Monday of the Thirty-first Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 485
Lectionary: 485
Brothers and sisters:
If there is any encouragement in Christ,
any solace in love,
any participation in the Spirit,
any compassion and mercy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,
united in heart, thinking one thing.
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,
each looking out not for his own interests,
but also everyone for those of others.
If there is any encouragement in Christ,
any solace in love,
any participation in the Spirit,
any compassion and mercy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,
united in heart, thinking one thing.
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,
each looking out not for his own interests,
but also everyone for those of others.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 131:1BCDE, 2, 3
R. In you,
O Lord, I have found my peace.
O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother's lap,
so is my soul within me.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O Israel, hope in the LORD,
both now and forever.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother's lap,
so is my soul within me.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O Israel, hope in the LORD,
both now and forever.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
AlleluiaJN 8:31B-32
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
If you remain in my word, you will truly be my discip0les,
and you will know the truth, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If you remain in my word, you will truly be my discip0les,
and you will know the truth, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 14:12-14
On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.
He said to the host who invited him,
"When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.
He said to the host who invited him,
"When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Meditation: "You will be repaid at
the resurrection of the just"
Who do you honor at your table? The Lord is always
ready to receive us at his table. As far as we can tell from the Gospel
accounts, Jesus never refused a dinner invitation! Why, in this particular
instance, does Jesus lecture his host on whom he should or shouldn't invite to
dinner? Did his host expect some favor or reward from Jesus? Did he want to
impress his neighbors with the honor of hosting the "miracle worker"
from Galilee?
Generous giving doesn't impoverish - but enriches the
heart
Jesus probes our hearts as well. Do you only show favor and generosity to those who will repay you in kind? What about those who do not have the means to repay you - the poor, the sick, and the disadvantaged? Generosity demands a measure of self-sacrifice. However, it doesn't impoverish, but rather enriches the soul of the giver. True generosity springs from a heart full of mercy and compassion. God has loved us first, and our love for him is a response of gratitude for the great mercy and kindness he has shown to each one of us. No one can outmatch God in his generous love and kindness towards us. Do you give freely as Jesus gives without seeking personal gain or reward?
Jesus probes our hearts as well. Do you only show favor and generosity to those who will repay you in kind? What about those who do not have the means to repay you - the poor, the sick, and the disadvantaged? Generosity demands a measure of self-sacrifice. However, it doesn't impoverish, but rather enriches the soul of the giver. True generosity springs from a heart full of mercy and compassion. God has loved us first, and our love for him is a response of gratitude for the great mercy and kindness he has shown to each one of us. No one can outmatch God in his generous love and kindness towards us. Do you give freely as Jesus gives without seeking personal gain or reward?
"Lord Jesus, you love never fails and
your mercies abound. You offer us the best of gifts - peace, pardon and everlasting
friendship with you at your banquet table. Fill me with gratitude for your
great mercy and kindness towards me. And may I never fail to show kindness and
mercy towards all I meet so that they may know the mercy and goodness you offer
them as well."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: First and last at the banquet table, by
Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"'When,' he says, 'a man more honorable than you
comes, he that invited you and him will say, 'Give this man place.' Oh, what
great shame is there in having to do this! It is like a theft, so to speak, and
the restitution of the stolen goods. He must restore what he has seized because
he had no right to take it. The modest and praiseworthy person, who without
fear of blame might have claimed the dignity of sitting among the foremost,
does not seek it. He yields to others what might be called his own, that he may
not even seem to be overcome by empty pride. Such a one shall receive honor as
his due. He says, 'He shall hear him who invited him say, 'Come up here.' ...If
any one among you wants to be set above others, let him win it by the decree of
heaven and be crowned by those honors that God bestows. Let him surpass the
many by having the testimony of glorious virtues. The rule of virtue is a lowly
mind that does not love boasting. It is humility. The blessed Paul also counted
this worthy of all esteem. He writes to those who eagerly desire saintly
pursuits, 'Love humility.'" (excerpt
from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 101)
MONDAY,
NOVEMBER 5, LUKE 14:12-14
Weekday
(Philippians 2:1-4; Psalm 131)
Weekday
(Philippians 2:1-4; Psalm 131)
KEY VERSE: "For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous" (v. 14).
TO KNOW: When Jesus was invited to a banquet at the home of an influential religious leader, he used this opportunity to teach both host and guests about the equality of all God's people. Jesus told them that when they gave a dinner party, they should not invite only those who were in a position to return the invitation. They should also invite the disadvantaged who had no means to repay them. These anawim (the poor, the vulnerable, the marginalized, and economically oppressed) were the ones to whom Jesus addressed in his proclamation of the reign of God (Lk 4:18). His followers had no need to be repaid for their generosity in serving him and God's people; God would reward them in the resurrection of the just. Can we imagine what it would be like if banquets were held in honor of the poor and deprived instead of the rich and famous? How would this change us? How would it change the world?
