Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 474
Lectionary: 474
Brothers and sisters:
You were at that time without Christ,
alienated from the community of Israel
and strangers to the covenants of promise,
without hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the Blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, he made both one
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,
in one Body, through the cross,
putting that enmity to death by it.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
You were at that time without Christ,
alienated from the community of Israel
and strangers to the covenants of promise,
without hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the Blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, he made both one
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,
in one Body, through the cross,
putting that enmity to death by it.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 85:9AB-10, 11-12,
13-14
R. (see 9) The
Lord speaks of peace to his people.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
AlleluiaLK 21:36
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 12:35-38
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.”
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.”
Meditation: "When the Master knocks -
open at once"
If the Lord Jesus knocked on your door today would you
be ready and eager to receive him? He wants us to be prepared for his coming -
today, tomorrow, at the hour of our departure from this life (our death), and
when he comes again at the end of this present world to reward those who have
believed in him - the only begotten Son of the Father in heaven who was sent to
deliver us from sin and death. The Lord Jesus calls to us each and every day.
He says, "Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my
voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together"
(Revelations 3:20).
Be watchful and ready to serve the Lord when he calls
Jesus told his followers a parable from everyday life that illustrated the necessity of being prepared to open the door at once when the Master of the house knocks and calls for his servants to let him in. Doors in the ancient world were often bolted from the inside, especially at night, to keep out thieves and troublemakers. Servants who knew their master's voice were expected to be vigilant and prepared to unbolt the door and let him in without a moment's delay. This required a listening ear and attentive spirit that could block out other noises and distractions. If the servants refused to answer the door or delayed too long, they could expect a rebuke or punishment from the master.
Jesus told his followers a parable from everyday life that illustrated the necessity of being prepared to open the door at once when the Master of the house knocks and calls for his servants to let him in. Doors in the ancient world were often bolted from the inside, especially at night, to keep out thieves and troublemakers. Servants who knew their master's voice were expected to be vigilant and prepared to unbolt the door and let him in without a moment's delay. This required a listening ear and attentive spirit that could block out other noises and distractions. If the servants refused to answer the door or delayed too long, they could expect a rebuke or punishment from the master.
The Lord and Master serves us
But Jesus' story adds an unexpected reward for those who open at once - even in the middle of the night when everyone is fast asleep. The master who returns from a wedding feast to his home late at night does the unthinkable when his servants greet him at the door. He puts on a servant's uniform and apron and seats his servants at his own table. And then - to their astonishment no doubt - the master himself waits on his servants at table by serving them his choice food and drink. Jesus' parable turns the world's way of thinking upside-down. The master rewards his faithful servants by serving them himself with the best provision, care, and service he can offer.
But Jesus' story adds an unexpected reward for those who open at once - even in the middle of the night when everyone is fast asleep. The master who returns from a wedding feast to his home late at night does the unthinkable when his servants greet him at the door. He puts on a servant's uniform and apron and seats his servants at his own table. And then - to their astonishment no doubt - the master himself waits on his servants at table by serving them his choice food and drink. Jesus' parable turns the world's way of thinking upside-down. The master rewards his faithful servants by serving them himself with the best provision, care, and service he can offer.
The Lord Jesus became a servant for our sake
This story illustrates the amazing generous spirit, servant-hearted love, and profound humility of God who is the exalted Lord and Master over all he has created. The Father sent his only begotten Son to become a man for our sake who shed his blood for us on the cross to save us from slavery to sin and Satan and victory over death through his resurrection power that gives us new abundant life in his Spirit. Paul the Apostle tells us that Jesus who was equal with the Father, nonetheless, humbled himself and became a servant for our sake (Philippians 2:5-8).
This story illustrates the amazing generous spirit, servant-hearted love, and profound humility of God who is the exalted Lord and Master over all he has created. The Father sent his only begotten Son to become a man for our sake who shed his blood for us on the cross to save us from slavery to sin and Satan and victory over death through his resurrection power that gives us new abundant life in his Spirit. Paul the Apostle tells us that Jesus who was equal with the Father, nonetheless, humbled himself and became a servant for our sake (Philippians 2:5-8).
Do you listen for the voice of the Lord calling to
you? And are you ready to receive him today so that you may be nourished with
his life-giving word that has power to transform you into his likeness and way
of steadfast love and merciful goodness? The Lord Jesus offers us rich food and
provision for our daily lives. But we can miss his daily provision if we allow
our hearts, minds, and ears to be distracted with other things - even good
things that crowd out his voice and invitation to let him enter and feast with
us.
