Thursday of the Thirty-third Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 500
Lectionary: 500
The officers of the king in charge of enforcing the apostasy
came to the city of Modein to organize the sacrifices.
Many of Israel joined them,
but Mattathias and his sons gathered in a group apart.
Then the officers of the king addressed Mattathias:
"You are a leader, an honorable and great man in this city,
supported by sons and kin.
Come now, be the first to obey the king's command,
as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah
and those who are left in Jerusalem have done.
Then you and your sons shall be numbered among the King's Friends,
and shall be enriched with silver and gold and many gifts."
But Mattathias answered in a loud voice:
"Although all the Gentiles in the king's realm obey him,
so that each forsakes the religion of his fathers
and consents to the king's orders,
yet I and my sons and my kin
will keep to the covenant of our fathers.
God forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments.
We will not obey the words of the king
nor depart from our religion in the slightest degree."
As he finished saying these words,
a certain Jew came forward in the sight of all
to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein
according to the king's order.
When Mattathias saw him, he was filled with zeal;
his heart was moved and his just fury was aroused;
he sprang forward and killed him upon the altar.
At the same time, he also killed the messenger of the king
who was forcing them to sacrifice,
and he tore down the altar.
Thus he showed his zeal for the law,
just as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu.
Then Mattathias went through the city shouting,
"Let everyone who is zealous for the law
and who stands by the covenant follow after me!"
Thereupon he fled to the mountains with his sons,
leaving behind in the city all their possessions.
Many who sought to live according to righteousness and religious custom
went out into the desert to settle there.
came to the city of Modein to organize the sacrifices.
Many of Israel joined them,
but Mattathias and his sons gathered in a group apart.
Then the officers of the king addressed Mattathias:
"You are a leader, an honorable and great man in this city,
supported by sons and kin.
Come now, be the first to obey the king's command,
as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah
and those who are left in Jerusalem have done.
Then you and your sons shall be numbered among the King's Friends,
and shall be enriched with silver and gold and many gifts."
But Mattathias answered in a loud voice:
"Although all the Gentiles in the king's realm obey him,
so that each forsakes the religion of his fathers
and consents to the king's orders,
yet I and my sons and my kin
will keep to the covenant of our fathers.
God forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments.
We will not obey the words of the king
nor depart from our religion in the slightest degree."
As he finished saying these words,
a certain Jew came forward in the sight of all
to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein
according to the king's order.
When Mattathias saw him, he was filled with zeal;
his heart was moved and his just fury was aroused;
he sprang forward and killed him upon the altar.
At the same time, he also killed the messenger of the king
who was forcing them to sacrifice,
and he tore down the altar.
Thus he showed his zeal for the law,
just as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu.
Then Mattathias went through the city shouting,
"Let everyone who is zealous for the law
and who stands by the covenant follow after me!"
Thereupon he fled to the mountains with his sons,
leaving behind in the city all their possessions.
Many who sought to live according to righteousness and religious custom
went out into the desert to settle there.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 50:1B-2, 5-6, 14-15
R. (23b) To the
upright I will show the saving power of God.
God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth,
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
and fulfill your vows to the Most High;
Then call upon me in time of distress;
I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth,
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
and fulfill your vows to the Most High;
Then call upon me in time of distress;
I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
AlleluiaPS 95:8
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 19:41-44
As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
"If this day you only knew what makes for peace–
but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming upon you
when your enemies will raise a palisade against you;
they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.
They will smash you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you
because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
"If this day you only knew what makes for peace–
but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming upon you
when your enemies will raise a palisade against you;
they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.
They will smash you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you
because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."
Meditation: "Know the time of your
visitation"
What enables us to live in peace and harmony with our
families, neighbors, local communities, and the wider community of peoples and
nations? The Father in heaven sent his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus
Christ, to reconcile us with God and to unite us with one another in a bond of
peace and mutual love.
Jesus' earthly ministry centers and culminates in
Jerusalem, which Scripture describes as the holy city, the throne of the Lord
(Jeremiah 3:17);and the place which God chose for his name to dwell there (1
Kings 11:13; 2 Kings 21:4; 2 Kings 23:27); and the holy mountain upon which God
has set his king (Psalm 2:6). Jerusalem derives its name from the word "salem" which
mean "peace". The temple in Jerusalem was a constant
reminder to the people of God's presence with them.
