Wednesday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 433
Lectionary: 433
Brothers and sisters,
I could not talk to you as spiritual people,
but as fleshly people, as infants in Christ.
I fed you milk, not solid food,
because you were unable to take it.
Indeed, you are still not able, even now,
for you are still of the flesh.
While there is jealousy and rivalry among you,
are you not of the flesh, and walking
according to the manner of man?
Whenever someone says, “I belong to Paul,” and another,
“I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely men?
What is Apollos, after all, and what is Paul?
Ministers through whom you became believers,
just as the Lord assigned each one.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.
Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything,
but only God, who causes the growth.
He who plants and he who waters are one,
and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor.
For we are God’s co-workers;
you are God’s field, God’s building.
I could not talk to you as spiritual people,
but as fleshly people, as infants in Christ.
I fed you milk, not solid food,
because you were unable to take it.
Indeed, you are still not able, even now,
for you are still of the flesh.
While there is jealousy and rivalry among you,
are you not of the flesh, and walking
according to the manner of man?
Whenever someone says, “I belong to Paul,” and another,
“I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely men?
What is Apollos, after all, and what is Paul?
Ministers through whom you became believers,
just as the Lord assigned each one.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.
Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything,
but only God, who causes the growth.
He who plants and he who waters are one,
and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor.
For we are God’s co-workers;
you are God’s field, God’s building.
Responsorial PsalmPS 33:12-13, 14-15, 20-21
R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his
own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
From his fixed throne he beholds
all who dwell on the earth,
He who fashioned the heart of each,
he who knows all their works.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
From his fixed throne he beholds
all who dwell on the earth,
He who fashioned the heart of each,
he who knows all their works.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
AlleluiaLK 4:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 4:38-44
After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.
Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,
and they interceded with him about her.
He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.
She got up immediately and waited on them.
At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases
brought them to him.
He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.
And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.”
But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak
because they knew that he was the Christ.
At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,
they tried to prevent him from leaving them.
But he said to them, “To the other towns also
I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,
because for this purpose I have been sent.”
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,
and they interceded with him about her.
He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.
She got up immediately and waited on them.
At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases
brought them to him.
He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.
And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.”
But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak
because they knew that he was the Christ.
At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,
they tried to prevent him from leaving them.
But he said to them, “To the other towns also
I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,
because for this purpose I have been sent.”
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Meditation: "He laid his hands on every one and
healed them"
Who do you take your troubles to? Jesus' disciples
freely brought their troubles to him because they found him ready and able to
deal with any difficulty, affliction, or sickness which they encountered. When
Simon Peter brought Jesus to his home for the Sabbath meal (right after Jesus
preached in the synagogue in Capernaum), his mother-in-law was instantly healed
because Jesus heard Simon's prayer. Jesus could not avoid drawing a crowd
wherever he went.
Jesus wants to set us free today
No one who asked Jesus for help was left disappointed. Jesus' numerous healings and exorcisims demonstrated the power and authority of his word, the "good news of the kingdom of God." When he rebuked the fever, it immediately left. When he rebuked the demons, they left as well. Why did the demons shudder at Jesus' presence? They recognized that he was the Christ, the Son of God and that he had power to destroy their kingdom by releasing those bound by it. Jesus came to set us free from bondage to sin and evil. Do you seek freedom in Christ and trust in his power to set you free?
No one who asked Jesus for help was left disappointed. Jesus' numerous healings and exorcisims demonstrated the power and authority of his word, the "good news of the kingdom of God." When he rebuked the fever, it immediately left. When he rebuked the demons, they left as well. Why did the demons shudder at Jesus' presence? They recognized that he was the Christ, the Son of God and that he had power to destroy their kingdom by releasing those bound by it. Jesus came to set us free from bondage to sin and evil. Do you seek freedom in Christ and trust in his power to set you free?
When Jesus and the disciples sought a lonely place to
regroup and rest, they found instead a crowd waiting for them! Did they resent
this intrusion on their hard-earned need for privacy and refreshment? Jesus
certainly didn't but welcomed them with open-arms. Jesus put human need ahead of
everything else. His compassion showed the depths of God's love and concern for
all who are truly needy. Jesus gave the people the word of God and he healed
them physically as well as spiritually.
