Saturday of the Twenty-eighth Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 472
Lectionary: 472
Brothers and sisters:
Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and of your love for all the holy ones,
I do not cease giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
for us who believe,
in accord with the exercise of his great might,
which he worked in Christ,
raising him from the dead
and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,
far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,
and every name that is named
not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the Church,
which is his Body,
the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and of your love for all the holy ones,
I do not cease giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
for us who believe,
in accord with the exercise of his great might,
which he worked in Christ,
raising him from the dead
and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,
far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,
and every name that is named
not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the Church,
which is his Body,
the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 8:2-3AB, 4-5, 6-7
R. (7) You
have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
O LORD, our LORD,
how glorious is your name over all the earth!
You have exalted your majesty above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
you have fashioned praise because of your foes.
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place—
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
You have made him little less than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
putting all things under his feet.
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
O LORD, our LORD,
how glorious is your name over all the earth!
You have exalted your majesty above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
you have fashioned praise because of your foes.
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place—
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
You have made him little less than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
putting all things under his feet.
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
AlleluiaJN 15:26B, 27A
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord,
and you also will testify.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord,
and you also will testify.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 12:8-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I tell you,
everyone who acknowledges me before others
the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.
But whoever denies me before others
will be denied before the angels of God.
"Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,
but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will not be forgiven.
When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities,
do not worry about how or what your defense will be
or about what you are to say.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say."
"I tell you,
everyone who acknowledges me before others
the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.
But whoever denies me before others
will be denied before the angels of God.
"Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,
but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will not be forgiven.
When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities,
do not worry about how or what your defense will be
or about what you are to say.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say."
Meditation: "The Holy Spirit will
teach you what to say"
What is the unforgivable sin which Jesus warns us to
avoid? Jesus knows that his disciples will be tested and he assures them that
the Holy Spirit will give them what they need in their time of adversity and
temptation. He warns them, however, that it's possible to reject the grace of
God - his favor, blessing, and help - and to fall into apostasy - giving up our
faith and loyalty to Jesus Christ out of fear (being a coward), pride, or
disbelief (refusing to believe and trust in the Lord Jesus). The scriptural
expression to deny someone means to disown them
- to have nothing to do with them anymore.
Do not reject the gift and help of the Holy Spirit
Jesus also speaks against blaspheming the Holy Spirit. What is blasphemy and why is it reprehensible (extremely bad and deserving severe rebuke)? Blasphemy consists in uttering against God, inwardly or outwardly, words of hatred, reproach, or defiance. It's contrary to the honor and respect we owe to God (who is our Father, Creator, and Savior) and to his holy name. Jesus speaks of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit as the unforgivable sin. Jesus spoke about this sin immediately after the scribes and Pharisees had attributed his miracles to the work of the devil instead of to God.
Jesus also speaks against blaspheming the Holy Spirit. What is blasphemy and why is it reprehensible (extremely bad and deserving severe rebuke)? Blasphemy consists in uttering against God, inwardly or outwardly, words of hatred, reproach, or defiance. It's contrary to the honor and respect we owe to God (who is our Father, Creator, and Savior) and to his holy name. Jesus speaks of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit as the unforgivable sin. Jesus spoke about this sin immediately after the scribes and Pharisees had attributed his miracles to the work of the devil instead of to God.
Do you trust in God's help and deliverance?
A sin can only be unforgivable if repentance (admitting wrongdoing and asking forgiveness) is impossible. If someone repeatedly closes his or her heart to God and shuts their ear to his voice, they come to a point where they can no longer recognize God even when God makes his word and presence known to them. Such a person ends up perceiving evil as good and good as evil (Isaiah 5:20). To fear such a sin, however, signals that one is not dead to God and is conscious of the need for God's merciful help and strength.
A sin can only be unforgivable if repentance (admitting wrongdoing and asking forgiveness) is impossible. If someone repeatedly closes his or her heart to God and shuts their ear to his voice, they come to a point where they can no longer recognize God even when God makes his word and presence known to them. Such a person ends up perceiving evil as good and good as evil (Isaiah 5:20). To fear such a sin, however, signals that one is not dead to God and is conscious of the need for God's merciful help and strength.