TO LOVE: In what ways can I apply Jesus' teaching to my everyday life?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to see everyone as my brothers and sisters.
ELECTION DAY (USA) -- VOTE!
Election Day in the United States is the day set by law for the general elections of public officials. These include national, state and local government representatives at all levels up to the president. The presidential elections occur every four years, with registered voters casting their ballots on Election Day, which since 1845 has been the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Election Day is held on a Tuesday so that voters will not have to vote or travel on Sunday. This was an important consideration at the time when the laws were written and is still so in some Christian communities in the United States.
Monday 5
November 2018
All Saints and Blessed of
The Society Of Jesus.
Philippians 2:1-4. Psalm 130(131). Luke 14:12-14.
Philippians 2:1-4. Psalm 130(131). Luke 14:12-14.
In you,
Lord, I have found my peace – Psalm 130(131).
‘Make my joy complete by
being of a single mind, one in love, one in heart.’
In the Christian church,
often marred by the scandal of divisions and disunity, and in a world ravaged
by the ‘globalisation of indifference’ (Pope Francis) towards the poor and the
marginalised, today’s readings challenge and encourage us to live out the
Gospel imperatives through humility, understanding and inclusion of others,
particularly the least among us.
Paul admonishes the
Philippians and us to work for the unity of spirit, not through ‘rivalry or
vain conceit’, but through humility and service of others. Jesus challenges our
model of relationships and invites us to go beyond our usual circle of friends
and include ‘the poor, the lame and the crippled’.
Saint Peter
Chrysologus
Saint of the Day for
November 5
(c. 406 – c. 450)
 |
| Saint Peter Chrysologus | it.wikipedia.org |
Saint Peter
Chrysologus’ Story
A man who vigorously
pursues a goal may produce results far beyond his expectations and his
intentions. Thus it was with Peter ” of the Golden Words,” as he was called,
who as a young man became bishop of Ravenna, the capital of the empire in the
West.
At the time there were
abuses and vestiges of paganism evident in his diocese, and these Peter was
determined to battle and overcome. His principal weapon was the short sermon,
and many of them have come down to us. They do not contain great originality of
thought. They are, however, full of moral applications, sound in doctrine, and
historically significant in that they reveal Christian life in fifth-century
Ravenna. So authentic were the contents of his sermons that some 13 centuries
later, he was declared a doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIII. He who had
earnestly sought to teach and motivate his own flock was recognized as a
teacher of the universal Church.
In addition to his zeal
in the exercise of his office, Peter Chrysologus was distinguished by a fierce
loyalty to the Church, not only in its teaching, but in its authority as well.
He looked upon learning not as a mere opportunity but as an obligation for all,
both as a development of God-given faculties and as a solid support for the
worship of God.
Some time before his
death around A.D. 450, Saint Peter Chrysologus returned to his birthplace
of Imola, in northern Italy.
Reflection
Quite likely, it was Saint Peter
Chrysologus’ attitude toward learning that gave substance to his exhortations.
Next to virtue, learning, in his view, was the greatest improvement to the
human mind and the support of true religion. Ignorance is not a virtue, nor is
anti-intellectualism. Knowledge is neither more nor less a source of pride than
physical, administrative, or financial prowess. To be fully human is to expand
our knowledge—whether sacred or secular—according to our talent and
opportunity.
LECTIO DIVINA: LUKE 14:12-14
Lectio Divina:
Monday, November 5, 2018
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
God of power and mercy,
only with your help
can we offer you fitting service and praise.
May we live the faith we profess
and trust your promise of eternal life.
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.
only with your help
can we offer you fitting service and praise.
May we live the faith we profess
and trust your promise of eternal life.
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 14:12-14
Jesus said to His host, "When you
give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your
relations or rich neighbors, in case they invite you back and so repay you. No,
when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and
then you will be blessed, for they have no means to repay you and so you will
be repaid when the upright rise again."
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today continues to present
the teaching Jesus was giving on different themes, all related to curing in the
setting of a banquet: a cure during a meal (Lk 14, 1-6), advice not to
take the places of honor (Lk 14, 7-12), and advice to invite the excluded (Lk
14, 12-14). This organization of the words of Jesus around a particular word,
for example, table or banquet, helps one perceive the method used by the first
Christians to keep the words of Jesus in their memory.