The Lord loves faithfulness
Jesus' parable also has an important lesson for each one of us as well. Just as Jesus was faithful and ready to obey his Father in everything - even to the point of laying down his life for us on the cross, we, too are called to be faithful and ready to do whatever our heavenly Father commands us. How can we serve as Jesus served and be faithful to the end of our days? Only love - the love which God has poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:5) - can transform us and fill us with joy and courage in offering our lives in humble service to God and one another. The Lord Jesus sets us free from fear and pride so we can love and serve one another as he has loved and served each one of us (Ephesians 5:2). Ask the Lord to give you a servant heart and a willing spirit that is ready to listen and eager to obey.
Jesus' parable also has an important lesson for each one of us as well. Just as Jesus was faithful and ready to obey his Father in everything - even to the point of laying down his life for us on the cross, we, too are called to be faithful and ready to do whatever our heavenly Father commands us. How can we serve as Jesus served and be faithful to the end of our days? Only love - the love which God has poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:5) - can transform us and fill us with joy and courage in offering our lives in humble service to God and one another. The Lord Jesus sets us free from fear and pride so we can love and serve one another as he has loved and served each one of us (Ephesians 5:2). Ask the Lord to give you a servant heart and a willing spirit that is ready to listen and eager to obey.
"Lord Jesus, you
loved me first and you gave your life for me. Fill me with a joyful heart and a
generous spirit that is ready to serve and to do whatever you command."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The true meaning of 'loins girded and lamps
burning', by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444
AD)
"The girding of our loins (Luke 12:25) signifies
the readiness of the mind to work hard in every thing praiseworthy. Those who
apply themselves to bodily labors and are engaged in strenuous toil have their
loins girded. The lamp apparently represents the wakefulness of the mind and
intellectual cheerfulness. We say that the human mind is awake when it repels
any tendency to slumber off into that carelessness that often is the means of
bringing it into subjection to every kind of wickedness. When sunk in stupor,
the heavenly light within the mind is liable to be endangered, or even already
is in danger from a violent and impetuous blast of wind. Christ commands us to
be awake. To this, his disciple also arouses us by saying, 'Be awake. Be watchful'
(1 Peter 5:8). Further on, the very wise Paul also says, 'Awake, O sleeper, and
arise from the dead: and Christ shall give you light' (Ephesians
5:14)." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE,
HOMILY 92)
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, LUKE 12:35-38
Weekday
(Ephesians 2:12-22; Psalm 85)
Weekday
(Ephesians 2:12-22; Psalm 85)
KEY VERSE: “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival” (v. 37).
TO KNOW: The early Church expected the imminent return of Jesus Christ. In speaking of his second coming (parousia), Jesus emphasized that the time of his return would be a surprise. He made the comparison to the return of a master coming home from a wedding, expecting to find his servants vigilant on his arrival, and to the coming of a thief, when his return would be uncertain (1Thes 5:2). He pointed to the uncertain hour of his arrival by telling his disciples to be prepared whenever he might come. The faithful servants who watched over the household (the Church) would be rewarded for their fidelity when the master returned. Unfaithful servants would be punished for their shameful behavior. Jesus warned these future leaders of the Church that they would be held more accountable than those who acted out of ignorance. Christian leaders today must continue to exercise care for the Church, which has been entrusted to them. They should never leave a task undone that ought to be finished before Christ's return.
TO LOVE: Do I use the time, treasure and talents the Lord has given me?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to be your faithful and trustworthy servant.
Optional Memorial of Saint John of
Capistrano, priest
John was born at Capistrano, Italy in 1385, the son of a former German knight. He studied law and practiced as a lawyer in the courts of Naples. King Ladislas of Naples appointed him governor of Perugia. During a war with a neighboring town, John was betrayed and jailed. During his imprisonment he came to the decision to change vocations. He became a Franciscan on 4 October 1416. John was a noted preacher while still a deacon. Ordained a priest, he preached to tens of thousands throughout Italy, Germany, Bohemia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Russia. It was reported that he healed the sick by making the Sign of the Cross over them. John wrote extensively, mainly against the heresies of the day. After the fall of Constantinople to the Muslim Turks, John was commissioned by Pope Callistus II at age 70 to lead a Crusade against them. At the head of 70,000 Christian soldiers, he won the great battle of Belgrade in the summer of 1456, but he died in the field a few months later.
