Memorial
of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs
Lectionary: 447
Lectionary: 447
Brothers
and sisters:
If Christ is preached as raised from the dead,
how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead?
If there is no resurrection of the dead,
then neither has Christ been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching;
empty, too, your faith.
Then we are also false witnesses to God,
because we testified against God that he raised Christ,
whom he did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised.
For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised,
and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain;
you are still in your sins.
Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If for this life only we have hoped in Christ,
we are the most pitiable people of all.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
If Christ is preached as raised from the dead,
how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead?
If there is no resurrection of the dead,
then neither has Christ been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching;
empty, too, your faith.
Then we are also false witnesses to God,
because we testified against God that he raised Christ,
whom he did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised.
For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised,
and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain;
you are still in your sins.
Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If for this life only we have hoped in Christ,
we are the most pitiable people of all.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 17:1BCD, 6-7, 8B AND
15
R.
(15b) Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee
from their foes to refuge at your right hand.
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings,
But I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking, I shall be content in your presence.
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee
from their foes to refuge at your right hand.
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings,
But I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking, I shall be content in your presence.
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
AlleluiaSEE MT 11:25
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 8:1-3
Jesus
journeyed from one town and village to another,
preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.
Accompanying him were the Twelve
and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza,
Susanna, and many others
who provided for them out of their resources.
preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.
Accompanying him were the Twelve
and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza,
Susanna, and many others
who provided for them out of their resources.
Meditation: "The women provided for Jesus"
Are you ready to serve the Lord Jesus and to support
the work of the Gospel with your personal resources? During his three years of
public ministry Jesus traveled widely. The Gospel records that a band of women
accompanied Jesus and the twelve apostles. This was a diverse group of women;
some came from rich and prominent families; some had been prostitutes, and
others had been afflicted with mental and physical infirmities.
The women who served Jesus out of their own resources
We know that Mary Magdalene had lived a very troubled life before Jesus freed her from seven demons. She was privileged to be the first to see Jesus as the risen Lord. As the wife of King Herod's chief financial officer, Joanna was a wealthy lady of the court. It's unlikely that these two would have ever met under other circumstances. What brought them together and united them in a bond of friendship, service, and loyalty to Jesus? Certainly Jesus and his message of the kingdom of God had transformed them. Unlike the apostles, who took great pride in being the chosen twelve, these women did not seek position or demand special privileges. Jesus had touched them so deeply that they were grateful to do anything for him, even menial service. They brought their gifts and resources to Jesus to use as he saw fit.
We know that Mary Magdalene had lived a very troubled life before Jesus freed her from seven demons. She was privileged to be the first to see Jesus as the risen Lord. As the wife of King Herod's chief financial officer, Joanna was a wealthy lady of the court. It's unlikely that these two would have ever met under other circumstances. What brought them together and united them in a bond of friendship, service, and loyalty to Jesus? Certainly Jesus and his message of the kingdom of God had transformed them. Unlike the apostles, who took great pride in being the chosen twelve, these women did not seek position or demand special privileges. Jesus had touched them so deeply that they were grateful to do anything for him, even menial service. They brought their gifts and resources to Jesus to use as he saw fit.
Whose concerns do you put first - yours or others?
Are you more like the status-conscious apostles who were concerned for their position, or like the women who were content to serve Jesus quietly and generously with their personal resources? In our fallen state, our natural tendency is to want to be served and placed first and to avoid giving too much of ourselves to the service of others. And besides, who really prefers to take the lowly place of a servant who puts the needs of others before their own needs? Jesus is our best example who "came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom" for us (Matthew 20:28). The Gospel honors these women who imitated Jesus in his selfless sacrificial love and humble service.
Are you more like the status-conscious apostles who were concerned for their position, or like the women who were content to serve Jesus quietly and generously with their personal resources? In our fallen state, our natural tendency is to want to be served and placed first and to avoid giving too much of ourselves to the service of others. And besides, who really prefers to take the lowly place of a servant who puts the needs of others before their own needs? Jesus is our best example who "came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom" for us (Matthew 20:28). The Gospel honors these women who imitated Jesus in his selfless sacrificial love and humble service.
