Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 478
Lectionary: 478
Brothers and sisters:
Grace was given to each of us
according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Therefore, it says:
He ascended on high and took prisoners captive;
he gave gifts to men.
What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended
into the lower regions of the earth?
The one who descended is also the one who ascended
far above all the heavens,
that he might fill all things.
And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,
others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,
for building up the Body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith
and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood
to the extent of the full stature of Christ,
so that we may no longer be infants,
tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching
arising from human trickery,
from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.
Rather, living the truth in love,
we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ,
from whom the whole Body,
joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
with the proper functioning of each part,
brings about the Body’s growth and builds itself up in love.
Grace was given to each of us
according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Therefore, it says:
He ascended on high and took prisoners captive;
he gave gifts to men.
What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended
into the lower regions of the earth?
The one who descended is also the one who ascended
far above all the heavens,
that he might fill all things.
And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,
others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,
for building up the Body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith
and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood
to the extent of the full stature of Christ,
so that we may no longer be infants,
tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching
arising from human trickery,
from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.
Rather, living the truth in love,
we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ,
from whom the whole Body,
joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
with the proper functioning of each part,
brings about the Body’s growth and builds itself up in love.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 122:1-2, 3-4AB, 4CD-5
R. (1) Let us
go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Alleluia EZ 33:11
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,
but rather in his conversion that he may live.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,
but rather in his conversion that he may live.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 13:1-9
Some people told Jesus about the Galileans
whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.
He said to them in reply,
“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!
Or those eighteen people who were killed
when the tower at Siloam fell on them–
do you think they were more guilty
than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!”
And he told them this parable:
“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,
and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,
he said to the gardener,
‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree
but have found none.
So cut it down.
Why should it exhaust the soil?’
He said to him in reply,
‘Sir, leave it for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;
it may bear fruit in the future.
If not you can cut it down.’”
whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.
He said to them in reply,
“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!
Or those eighteen people who were killed
when the tower at Siloam fell on them–
do you think they were more guilty
than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!”
And he told them this parable:
“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,
and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,
he said to the gardener,
‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree
but have found none.
So cut it down.
Why should it exhaust the soil?’
He said to him in reply,
‘Sir, leave it for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;
it may bear fruit in the future.
If not you can cut it down.’”
Meditation: "Unless you repent - you will perish"
What can a calamity, such as a political blood-bath or a natural
disaster, teach us about God's kingdom and the consequences of wrong-doing and
turning away from God? Jesus used two such occasions to address the issue of
sin (wrong-doing) and judgment with his Jewish audience. Pilate, who was the
Roman governor of Jerusalem at the time, ordered his troops to slaughter a
group of Galileans who had come up to Jerusalem to offer sacrifice in the
Temple. We do not know what these Galileans did to incite Pilate's wrath, nor
why Pilate chose to attack them in the holiest of places for the Jews, in their
temple at Jerusalem. For the Jews, this was political barbarity and sacrilege
at its worst!
The second incident which Jesus addressed was a natural
disaster, a tower in Jerusalem which unexpectedly collapsed, killing 18 people.
The Jews often associated such calamities and disasters as a consequence of sin
(doing what is wrong and contrary to God's law). Scripture does warn that sin
can result in calamity! Though the righteous fall seven times, and rise
again; the wicked are overthrown by calamity (Proverbs 24:16).
The time for repentance and forgiveness is right now!