Tuesday 23
October 2018
St John Of Capistrano.
Ephesians 2:12-22. Psalm 84(85):9-14. Luke
12:35-38.
The Lord speaks of peace to his people – Psalm
84(85):9-14.
‘He came to bring the good news of peace.’
Peace, love, faithfulness are surely the
inheritance of those who live close to God. But the world is needy for the
light and strength that comes from Jesus to our hearts.
Jesus uses the metaphor of servants ready for
the master’s return, awake and alert. Pope Francis exhorts us to be aware of
our influence as the leaven to the world’s great needs. The unemployed,
refugees, the marginalised and the suffering need to know God’s mercy. To do
this healing we need God’s divine grace to transform us and enable us to
respond to his love in our lives. We can then share it with those less
fortunate so that we all can live in the merciful grace of our God.
Saint John of Capistrano
Saint of the Day for October 23
(June 24, 1386 – October 23, 1456)
 |
| Saint John Capistrano | Stained glass window in the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, DC. | photo by Lawrence OP |
Saint John of Capistrano’s Story
It has been said the Christian saints are the
world’s greatest optimists. Not blind to the existence and consequences of
evil, they base their confidence on the power of Christ’s redemption. The power
of conversion through Christ extends not only to sinful people but also to
calamitous events.
Imagine being born in the 14th century.
One-third of the population and nearly 40 percent of the clergy were wiped out
by the bubonic plague. The Western Schism split the Church with two or three
claimants to the Holy See at one time. England and France were at war. The
city-states of Italy were constantly in conflict. No wonder that gloom
dominated the spirit of the culture and the times.
John Capistrano was born in 1386. His education
was thorough. His talents and success were great. When he was 26 he was made
governor of Perugia. Imprisoned after a battle against the Malatestas, he
resolved to change his way of life completely. At the age of 30 he entered the
Franciscan novitiate and was ordained a priest four years later.
John’s preaching attracted great throngs at a
time of religious apathy and confusion. He and 12 Franciscan brethren were
received in the countries of central Europe as angels of God. They were
instrumental in reviving a dying faith and devotion.
The Franciscan Order itself was in turmoil over
the interpretation and observance of the Rule of St. Francis. Through John’s
tireless efforts and his expertise in law, the heretical Fraticelli were
suppressed and the “Spirituals” were freed from interference in their stricter
observance.
John of Capistrano helped bring about a brief
reunion with the Greek and Armenian Churches.
When the Turks captured Constantinople in 1453,
John was commissioned to preach a crusade for the defense of Europe. Gaining
little response in Bavaria and Austria, he decided to concentrate his efforts
in Hungary. He led the army to Belgrade. Under the great General John Hunyadi,
they gained an overwhelming victory, and the siege of Belgrade was lifted. Worn
out by his superhuman efforts, Capistrano was an easy prey to an infection
after the battle. He died on October 23, 1456.
Reflection
John Hofer, a biographer of John Capistrano,
recalls a Brussels organization named after the saint. Seeking to solve life
problems in a fully Christian spirit, its motto was: “Initiative, Organization,
Activity.” These three words characterized John’s life. He was not one to sit
around. His deep Christian optimism drove him to battle problems at all levels
with the confidence engendered by a deep faith in Christ.
Saint John of Capistrano is Patron Saint of:
Judges
LECTIO DIVINA: LUKE 12:13-21
Lectio Divina:
Monday, October 22, 2018
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Almighty and everlasting God,
our source of power and inspiration,
give us strength and joy
in serving you as followers of Christ,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
our source of power and inspiration,
give us strength and joy
in serving you as followers of Christ,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Luke 12,13-21
A man in the crowd said to him, 'Master,
tell my brother to give me a share of our inheritance.' He said to him, 'My
friend, who appointed me your judge, or the arbitrator of your claims?' Then He
said to them, 'Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for
life does not consist in possessions, even when someone has more than he
needs.'
Then He told them a parable, 'There was
once a rich man who, having had a good harvest from his land, thought to
himself, "What am I to do? I have not enough room to store my crops."
Then he said, "This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build
bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them, and I will say to my
soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come;
take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time." But God said to him,
"Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this
hoard of yours, whose will it be then?" So it is when someone stores up
treasure for himself instead of becoming rich in the sight of God.'