Our privilege and joy is to serve the Lord Jesus
Our privilege as children of God and disciples of Jesus is to serve as Jesus served with humility, selfless love, generosity, joy, and a willingness to do whatever God asks of us. God, in his turn, gives us every good gift and grace we need to carry out our task and mission. God in his infinite power needs no one, but in his wisdom and love, he chooses to entrust his work through each one of us. His Holy Spirit equips us with all that we need to love and serve others. No one is unimportant or unnecessary in God's economy. The least in his kingdom find a home and a mission at Jesus' side. Do you know the joy of serving Jesus in company with others who love and serve him willingly?
Our privilege as children of God and disciples of Jesus is to serve as Jesus served with humility, selfless love, generosity, joy, and a willingness to do whatever God asks of us. God, in his turn, gives us every good gift and grace we need to carry out our task and mission. God in his infinite power needs no one, but in his wisdom and love, he chooses to entrust his work through each one of us. His Holy Spirit equips us with all that we need to love and serve others. No one is unimportant or unnecessary in God's economy. The least in his kingdom find a home and a mission at Jesus' side. Do you know the joy of serving Jesus in company with others who love and serve him willingly?
"Lord Jesus, set my heart on fire for you that I
may give freely of the gifts, talents, and resources you give me, for your sake
and for the work of the Gospel."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Everyone has something to give, by
Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Frankly, even the poor have something they can
share with others. Let one lend feet to the lame, another become the eyes of
the blind, another visit the sick, and another bury the dead. These are the
things that everone can do. Lastly, bear one another's burdens, and so you
shall fulfill the law of Christ." (excerpt
from Sermon 41,9)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, LUKE
8:1-3
(1 Corinthians 15:12-20; Psalm 17)
(1 Corinthians 15:12-20; Psalm 17)
KEY VERSE: "Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women" (vs 1, 2).
TO KNOW: Jesus journeyed from one village to another proclaiming the good news. He was accompanied by his twelve apostles and several women who "provided for them out of their own resources" (v 3). These women disciples had experienced the healing love of Jesus' mercy, and they expressed their gratitude through generous service. Jewish tradition forbade a rabbi to associate with women in public, but Jesus went beyond the cultural customs of his day. He declared that the Gospel was for all people regardless of gender. These faithful women stood by Jesus at the cross (Lk 23:49), were present at his burial (23:55), were privileged witnesses of his glorious resurrection (24:1-10), and among those waiting with the Twelve for the outpouring of the Spirit after the ascension (Acts 1:14).
TO LOVE: Is my attitude toward women in ministry like that of Jesus?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to show my love for you through serving others.
Memorial of Saint
Cornelius, pope and martyr
Cornelius was the Twenty-First pope, elected during a period when persecutions were so bad that papal ascension was often a death sentence. Cornelius worked to maintain unity in a time of schism and apostasy. He fought Novatianism, a heresy that held that the lapsed Christian might not be received again into communion with the Church, and that second marriages were unlawful. Cornelius was exiled by Roman authorities to punish Christians who were said to have provoked the gods who sent the plague against Rome. A document from Cornelius shows the size of the Church of Rome in his papacy: 46 priests, 7 deacons, 7 sub-deacons, approximately 50,000 Christians. He died a martyr in 253 and is buried at the cemetery of Saint Callistus at Rome.
Memorial of Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr
Cyprian was born into a rich pagan family of Carthage in North Africa, sometime during the early third century. Soon after converting to Christianity, he was ordained a priest and was chosen, against his will, as Bishop of Carthage in 249. He was exiled during the persecutions of Valerian. The persecution was especially severe at Carthage. Many Christians fell away, and were thereafter referred to as "lapsi" (the fallen). Cyprian was involved in the argument with Novatus (a priest who had opposed Cyprian's election), over whether apostates should be readmitted to the Church. Cyprian believed they should, but under stringent conditions. It was their reinstatement that caused the great controversies of the third century, and helped the Church progress in its understanding of the Sacrament of Penance. A martyr, Cyprian was beheaded September 258. He is a Latin Father of the Church. “You cannot have God for your Father if you do not have the Church for your mother.” (Saint Cyprian, The Unity of the Catholic Church).