Tears of mourning and sorrow over sin and refusal to
believe in God
When Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the multitude of homes surrounding the holy temple, he wept over it because it inhabitants did not "know the things that make for peace" (Luke 19:42). As he poured out his heart to the Father in heaven, Jesus shed tears of sorrow, grief, and mourning for his people. He knew that he would soon pour out his blood for the people of Jerusalem and for the whole world as well.
When Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the multitude of homes surrounding the holy temple, he wept over it because it inhabitants did not "know the things that make for peace" (Luke 19:42). As he poured out his heart to the Father in heaven, Jesus shed tears of sorrow, grief, and mourning for his people. He knew that he would soon pour out his blood for the people of Jerusalem and for the whole world as well.
Why does Jesus weep and lament over the city of
Jerusalem? Throughout its history, many of the rulers and inhabitants - because
of their pride and unbelief - had rejected the prophets who spoke in the name
of the Lord. Now they refuse to listen to Jesus who comes as their Messiah -
whom God has anointed to be their Savior and Prince of Peace (Isaiah
9:6).
Jesus is our only hope - the only one who can save us
and the world
Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem was a gracious visitation of God's anointed Son and King to his holy city. Jerusalem's lack of faith and rejection of the Messiah, however, leads to its eventual downfall and destruction by the Romans in 70 A.D. Jesus' lamentation and prophecy echoes the lamentation of Jeremiah who prophesied the first destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. Jeremiah's prayer of lamentation offered a prophetic word of hope, deliverance, and restoration:
Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem was a gracious visitation of God's anointed Son and King to his holy city. Jerusalem's lack of faith and rejection of the Messiah, however, leads to its eventual downfall and destruction by the Romans in 70 A.D. Jesus' lamentation and prophecy echoes the lamentation of Jeremiah who prophesied the first destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. Jeremiah's prayer of lamentation offered a prophetic word of hope, deliverance, and restoration:
"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have
hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies are new every
morning ...For the Lord will not cast off for ever, but, though he cause grief,
he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love for he
does not willingly afflict or grieve the sons of men" (Lamentations
3:21-22, 31-32).
Jesus is the hope of the world because he is the only
one who can truly reconcile us with God and with one another. Through his death
and resurrection Jesus breaks down the walls of hostility and division by
reconciling us with God. He gives us his Holy Spirit both to purify us and
restore us as a holy people of God. Through Jesus Christ we become living
temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). God has visited his
people in the past and he continues to visit us through the gift and working of
his Holy Spirit. Do you recognize God's gracious visitation of healing and
restoration today?
God judges, pardons, heals, and restores us to new
life
When God visits his people he comes to establish peace and justice by rooting out our enemies - the world (which stands in opposition to God), the flesh (our own sinful cravings and inordinate desires), and the devil(who is Satan, the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning - John 8:44) who enslave us to fear and pride, rebellion and hatred, envy and covetousness, strife and violence, and every form of evil and wrong-doing. That is why God both judges and purifies his people - to lead us from our sinful ways to his way of justice, peace, love, and holiness. God actively works among his people to teach us his ways and to save us from the destruction of our own pride and sin and from Satan's snares and lies.
When God visits his people he comes to establish peace and justice by rooting out our enemies - the world (which stands in opposition to God), the flesh (our own sinful cravings and inordinate desires), and the devil(who is Satan, the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning - John 8:44) who enslave us to fear and pride, rebellion and hatred, envy and covetousness, strife and violence, and every form of evil and wrong-doing. That is why God both judges and purifies his people - to lead us from our sinful ways to his way of justice, peace, love, and holiness. God actively works among his people to teach us his ways and to save us from the destruction of our own pride and sin and from Satan's snares and lies.
Are God's judgments unjust or unloving? Scripture
tells us that "when God's judgments are revealed in the earth, the
inhabitants of the world learn righteousness" (Isaiah 26:9). To pronounce
judgment on sin is much less harsh than what will happen if those who sin are
not warned to repent. The Lord in his mercy gives us grace and time to turn
away from sin, but that time is right now. If we delay, even for a moment, we
may discover that grace has passed us by and our time is up. Do you accept the
grace to turn away from sin and to walk in God's way of peace and holiness?