3) Reflection
● The episode in today’s gospel is found
only in the Gospel of Luke and does not have a parallel in the other Gospels.
It forms part of the long description of Jesus’ trip from Galilee to Jerusalem
(Lk 9, 51 to 19, 28) in which Luke places most of the information which he
collected concerning Jesus which is not found in the other three Gospels (cf.
Lk 1, 2-3). The gospel today gives the response of Jesus to the person who
asked Him to be the mediator in the distribution of an inheritance.
● Luke 12, 13: A request to
distribute an inheritance. “One from the crowd told Jesus: Master, tell my
brother to give me a share of our inheritance”. Up until today, the
distribution of an inheritance among the living relatives is always a delicate
question and, many times, it is the occasion of disputes and of tensions
without end. At that time, the inheritance also had something to do with the
identity of the person (1 K 21, 1-3) and with survival (Num 27,1-11; 36,1-12).
The greatest problem was the distribution of the land among the sons of the
deceased father. If the family was numerous, there was a danger that the
inheritance would be divided into small pieces of land which would not have
guaranteed survival of all. For this reason, in order to avoid the breaking up
or disintegration of the inheritance and to carry on the name of the family,
the firstborn or eldest received double of what the other sons received (Dt
21,17. cf. 2Rs 2, 11).
● Luke 12, 14-15: Response of
Jesus: attention to greed, to cupidity. “Jesus answers: My friend, who
appointed me your judge or the arbitrator of your claims?” In the
response of Jesus appears the knowledge which He has of His mission. Jesus does
not feel sent by God to respond to the request to be arbitrator between the
relatives who argue or quarrel among themselves concerning the distribution of
the inheritance. But the request of this man leads Him to the mission to
orientate persons, because “Watch, and be on your guard against avarice
of any kind, for life does not consist in possessions, even when someone has
more than he needs”. It was part of his mission to clarify the sense
of life. The value of life does not consist in having many things, but rather
in being rich for God (Lk 12, 21). Because when gain occupies the heart, it
does not know how to distribute the inheritance in an equitable way and with
peace.
● Luke 12, 16-19: The parable
that makes one think on the sense of life. Then Jesus told a parable
to help persons to reflect on the sense of life: “There was a rich man who
having had a good harvest from his land, thought to himself: What am I to do? I
have not enough room to store my crops”. The rich man was very obsessed by the
concern of his goods which had increased in an unforeseen way because of an
abundant harvest. He thinks only of accumulating in order to guarantee a life
without worries. He says: This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns and
build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them and I will say
to my soul: My soul, now you have plenty of good things laid for many years to
come, take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time”.
● Luke 12, 20: The first
conclusion of the parable. “But God said to him: ‘Fool! This very night the
demand will be made for your soul, and this hoard of yours, whose will it be
then?” So it is when someone stores up treasures for himself instead of
becoming rich in the sight of God”. Death is an important key to
discovering the true sense of life. It makes all things relative, because it
shows what perishes and what remains. Anyone who only seeks to have, and
forgets to be, loses everything at the hour of death. Here we have a thought
which appears very frequently in the books of wisdom: Why accumulate great
quantities of goods in this life if you do not know what will become of themand
if you do not know what the heirs will do with what you will leave them. (Qo 2,
12.18-19. 21).
● Luke 12, 21: second conclusion
of the parable. “So it is with someone who stores up treasures for himself
instead of becoming rich in the sight of God”. How can one become rich
for God? Jesus gives several suggestions and advice: Anyone who wants to be
first, let him be last (Mt 20, 27; Mk 9, 35; 10, 44); it is better to give than
to receive (Ac 20, 35); the greatest is the smallest (Mt 18, 4; 23, 11; Lk 9,
48) he/she who loses his/her life will save it (Mt 10, 39; 16, 25; Mk 8, 35; Lk
9, 24).
4) Personal questions
● The man asked Jesus to help Him in the
distribution of his inheritance. And you, what do you ask Jesus in your prayer?
● Consumerism creates needs and awakens in us the desire of gaining. What do you do so as not to be a victim of gain brought about by consumerism?
● Consumerism creates needs and awakens in us the desire of gaining. What do you do so as not to be a victim of gain brought about by consumerism?
5) Concluding prayer
Acclaim Yahweh, all the earth,
serve Yahweh with gladness,
come into his presence with songs of joy! (Ps 100,1-2)
serve Yahweh with gladness,
come into his presence with songs of joy! (Ps 100,1-2)
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