Jesus never tires of hearing and answering our pleas
We can never intrude upon God nor exhaust his generosity and kindness. He is ever ready to give to those who earnestly seek him out. Do you allow Jesus to be the Lord and Healer in your personal life, family, and community? Approach him with expectant faith. God's healing power restores us not only to health but to active service and care of others. There is no trouble he does not want to help us with and there is no bondage he can't set us free from. Do you take your troubles to him with expectant faith that he will help you?
We can never intrude upon God nor exhaust his generosity and kindness. He is ever ready to give to those who earnestly seek him out. Do you allow Jesus to be the Lord and Healer in your personal life, family, and community? Approach him with expectant faith. God's healing power restores us not only to health but to active service and care of others. There is no trouble he does not want to help us with and there is no bondage he can't set us free from. Do you take your troubles to him with expectant faith that he will help you?
"Lord Jesus Christ, you have all power to heal
and to deliver. There is no trouble nor bondage you cannot overcome. Set me
free to serve you joyfully and to love and serve others generously. May nothing
hinder me from giving myself wholly to you and to your service."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Jesus the Chief Physician, by Jerome (347-420 AD)
"'Now Simon's mother-in-law was kept in her bed
sick with a fever.' May Christ come to our house and enter in and by his
command cure the fever of our sins. Each one of us is sick with a fever.
Whenever I give way to anger, I have a fever. There are as many fevers as there
are faults and vices. Let us beg the apostles to intercede for us with Jesus,
that he may come to us and touch our hand. If he does so, at once our fever is
gone. He is an excellent physician and truly the chief Physician. Moses is a physician.
Isaiah is a physician. All the saints are physicians, but he is the chief
Physician." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE
GOSPEL OF MARK 75.1)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, LUKE 4:38-44
Weekday
(1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Psalm 33)
Weekday
(1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Psalm 33)
KEY VERSE: "To other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent" (v 43).
TO KNOW: God's power was at work in Jesus whose divine authority over all forms of evil came from within his very being. After curing the demoniac in the synagogue at Capernaum (Lk 4:33-35), he went to the home of Simon Peter. With a powerful word he cured Simon's mother-in-law who lay ill with a severe fever. She arose and waited on Jesus and his disciples as a true servant of God. At sunset the Sabbath ended and the people were free to bring their sick to Jesus. He laid hands on them, curing those who were ill and exorcizing evil spirits. In the morning, Jesus retired to a deserted place, but the people came in search of him, beseeching him to remain with them. Jesus told them that he must proclaim the gospel to others because that was why he had been sent.
TO LOVE: Do I know someone who needs Jesus' healing touch?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, I pray for all those in need of your healing word.
Wednesday 31 August 2016
Wed
31st.
1 Corinthians 3:1-9. Happy the people the Lord has
chosen to be his own—Ps 32(33):12-15, 20-21. Luke 4:38-44.
Recently,
Pope Francis reminded his hearers that 'God's salvation does not come from
great things, from power or wealth, nor from clerical or political parties, but
from the small and simple things of God.' Jesus warns us in this Gospel passage
of the temptation of putting all our hopes on material possessions to the
detriment of ignoring our spiritual needs. The rich man in this story made one
mistake: he failed in gratitude. He forgot to acknowledge that all we have
comes from God and that God expects us to use the good things he has given us
for the betterment of all. He could have used his good harvest to do 'the small
and simple things', as the Pope suggests, like increasing the wages of his
workers and reaching out to the poor in his community. Let us be more attentive
to the Gospel call to do so, also.
MINUTE
MEDITATIONS
|
More Than Milestones
|
Together with baptism, the other sacraments of initiation are
Eucharist and confirmation. This trifecta makes us full members of the Church,
like older children who can thoughtfully participate in all the elements of
family life. But more than just milestones of belonging, these sacraments
change our souls.