"Lord Jesus, you have visited and redeemed your
people. May I not miss the grace of your visitation today as you move to bring
your people into greater righteousness and holiness of life. Purify my heart
and mind that I may I understand your ways and conform my life more fully to
your will."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Jesus fulfills the beatitude for those who
weep, by Origen of Alexandria (185-254
AD)
"When our Lord and Savior approached Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept... By his example, Jesus confirms all the Beatitudes
that he speaks in the Gospel. By his own witness, he confirms what he teaches.
'Blessed are the meek,' he says. He says something similar to this of himself:
'Learn from me, for I am meek.' 'Blessed are the peacemakers.' What other man
brought as much peace as my Lord Jesus, who 'is our peace,' who 'dissolves
hostility' and 'destroys it in his own flesh' (Ephesians 2:14-15). 'Blessed are
those who suffer persecution because of justice.'
"No one suffered
such persecution because of justice as did the Lord Jesus, who was crucified
for our sins. The Lord therefore exhibited all the Beatitudes in himself. For
the sake of this likeness, he wept, because of what he said, 'Blessed are those
who weep,' to lay the foundations for this beatitude as well. He wept for
Jerusalem and said,'If only you had known on that day what meant peace for you!
But now it is hidden from your eyes,' and the rest, to the point where he says,
'Because you did not know the time of your visitation'" (excerpt from HOMILY ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE
38.1–2)
Thanksgiving Day
Lectionary: 943-947
Lectionary: 943-947
The
following are a selection of the readings that may be used on this day.
Reading 1SIR 50:22-24
And now, bless the God of all,
who has done wondrous things on earth;
Who fosters people's growth from their mother's womb,
and fashions them according to his will!
May he grant you joy of heart
and may peace abide among you;
May his goodness toward us endure in Israel
to deliver us in our days.
who has done wondrous things on earth;
Who fosters people's growth from their mother's womb,
and fashions them according to his will!
May he grant you joy of heart
and may peace abide among you;
May his goodness toward us endure in Israel
to deliver us in our days.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11
R. (see 1) I will
praise your name for ever, Lord.
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. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
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. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
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. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
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. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Reading 21 COR 1:3-9
Brothers and sisters:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Alleluia1 THES 5:18
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
In all circumstances, give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In all circumstances, give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 17:11-19
As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
"Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"
And when he saw them, he said,
"Go show yourselves to the priests."
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
"Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"
Then he said to him, "Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you."
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
"Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"
And when he saw them, he said,
"Go show yourselves to the priests."
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
"Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"
Then he said to him, "Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you."
Meditation: "He fell at Jesus'
feet giving thanks"
What can adversity teach us about the blessing of
thanksgiving and the healing power of love and mercy? The Book of Proverbs
states: A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for
adversity(Proverbs 17:17). When adversity strikes you find out who truly is
your brother, sister, and friend. The Gospel records an unusual encounter
between two peoples who had been divided for centuries. The Jews and Samaritans
had no dealings with one another even though Samaria was located in the central
part of Judea. Both peoples were openly hostile whenever their paths crossed.
In this gospel narrative we see one rare exception - a Samaritan leper in company
with nine Jewish lepers. Sometimes adversity forces people to drop their
barriers or to forget their prejudices. When this band of Jewish and Samaritan
lepers saw Jesus they made a bold request. They didn't ask for healing, but
instead asked for mercy.
Mercy is heartfelt sorrow at another's misfortune
The word mercy literally means "sorrowful at heart". But mercy is something more than compassion, or heartfelt sorrow at another's misfortune. Compassion empathizes with the sufferer. But mercy goes further - it removes suffering. A merciful person shares in another's misfortune and suffering as if it were his or her own. And such a person will do everything in his or her power to dispel that misery.
The word mercy literally means "sorrowful at heart". But mercy is something more than compassion, or heartfelt sorrow at another's misfortune. Compassion empathizes with the sufferer. But mercy goes further - it removes suffering. A merciful person shares in another's misfortune and suffering as if it were his or her own. And such a person will do everything in his or her power to dispel that misery.
Mercy is also connected with justice. Thomas Aquinas
(1225-1274), a great teacher and scripture scholar, said that mercy "does
not destroy justice, but is a certain kind of fulfillment of justice. ..Mercy
without justice is the mother of dissolution; (and) justice without mercy is
cruelty." Pardon without repentance negates justice.