There are no limits to the mercy of God, but we can
reject his mercy by refusing to ask God's pardon for our wrongdoing and by
refusing to accept the help he gives us to turn away from sin and from whatever
would keep us from doing his will. God gives sufficient grace (his favor and
mercy towards us) and he gives sufficient help (his wisdom and strength) to all
who humbly call upon him. Giving up on God and refusing to turn away from sin
and disbelief results from our own sinful pride, stubborn will, and the loss of
hope in God's promises.God never turns a deaf ear to those who seek his help
and listen to his voice - his word of hope, pardon, and freedom from sin and
oppression.
Our hope and confidence come from God
What is the basis of our hope and confidence in God? It is the free gift of his beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave his life for our sake and who now intercedes for us at the right hand of the throne of God's mercy (Hebrews 4:14-15). John the Evangelist tells us that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
What is the basis of our hope and confidence in God? It is the free gift of his beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave his life for our sake and who now intercedes for us at the right hand of the throne of God's mercy (Hebrews 4:14-15). John the Evangelist tells us that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
Jesus' death on the cross won for us new life and
freedom to live as men and women of faith, hope, and love. That is why Jesus
offers us the gift and power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13) who enables us
to live each day as God's beloved children - his sons and
daughters. The love and mercy of Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sins, and the
gift of the Holy Spirit are freely given to all who acknowledge Jesus as their
Lord and Savior. Is your hope securely placed in the Lord Jesus and his victory
on the cross?
"Lord Jesus, you are my hope and my salvation.
May I never waver in my hope and trust in your merciful help and strength. Let
the fire of your Holy Spirit burn in my heart and fill me with a consuming love
for you."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The Holy Spirit will inspire martyrs and
teach believers, by Cyril of Jerusalem, 430-543 A.D.
"You must also know
that the Holy Spirit empowers the martyrs to bear witness... A person cannot
testify as a martyr for Christ's sake except through the Holy Spirit. If 'no
man can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit' (1 Corinthians
12:3), will any man give his life for Jesus' sake except through the Holy
Spirit?" (excerpt from CATECHETICAL
LECTURES 16.21)
SATURDAY,
OCTOBER 20, LUKE 12:8-12
Weekday
(Ephesians 1:15-23; Psalm 8)
Weekday
(Ephesians 1:15-23; Psalm 8)
KEY VERSE: "For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say" (v. 12).
TO KNOW: Jesus encouraged his disciples to be fearless in their proclamation of the gospel. The disciples need not worry about how they should defend themselves when brought before the authorities. The Holy Spirit would enlighten and strengthen them as they bore witness to their faith. Jesus did not promise to save them from suffering, or even death, but he did guarantee that he would testify to their fidelity before God. Jesus warned his followers of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. These are sins that despair of salvation, presume on God's mercy, envy another's spiritual good, resist known truths of faith, and are obstinate in sin and impenitent at death. Although each sin put an obstacle in the way of God's mercy, God's grace could overcome even these sins. But if the unrepentant refused God's power to save them, they also denied the possibility of mercy and forgiveness by Jesus.
TO LOVE: Thank God for the grace of faith.
TO SERVE: Holy Spirit, strengthen me when I am too weak to defend myself.
Optional Memorial of Saint Saint
Paul of the Cross, priest
Saint Paul of the Cross (Paul Francis Danei, 1694-1775) is the founder of the order commonly known as the Passionists because of their dedication to the preaching of the Paschal Mystery, the dying and rising of Jesus Christ. Inspired by a vision, Paul established his religious order, which takes not only the three traditional vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, but a fourth vow to promote devotion to the passion of Jesus. He wrote, "In naked faith and without images, clothe yourself always in the sufferings of Jesus. It is love which unites and which makes our own the sufferings of the one we love. It is through love that you will make the sufferings of Jesus your own.” (In the Heart of God: The Spiritual Teaching of Saint Paul of the Cross)
Saint Paul of the Cross (Paul Francis Danei, 1694-1775) is the founder of the order commonly known as the Passionists because of their dedication to the preaching of the Paschal Mystery, the dying and rising of Jesus Christ. Inspired by a vision, Paul established his religious order, which takes not only the three traditional vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, but a fourth vow to promote devotion to the passion of Jesus. He wrote, "In naked faith and without images, clothe yourself always in the sufferings of Jesus. It is love which unites and which makes our own the sufferings of the one we love. It is through love that you will make the sufferings of Jesus your own.” (In the Heart of God: The Spiritual Teaching of Saint Paul of the Cross)
Saturday 20
October 2018
Ephesians 1:15-23. Psalm 8:2-7. Luke 12:8-12.
