. Luke 14:1, 7-11.
God has
never rejected his people.
God, you
are so mysterious to me. I do so want to have a sense of how you are present to
me, how you call me, and what you really promise me.
Today I
read Paul on how you love the Jewish people completely, never revoking your
choice, but still extending your love through Jesus to me. I feel that I can
only really find you through Jesus: ‘Whoever sees me, sees the Father.’
And Jesus
constantly tells his disciples that they will find you through humility.
Perhaps I try too hard to find your face, operating out of what I think I know
for sure, instead of letting you find me in my humility. That’s what this
parable of the wedding feast seems to be about.
Lord,
only you can heal me in my yearnings. Teach me to hope more strongly in
you.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
In Communion With God
|
To love God means to desire and pursue a greater communion with
Him at all times. This communion increases primarily through our reception of
grace in the sacraments, and through our obedience to His will.
October
31
St. Wolfgang of Regensburg
(c. 924-994)
St. Wolfgang of Regensburg
(c. 924-994)
Wolfgang was born in Swabia, Germany, and was educated at a school
located at the abbey of Reichenau. There he encountered Henry, a young noble
who went on to become Archbishop of Trier. Meanwhile, Wolfgang remained in
close contact with the archbishop, teaching in his cathedral school and
supporting his efforts to reform the clergy.
At the
death of the archbishop, Wolfgang chose to become a Benedictine monk and moved
to an abbey in Einsiedeln, now part of Switzerland. Ordained a priest, he was
appointed director of the monastery school there. Later he was sent to Hungary
as a missionary, though his zeal and good will yielded limited results.
Emperor
Otto II appointed him Bishop of Regensburg near Munich. He immediately
initiated reform of the clergy and of religious life, preaching with vigor and
effectiveness and always demonstrating special concern for the poor. He wore
the habit of a monk and lived an austere life.
The draw
to monastic life never left him, including the desire for a life of solitude.
At one point he left his diocese so that he could devote himself to prayer, but
his responsibilities as bishop called him back.
In 994
Wolfgang became ill while on a journey; he died in Puppingen near Linz,
Austria. He was canonized in 1052. His feast day is celebrated widely in much
of central Europe.
Comment:
Wolfgang could be depicted as a man with rolled-up sleeves. He even tried retiring to solitary prayer, but taking his responsibilities seriously led him back into the service of his diocese. Doing what had to be done was his path to holiness—and ours.
Wolfgang could be depicted as a man with rolled-up sleeves. He even tried retiring to solitary prayer, but taking his responsibilities seriously led him back into the service of his diocese. Doing what had to be done was his path to holiness—and ours.
LECTIO DIVINA:
LUKE 14,1.7-11
Lectio:
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Almighty and ever-living God,
strengthen our faith, hope and love.
May we do with loving hearts
what you ask of us
and come to share the life you promise.
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 14,1.7-11
It happened that on a Sabbath day Jesus had gone to share a meal in the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this, 'When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, "Give up your place to this man." And then, to your embarrassment, you will have to go and take the lowest place.
No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, "My friend, move up higher." Then, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured.
For everyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be raised up.'
3) Reflection
• Context. The Word of grace that Jesus rendered visible with his teaching and the cures he worked, runs the risk of being suppressed; for Jesus the event of death is always closer, like for all the prophets who have preceded him. Such a reality toward which Jesus is going shows clearly the rejection of man and God’s patience. By rejecting Jesus as the first one sent, the only Word of grace of the Father, man condemns himself and closes the possibility that the Father had opened before him to have access to salvation. However, hope is not as yet extinguished: it is possible that some day man will recognize Jesus as “the one” who comes from the Lord and that will be a reason to rejoice. Therefore, the conclusion of chapter 13 of Luke’s Gospel makes us understand that salvation is not a human enterprise, but can only be received as an absolutely gratuitous gift. Let us see, then, how this gift of salvation is fulfilled, always keeping in mind this rejection of Jesus as the only one sent by God.
• The invitation to lunch. In the face of the danger of being reduced to silence it was suggested to Jesus to flee and, instead, he accepts the invitation to lunch. Such an attitude of Jesus makes one understand that he does not fear the attempts of aggression against his person; rather these do not make him afraid. To invite him is “one of the heads of the Pharisees”, a person who has authority. Such invitat6ion takes place on a Saturday; an ideal day for a festive lunch which was usually taken around noon after all had participated in the liturgy in the Synagogue. During lunch the Pharisees “were observing him” (v. 11): an act of supervision and control that refers to the suspicion regarding his behaviour. In other words, they observed him expecting that he would do some inadmissible action regarding their idea of the law. But finally, they control him not to safeguard the observance of the law, but rather to catch him in some gesture of his. In the meantime on Saturday, after having cured before the Pharisees and the Doctors of the Law a dropsical, he expresses two resolute reflections on how it is necessary to accept an invitation to table and with which spirit the invitation is to be done (vv. 12-14). The first one Luke calls it a “parable”, that is to say, an example, a model or a teaching to be followed. Above all, it is necessary to invite with gratuity and with freedom of spirit. Frequently, men go ahead and ask to be invited, instead of waiting to receive an invitation. For Luke the point of view of God is the contrary, it is that of humility: “He has pulled down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly”. The call to participate in the “great supper” of the Kingdom has as result an improvement in the level of life for the one who is capable to accept with gratitude the invitation of salvation.