God's mercy brings healing of mind, heart, and body
So what is the significance of these ten lepers asking for mercy? They know they are in need of healing, not just physical, but spiritual healing as well. They approach Jesus with contrition and faith because they believe that he can release the burden of guilt and suffering and make restoration of body and soul possible. Their request for mercy is both a plea for pardon and release from suffering. Jesus gives mercy to all who ask with faith and contrition.
So what is the significance of these ten lepers asking for mercy? They know they are in need of healing, not just physical, but spiritual healing as well. They approach Jesus with contrition and faith because they believe that he can release the burden of guilt and suffering and make restoration of body and soul possible. Their request for mercy is both a plea for pardon and release from suffering. Jesus gives mercy to all who ask with faith and contrition.
Why did only one leper out of ten return to show
gratitude? Gratefulness, another word which expresses gratitude of heart and a
thankful disposition, is related to grace - which means the
release of loveliness. Gratitude is the homage of the heart which responds
with graciousness in expressing an act of thanksgiving. The Samaritan
approached Jesus reverently and gave praise to God.
Ingratitude leads to lack of love and kindness, and
intolerance towards others
If we do not recognize and appreciate the mercy and help shown to us we will be ungrateful and unkind towards others. Ingratitude is forgetfulness or a poor return for kindness received. Ingratitude easily leads to lack of charity and intolerance towards others, as well as to other vices, such as complaining, grumbling, discontentment, pride, and presumption. How often have we been ungrateful to our parents, pastors, teachers, and neighbors? Do you express gratitude to God for his abundant help and mercy towards you and are you gracious, kind, and merciful towards your neighbor in their time of need and support?
If we do not recognize and appreciate the mercy and help shown to us we will be ungrateful and unkind towards others. Ingratitude is forgetfulness or a poor return for kindness received. Ingratitude easily leads to lack of charity and intolerance towards others, as well as to other vices, such as complaining, grumbling, discontentment, pride, and presumption. How often have we been ungrateful to our parents, pastors, teachers, and neighbors? Do you express gratitude to God for his abundant help and mercy towards you and are you gracious, kind, and merciful towards your neighbor in their time of need and support?
"Lord Jesus, may I never fail to recognize your
loving kindness and mercy. Fill my heart with compassion and thanksgiving, and
free me from ingratitude and discontentment. Help me to count my blessings with
a grateful heart and to give thanks in all circumstances."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Cleansing of the ten lepers, by Cyril of
Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"Why did [Jesus] not
say, 'I will, be cleansed,' as he did in the case of another leper (Luke 5:13),
instead of commanding them to show themselves to the priests? It was because
the law gave directions to this effect to those who were delivered from leprosy
(Leviticus 14:2). It commanded them to show themselves to the priests and to
offer a sacrifice for their cleansing. He commanded them to go as being already
healed so that they might bear witness to the priests, the rulers of the Jews
and always envious of his glory. They testified that wonderfully and beyond
their hope, they had been delivered from their misfortune by Christ's willing
that they should be healed. He did not heal them first but sent them to the
priests, because the priests knew the marks of leprosy and of its
healing." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE,
HOMILIES 113-16)
Blessing for Thanksgiving
Day
God most provident, we join all
creation in raising to you a hymn of thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ, your
Son. For generation upon generation peoples of this land have sung of your
bounty; we too offer you praise for the rich harvest we have received at your
hands.
Bless us and this food which we
share with grateful hearts. Continue to make our land fruitful and let our love
for you be seen in our pursuit of peace and justice and in generous response to
those in need.
Praise and glory to you, Lord
God, now and forever. Amen.
From the Book of Blessings
From the Book of Blessings
THURSDAY,
NOVEMBER 23, LUKE 19:41-44
Weekday
(1 Maccabees 2:15-29; Psalm 50)
Weekday
(1 Maccabees 2:15-29; Psalm 50)
KEY VERSE: "If this day you only knew what makes for peace - but now it is hidden from your eyes" (v 42).
TO KNOW: As Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, he wept over Jerusalem, the city of peace (Yerushalaim, from the Hebrew word Shalom: "peace"). In the same way, the prophet Jeremiah mourned the city's impending destruction (Jer 14:17). Although divinely favored, Jerusalem would find herself desolate because she rejected the "Prince of Peace" (Is 9:5), and refused to recognize his ministry of reconciliation and his offer of salvation. Four decades later, the Roman army under Titus surrounded the city, breached its walls and killed thousands of its citizens. The city and its Temple were burned to the ground and the survivors were taken into captivity. The heavenly Jerusalem became a spiritual symbol of the place of final judgment for God's enemies and eternal peace for those who believe in Christ (Rv 21:1-27).