The real danger and calamity which Jesus points out is that an unexpected disaster or a sudden death does not give us time to repent of our sins by acknowledging our wrong-doing and asking for pardon here and now before we die and are brought face to face with the Lord of heaven and earth when he calls us to his judgment seat. The Book of Job reminds us that misfortune and calamity can befall both the righteous and the unrighteous alike. Jesus gives a clear warning - take responsibility for your actions and moral choices and put sin to death today before it can poison your heart, corrupt your mind, and bring destruction to your body as well. Allowing sin and sinful attitudes to go unchecked in us is like a cancer which spreads and corrupts us from within and causes death if it is not cut off.We must honestly and humbly acknowledge our sins before God and ask for his forgiveness and for his healing grace to restore and change us so that we may grow day by day into the holiness he desires for us. Holding on to sinful attitudes, and refusing to confess our wrongdoing (sins) before God to receive his pardon and healing, can only lead to one result - a corrupt heart, mind, and soul that is dead spiritually. Paul the Apostle reminds us that "the wages of sin in death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Spiritual death and separation from God is a far worse condition than any physical harm or loss we might experience in this present life.Choose today for the abundant life and grace which Christ has won for you through his victory over sin and death on the Cross.
The real danger and calamity which Jesus points out is that an unexpected disaster or a sudden death does not give us time to repent of our sins by acknowledging our wrong-doing and asking for pardon here and now before we die and are brought face to face with the Lord of heaven and earth when he calls us to his judgment seat. The Book of Job reminds us that misfortune and calamity can befall both the righteous and the unrighteous alike. Jesus gives a clear warning - take responsibility for your actions and moral choices and put sin to death today before it can poison your heart, corrupt your mind, and bring destruction to your body as well. Allowing sin and sinful attitudes to go unchecked in us is like a cancer which spreads and corrupts us from within and causes death if it is not cut off.We must honestly and humbly acknowledge our sins before God and ask for his forgiveness and for his healing grace to restore and change us so that we may grow day by day into the holiness he desires for us. Holding on to sinful attitudes, and refusing to confess our wrongdoing (sins) before God to receive his pardon and healing, can only lead to one result - a corrupt heart, mind, and soul that is dead spiritually. Paul the Apostle reminds us that "the wages of sin in death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Spiritual death and separation from God is a far worse condition than any physical harm or loss we might experience in this present life.Choose today for the abundant life and grace which Christ has won for you through his victory over sin and death on the Cross.
The sign of the barren fig tree
Jesus followed his warning to turn away from sin and not allow it to corrupt our minds and hearts with an illustration and story (parable) from nature and farming which his listeners would have easily understood. Good land for growing crops and fruit trees were sparse in the arrid climate of Judae and the surrounding desert regions. One very common and important source of food for the people who lived in the region of Galilee and Judea was the fig tree. Its fruit was highly prized and became a symbol of God's fruitful blessing and provision for his people. A fig tree normally matured within three years, producing plentiful fruit. If it failed, it was cut down to make room for more healthy trees. A decaying fig tree and its bad fruit came to symbolize for the Jews the consequence of spiritual corruption caused by evil deeds and unrepentant sin.
Jesus followed his warning to turn away from sin and not allow it to corrupt our minds and hearts with an illustration and story (parable) from nature and farming which his listeners would have easily understood. Good land for growing crops and fruit trees were sparse in the arrid climate of Judae and the surrounding desert regions. One very common and important source of food for the people who lived in the region of Galilee and Judea was the fig tree. Its fruit was highly prized and became a symbol of God's fruitful blessing and provision for his people. A fig tree normally matured within three years, producing plentiful fruit. If it failed, it was cut down to make room for more healthy trees. A decaying fig tree and its bad fruit came to symbolize for the Jews the consequence of spiritual corruption caused by evil deeds and unrepentant sin.
The unfruitful fig tree symbolized the outcome of Israel's
indifference and lack of response to God's word of repentance and
restoration. The prophets depicted the desolation and calamity of Israel's fall
and ruin - due to her unfaithfulness to God - as a languishing fig tree (see
Joel 1:7,12; Habbakuk 3:17; and Jeremiah 8:13). Jeremiah likened good and evil
rulers and members of Israel with figs that were either good for eating or
rotten and wasteful (Jeremiah 24:2-8). Jesus' parable depicts the patience of
God, but it also contains a warning that we should not presume upon God's
patience and mercy. God's judgment will come in due course - very soon or
later. Jesus' parable of the barren fig tree illustrates his warning about the
consequences of allowing sin (wrongdoing) and moral corruption to take root in
our hearts and minds. We must turn away from sinful atttitudes and sinful
habits and turn to God for his transforming grace and power to change us.