MEXICO'S INDEPENDENCE
DAY, SEPTEMBER 16
The 16th of September of 1810, marks the beginning of Mexico's struggle for independence from Spain. This proclamation for Independence was made on this day by Fr. Miguel Hidalgo De Costilla, a heroic Parish Priest, widely regarded as the Father of Mexican Independence. He was responsible for leading the first large revolutionary forces against the Spaniards under the banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Tragically, he was captured and executed by a firing squad. Fr. Hidalgo's martyrdom, however, galvanized the Mexican people to struggle and fight for independence. After Fr. Hidalgo's demise, Fr. Jose Maria Morelos, a small village priest, and a farseeing political and military genius, rallied the revolutionary forces until his capture and execution on December 22, 1815.
Friday 16 September 2016
ri 16th. Ss Cornelius and Cyprian. Day of
penance.
1 Corinthians 15:12-20. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full—Ps 16(17):1, 6-8, 15. Luke 8:1-3.
1 Corinthians 15:12-20. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full—Ps 16(17):1, 6-8, 15. Luke 8:1-3.
'The resurrected one'
'If there is no resurrection from the
dead, then Christ has not been raised ... and your faith has been in vain.'
Paul's sentence begins a most challenging passage. Christ is a great teacher, a
healer, and God incarnate, he is beyond my imagination. How can I believe and
share in his resurrection? The Psalmist cries: 'For you do not give me up to
Sheol, or let your faithful one see the pit.' Christ, as the path of life, the
joy of God, is our hope in God's word being spoken before all time and thought.
God's love in Christ is concrete and real; the resurrected one. Each moment of
faithful prayer is his light arising from the darkness as our new beginning;
embracing every moment of life from birth to death: 'when I awake I shall be
satisfied, beholding your likeness.'
ST.
CORNELIUS, POPE, MARTYR AND ST. CYPRIAN, BISHOP, MARTYR
Saint
Cornelius was elected Pope in 251 during the persecutions of the Emperor
Decius. His first challenge, besides the ever present threat of the Roman
authorities, was to bring an end to the schism brought on by his rival, the
first anti-pope Novatian. He convened a synod of bishops to confirm him as the
rightful successor of Peter.
The
great controversy that arose as a result of the Decian persecution was whether
or not the Church could pardon and receive back into the Church those who had
apostacized in the face of martyrdom.
Against
both the bishops who argued that the Church could not welcome back apostates,
and those who argued that they should be welcomed back but did not demand a
heavy penance of the penitent, Cornelius decreed that they must be welcomed
back and insisted that they perform an adequate penance.
In
253 Cornelius was exiled by the emperor Gallus and died of the hardships he
endured in exile. He is venerated as a martyr.
Saint
Cyprian of Carthage is second in importance only to the great Saint Augustine
as a figure and Father of the African church. He was a close friend of Pope
Cornelius, and supported him both against the anti-pope Novatian and in his
views concerning the re-admittance of apostates into the Church.
Saint
Cyprian was born to wealthy pagans around the year 190, and was educated
in the classics and in rhetoric. He converted at the age of 56, was ordained a
priest a year later, and made bishop two years after that.
His
writings are of great importance, especially his treatise on The Unity of the
Catholic Church, in which he argues that unity is grounded in the authority of
the bishop, and among the bishops, in the primacy of the See of Rome.
In,
"The Unity of the Catholic Church," St. Cyprian writes, "You
cannot have God for your Father if you do not have the Church for your
mother.... God is one and Christ is one, and his Church is one; one is the
faith, and one is the people cemented together by harmony into the strong unity
of a body.... If we are the heirs of Christ, let us abide in the peace of
Christ; if we are the sons of God, let us be lovers of peace."