August
31
Sts. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus
Sts. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus
The actions of these two influential Jewish
leaders give insight into the charismatic power of Jesus and his teachings—and
the risks that could be involved in following him.
Joseph was a respected,
wealthy civic leader who had become a disciple of Jesus. Following the death of
Jesus, Joseph obtained Jesus' body from Pilate, wrapped it in fine linen and
buried it. For these reasons Joseph is considered the patron saint of funeral
directors and pallbearers. More important is the courage Joseph showed in asking
Pilate for Jesus' body. Jesus was a condemned criminal who had been publicly
executed. According to some legends, Joseph was punished and imprisoned for
such a bold act.
Nicodemus was a
Pharisee and, like Joseph, an important first-century Jew. We know from John's
Gospel that Nicodemus went to Jesus at night—secretly—to better understand his
teachings about the kingdom. Later, Nicodemus spoke up for Jesus at the time of
his arrest and assisted in Jesus' burial. We know little else about Nicodemus.
Patron Saint of:
Undertakers
Undertakers
LECTIO DIVINA: LUKE 4,38-44
Lectio Divina:
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Almighty God,
every good thing comes from you.
Fill our hearts with love for you,
increase our faith,
and by your constant care
protect the good you have given 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.
every good thing comes from you.
Fill our hearts with love for you,
increase our faith,
and by your constant care
protect the good you have given 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 4,38-44
Leaving the synagogue Jesus went to
Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in the grip of a high fever and
they asked him to do something for her. Standing over her he rebuked the fever
and it left her. And she immediately got up and began to serve them.
At sunset all those who had friends suffering from diseases of one kind or another brought them to him, and laying his hands on each he cured them.
Devils too came out of many people, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God.’ But he warned them and would not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ. When daylight came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place. The crowds went to look for him, and when they had caught up with him they wanted to prevent him leaving them, but he answered, ‘I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do.’ And he continued his proclamation in the synagogues of Judaea.
At sunset all those who had friends suffering from diseases of one kind or another brought them to him, and laying his hands on each he cured them.
Devils too came out of many people, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God.’ But he warned them and would not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ. When daylight came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place. The crowds went to look for him, and when they had caught up with him they wanted to prevent him leaving them, but he answered, ‘I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do.’ And he continued his proclamation in the synagogues of Judaea.
3) Reflection
● The Gospel today
narrates four different events: the cure of Peter’s mother-in-law (Lk 4, 38-39),
the cure of many sick people at night, after Saturday (Lk 4, 40-41), the prayer
of Jesus in a deserted place (Lk 4, 42) and his insistence on the mission (Lk
4, 43-44). With small differences Luke follows and adapts the information taken
from the Gospel of Mark.
● Luke 4, 38-39: Jesus restores life for service. After having participated in the celebration of Saturday, in the Synagogue, Jesus goes to Peter’s house and cures his mother-in-law. The cure causes her to render service immediately, already standing. Having recovered her health and dignity, she places herself at the service of the people. Jesus not only cures, but he cures in such a way that the person places herself at the service of life.
● Luke 4, 40-41: Jesus accepts and cures the marginalized. At night, when the first stars appear in the sky, after Saturday is over, Jesus accepts and cures the sick and those possessed who the people bring to him. The sick and the possessed were the most marginalized persons at that time. They had no one to whom to go. They were at the mercy of public charity; besides, religion considered them impure. They could not participate in the community. It was as if God rejected and excluded them. Jesus accepts and cures them, placing his hands on each one of them. Thus, it is clear in what the Good News of God consists and what he wants to do in the life of persons: to accept the marginalized and the excluded and to integrate them into the community, to live with others.
“Devils came out of many persons shouting: “You are the Son of God!” But he warned them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ”. At that time the title Son of God did not have as yet the density and depth that it has for us today. Jesus did not allow the devils to speak. He did not want an easy propaganda dictated by spectacular expulsions.