Why God judges
Why does God judge his people? He judges to purify and cleanse us of all sin so that we might grow in his holiness and righteousness (being in a right relationship with God). And he disciplines us for our own good, to inspire a godly fear and reverence for him and his holy word. God is patient, but for those who persistently and stubbornly rebel against him and refuse to repent and change their course, there is the consequence that they will lose both their soul and body to hell.
Why does God judge his people? He judges to purify and cleanse us of all sin so that we might grow in his holiness and righteousness (being in a right relationship with God). And he disciplines us for our own good, to inspire a godly fear and reverence for him and his holy word. God is patient, but for those who persistently and stubbornly rebel against him and refuse to repent and change their course, there is the consequence that they will lose both their soul and body to hell.
Are God's judgments unjust or unloving? When God's
judgments are revealed in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn
righteousness (Isaiah 26:9). To pronounce God's judgment on sin is
much less harsh than what will happen if those who sin are not warned to repent
and turn back to God.
Don't tolerate sin
God, in his mercy, gives us time to get right with him, but that time is now. We must not assume that there is no hurry. A sudden and unexpected death leaves one no time to prepare to settle one's accounts when he or she must stand before the Lord on the day of judgment. Jesus warns us that we must be ready at all times. Tolerating sinful habits and excusing unrepentant sin and wrongdoing will result in bad fruit, painful discipline, and spiritual disease that leads to death and destruction. The Lord in his mercy gives us both grace (his gracious help and healing) and time to turn away from sin, but that time is right now. If we delay, even for a day, we may discover that grace has passed us by and our time is up. Do you hunger for the Lord's righteousness (moral goodness) and holiness?
God, in his mercy, gives us time to get right with him, but that time is now. We must not assume that there is no hurry. A sudden and unexpected death leaves one no time to prepare to settle one's accounts when he or she must stand before the Lord on the day of judgment. Jesus warns us that we must be ready at all times. Tolerating sinful habits and excusing unrepentant sin and wrongdoing will result in bad fruit, painful discipline, and spiritual disease that leads to death and destruction. The Lord in his mercy gives us both grace (his gracious help and healing) and time to turn away from sin, but that time is right now. If we delay, even for a day, we may discover that grace has passed us by and our time is up. Do you hunger for the Lord's righteousness (moral goodness) and holiness?
"Lord Jesus, increase my hunger for you that I may grow in
righteousness and holiness. May I not squander the grace of the present moment
to say "yes" to you and to your will and plan for my life."
Patriarchs, Prophets, and the Gospel, by Augustine of
Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"The Lord also has something very fitting to say about a
fruitless tree, 'Look, it is now three years that I have been coming to it.
Finding no fruit on it, I will cut it down, to stop it blocking up my field.'
The gardener intercedes... This tree is the human race. The Lord visited this
tree in the time of the patriarchs, as if for the first year. He visited it in
the time of the law and the prophets, as if for the second year. Here we are
now; with the gospel the third year has dawned. Now it is as though it should
have been cut down, but the merciful one intercedes with the merciful one. He
wanted to show how merciful he was, and so he stood up to himself with a plea
for mercy. 'Let us leave it,' he says, 'this year too. Let us dig a ditch
around it.' Manure is a sign of humility. 'Let us apply a load of manure;
perhaps it may bear fruit.' Since it does bear fruit in one part, and in
another part does not bear fruit, its Lord will come and divide it. What does
that mean, 'divide it'? There are good people and bad people now in one
company, as though constituting one body." (excerpt from Sermon
254.3)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, LUKE 13:1-9
Weekday
(Ephesians 4:7-16)
Weekday
(Ephesians 4:7-16)
KEY VERSE: "But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did" (v. 3).