TO LOVE: Pray for all of the places in the world that are in need of God’s peace.
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to be an instrument of your peace in my community.
Optional Memorial of Saint
Clement I, pope and martyr
Clement of Rome was the third successor of St. Peter, reigning as pope during the last decade of the first century. He’s known as one of the Church’s five “Apostolic Fathers,” those who provided a direct link between the Apostles and later generations of Church Fathers. Clement’s First Epistle to the Corinthians was preserved and widely read in the early Church. This letter from the bishop of Rome to the Church in Corinth concerns a split that alienated a large number of the laity from the clergy. Deploring the division in the Corinthian community, Clement urged charity to heal the rift: “Charity unites us to God. It knows no schism, does not rebel, does all things in concord. In charity all the elect of God have been made perfect.” Clement was imprisoned under the Emperor Trajan, and was executed by being tied to an anchor and thrown into the sea. He is regarded as a patron saint of mariners. The Basilica of St Clement in Rome is one of the earliest parish churches in the city, and was probably built on the site of Clement's home. His name occurs in the Canon of the Mass.
Optional Memorial of Saint
Columban, abbot
Columban was an Irish missionary notable for founding a number of monasteries from around 590 in the Frankish and Lombard kingdoms, Columban taught a Celtic monastic rule and Celtic penitential practices for those repenting of sins. This rite emphasized private confession to a priest, followed by penances imposed by the priest in reparation for the sins. Soon his followers were also building monasteries in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. He was forced into exile by the Frankish King. He went to Italy and founded there the monastery at Bobbio, which was a center of culture and learning as well as spirituality.
Optional Memorial of Blessed
Miguel Agustin Pro, priest and martyr
Miguel Pro was born to privilege, but he had great affinity for the poor and working classes. As a Jesuit novice, he was exiled during the Mexican revolution. Ordained in Belgium in 1925 at age 36, he returned to Mexico in 1926, a time of persecution when churches were closed and priests were in hiding. Fr Miguel used disguises to conduct an underground ministry, bringing the comfort of charity and the sacraments to the faithful. He was falsely accused in 1927 of a bombing attempt. He was betrayed to the police, and without trial, he was sentenced to death. As he was about to be shot, he forgave his executioners, refused a blindfold, and died with his arms extended like a cross and shouting "Love live Christ the King!" The government prohibited a public funeral, but the faithful lined the streets when his body passed.
Thanksgiving Day (U.S.A.)
On June 20, 1676, the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June 29 as a day of thanksgiving. Benjamin Franklin wanted to make the turkey (Tom, after Thomas Jefferson) the United States national symbol because the bird is quick, wary, sharp- sighted, and exhibited a regal stance. The bald eagle nudged out the wild turkey for our official national symbol. The actual day we celebrate Thanksgiving in America was picked by our presidents, starting with George Washington who declared a one-time holiday. Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November to be "...a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens." Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it to the fourth Thursday of November in 1939, to lengthen the Christmas shopping season. Norman Rockwell's cover painting for the Saturday Evening Post made the family Thanksgiving meal famous.
Thursday 23
November 2017
St Clement I; St Columban.
1 Maccabees 2:15-29. Psalm 49(50):1-2,
5-6, 14-15. Luke 19:41-44.
To the upright I will show the saving
power of God — Psalm 49(50):1-2, 5-6, 14-15.
‘You did not recognise your opportunity
when God offered it.’
This anguished cry of Jesus calls to mind a line from
T.S. Eliot’s ‘The Dry Salvages’: ‘We had the experience but missed the
meaning’—words that we might have good reason to say from time to time. That is
inevitable; but is terrifying to think that, at the point of death, we might
see them as describing our whole life. Jesus shed copious tears over the fact
that, for many of his people, his message of joy and peace and love fell on
deaf ears.
A bookmark bearing the text, ‘If today you hear God’s
voice, harden not your heart’ (cf. Heb 3:15), might serve as a reminder to pray
every time we see it, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening’ (1 Sam 3:9).
POPE ST. CLEMENT I
On Nov. 23 Roman Catholics remember the fourth Pope, St. Clement
I, a disciple of the apostles who inherited the authority of St. Peter in the
first century. Eastern Catholics celebrate his feast on Nov. 25.