• The last place. It is true that to cede or give up one’s own place to others is nothing gratifying, but it could be humiliating; it is a limitation of one’s pride. And even more humiliating and a reason to feel embarrassed when one has to move to the last place; it is a dishonour in the eyes of all. Luke, on the one hand, thinks in all those humiliating and painful situations of shame in which the believer can find himself, in the place reserved for one who lives these events before the eyes of God and his Kingdom. The proud, those who seek to have the first places, the important gratify themselves because of their social position. On the contrary, when Jesus came to live among us, “there was no place for him” (2, 7) and he decided to remain choosing a place among the poor and humble people. This is why God raised him, exalted him. From here then comes the precious suggestion to choose his attitude, considering the last place as a privilege. The reader may remain disturbed by these words of Jesus that undermine the utilitarian and egoistic sense of life; but in the long run his teaching reveals itself to be determinate to ascend on high; the way of humility leads to the glory.
4) Personal questions
• In your relationship of friendship with others does the calculation of interest and the expectation to receive something in exchange, prevail?
• In the relationship with others, in the centre of attention is there always and everywhere your “I”, even when you do something for the brothers and sisters? Are you ready to give yourself in what you are?
5) Concluding Prayer
I thirst for God, the living God;
when shall I go to see the face of God?
I have no food but tears day and night,
as all day long I am taunted, 'Where is your God?' (Ps 42,2-3)
Almighty and ever-living God,
strengthen our faith, hope and love.
May we do with loving hearts
what you ask of us
and come to share the life you promise.
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 14,1.7-11
It happened that on a Sabbath day Jesus had gone to share a meal in the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this, 'When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, "Give up your place to this man." And then, to your embarrassment, you will have to go and take the lowest place.
No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, "My friend, move up higher." Then, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured.
For everyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be raised up.'
3) Reflection
• Context. The Word of grace that Jesus rendered visible with his teaching and the cures he worked, runs the risk of being suppressed; for Jesus the event of death is always closer, like for all the prophets who have preceded him. Such a reality toward which Jesus is going shows clearly the rejection of man and God’s patience. By rejecting Jesus as the first one sent, the only Word of grace of the Father, man condemns himself and closes the possibility that the Father had opened before him to have access to salvation. However, hope is not as yet extinguished: it is possible that some day man will recognize Jesus as “the one” who comes from the Lord and that will be a reason to rejoice. Therefore, the conclusion of chapter 13 of Luke’s Gospel makes us understand that salvation is not a human enterprise, but can only be received as an absolutely gratuitous gift. Let us see, then, how this gift of salvation is fulfilled, always keeping in mind this rejection of Jesus as the only one sent by God.
• The invitation to lunch. In the face of the danger of being reduced to silence it was suggested to Jesus to flee and, instead, he accepts the invitation to lunch. Such an attitude of Jesus makes one understand that he does not fear the attempts of aggression against his person; rather these do not make him afraid. To invite him is “one of the heads of the Pharisees”, a person who has authority. Such invitat6ion takes place on a Saturday; an ideal day for a festive lunch which was usually taken around noon after all had participated in the liturgy in the Synagogue. During lunch the Pharisees “were observing him” (v. 11): an act of supervision and control that refers to the suspicion regarding his behaviour. In other words, they observed him expecting that he would do some inadmissible action regarding their idea of the law. But finally, they control him not to safeguard the observance of the law, but rather to catch him in some gesture of his. In the meantime on Saturday, after having cured before the Pharisees and the Doctors of the Law a dropsical, he expresses two resolute reflections on how it is necessary to accept an invitation to table and with which spirit the invitation is to be done (vv. 12-14). The first one Luke calls it a “parable”, that is to say, an example, a model or a teaching to be followed. Above all, it is necessary to invite with gratuity and with freedom of spirit. Frequently, men go ahead and ask to be invited, instead of waiting to receive an invitation. For Luke the point of view of God is the contrary, it is that of humility: “He has pulled down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly”. The call to participate in the “great supper” of the Kingdom has as result an improvement in the level of life for the one who is capable to accept with gratitude the invitation of salvation.
• The last place. It is true that to cede or give up one’s own place to others is nothing gratifying, but it could be humiliating; it is a limitation of one’s pride. And even more humiliating and a reason to feel embarrassed when one has to move to the last place; it is a dishonour in the eyes of all. Luke, on the one hand, thinks in all those humiliating and painful situations of shame in which the believer can find himself, in the place reserved for one who lives these events before the eyes of God and his Kingdom. The proud, those who seek to have the first places, the important gratify themselves because of their social position. On the contrary, when Jesus came to live among us, “there was no place for him” (2, 7) and he decided to remain choosing a place among the poor and humble people. This is why God raised him, exalted him. From here then comes the precious suggestion to choose his attitude, considering the last place as a privilege. The reader may remain disturbed by these words of Jesus that undermine the utilitarian and egoistic sense of life; but in the long run his teaching reveals itself to be determinate to ascend on high; the way of humility leads to the glory.
4) Personal questions
• In your relationship of friendship with others does the calculation of interest and the expectation to receive something in exchange, prevail?
• In the relationship with others, in the centre of attention is there always and everywhere your “I”, even when you do something for the brothers and sisters? Are you ready to give yourself in what you are?
5) Concluding Prayer
I thirst for God, the living God;
when shall I go to see the face of God?
I have no food but tears day and night,
as all day long I am taunted, 'Where is your God?' (Ps 42,2-3)
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