During
the Decian persecutions Cyprian considered it wiser to go into hiding and guide
his flock covertly rather than seek the glorious crown of martyrdom, a decision
that his enemies attacked him for.
On
September 14, 258, however, he was martyred during the persecutions of the
emperor Valerian.
LECTIO DIVINA: LUKE 8,1-3
Lectio Divina:
Friday, September 16, 2016
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Almighty God,
our creator and guide,
may we serve you with all our hearts
and know your forgiveness in our lives.
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.
our creator and guide,
may we serve you with all our hearts
and know your forgiveness in our lives.
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 8,1-3
Now it happened that Jesus made his way through towns and villages
preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.
With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own resources.
With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own resources.
3) Reflection
• In today’s Gospel we have the continuation of yesterday’s episode which
spoke about the surprising attitude of Jesus with regard to women, when he
defends the woman, who was known in the town as a sinner, against the criticism
of the Pharisee. Now at the beginning of chapter 8, Luke describes Jesus who
goes through the villages and towns of Galilee and the novelty is that he was
not only accompanied by the disciples, but also by the women disciples.
• Luke 8, 1: The Twelve who follow Jesus. In one phrase alone, Luke describes the situation: Jesus goes through towns and villages preaching and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God and the Twelve are with him. The expression “to follow Jesus” (cf. Mk 1, 18; 15, 41) indicates the condition of the disciple who follows the Master, twenty-four hours a day, trying to imitate his example and to participate in his destiny.
• Luke 8, 2-3: The women follow Jesus. What surprises is that at the side of the men there are also women “together with Jesus”. Luke places both the men and the women disciples at the same level because all of them follow Jesus. Luke has also kept some of the names of some of these women disciples: Mary Magdalene, born in the town of Magdala. She had been cured, and delivered from seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, steward of Herod Antipa, who was Governor of Galilee; Suzanne and several others. It is said that they “served Jesus with their own goods” Jesus allows a group of women “to follow” him (Lk 8, 2-3; 23, 49; Mk 15, 41). The Gospel of Mark when speaking about the women at the moment of Jesus’ death says: “There were some women who were observing at a distance and among them Mary of Magdala, Mary, the mother of James the younger and Joset, and Salome, who followed him and served him when he was still in Galilee, and many others who had gone up with him to Jerusalem (Mk 15, 40-41). Mark defines their attitude with three words: to follow, to serve, to go up to Jerusalem. The first Christians did not draw up a list of these women disciples who followed Jesus as they had done with the twelve disciples. But in the pages of the Gospel of Luke the name of seven of these women disciples are mentioned: Mary Magdalene, Jeanna, wife of Chuza, Suzanne (Lk 8, 3), Martha and Mary (Lk 10, 38), Mary, the mother of James (Lk 24, 10) and Anna, the prophetess (Lk 2, 36), who was eighty-four years old. Number eighty-four is seven times twelve: the perfect age! The later Ecclesiastical tradition does not value this fact about the discipleship of women with the same importance with which it values the following of Jesus on the part of men. It is a sin!
The Gospel of Luke has always been considered as the Gospel of women. In fact, Luke is the Evangelist who presents the largest number of episodes in which he underlines the relationship of Jesus with the women, and the novelty is not only in the presence of the women around Jesus, but also and, above all, in the attitude of Jesus in relation to them. Jesus touches them and allows them to touch him without fear of being contaminated (Lk 7, 39; 8, 44-45.54). This was different from the teachers of that time, Jesus accepts women who follow him and who are his disciples (Lk 8, 2-3; 10, 39). The liberating force of God, which acts in Jesus, allows women to raise and to assume their dignity (Lk 13, 13). Jesus is sensitive to the suffering of the widow and is in solidarity with her sorrow (Lk 7, 13). The work of the woman who prepares the meal is considered by Jesus like a sign of the Kingdom (Lk 13, 20-21). The insistent widow who struggles for her rights is considered the model of prayer (Lk 18, 1-8), and the poor widow who shares the little that she has with others is the model of dedication and donation (Lk 21, 1-4). At a time when the witness of women is not accepted as something valid, Jesus accepts women and considers them witnesses of his death (Lk 23, 49), of his burial (Lk 22, 55-56) and of his resurrection (Lk 24, 1-11. 22-24).