The
details of Clement's life, before his conversion and even afterward, are
largely unknown. Some aspects of his writings have led scholars to believe that
the fourth Pope either came from a Jewish background, or had converted to
Judaism earlier in life before entering the Catholic Church.
Tradition
suggests that Clement was the son of a Roman named Faustinus, and that he
joined the Church in Rome during its early years through the preaching of Saint
Peter or Saint Paul. He went on to share in the missionary journeys of the
apostles, and may even have assisted the first Pope in running the Church on a
local level.
After
the deaths of St. Peter's first two successors, the canonized Popes Linus and
Cletus, Clement took up St. Peter's position of primacy in the Church around
the year 90. One of his most important tasks, during nearly 10 years as Pope,
was to resolve serious problems in the Church of Corinth, which St. Paul had
also struggled to discipline.
Clement's
own letter to the Corinthians, though not part of the biblical canon, offers an
important look at the role of authority and charity in the early Church. Its
introduction suggests that Pope Clement composed it while his own local Church
faced persecution from the Roman Emperor Domitian.
In
the letter, the Pope describes how the Corinthians had once been “distinguished
by humility,” being “in no respect puffed up with pride” and “more willing to
give than to receive.” But in time, “the worthless rose up against the honored,
those of no reputation against such as were renowned, the foolish against the
wise, the young against those advanced in years.”
“Let
us give up vain and fruitless cares, and approach to the glorious and venerable
rule of our holy calling,” Pope Clement wrote in his call to repentance. “Let
us attend to what is good, pleasing, and acceptable in the sight of him who
formed us.”
Order
and discipline, he noted, are at least as important in the Church as they are
in the rest of creation, where the powers of nature follow God's decrees. The
Pope also warned the Corinthians to follow “those who cultivate peace with
godliness,” rather than “those who hypocritically profess to desire it.”
The
Church Clement headed was one that honored tradition and right order as
fundamentals of its life.
“It
behooves us to do all things in order, which the Lord has commanded us to
perform at stated times,” he told the Corinthians. God, he said, “has enjoined
offerings and service to be performed ... not thoughtlessly or irregularly, but
at the appointed times and hours.”
“Where
and by whom (God) desires these things to be done, he himself has fixed by his
own supreme will, in order that all things being piously done according to his
good pleasure, may be acceptable to him.”
The
fourth Pope's writings reveal much about the early Church, but little about his
own life. According to one later account, he died in exile during the reign of
the Emperor Trajan, who purportedly banished Clement to Crimea (near modern
Ukraine) and had him killed in retaliation for evangelizing the local people.
In 868 the Greek missionary St. Cyril claimed to have recovered St. Clement's
bones.
St.
Clement I probably died around the year 100. He is among the saints mentioned
in the Western Church's most traditional Eucharistic prayer, the Roman Canon.
LECTIO DIVINA: LUKE 19,41-44
Lectio Divina:
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Ordinary
Time
1) Opening prayer
Father of all that is good,
keep us faithful in serving you,
for to serve you is our lasting joy.
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.
keep us faithful in serving you,
for to serve you is our lasting joy.
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 19:41-44
As Jesus drew near and came within sight
of the city, He shed tears over it and said, “If you too had only recognized on
this day the way to peace! But in fact it is hidden from your eyes!
Yes, a time is coming when your enemies will raise fortifications all around you, when they will encircle you and hem you in on every side; they will dash you and the children inside your walls to the ground; they will leave not one stone standing on another within you, because you did not recognize the moment of your visitation.”
Yes, a time is coming when your enemies will raise fortifications all around you, when they will encircle you and hem you in on every side; they will dash you and the children inside your walls to the ground; they will leave not one stone standing on another within you, because you did not recognize the moment of your visitation.”
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today tells us that Jesus,
when he saw Jerusalem as he approached, began to shed tears and to pronounce a
very dark future for the city of His people.