• Luke 14, 12: Interested invitation. Jesus is eating in the house of a Pharisee who has invited Him (Lk 14, 1). The invitation to share at table is the theme of the teaching of today’s Gospel. There are different types of invitations: the interested invitations for the benefit of oneself and disinterested invitations for the benefit of others. Jesus says: "When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relations or rich neighbors, in case they invite you back and so repay you”. That was the normal custom of the people: to invite friends, brothers and relatives to eat. Nobody would sit at table with unknown persons. They would sit around the table only with people who were their friends. That was the custom of the Jews. Even now we also act in the same way. Jesus thinks differently and orders us to invite unknown people. These were invitations which nobody used to make.
• Luke 14, 13-14: Disinterested invitation. Jesus says “On the contrary, when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; then you will be blessed, for they have no means to repay you. So you will be repaid when the upright rise again.” Jesus orders them and us to break the closed circle and asks us to invite the excluded, the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. This was not the custom then and it is not today either. But Jesus insists: “Invite these persons”. Why? Because in the disinterested invitation, addressed to excluded and marginalized persons, there is a source of happiness: “And then you will be blessed for they have no means to repay you”. This is a strange type of happiness, a diverse happiness! You will be blessed for they have no means to repay you. It is the happiness that comes from the fact that you have done a totally gratuitous gesture, without asking for anything. Jesus says that this is the happiness which God will give us in the resurrection; the happiness of the Resurrection which He will give us not only at the end of history, but even now. To act in this way is to glimpse the happiness in the resurrecti on!
• It is the Kingdom which will be confirmed. The advice which Jesus gives us in the Gospel today recalls the sending out of the seventy-two on the mission of announcing the Kingdom (Lk 10, 1-9). Among the different recommendations given on that occasion, as signs of the presence of the Kingdom, there is: (a) the invitation to the table and (b) the acceptance of the excluded: “Whenever you go into a town, where they make you welcome, eat what is put before you, cure those who are sick and say: the Kingdom of God is very near to you!” (Lk 10, 8-9) Here, in these recommendations, Jesus orders the transgression of that norm of legal purity which prevented fraternal living together.
• Luke 14, 12: Interested invitation. Jesus is eating in the house of a Pharisee who has invited Him (Lk 14, 1). The invitation to share at table is the theme of the teaching of today’s Gospel. There are different types of invitations: the interested invitations for the benefit of oneself and disinterested invitations for the benefit of others. Jesus says: "When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relations or rich neighbors, in case they invite you back and so repay you”. That was the normal custom of the people: to invite friends, brothers and relatives to eat. Nobody would sit at table with unknown persons. They would sit around the table only with people who were their friends. That was the custom of the Jews. Even now we also act in the same way. Jesus thinks differently and orders us to invite unknown people. These were invitations which nobody used to make.
• Luke 14, 13-14: Disinterested invitation. Jesus says “On the contrary, when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; then you will be blessed, for they have no means to repay you. So you will be repaid when the upright rise again.” Jesus orders them and us to break the closed circle and asks us to invite the excluded, the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. This was not the custom then and it is not today either. But Jesus insists: “Invite these persons”. Why? Because in the disinterested invitation, addressed to excluded and marginalized persons, there is a source of happiness: “And then you will be blessed for they have no means to repay you”. This is a strange type of happiness, a diverse happiness! You will be blessed for they have no means to repay you. It is the happiness that comes from the fact that you have done a totally gratuitous gesture, without asking for anything. Jesus says that this is the happiness which God will give us in the resurrection; the happiness of the Resurrection which He will give us not only at the end of history, but even now. To act in this way is to glimpse the happiness in the resurrecti on!
• It is the Kingdom which will be confirmed. The advice which Jesus gives us in the Gospel today recalls the sending out of the seventy-two on the mission of announcing the Kingdom (Lk 10, 1-9). Among the different recommendations given on that occasion, as signs of the presence of the Kingdom, there is: (a) the invitation to the table and (b) the acceptance of the excluded: “Whenever you go into a town, where they make you welcome, eat what is put before you, cure those who are sick and say: the Kingdom of God is very near to you!” (Lk 10, 8-9) Here, in these recommendations, Jesus orders the transgression of that norm of legal purity which prevented fraternal living together.
4) Personal questions
• An interested or disinterested
invitation: which of these takes place in my life?
• If you invited in a disinterested way, would this cause some difficulties? Which ones?
• If you invited in a disinterested way, would this cause some difficulties? Which ones?
5) Concluding prayer
Yahweh, my heart is not haughty,
I do not set my sights too high.
I have taken no part in great affairs,
in wonders beyond my scope.
No, I hold myself in quiet and silence,
like a little child in its mother's arms,
like a little child, so I keep myself. (Ps 131,1-2)
I do not set my sights too high.
I have taken no part in great affairs,
in wonders beyond my scope.
No, I hold myself in quiet and silence,
like a little child in its mother's arms,
like a little child, so I keep myself. (Ps 131,1-2)
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