You gave your Son authority over all your creation – Psalm
8:2-7.
‘May he enlighten the eyes of your mind.’
God, who is great, loves and upholds life, and is our constant
example, our hope. Paul reminds us that Christ, installed by God in heaven, is
above earthly rule, authority, dominion. Christ’s reign is beyond our human
notions of power. His greatness is all-encompassing, all-embracing, for all
time.
And we, the church, his body, are one with him. We learn
also that we need to place our trust in the Holy Spirit, who guides us. In
faith we experience the fullness, the totality of Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
in all and for all time.
Lord, we wonder at your greatness and trust in your unending
love.
Saint Paul of the Cross
Saint of the Day for October 20
(January 3, 1694 – October 18, 1775)
 |
| Saint Paul of the Cross | Engraving | Wellcome Images |
Saint Paul of the Cross’ Story
Born in northern Italy in 1694, Paul Daneo lived at a time when
many regarded Jesus as a great moral teacher but no more. After a brief time as
a soldier, he turned to solitary prayer, developing a devotion to Christ’s
passion. Paul saw in the Lord’s passion a demonstration of God’s love for all
people. In turn that devotion nurtured his compassion and supported a preaching
ministry that touched the hearts of many listeners. He was known as one of the
most popular preachers of his day, both for his words and for his generous acts
of mercy.
In 1720, Paul founded the Congregation of the Passion, whose
members combined devotion to Christ’s passion with preaching to the poor, and
rigorous penances. Known as the Passionists, they add a fourth vow to the
traditional three of poverty, chastity, and obedience, to spread the memory of
Christ’s passion among the faithful. Paul was elected superior general of the
Congregation in 1747, spending the remainder of his life in Rome.
Paul of the Cross died in 1775, and was canonized in 1867. Over
2,000 of his letters and several of his short writings have survived.
Reflection
Paul’s devotion to Christ’s passion must have seemed eccentric
if not bizarre to many people. Yet it was that devotion that nurtured Paul’s
compassion and supported a preaching ministry that touched the hearts of many
listeners. He was one of the most popular preachers of his day, known for both
his words and his generous acts of mercy.
Saint Paul of the Cross is the Patron Saint of:
Hungary
LECTIO: LUKE 12:8-12
Lectio Divina:
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord,
Lord,
our help and guide,
make your love the foundation of our
lives.
May our love for you express itself
in our eagerness to do good for others.
You live and reign with the Father and
the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Luke 12,8-12
Jesus said to his disciples: 'I tell you, if anyone openly declares himself for me in the presence of human beings, the Son of man will declare himself for him in the presence of God's angels. But anyone who disowns me in the presence of human beings will be disowned in the presence of God's angels.
Jesus said to his disciples: 'I tell you, if anyone openly declares himself for me in the presence of human beings, the Son of man will declare himself for him in the presence of God's angels. But anyone who disowns me in the presence of human beings will be disowned in the presence of God's angels.
'Everyone who says a word against the
Son of man will be forgiven, but no one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will be forgiven. 'When they take you before synagogues and magistrates and
authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say,
because when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should
say.'