• Luke 19, 41-42 Jesus sheds tears over Jerusalem. At that time, Jesus was near Jerusalem, and when He saw the city, He shed tears over it and said “if you too had only recognized on this day the way to peace! But in fact it is hidden from your eyes!” Jesus sheds tears because He loves His homeland and His people, the capital city of His land, and the temple. He sheds tears because He knows that everything will be destroyed because of the fault of His people who were not aware of the call made by God through His ministry. People were not aware of the way to peace (Shalom). In fact, it is hidden from their eyes. This affirmation recalls the criticism of Isaiah to the person who adored idols: “He adores ashes, his deluded heart has led him astray; he will not save himself, he will not think. What I have in my hand is nothing but a lie!” (Is 44, 20). People became incapable of perceiving the truth. As Saint Paul says: “But for those who out of jealousy have taken for their guide not truth but injustice, there will be a fury of retribution” (Rm 2, 8). It is truth that remains the prisoner of injustice. On another occasion, Jesus complains that Jerusalem did not know how to become aware of God’s visit nor of accepting it: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused! Look, your house will be left to you, it will be deserted” (Lk 13, 34-35).
• Luke 19, 43-44 Announcement of the destruction of Jerusalem. “Yes, a time is coming when your enemies will raise fortifications all around you, when they will encircle you and hem you in on every side; they will dash you and your children inside your walls to the ground; they will leave not one stone standing on another within you, because you did not recognize the moment of your visitation” Jesus describes what will happen to Jerusalem. He uses the images of war which were common at that time when an army attacked a city: trenches, killing of people, and total destruction of the walls and houses. In the past, this is the way Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. The Roman legions used to do this with rebellious cities, and this is what will be done again, forty years later, to the city of Jerusalem. In fact, in the year 70, Jerusalem was surrounded and invaded by the Roman army. Everything was destroyed. Before this historical background, the gesture of Jesus becomes a very serious warning for all those who pervert the Good News.. They should have listened to the final warning: “Because you did not recognize the moment of your visitation” In this warning, everything which Jesus does is defined as a “visitation from God”.
• Luke 19, 41-42 Jesus sheds tears over Jerusalem. At that time, Jesus was near Jerusalem, and when He saw the city, He shed tears over it and said “if you too had only recognized on this day the way to peace! But in fact it is hidden from your eyes!” Jesus sheds tears because He loves His homeland and His people, the capital city of His land, and the temple. He sheds tears because He knows that everything will be destroyed because of the fault of His people who were not aware of the call made by God through His ministry. People were not aware of the way to peace (Shalom). In fact, it is hidden from their eyes. This affirmation recalls the criticism of Isaiah to the person who adored idols: “He adores ashes, his deluded heart has led him astray; he will not save himself, he will not think. What I have in my hand is nothing but a lie!” (Is 44, 20). People became incapable of perceiving the truth. As Saint Paul says: “But for those who out of jealousy have taken for their guide not truth but injustice, there will be a fury of retribution” (Rm 2, 8). It is truth that remains the prisoner of injustice. On another occasion, Jesus complains that Jerusalem did not know how to become aware of God’s visit nor of accepting it: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused! Look, your house will be left to you, it will be deserted” (Lk 13, 34-35).
• Luke 19, 43-44 Announcement of the destruction of Jerusalem. “Yes, a time is coming when your enemies will raise fortifications all around you, when they will encircle you and hem you in on every side; they will dash you and your children inside your walls to the ground; they will leave not one stone standing on another within you, because you did not recognize the moment of your visitation” Jesus describes what will happen to Jerusalem. He uses the images of war which were common at that time when an army attacked a city: trenches, killing of people, and total destruction of the walls and houses. In the past, this is the way Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. The Roman legions used to do this with rebellious cities, and this is what will be done again, forty years later, to the city of Jerusalem. In fact, in the year 70, Jerusalem was surrounded and invaded by the Roman army. Everything was destroyed. Before this historical background, the gesture of Jesus becomes a very serious warning for all those who pervert the Good News.. They should have listened to the final warning: “Because you did not recognize the moment of your visitation” In this warning, everything which Jesus does is defined as a “visitation from God”.
4) Personal questions
• Do you weep over a world situation?
Looking at the present day situation of the world, would Jesus shed tears? The
vision is dark. From the point of view of ecology, we have already gone beyond
the limit. The vision is tragic.
• In Jesus, God visits His people. In your life, have you received some visit from God?
• In Jesus, God visits His people. In your life, have you received some visit from God?
5) Concluding prayer
Sing a new song to Yahweh:
his praise in the assembly of the faithful!
Israel shall rejoice in its Maker,
the children of Zion delight in their king. (Ps 149,1-2)
his praise in the assembly of the faithful!
Israel shall rejoice in its Maker,
the children of Zion delight in their king. (Ps 149,1-2)
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