● Luke 4, 42a: To remain united to the Father by means of prayer.“When daylight came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place. The crowds went to look for him, and when they had caught up with him they wanted to prevent him from leaving them”. Here we see Jesus praying. He has to make an enormous effort to have time available and a place suitable for prayer. He goes to a deserted place to be able to stay alone with God. Many times, the Gospels speak about Jesus’ prayer, in silence (Lk 3, 21-22; 4, 1-2.3-12; 5,15-16; 6,12; 9,18; 10,21; 5,16; 9,18; 11,1; 9, 28;23,34; Mt 14, 22-23; 26,38; Jn 11, 41-42; 17,1-26; Mk 1,35; Lk 3, 21-22). Through prayer, he maintains alive the conscience of his mission.
● Luke 4, 42b-44: To maintain alive the conscience of one’s own mission and not think about the result. Jesus becomes known. People follow him and they did not want him to leave them. Jesus does not respond to this petition and says: “I must proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do”. Jesus was very clear about his mission. He does not stop at the result that he has already obtained, but he wishes to maintain very alive the awareness if his mission. It is the mission received from the Father which orientates him when he has to take a decision. I have been sent for this! And here in this text this conscience which is so alive springs as fruit of his prayer.
● Luke 4, 38-39: Jesus restores life for service. After having participated in the celebration of Saturday, in the Synagogue, Jesus goes to Peter’s house and cures his mother-in-law. The cure causes her to render service immediately, already standing. Having recovered her health and dignity, she places herself at the service of the people. Jesus not only cures, but he cures in such a way that the person places herself at the service of life.
● Luke 4, 40-41: Jesus accepts and cures the marginalized. At night, when the first stars appear in the sky, after Saturday is over, Jesus accepts and cures the sick and those possessed who the people bring to him. The sick and the possessed were the most marginalized persons at that time. They had no one to whom to go. They were at the mercy of public charity; besides, religion considered them impure. They could not participate in the community. It was as if God rejected and excluded them. Jesus accepts and cures them, placing his hands on each one of them. Thus, it is clear in what the Good News of God consists and what he wants to do in the life of persons: to accept the marginalized and the excluded and to integrate them into the community, to live with others.
“Devils came out of many persons shouting: “You are the Son of God!” But he warned them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ”. At that time the title Son of God did not have as yet the density and depth that it has for us today. Jesus did not allow the devils to speak. He did not want an easy propaganda dictated by spectacular expulsions.
● Luke 4, 42a: To remain united to the Father by means of prayer.“When daylight came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place. The crowds went to look for him, and when they had caught up with him they wanted to prevent him from leaving them”. Here we see Jesus praying. He has to make an enormous effort to have time available and a place suitable for prayer. He goes to a deserted place to be able to stay alone with God. Many times, the Gospels speak about Jesus’ prayer, in silence (Lk 3, 21-22; 4, 1-2.3-12; 5,15-16; 6,12; 9,18; 10,21; 5,16; 9,18; 11,1; 9, 28;23,34; Mt 14, 22-23; 26,38; Jn 11, 41-42; 17,1-26; Mk 1,35; Lk 3, 21-22). Through prayer, he maintains alive the conscience of his mission.
● Luke 4, 42b-44: To maintain alive the conscience of one’s own mission and not think about the result. Jesus becomes known. People follow him and they did not want him to leave them. Jesus does not respond to this petition and says: “I must proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do”. Jesus was very clear about his mission. He does not stop at the result that he has already obtained, but he wishes to maintain very alive the awareness if his mission. It is the mission received from the Father which orientates him when he has to take a decision. I have been sent for this! And here in this text this conscience which is so alive springs as fruit of his prayer.
4) Personal questions
● Jesus spent much time
in prayer and to be alone with the Father, and he looked for this time. Do I
dedicate time for prayer and to be alone with God?
● Jesus had a clear conscience of his mission. And I, a Christian, am I conscious that I have a mission, or do I live without a mission?
● Jesus had a clear conscience of his mission. And I, a Christian, am I conscious that I have a mission, or do I live without a mission?
5) Concluding Prayer
We are waiting for Yahweh;
he is our help and our shield,
for in him our heart rejoices,
in his holy name we trust. (Ps 33,20-21)
he is our help and our shield,
for in him our heart rejoices,
in his holy name we trust. (Ps 33,20-21)
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