3) Reflection
• Context. While Jesus is on the way
toward Jerusalem, we read in Luke, chapter 11, that precedes our passage,
presenting Him as having the intention to reveal the abyss of the merciful
acting of God and at the same time the profound misery hidden in the heart of
man. Particularly in revealing this to those who have the task of being
witnesses of the Word and of the work of the Holy Spirit in the world. Jesus
presents such realities with a series of reflections which provoke effects in
the reader, such as to feel attracted by the force of his Word to the point of
feeling judged interiorly and detached from all desires of greatness which
shake and agitate man (9, 46). The reader identifies himself with various
attitudes that the teaching of Jesus arouses. Above all, he recognizes himself
as follower of Christ in the disciple and sent to precede him in the role of
messenger of the kingdom, in the one who hesitates somewhat in following him,
and in the Pharisee or doctor of the Law, a slave of their interpretations and
life style. In summary, the course of the reader in chapter 11 is characterized
by this encounter with the teaching of Jesus who reveals to him the intimacy of
God, the mercy of God’s heart, and the truth of his being a man. In chapter 12,
Jesus opposes the perverted judgment of man to the goodness of God who always
gives with superabundance. Man’s life enters into play here. It is
necessary to be attentive to the perversion of the human judgment and to the
hypocrisy that distorts values in order to privilege only one’s own interests
and advantages more than being interested in life, that life which is accepted
gratuitously. The Word of God gives the reader an appeal on how to face the
question regarding life: man will be judged on his behaviour at the time of
threats. It is necessary to be concerned with the men who can “kill the body”
but rather to have at heart the fear of God who judges and corrects. But Jesus
does not promise the disciples that they will be free from threats and
persecutions, but He assures them that they will have God’s help at the moments
of difficulty.
• To know how to recognize Jesus. The
courageous commitment to recognize the friendship of Jesus publicly implies as
a consequence a personal communion with Him at the moment of his return to
judge the world. At the same time, the betrayal in “who will deny me”, the one
who is afraid to confess and recognize Jesus publicly, condemns himself. The
reader is invited to reflect on the crucial importance of Jesus in the history
of salvation. It is necessary to decide to be either with Jesus or against Him
and of his Word of Grace. This decision, to recognize or to reject Jesus,
depends is critical to our salvation. Luke makes it evident that the communion
that Jesus gives at the present time to his disciples will be confirmed and
will become perfect at the moment of his coming in glory (“he will come in his
glory and of the Father and of the angels”: 9, 26). The call to the Christian
community is very evident. Even if it has been exposed to the hostility of the
world, it is indispensable not to cease to give a courageous witness of Jesus,
of communion with him, to value and not to be ashamed to show one is a
Christian.
• Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
Here Luke understands blasphemy as offensive speaking or speaking against. This
verb was applied to Jesus when in 5, 21 He had forgiven sins. The question
presented in this passage may give rise in the reader to some difficulty: is
blasphemy against the Son of man less grave or serious than the one against the
Holy Spirit? The language of Jesus may seem rather strong for the reader of the
Gospel of Luke. Through the Gospel he has seen Jesus as showing the behaviour
of God who goes to look for sinners, who is demanding but who knows how to wait
for the moment of return to Him, when the sinner attains maturity. In Mark and
Matthew blasphemy against the Spirit is the lack of recognizing the power of
God in the exorcisms of Jesus. But in Luke it may mean the deliberate and known
rejection of the prophetic Spirit that is working in the actions and teaching
of Jesus, that is to say, a rejection of the encounter with the merciful acting
of salvation with the Father. The lack of recognition of the divine origin of
the mission of Jesus, the direct offenses to the person of Jesus, may be
forgiven, but anyone who denies the acting of the Holy Spirit in the mission of
Jesus will not be forgiven. It is not a question of an opposition between the
person of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, or of some contrasting symbol of two
diverse periods of history, that of Jesus and that of the community after the
Passover, but rather, the evangelist wants to definitively show that to reject
the Holy Spirit in the mission of Jesus is equal to blasphemy against the
Holy Spirit.
4) Personal questions
• Are you aware that to be a Christian
requires the need to face difficulties, deceit, dangers, and even to risk one’s
own life to give witness of one’s own friendship with Jesus?
• Do you become embarrassed of being a
Christian? Are you more concerned about the judgments of men, their approval,
are these more important for you or that of losing your friendship with Christ?
5) Concluding Prayer
Yahweh our Lord,
how majestic is your name throughout the
world!
Whoever keeps singing of your majesty
higher than the heavens,
even through the mouths of children, or
of babes in arms. (Ps 8,1-2)
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