TO KNOW: Jesus cited two tragic events of his day in order to urge people to reform their lives while there was still time. The first case occurred when Pontius Pilate ordered the cold-blooded massacre of some Galileans who were offering sacrifice in the Temple at Passover. The other misfortune was the accidental death of several construction workers when a water tower fell on them. These victims were no more sinful than anyone else, yet they perished, perhaps before they had time to reconcile themselves with God. Jesus then told a parable of God's patience. God gives us every chance to bear good fruit in our lives. But time eventually runs out. Hopefully, we will repent before it is too late.
TO LOVE: Am I able to see the trials in my life as opportunities for growth?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to heed your warning to repent of any sin in my life.
OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Chapter V of the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, issued by the Holy See in December 2001, describes the Church's traditional dedication of Saturday to the Virgin Mary. "Saturdays stand out among those days dedicated to the Virgin Mary. These are designated as memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary" (218). The chapter also describes the importance of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, in Catholic devotional life, in the Liturgy, and reflections on popular devotions to Mary, her feast days, and the Rosary.
Saturday 27 October 2018
Ephesians 4:7-16. Psalm 121(122):1-5.
Luke 13:1-9.
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the
Lord – Psalm 121(122):1-5.
‘There is salvation in repentance.’
This Gospel is about second chances.
The weight of sin is heavy and can often feel overwhelmingly too much to bear.
In this parable, Jesus is telling us that God waits for us, in our darkness and
confusion. He is the gardener saying, ‘just give them a little more time,
you’ll see the wonder of their fruit.’
He waits for us because he believes
wholeheartedly in our worthiness to receive his love. All God asks is that we
repent of our sins. May we take advantage of the opportunities for repentance
gifted to us through our Church. May we walk again the path of light and marvel
at what Gregory Boyle in his book Tattoos on the Heart calls
the ‘no-matter-whatness’ of God’s love for us.
Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza
Saint of the Day for October 27
(c. 1200 – 1271)
 |
| Statue of Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza | Monastery of Saint Bartholomew-Saint Anthony, Vicenza, Italy | photo by Claudio Gioseffi |
Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza’s Story
Dominicans honor one of their own
today, Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza. This was a man who used his skills as a
preacher to challenge the heresies of his day.
Bartholomew was born in Vicenza around
1200. At 20, he entered the Dominicans. Following his ordination, he served in
various leadership positions. As a young priest, he founded a military order
whose purpose was to keep civil peace in towns throughout Italy.
In 1248, Bartholomew was appointed a
bishop. For most men, such an appointment is an honor and a tribute to their
holiness and their demonstrated leadership skills. But for Bartholomew, it was
a form of exile that had been urged by an antipapal group that was only too
happy to see him leave for Cyprus. Not many years later, however, Bartholomew
was transferred back to Vicenza. Despite the antipapal feelings that were still
evident, he worked diligently—especially through his preaching—to rebuild his
diocese and strengthen the people’s loyalty to Rome.
During his years as bishop in Cyprus,
Bartholomew befriended King Louis IX of France, who is said to have given the
holy bishop a relic of Christ’s Crown of Thorns.
Bartholomew died in 1271. He was
beatified in 1793.
Reflection
Despite oppositions and obstacles,
Bartholomew remained faithful to his ministry to God’s People. We face daily
challenges to our faithfulness and duties as well. Perhaps Bartholomew could
serve as an inspiration in our darker moments.
LECTIO DIVINA: LUKE 13:1-9
Lectio Divina:
Saturday, October 27, 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.