• Luke 8, 1: The Twelve who follow Jesus. In one phrase alone, Luke describes the situation: Jesus goes through towns and villages preaching and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God and the Twelve are with him. The expression “to follow Jesus” (cf. Mk 1, 18; 15, 41) indicates the condition of the disciple who follows the Master, twenty-four hours a day, trying to imitate his example and to participate in his destiny.
• Luke 8, 2-3: The women follow Jesus. What surprises is that at the side of the men there are also women “together with Jesus”. Luke places both the men and the women disciples at the same level because all of them follow Jesus. Luke has also kept some of the names of some of these women disciples: Mary Magdalene, born in the town of Magdala. She had been cured, and delivered from seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, steward of Herod Antipa, who was Governor of Galilee; Suzanne and several others. It is said that they “served Jesus with their own goods” Jesus allows a group of women “to follow” him (Lk 8, 2-3; 23, 49; Mk 15, 41). The Gospel of Mark when speaking about the women at the moment of Jesus’ death says: “There were some women who were observing at a distance and among them Mary of Magdala, Mary, the mother of James the younger and Joset, and Salome, who followed him and served him when he was still in Galilee, and many others who had gone up with him to Jerusalem (Mk 15, 40-41). Mark defines their attitude with three words: to follow, to serve, to go up to Jerusalem. The first Christians did not draw up a list of these women disciples who followed Jesus as they had done with the twelve disciples. But in the pages of the Gospel of Luke the name of seven of these women disciples are mentioned: Mary Magdalene, Jeanna, wife of Chuza, Suzanne (Lk 8, 3), Martha and Mary (Lk 10, 38), Mary, the mother of James (Lk 24, 10) and Anna, the prophetess (Lk 2, 36), who was eighty-four years old. Number eighty-four is seven times twelve: the perfect age! The later Ecclesiastical tradition does not value this fact about the discipleship of women with the same importance with which it values the following of Jesus on the part of men. It is a sin!
The Gospel of Luke has always been considered as the Gospel of women. In fact, Luke is the Evangelist who presents the largest number of episodes in which he underlines the relationship of Jesus with the women, and the novelty is not only in the presence of the women around Jesus, but also and, above all, in the attitude of Jesus in relation to them. Jesus touches them and allows them to touch him without fear of being contaminated (Lk 7, 39; 8, 44-45.54). This was different from the teachers of that time, Jesus accepts women who follow him and who are his disciples (Lk 8, 2-3; 10, 39). The liberating force of God, which acts in Jesus, allows women to raise and to assume their dignity (Lk 13, 13). Jesus is sensitive to the suffering of the widow and is in solidarity with her sorrow (Lk 7, 13). The work of the woman who prepares the meal is considered by Jesus like a sign of the Kingdom (Lk 13, 20-21). The insistent widow who struggles for her rights is considered the model of prayer (Lk 18, 1-8), and the poor widow who shares the little that she has with others is the model of dedication and donation (Lk 21, 1-4). At a time when the witness of women is not accepted as something valid, Jesus accepts women and considers them witnesses of his death (Lk 23, 49), of his burial (Lk 22, 55-56) and of his resurrection (Lk 24, 1-11. 22-24).
4) Personal questions
• How is woman considered in your community, in your country, in your
Church?
• Compare the attitude of our Church with the attitude of Jesus.
• Compare the attitude of our Church with the attitude of Jesus.
5) Concluding Prayer
God, examine me and know my heart,
test me and know my concerns.
Make sure that I am not on my way to ruin,
and guide me on the road of eternity. (Ps 139,23-24)
test me and know my concerns.
Make sure that I am not on my way to ruin,
and guide me on the road of eternity. (Ps 139,23-24)
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