2) GOSPEL READING - LUKE 13:1-9
Some people told Jesus about the
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He
said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in
this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I
tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those
eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them– do you
think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no
means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”
And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree
planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found
none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of
fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it
exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit
in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”
3) REFLECTION
• The Gospel today gives us information
which is only found in Luke’s Gospel. There are no parallel passages in
the other Gospels. We are meditating on the long journey from Galilee to
Jerusalem and which takes almost half of Luke’s Gospel, from chapter 9 to
chapter 19 (Lk 9:51 to 19:28). In this part Luke places most of the
information on the life and teaching of Jesus (Lk 1:1-4).
• Luke 13:1: The event which requires
an explanation. “At that time some people arrived and told Jesus about the
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with that of the their sacrifices.”
When we read the newspaper or watch the news on TV, we receive much
information, but we do not always understand all its meaning. We listen to
everything, but we really do not know what to do with so much information and
news. There are terrible news items, such as tsunami, terrorism, wars, hunger,
violence, crime, attacks, etc. This is how the news of the horrible massacre
which Pilate, the Roman Governor, ordered regarding some Samaritan pilgrims had
reached Jesus. Such news upsets us, throws us off. And one asks, “What can I
do?” To assuage their conscience, many defend themselves and say, “It is their
fault! They do not work! They are lazy people!”
• Luke 13:2-3: Jesus’ response. Jesus
has a different opinion. “Do you suppose that those Galileans were worse
sinners than any others that this should have happened to them? I tell you
‘no’, but unless you repent you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen
on whom the tower at Siloam fell, killing them all? Do you suppose that they
were worse offenders than all the other people living in Jerusalem? I tell you
‘no,, but unless you repent you will perish as they did.” He seeks to
invite to conversion and to change.
• Luke 13:4-5: Jesus comments on
another situation. “Or those eighteen on whom the tower of Siloam fell, killing
them all; do you believe they were worse offenders than all the other people in
Jerusalem?”
It must have been a disaster which was
much discussed in the city. A thunderstorm knocked down the tower of Siloam
killing eighteen people who were seeking shelter under it. The typical comment
was “punishment from God!” Jesus repeats, “I tell you ‘no’, but unless you
repent you will perish as they did.” They were not converted, they did not
change, and forty years later Jerusalem was destroyed and many people died,
being killed in the Temple like the Samaritans and many people died under the
debris or rubble of the walls of the city. Jesus tried to warn them, but the
request for peace was not accepted: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem!” (Lk 13:34).
• Luke 13:6-9: A parable to make people
think and discover God’s project. “A man had a fig tree planted in his
vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none. He said to his
vinedresser, “for three years now I have been coming to look for fruit on this
fig tree and finding none.” Then he said to the vinedresser, “Cut it down; why
should it be taking up the ground?” “Sir,” the man replied, “leave it one
more year and give me time to dig round it and manure it; it may bear fruit
next year; if not, then you can cut it down.” Many times the vine is used to
indicate God’s affection for His people, or to indicate the lack of response on
the part of the people to God’s love (Is 5:1-7; 27:2-5; Jer 2:21; 8:13; Ex
19:10-14; Hos 10:1-8; Mic 7, 1; Jn 15:1-6). In the parable, the landlord of the
vine is God, the Father. The vinedresser who intercedes on behalf of the vine
is Jesus. He pleads with the Father to extend the space, the time of
conversion.
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• God’s people, God’s vineyard. I am
part of this vineyard. If I apply this parable to myself, what conclusion do I
draw?
• What do I do with the news that I
receive? Do I seek to form a critical opinion, or do I continue to have the
opinion of the majority and of the mass media?
• In today’s world, there are not only
the traditional news sources with their political agendas, but there is also
social media – Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. They also reinforce each other.
One will pick up stories or ideas from another and spin it. Do I
have the skill to discern truth from these outlets? What can I do or
learn to be able to find the truth in world events?
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
Who is like Yahweh our God?
His throne is set on high,
but He stoops to look down on heaven
and earth.
He raises the poor from the dust,
He lifts the needy from the dunghill.
(Ps 113:5-7)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét