A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday & Weekday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 22, n. 43)
Week 25 in Ordinary Time: September 22-28, 2024
(The pastoral tool BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY & WEEKDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy from various perspectives. For the Lectio Divina on the liturgy of the past week: September 15-21, 2024 please go to ARCHIVES Series 21 and click on “Ordinary Week 24”.
Below is a LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY - WEEKDAY LITURGY: September 22-28, 2024.)
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September 22, 2024: TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Son of Man Handed Over
and Killed”
BIBLICAL READINGS
Wis 2:12, 17-20 // Jas 3:16-4:3 // Mk 9:30-37
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A, Gospel Reading (Mk 9:30-37): “The Son of Man is to be handed over … Whoever wishes to be first will be the servant of all.
I visited the California State Fair in Sacramento on August 29, 2003. It was very enriching and educational. The organizers, personnel, and the contributors to the fair had done an extraordinary service, not only to the American nation, but also to the general progress of peoples and the enhancement of the quality of life of God’s beloved creation. One of the most enjoyable features I experienced at the Fair was at the Fine Arts section of the Expo Center Buildings where I saw an interesting piece of art entitled “Napping in the Garden”. The artist depicted the corpus of Christ, stretched in the form of a cross, lying serenely in a cosmic garden of incredible beauty and surrounded with ministering angels and created beings. The artist’s message for me was clear and incisive. The one “napping in the garden” is the Servant of Yahweh, who offered his ultimate service on the cross of sacrifice and is now at the center of adoration and ministry of the entire cosmos. Indeed, the artistic depiction of Christ “napping in the garden” has captured the lesson of this Sunday’s Gospel on primacy in service: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all” (Mk 9:35).
Today’s Gospel (Mk 9:30-37) begins with a description of the itinerary of Jesus. His public ministry in Galilee over, Jesus is moving towards Jerusalem, willfully avoiding popular acclaim based on an erroneous messianic concept. The biblical scholar, Daniel Harrington remarks: “The reason for the secrecy about the journey through Galilee seems to be Jesus’ desire to instruct his disciples about his passion and resurrection.” Indeed, it is Jesus’ intention to rectify the false adulation that honors him principally as a political leader, miracle worker and breadbasket king, and not as the Suffering Servant to redeem the world from sin. The three prophecies of his passion and resurrection are meant to distill his disciples’ messianic perception based on the primacy of temporal powers, and not on service to God’s saving will (cf. Mk 8:31-33; 9:30-32; 10:30-34).
Today’s account contains Jesus’ second prediction of his paschal destiny to his non-comprehending disciples: “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise” (Mk 9:31). Although there may have been an allusion to Jesus’ betrayal by Judas, the more basic meaning of the verb paradidotai (“to be delivered”, “to be handed over”) refers to the divine saving plan in which Jesus’ death is pivotal. The prediction that the Son of Man would be delivered or handed over does not imply constraint on the part of Jesus but rather an attitude of filial obedience and the fulfillment of God’s plan. Indeed, the one who handed over the Son is the Father, in accordance with St. John’s assertion: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son” (Jn 3:16) and with St. Paul’s conviction: “He did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all” (Rom 8:32).
The biblical expert Eugene Maly reflects on the principle that animated Christ’s paschal destiny: “The principle is: God makes us all that we are by his love. We must be as open to that love as a slave is to the Master’s bidding. Here the working concept, on the human side, is responsible openness, acceptance. This can be expressed in many different ways. The most striking way, the one illustrated above all by Jesus, is acceptance of the Father’s love that asks the obedience of death. That is total acceptance, total openness and total self-giving.”
The response of the disciples to the Divine Master’s patient endeavor to make them grasp the true meaning of the messianic mission is bewilderment. They do not understand the Master’s sayings and they are afraid to question him. They are not willing to accept the painful element of Christ’s paschal destiny and are incredulous to the promise of his resurrection and glory. Since their narrow vision is incapable of grasping the implications of Christ’s paschal mystery, their personal concerns degenerate to authority issues and power struggles. Upon arrival in Capernaum, they remain silent when asked by Jesus what they were arguing on the way, for they had been discussing among themselves who is the greatest.
The Divine Master, however, utilizes the disheartening and embarrassing moment to teach them anew. The detail concerning the posture of Jesus is significant; sitting down is the position taken by teachers in Mark’s culture. As the supreme Teacher, Jesus sits down to impart a very important lesson to his not-so-receptive disciples: to rank first, one must be the last in worldly esteem and first in service. To reinforce his teaching on the meaning of true greatness, Jesus resorts to a symbolic action. “Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, ‘Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the one who sent me’” (Mk 9:36-37). The child that Jesus puts in their midst is a symbol of the anawim: “the poor ones of Yahweh” - the humble ones of the earth, those without legal status and therefore insignificant and helpless. To perform an act of service and love to “the poor ones of Yahweh” is a mark of true greatness. The primacy in service is a sterling quality of Christian discipleship.
B. First Reading (Wis 2:12, 17-20): “Let us condemn him to shameful death.”
I was born in a small Philippine town near the picturesque Mayon Volcano that is renowned for its beauty and its perfect cone. When I reminisce about my hometown, I also remember our hardworking houseboy named Julian. A no-nonsense orphan, it was his dream to go to school. My parents made arrangements so that he could be a working student. One day, when he was going to school to enroll and pay his tuition, his half-brother accosted him, asking for money. The half-brother grew up with bad companions and was addicted to gambling and drinking. He detested Julian’s clean character and resented that he was the “good boy”. Though threatened with a gun, Julian refused to give up his hard-earned money. His half-brother shot him to death. Our quiet neighborhood was convulsed by the injustice suffered by an innocent boy.
The conflict between good and evil is verified again and again in human experience. The life of Julian replicates that of the “just one” referred to in today’s Old Testament reading and the paschal destiny of the “Son of Man” mentioned in the Gospel reading. The life of the “just one” is a reproach to those who do evil. The authors of the Days of the Lord, vol. 5, comment on the Old Testament reading (Wis 2:12, 17-20): “Those who do evil are intolerant of contradiction, whatever its form. They strive to silence it. But nothing is more unbearable to them than the living reproach and permanent challenge of the life of just persons in their midst … Through their very lives, led in conformity with God’s law, the just denounce the misconduct of the impious … This passage from the Book of Wisdom applies to a multitude of men and women of all times, persecuted, tortured, put to death because they stood, by their mere presence, unshakable witnesses to right and justice.”
Jesus Christ is the “just one” par excellence. The unmerited injustice suffered by the “just one” mentioned by the Book of Wisdom adds poignancy and intensity to the figure of the Suffering Servant-Messiah delineated in the Gospel reading: “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” Ironically, while Jesus embraces his paschal destiny, his uncomprehending disciples compete for greatness. Ever sagacious, the Divine Master Jesus utilizes the occasion to instruct them. The way of the just is a life of service to the “poor ones of Yahweh”, a symbol of which is the little child around whom Jesus wrapped his arms. In order to be the first in the heavenly kingdom, ushered in by the Suffering Servant Jesus, we must become the last and the servant of all.
C. Second Reading (Jas 3:16-4:3): “The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.”
The Christian disciples, immersed through baptism into the paschal mystery of the Servant-Son of God, are called to be “first” in the Kingdom of God by following the way of obedience and loving servitude. In reality, however, there are lapses and failures in their response to their grace-filled, but exigent vocation. This is the experience of the early Christian community animated and served by Saint James (Jas 3:16-4:3). There are jealousy and selfish ambition, as well as disorder and every foul practice. There are fights and quarrels. There are members even ready to kill on account of their evil desires and passions. James rightly assesses that their life is not what it is meant to be. Even their “prayer” is not properly motivated. The Jesuit biblical scholar Jerome Neyrey remarks: “James keeps on insisting that the roots of evil and sin are within us … Despite conversion and baptism, Christians are not perfect yet and must strive to let God’s grace rule their hearts progressively in every way.”
St. James thus exhorts the community to live by “the wisdom from above”. True wisdom is community building and bears fruits of goodness and peace. Without faith in God and the wisdom from him, true goodness is not possible. Indeed, a world without God is a cruelly violent world. It is therefore expedient for Christians to be receptive to the grace of God – to be open to the transforming divine love - as a slave is to the master’s bidding and as a child to a brand new world.
Harold Buetow explains: “James joins all those Jewish writings like the Book of Wisdom which were always of one mind that true wisdom is “from above”, from God. People imbued with God’s wisdom are pure enough to approach God. Such people are peaceable, maintaining a right relationship between person and person and between people and God. They are gentle, knowing how to forgive even when strict justice may give them the right to condemn. They are compliant, allowing themselves to be persuaded, knowing when to yield. They are full of mercy and good fruits, giving sympathy to people who are in trouble, even though they have brought these troubles on themselves. They are constant, not hesitating to make decisions. And they are sincere, having no trace whatsoever of hypocrisy.”
The following story impressed me deeply for it depicts the unfortunate situation of those who are not animated with “the wisdom from above” (cf. “The Window”, Author Unknown, in A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul, ed. Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, Deerfield Beach: Health Communications, Inc., p. 178-179). It illustrates the wise saying of St. James: “You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy, but you cannot obtain” (Jas 4:3). It makes us feel sorry for our sins and our frailties and helps us feel the need to turn back to God.
There were once two men, both seriously ill, in the same small room of a great hospital. Quite a small room, it had one window looking out on the world. One of the men, as part of his treatment, was allowed to sit up in bed for an hour in the afternoon (something to do with draining the fluid from his lungs). His bed was next to the window. But the other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
Every afternoon when the man next to the window was propped up for his hour, he would pass the time by describing what he could see outside. The window apparently overlooked a park where there was a lake. There were ducks and swans in the lake, and children came to throw them bread and sail model boats. Young lovers walked hand in hand beneath the trees, and there were flowers and stretches of grass, games of softball. And at the back, behind the fringe of trees, was a fine view of the city skyline.
The man on his back would listen to the other man describe all of this, enjoying every minute. He heard how a child nearly fell into the lake and how beautiful the girls were in their summer dresses. His friend’s descriptions eventually made him feel he could almost see what was happening outside.
Then one afternoon, the thought struck him: Why should the man next to the window have all the pleasure of seeing what was going on? Why shouldn’t he get the chance? He felt ashamed, but the more he tried not to think like that, the worse he wanted a change. He’d do anything! One night as he stared at the ceiling, the other man suddenly woke up, coughing and choking, his hands groping for the button that would bring the nurse running. But the man watched without moving – even when the sound of breathing stopped. In the morning, the nurse found the other man dead, and quietly took his body away.
As soon as it seemed decent, the man asked if he could switch to the bed next to the window. So they moved him, tucked him in, and made him quite comfortable. The minute they left, he propped himself up on one elbow, painfully and laboriously, and looked out of the window.
It faced a blank wall.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
O Jesus Master,
we are afraid of our own paschal destiny.
Help us to catch a glimpse of its glorious end.
We struggle for primacy and engage in power games.
Help us to be the “last”
and seek the true greatness that lies in service.
We ignore the cry of the poor
and fail to care for “the little ones”.
Touch our hearts
that we may serve them with compassion.
Lord Jesus,
you are the crucified Messiah who comes to our aid.
You live and reign forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him.” (Mk 9:31)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for our civil and religious leaders that they may be animated by a true sense of Christian service. Contribute in some way to alleviate the sufferings and respond to the needs of “the little ones of Yahweh”.
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September 23, 2024: MONDAY – SAINT PIUS OF PIETRELCINA, Priest
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Calls Us to Radiate the Light of God’s Word … He Teaches Us to Tread the Path of Wisdom”
BIBLE READINGS
Prv 3:27-34 // Lk 8:16-18
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 8:16-18): “A lamp is placed on a lamp stand so that those who enter may see the light.”
Today’s Gospel reading (Lk 8:16-18) helps us to understand the role of Christians in the world. We are to shine and manifest to others, by the way we live, the light of God’s word. Just as a lamp is intended to give light, so the word of Jesus is to be received and become a light for our soul and irradiated to others. We are the light of the world. Our Christian discipleship involves public witnessing of the spiritual light received from God. We reflect the light of Christ in the same way that a glowing bride reflects the radiance that comes from love. In order that those who are entering God’s kingdom may continue to see the light and be channels of that light, we need to be receptive to his word. Jesus exhorts us: “Take care, then, how you hear.” When we open our hearts to the word of God, we become richer and richer in the life it engenders and nourishes. When we do not listen to the word of God and fail to act upon it, the spiritual life that has earlier germinated withers away.
The following article illustrates the beauty and power of spiritual light that fills our heart and the tremendous value of personal receptivity that enables us to experience the true “gift of sight” (cf. Marilyn Morgan King in Daily Guideposts 2010, p. 387).
As highly as I value the faces of the people I love, vibrant colors, the beauty of the mountains and the mystery of night, there is one thing I love more. It’s an un-nameable splendor, a mystery far greater than I, not personal to me, and it lives in the heart of every being. Now and then I’ve caught glimpses of it in silent prayer, and I’ve come to know it as vast and boundless, all-loving and ablaze with the light of the Spirit.
Though I may someday lose my physical sight, I’ll be okay, because I’ll remind myself of Helen Keller’s words: “The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched. They must be felt with the heart.”
And I’ll pull up some of the many inspiring images I’ve stored in my heart to feed my soul when it’s hungry for beauty. Often, as I’m falling asleep or waking up, images appear behind my closed eyelids - of wisteria flowers, or the sad-glorious stained glass window by Marc Chagall; or a twenty-foot-high rhododendron bush with my love smiling in front of it; or of a sometimes flaming, sometimes softly glowing Nebraska sunset.
Sometimes I have even seen an image of Jesus holding a little lamb snuggled against His cheek. That’s when I remember my Aunt Alta’s words as she was dying: “Oh! He is beautiful!” Now I think I know Who she saw with her blind eyes.
B. First Reading (Prv 3:27-34): “The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked.”
For three days, starting today, some passages from the Book of Proverbs will be proclaimed as the liturgy’s First Reading. The Book of Proverbs is a collection of moral and religious teachings in the form of sayings and proverbs. Much of it has to do with practical, everyday concerns. It speaks not only of religious morality, but also of common sense and good manners. The Book of Proverbs depicts the universal wisdom or common sense that allows individuals and communities to conduct their lives reasonably and responsibly. This wisdom, however, is brought under God’s guidance.
Today’s passage (Prv 3:27-34) reports five sayings about being a good neighbor: doing good to those who need it; not delaying a charitable deed; not plotting evil against a trusting neighbor; not to pick a quarrel with an innocent one; not to imitate the violent. These “wisdom sayings” are reinforced by delineating the Lord’s twofold ways: The Lord hates people who do evil but gives his friendship to the righteous; the Lord puts a curse on the homes of wicked men, but blesses the home of the righteous; the Lord is stern with the arrogant, but shows favor to the humble. Indeed, we are being invited to tread the path of wisdom, together with the community of the anawim or the poor of Yahweh. True knowledge of God steers us away from the path of evil and violence and leads us into the path of life and communion with God.
The following modern day account illustrates the benevolent, or wicked ways, of dealing with one’s neighbors (cf. Karen Valentine in Daily Guideposts 2010, p. 357).
When my parents moved from New York City to Florida, they left their spacious rent-controlled apartment a block from Central Park. I was living in the Bronx at the time and the lease on my apartment had a while to go, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to live in Manhattan.
A young woman whom I knew and trusted was interested in subleasing my Bronx apartment, and I wrote an enthusiastic letter to the landowner, who agreed to the arrangement with no problem. I breathed a sigh of relief and moved to Manhattan worry-free.
Some months later I was shocked to learn that the woman whom I thought I could trust owed thousands of dollars in rent and, without a word, had fled to another state. Since the lease was under my name, I was left holding the bill. I felt betrayed, foolish and terrified by the thought of having to pay back the rent. Because I didn’t want my family to worry, I kept the problem to myself. Most of all, I felt alone.
The one place I did turn to was my church. I needed a shoulder to cry on and lots of prayer. As I expected, my friends listened to my troubles and prayed with me to repair the damage done. What I didn’t expect was by the next day my church had cleared the debt. I couldn’t believe it.
Grateful is a pale reflection of how I felt. By lifting my burden, they showed me that I was family. I had no need to feel alone.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. How do we respond to the light of God’s word? Do we allow this light to fill our hearts and allow its radiance to enlighten the morbid shadows around us? Are we channels of God’s light for others?
2. Do we treat our neighbors reasonably, responsibly and compassionately?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
we thank you for the light of God’s word.
Your light shines in the world’s darkness,
but the darkness has not overcome it.
Help us to light the lamp of truth
so that those seeking to enter your kingdom
may see your life-giving light.
Teach us to listen to your word.
By our responsible and compassionate acts,
may we be good neighbors to others,
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“He places the lamp on a stand so that those who enter may see light.” (Lk 8:16) // “The dwelling of the just the Lord blesses.” (Prv 3: 33)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
By our daily acts of charity and compassion to our brothers and sisters, let us help overcome the shadows of sin and death that darken our world.
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September 24, 2024: TUESDAY – WEEKDAY (25)
“JESUS SAVIOR: His Family Hears and Acts on God’s Word … He is the Just One”
BIBLE READINGS
Prv 21:1-6, 10-13 // Lk 8:19-21
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 8:19-21): “My mother and my brother are those who hear the word of God and act upon it.”
Today’s Gospel (Lk 8:19-21) continues to challenge us to respond fully to the word of God. The mother of Jesus and other relatives come to see Jesus, but are prevented by the thick crowd. They stand outside and call for him. The Divine Master wisely uses the occasion of their visit to assert that the fundamental relationship to him lies not through blood ties or other earthly connections, but through hearing and acting upon the word of God. While his kin are waiting, Jesus delineates what constitutes his spiritual family – those who hear and obey the divine word are the authentic family members. In light of Mary’s response at the Lord’s annunciation, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word”, the mother of Jesus passes the criterion with flying colors. Mary is the supreme model of one who hears and acts upon the word. Mary is the exemplar of receptivity to the divine word. In her womb, the word of God becomes flesh and she brings forth the Savior of the world. Mary is truly the mother of Jesus and is thus the most privileged member of the “family of God”.
In a humorous vein, the following story gives insight into the meaning of “family” (cf. Davida Dalton, as told to Jo Ellen Johnson, “In His Mother’s Footsteps” in Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul, ed. Jack Canfield, et. al., Deerfield Beach: Health Communications, Inc., 1997, p. 108-109).
It was a busy day in our Costa Mesa, California home. But then, with 10 children and one on the way, every day was a bit hectic. On this particular day, however, I was having trouble doing even routine chores – all because of one little boy.
Len, who was three at the time, was on my heels no matter where I went. Whenever I stopped to do something and turned back around, I would trip over him. Several times, I patiently suggested fun activities to keep him occupied. “Wouldn’t you like to play on the swing set?” I asked again.
But he simply smiled an innocent smile and said, “Oh, that’s all right, Mommy, I’d rather be in here with you.” Then he continued to bounce happily along behind me.
After stepping on his toes for the fifth time, I began to lose my patience and insisted that he go outside and play with the other children. When I asked him why he was acting this way, he looked up at me with sweet green eyes and said, “Well, Mommy, in Primary my teacher told me to walk in Jesus’ footsteps. But I can’t see him, so I’m walking in yours.”
I gathered Len in my arms and held him close. Tears of love and humility spilled over from the prayer that grew in my heart – a prayer of thanks for the simple, yet beautiful perspective of a three-year-old boy.
B. First Reading (Prv 21:1-6, 10-13): “Various proverbs.”
The following modern day account helps us understand how God proves man’s heart and how he comes to the aid of those who cry out to him for help (cf. William Joseph, “The Fix” in Guideposts, September 2014, p. 48-52).
Near my church, I found a supermarket that sold doughnuts by the half dozen. A package of those always perked me up. Temporarily, anyway. Then I’d have to give a sermon or run a Bible study, and I’d buy another package. One was never enough. I didn’t want anyone to notice how many doughnuts I ate. It was none of their concern. I scoped out other doughnut shops in town. Before long, I knew where every Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ Donuts was and could vary my visits. Now I needed a whole dozen to feel satisfied. I’d ditch the boxes in a garbage can on the street, not at home or at church, where someone might get suspicious. I felt ashamed, and shame made me want to eat more doughnuts. (…)
At least I’m not like Dad, I thought, sitting in the Krispy Kreme parking lot that morning. I glanced at the four boxes on the passenger seat. I’d done all I could to live an upstanding life. I was married, had kids, a wife I adored. I was a pastor and led a congregation. I was doing God’s work. I could always scale back on the doughnuts if I wanted to. Eat just one or two, the way I used to. But could I? (…)
Now, three of the boxes lay empty. I opened the fourth and crammed another doughnut into my mouth. I could hardly taste it, yet I couldn’t stop. My eyes welled with tears of shame and helplessness. I felt sick to my stomach, the way I usually felt these days. Sluggish, moody and constantly stressed. Kim worried about my lack of energy, and my doctor had warned me to watch my weight, which had ballooned from 210 to 290. Nobody knew the real reason, except me. I’d kept my doughnuts a secret from everyone. Why was I doing this to myself? I was acting just like … Dad?
I shook my head. It was too scary to think about. There’s a big difference between doughnuts and booze, I told myself. Deep inside a little voice whispered, Yes, but an addiction is an addiction.
The next morning I woke up dizzy. Aches and pains coursed through my body, like I had the flu. I stayed in bed all week and missed giving my next sermon. I’d never done that before. I missed the one after that too. Finally, Kim begged me to see my doctor. “You’ve got an infection in your blood”, he said, “from untreated diabetes.” He prescribed an antibiotic and shot me a grave look. “If you hadn’t come in for treatment today, you would have been in a very serious trouble. Maybe even life-threatening.
I’d heard words like that before. Your father had so much alcohol in his blood; he’s lucky to be alive, his doctor had said. Now mine said the same. I’d lost control, just as Dad had. I thought I would never understand him. Now I did. I was an addict, just like him.
Back home, I worked up my courage, picked up the phone, and called the only person who could help me. The only one who would understand. “Doughnuts?” Dad asked, chuckling. “Let me guess. You feel powerless. Not able to stop once you start. Going on even after you’ve lost the taste. You feel shame and remorse.” He cleared his throat. “Well, I was exactly the same way, son. Then I started going to those meetings I told you about. Sharing my story and my pain with others. I’ve been sober ever since.”
I swallowed hard. “How did you make the cravings go away?” “You turn it over”, he said. “You give it up to God. You pray and you fight for sobriety every day. Honesty is the key. And you know what? It gets better. In fact, it gets better. In fact, it gets great!”
For the first time, I understood those years Dad had spent himself drinking into a stupor, hiding from the family. Both of us had been chasing after something you can’t put in a bottle or bake into a doughnut. We were trying to fill a hole in our lives, to satisfy a spiritual longing. I’d felt helpless when it came to Dad’s alcoholism and I’d turned to my own addiction to cover up that feeling. I’d stopped trusting God. I’d put my faith in doughnuts to make me feel whole.
Dad had gotten better, and I could too. Prayer was the first step. I asked God for strength, not to stop eating doughnuts but to get honest about my situation. (…)
It wasn’t easy, but prayer and honesty, love and understanding saw me through. I haven’t touched a doughnut in over 20 years – I’ve been “clean” all that time. Dad stayed sober till the end of his life. He was my hero and inspiration. I saw how much we were alike, and that drew us closer, both to each other and to God.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. Do I truly hear the word of God and act upon it? Do I look upon Mary as the model of hearing and acting upon his word?
2. Do I believe that God is in absolute control of our destiny and that he proves the depths of man’s heart? Do we turn over to God our miseries and pains, our enslavements and helplessness, our need for direction and meaning in life?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
we thank you for giving us
the true criterion of kinship with you.
Help us to look upon Mary
as the supreme model of hearing and acting upon the word
so that we may truly belong to your family.
In your name,
let us be brothers and sisters to one another.
We bless and thank you
for making us a part of the family of God.
Guide us constantly in the way of God’s commands.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” (Lk 8:21) // “It is the Lord who proves hearts.” (Prv 21:2)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
By your prayers and concrete acts of charity, be a brother or a sister to those in need. Let the good Lord prove the deepest motives in your heart and purify your thoughts, actions and intentions.
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September 25, 2024: WEDNESDAY – WEEKDAY (25)
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Sends Them to Proclaim the Gospel and to Heal … He Teaches Us that God Is Trustworthy”
BIBLE READINGS
Prv 30:5-9 // Lk 9:1-6
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 9;1-6): “He sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”
Today’s Gospel reading (Lk 9:1-6) is about the Lord who sends, and the mission of those he sends. Jesus sends them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He summons his disciples and selects the Twelve. Tutored by Jesus, and present with him as he heals many from sickness and evil, the Twelve go out into the world with tremendous power bestowed upon them. Luke narrates: “They set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.” The task of those sent by Jesus is to bring the healing balm of forgiveness to those wounded by the virulence of sin and to denounce evil wherever its presence is obvious, openly confronting it by appealing to the power of Christ. Pope Paul VI remarks: “The Church is a continuation and extension of his presence, called above all to carry on the mission of Jesus and his work of evangelization without ceasing. Never can the Christian community be shut in on itself.”
The following inspiring story illustrates that the apostolic spirit lives on in the world today (cf. Oliver Costantino, “Helping to Save Lives” in Maryknoll, May/June 2014, p. 35-36).
Ten years ago, my pediatrician, Doctor Benitez, told my family that he was going on a mission trip to Bolivia. My parents asked my brothers and me if we would like to contribute any money to his mission. We all pitched in and gave Doctor Benitez $250. When he returned from Bolivia, he told us that the money was used to pay the medical expenses for a girl from a homeless family. She was burned in a fire and left to die.
That was my first experience of giving. I do not remember, but my parents tell me that I was proud that the money saved a life. That experience started a longtime support of Doctor Benitez and his missions. The following year my family had a fund-raising party. We raised over $3,000 and collected over 200 pairs of shoes. The party was a huge success, and we felt happy to be helping others.
In 2004, Doctor Benitez decided to go to Uganda, where his friend Lawrence Mulinda was born and raised. This time we sent him with $500 and all of our used clothes and shoes. Again, the money was used to save a life. While Doctor Benitez was touring a hospital in a small village, he noticed a newborn baby who looked as if she were starving to death. When he asked about her, the doctor told him that she had a cyst under her tongue that made it impossible for her to nurse. Since that was the only way to feed a baby, she was waiting to die. Doctor Benitez asked how much money it would cost to do the simple surgery. He was told that it was very expensive because she would have to be taken to the capital and they would have to pay for transportation, the hospital bill and hotel for her mother. Doctor Benitez asked again and they finally told him $500 should take care of it. He pulled our donation out of his pocket and handed it to the nun who was the administrator of the hospital. Baby Winnie’s life was saved.
Throughout the years we have continued to support the mission in Uganda, financially as well as through prayer. We have watched the village of Kayenje grow with a new church, school, teacher’s home and convent. I love to think about the difference the little we do makes in a country like Uganda.
Last summer my mother and brother had the opportunity to go to Uganda on a mission. The entire trip was rewarding. They were able to clothe, feed and care for the children’s medical needs. My brother even held a soccer clinic and brought enough balls, cleats, shin guards and new uniforms for the two teams in the village. My mother says the greatest blessing of the trip was getting to meet Baby Winnie. She is now 9 years old, and her parents came to meet my mom and thank our family for saving her life. My mother reminded them that God saved her life, not us.
Our experience of giving to the poor in Uganda is definitely an act of charity, but I love that God gives me the opportunity to perform an act of charity every day, and I do it with a smile. As Pope Francis says, “We all have the duty to do good.”
B. First Reading (Prv 30:5-9): “Give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the food I need.”
Today’s Old Testament Reading (Prv 30:5-9) carries the words of a wise man, Agur, son of Jakeh. Agur asserts that God keeps every promise he makes. God is like a shield for all who seek his protection. God’s word is flawless; it should never be vitiated or manipulated. Trusting in the divine word, the obedient sage Agur makes a prayer: for truth and for the food he needs. Manifesting his vulnerability and dependence, the sage asks that God may guard him from falsehood and from extreme poverty that may tempt him to steal and thus bring disgrace to the divine name.
The following modern day account gives us an insight into how an “obedient sage”, assisted by divine grace, lives a peaceful life in a challenging world (cf. Laura Bradford, “Why Me?” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings, ed. Jack Canfield, et. al., Cos Cob: CSS, 2009, p. 212-215).
I sit alone in my chair … relaxed, content, and at peace. (…) As I sit, I study the faces in a smattering of pictures on my wall. Their smiles serve as visible reminders of personal victories over life’s battles.
One photo is of my mother when she was my age. She’s stylishly dressed in a black suit and a crisp, white blouse – attire reflecting her position as a hotel executive. But it’s her schoolgirl grin that reveals the woman inside. My mother possessed a boundless love of life. I got such a kick out of her spunk. In her day, business executives were almost exclusively male. But Mom elbowed her way to the top … because she had to. There was no one else to support the family.
Thirty years earlier, Dad died in a car accident. He left no savings or life insurance. At age twenty-nine, Mom faced the responsibility of providing for three children. Immediately after Dad’s death, she retreated to her bedroom for a week of weeping. But when she came out, she never looked back. Her elderly mother moved in to serve as our 24/7 baby sitter. Then Mom charged headlong into the working world.
She started as a banquet waitress in a luxury hotel, working long hours – even around the clock, if she could. Determined to succeed, she became the most resourceful, insightful person in her department. The rich and the famous regularly called on her to serve at their sumptuous feasts.
But at home, Mom cut corners wherever she could. Our clothes were secondhand, but adequate. We ate well, due to the kindness of our neighbors and friends. We learned never to turn on a lamp or an appliance unless there was no alternative. Believe it or not, Mom and Granny used to ration “luxury” items such as Kleenex.
Sometimes Mom struggled to pay the mortgage, but we had a roomy home, heated by a lone fireplace. Granny got up before dawn to start the fire. Then, we’d all dash out of bed to bask in its warmth.
Mom didn’t own a car until I was in my teens. We were told, “You have two good feet to get around.” Public transportation was available for longer trips.
Every summer we tended a large garden, yielding bountiful crops of vegetables and berries. What couldn’t be used fresh was canned or frozen.
In her “spare” time, Mom made ballet costumes and attended recitals, little league games, and parent-teacher conferences. When she should have been sleeping, she’d take us to the beach or the zoo. On rare occasions, we’d go to the theater or symphony. She did everything possible to enrich our time together.
Mom was a living encyclopedia on how to survive in hard times. Best of all, she came through it all victoriously – grinning from ear to ear.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. As Christian disciples today, do we trust in the loving God who is totally involved in our lives? What is the specific apostolic mission entrusted to us by Christ today? Do we believe in the Gospel’s power against the forces of evil?
2. Do we trust in God who is trustworthy and who give us the grace we need to cope with life’s challenges.?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Jesus Lord,
you summon us and entrust to us the Gospel
with its power of action against evil.
You send us to touch the wounded world
with the healing power of your love.
Grant us the grace we need
to proclaim the Good News and cure diseases.
Teach us to trust in the word of God.
He is a shield for all who seek his protection.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“They proclaim the Good News and cure diseases everywhere.” (Lk 9:6) // “God is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Prv 30:5)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for all missionaries that they may carry out their mandate with absolute trust in God and apostolic zeal. Be a missionary to a person close to you and in need of the healing power of the Gospel. Be an instrument of God’s providence for the destitute.
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September 26, 2024: THURSDAY – WEEKDAY (25); SAINTS COSMAS AND DAMIAN, Martyrs
“JESUS SAVIOR: Herod Wants to See Him … He is the Wisdom Incarnate
BIBLE READINGS
Eccl 1:2-11 // Lk 9:7-9
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 9:7-9): “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
In India I was struck by a powerful image given to us by a priest in a retreat conference. A stone is submerged in the bottom of a river – for days and days, for months and months, for years and years, for ages and ages – but never soaked and drenched. It is impervious. At the core it remains dry and lifeless. The impenetrable stone surrounded by clear waters is a pathetic image of Herod Antipas who is resistant to grace. He is licentious and feckless. He lives in incestuous union with Herodias. John the Baptist censures him severely for taking his brother’s wife. Herod retaliates by having him arrested and imprisoned. On account of a senseless oath to a stepdaughter who delighted him with a sensuous dance, he has John the Baptist beheaded. Herod is also superstitious.
In the Gospel reading (Lk 9:7-9), the wild news about Jesus of Nazareth being John the Baptist raised from the dead baffles Herod. He keeps trying to see Jesus. But when he finally sees Jesus in a mock trial before the latter’s passion and crucifixion, he would want to see him perform some miracle and be entertained with religious prodigies. Jesus however would not respond to his frivolous questions and requests. The Son of God would remain silent. Too sated with self-centered pleasure-seeking, Herod would not able to recognize the presence of grace standing before him. Herod would not be moved to repentance conversion by the Word of God. Respecting his fundamental choice, the incarnate love would have difficulty penetrating his heart wholly taken up by frivolity and corruption.
The following story illustrates the tragedy of making evil choices and of being impervious to divine grace (cf. David Schantz, Daily Guideposts 2010, p. 22).
My minister-father was a storyteller, and the best part of Sunday was listening to his stories from the pulpit. One of my favorites was about an exceptional contractor who built beautiful homes. There was always a long waiting list of customers.
One day the contractor told his foreman, “I need to go East for a few months, and while I’m gone I want you to build this house for me.” He showed the foreman the plans. “I want this to be the best house you’ve ever built for me. Spare no expense. I want it done right.”
When his boss left, the foreman got to thinking, “This is a big project. I could make some extra money on it by substituting grade-B materials where they won’t show. I could pocket the difference.”
When the boss returned, he was impressed. “The house is beautiful!” He put his arm around the foreman’s shoulders. “The reason I wanted you to make this house special is that I want you to have it as an expression of my gratitude for your years of service to me.”
The foreman’s face fell, knowing that he had cheated only himself.
B. First Reading (Eccl 1:2-11): “Nothing is new under the sun.”
For the next three days we shall be hearing from the book of Ecclesiastes. The title “Ecclesiastes” given to the book is the Greek translation of the Hebrew name “Qoheleth”, which means “one who convokes the assembly”. The purported author is “Qoheleth, David’s son, king in Jerusalem”. Qoheleth is not to be identified with King Solomon. The unknown author who presents himself as “Qoheleth” uses the fiction of a wise and rich king, for wisdom is usually associated with royalty and the riches enable him to conduct his examination of life’s realities. Qoheleth lived sometime between 300 and 200 B.C. He was probably a teacher in Jerusalem and one of the more honored members of the Jerusalem academic community.
Today’s passage (Eccl 1:2-11) asserts that all things are vanity. The relentless monotony - in the world of toil, in the sun that rises and sets each day, in the wind that keeps on blowing in one direction and in the other, and in the rivers that keep on flowing into the sea without ever filling it – symbolizes man’s failure to accomplish anything. We keep on explaining, but we never really say anything. We keep seeing and hearing, but we never know what it is all about. We pride ourselves with new achievements, but they are not really “new”, they have simply been forgotten and are destined to be forgotten. Qoheleth’s ritornello is “vanity” (in Hebrew, hebel), something that is transient, worthless and empty.
The Book of Qoheleth presents a totally negative portrayal of life and an assessment that all things are vain and futile. But this is so in order to give priority to the service of God. Qoheleth’s fairly well organized series of reflections on life is a good backdrop for the radical revelation about the meaning of life that the Son of God would bring in the fullness of time.
The following “wisdom stories” illustrate a basic approach to life that surpasses Qoheleth’s principle “all things are vanity” (cf. Anthony De Mello, Taking Flight: A Book of Story Meditations, New York: Image Books, 1988, p. 32). Reality is not “vanity”. There is meaningfulness in reality to which we can respond positively and graciously.
A Rabbi once asked a pupil what was bothering him. “My poverty” was the reply. “So wretched is my condition that I can hardly study and pray.” “In this day and age”, said the Rabbi, “the finest prayer and the finest study lie in accepting life exactly as you find it.
***
On a bitterly cold day a Rabbi and his disciples were huddled around a fire. One of the disciples, echoing his master’s teaching, said, “On a freezing day like this I know exactly what to do!” “What?” asked the others. “Keep warm! And if that isn’t possible, I still know what to do.” “What?” “Freeze.”
***
Present Reality cannot really be rejected or accepted. To run away from it is like running away from your feet. To accept it is like kissing your lips. All you need to do is see, understand, and be at rest.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. Do we make habitual and chronic evil choices so that we become impervious to God’s grace? Are we like Herod Antipas in our behavior and choices?
2. How does Qoheleth’s observation “all things are vanity” impact you?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus, the incarnate Wisdom of God,
you preach the Good News
and call people to conversion.
Please help us to listen to your voice
and make a fundamental choice for you.
Help us to avoid the tragic choices of Herod.
Do not allow us to pursue mere “vanities”.
Teach us to respond to divine grace
and let us be filled with the love and blessings of God.
You are our glorious Savior, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“And Herod kept trying to see him.” (Lk 9:9) // “All things are vanity!” (Eccl 1:2)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray that our daily choices might be responsible and in accordance to the will of God. Make an effort to enlighten the people around you in making the “right” choice for our Savior Jesus. Pray to the Holy Spirit so that you may discern what is vain and what is truly meaningful in life.
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September 27, 2024: FRIDAY – SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, Priest
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Predicts His Passion and Glorification … He Is the Lord of Time”
BIBLE READINGS
Eccl 3:1-11 // Lk 9:18-22
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 9:18-22): “You are the Christ of God. The Son of Man must suffer greatly.”
I visited the California State Fair for the first time on August 29, 2003. I had a great time at the Fine Arts section of the Expo Center Building where I saw a painting entitled “Napping in the Garden”. The body of Christ, stretched in the form of a cross, is sleeping peacefully in a cosmic garden of incredible beauty. Jesus Christ is surrounded by ministering angels and created beings. The artist’s message for me is incisive. The one “napping in the garden” is the Servant of Yahweh, who offered his ultimate service on the cross. The “Messiah of God” is now at the center of adoration and ministry of the entire cosmos.
Jesus, acknowledged by Peter as the “Messiah of God”, presents himself to his disciples as the Suffering Servant. In today’s Gospel (Lk 9:18-22), he predicts his passion and glorification. The Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law. He will be put to death, but three days later he will be raised to life. Although Jesus speaks of suffering and death, what triumphs ultimately is the power of life. There is redemption in his total self-giving.
The following story gives us a glimpse of the saving glory that comes in living out our paschal destiny (cf. Roberta Messner in Daily Guideposts 2010, p. 27).
For forty years I suffered with head and mouth pain from tumors caused by an incurable disorder. I lived from moment to moment and went to great lengths to get my mind off the relentless pain. Then a curious thing happened: I began to notice that whenever I turned my thoughts to others instead of dwelling on myself, I experienced an incredible sense of well-being. Whether I was planning to give, anticipating the act of giving or doing the giving myself, I could feel my entire body change.
One of the most difficult aspects of living with intractable pain is getting started in the morning. So before turning in each night, I placed a gift for someone at work alongside my car keys. It might be as simple as an article clipped from a magazine or coupons for laundry detergent or a tea bag in a new herbal flavor. Or it might be a pair of earrings I really wanted for myself that God nudged me to give away.
I mentioned my newfound approach to my physician, Dr. Brownfield. He told me that my discovery was supported by both the Bible and medical science. “Giving releases endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, Roberta. Studies have actually shown that volunteers, some of the most devoted givers of all, lead happier, healthier and longer lives.” He closed our time together that day with a prayer that God would continue to bless me with the abundant life He promises in His Word, the giving life.
Since that day I’ve continued to give in the ways God directs. And I hadn’t needed a single dose of breakthrough pain medicine. I’ve come to understand that giving is a God-given tool – like exercise and a balanced diet – that helps us to live the full life He has in mind for us.
B. First Reading (Eccl 3:1-11): “There is a time for everything under the heavens.”
Today’s Old Testament reading (Eccl 3:1-11) is a piece of poetic beauty. It depicts the vicissitudes of life, which are totally under God’s control. There is “a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot the plant …” God rules over these events and the succession of these events. He runs things off according to his own time and at the right time. Man cannot even dispose of such time as planting, much less of birth and death. Life and death lie beyond human control. Indeed, what can we get from our human toil if it is not done in accordance with God’s will … if it is not done at the “right time”? God has set the right time for everything. The Lord God has also put within us the desire for eternity (the “timeless”), but we can never fathom his absolute dominion of eternity and infinity. Qoheleth thus advises us just to do the best we can while we are still alive. In the midst of a temporal existence, he also advises us to eat and drink and enjoy what is God’s gift.
The following modern day account gives insight into how we can we live our life reasonably and more consonant with “God’s time” (cf. Michelle Mach, “The Lunch Hour” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings, ed. Jack Canfield, et. al., Cos Cob: CSS, 2009, p. 309-310).
I clutched a yogurt in one hand as I tried to eat and catch up on customer e-mail during the noon hour. Even fifteen minutes in the employee lunchroom seemed too much of a luxury. My company, like many companies, had cut costs by mot replacing people as they left. The survivors are expected to take up the slack. For me, this meant no lunch hour, plus taking work home in the evening or on the weekend. (…)
I felt trapped. Then a chance conversation with a stranger’s six-year-old daughter changed my outlook. The young girl was positively bouncy, standing in line with her mom at the grocery store. “Good day at the school?” I asked. A nod. “What’s your favorite subject?” “Lunch.”
I smiled at the answer. I remembered when that had been my answer. At lunch, there were no adults to tell you what to do and when to do it. You could sit and talk with your friends or play an exuberant game of four-square. You could draw pictures or swing on the monkey bars. The time was yours to do whatever you wanted. Sometimes we planned our time, bringing stickers or Chinese jacks for a weeklong tournament. Sometimes we were more spontaneous, only deciding what to do while we were eating our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and slurping our little paper cartons of milk.
The brief encounter left me wondering: What had happened to lunch?
I knew that by law I was entitled to a lunch break at work. So I decided to simply start taking it. The office was located in the downtown area of a small town and I set out to explore it. A few blocks away was a local art museum with free admission. At the end of another street, I was startled to discover some horses grazing in a field. A cute gift boutique made for pleasant and sometime humorous browsing particularly looking through the leftover holiday items and laughing at the sometimes funny things, like jack-o’-lantern sunglasses and temporary Santa tattoos that no one had the foresight to buy. (…)
When I decided to take back my lunch hour, I braced myself for catty remarks or stares from my co-workers, but they never materialized. I watched in amazement as some of my co-workers started to drift away occasionally from their own desks during lunch. We started inviting each other out for walks during good weather and discovered that we had other topics of conversation beyond the now common complaints about work.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. How does Jesus’ pronouncement of his passion impinge on us? Do we see the intimate connection between Jesus’ self-giving passion and his glorification?
2. Do we trust that in the midst of life’s continuous changes, God is in control? Do we surrender our plans and our entire selves to God who makes things work for good “in his time”?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Loving Father,
we thank you for your beloved Son, the Suffering Servant.
Give us the grace to be Christian disciples marked by self-giving.
Help us to trust in you, the Lord of time and history.
You are in control of the past, the present and the future.
We dwell in “your time”.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly … and on the third day be raised.” (Lk 9:22) // “There is an appointed time for everything.” (Eccl 3:1)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Through concrete acts of charity to those experiencing fears and difficulties, manifest your intimate participation in the paschal destiny of Jesus, our self-giving Lord and the “Messiah of God”. Try to be more “patient” and learn to do things in “God’s time”.
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September 28, 2024: SATURDAY – SAINT WENCESLAUS, Martyr; SAINT LAWRENCE RUIZ AND COMPANIONS, Martyrs; BVM ON SATURDAY
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Teaches the Disciples the Meaning of His Death … He Helps Us to Face the Last Things”
BIBLE READINGS
Eccl 11:9-12:8 // Lk 9:43b-45
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 9:43b-45): “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men. They were afraid to ask him about this saying.”
In today’s Gospel reading (Lk 9:43b-45), Jesus speaks again about his death. The response of the disciples to the Divine Master’s patient effort to make them understand his messianic mission is bewilderment. They fail to grasp what Jesus means and they are afraid to question him. It is because they do not want to be confronted with the painful element of Christ’s paschal destiny. They are afraid to stare at the specter of Jesus’ impending death. In the first prediction, Jesus has underlined the harsh implications of his passion for his disciples. To be true followers of Jesus they too need to carry their cross. This is an aversive proposition for the disciples. Hence, when the Master brings out the issue again, they remain silent. They willfully choose not to understand. Bereft of the paschal vision, their personal concerns degenerate into authority issues and power struggles.
The following story presents in a humorous vein what it means “to refuse to understand” (cf. Anthony De Mello, Taking Flight: A Book of Story Meditations, New York: Image Books, 1988, p. 172).
A bishop had decreed that woman housekeepers for priests should be at least fifty years of age. He was startled, in the visitation of his diocese, to discover a priest who thought he was observing the law by keeping two housekeepers, each one of whom was twenty-five years of age.
B. First Reading (Eccl 11:9-12:8): “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the dust returns to the earth, and the life breath returns to God.”
In today’s Old Testament reading (Eccl 11:9-12:8), Qoheleth advises young people to enjoy their youth, while exhorting them to remember their Creator. Youth is fleeting and soon it will give way to the winter of life and, eventually, death. Old age is presented allegorically: the idle “grinders” are the few teeth left in the mouth of the old person; the closed “doors to the street” are the deaf ears, and the blossom of the almond is his white hair. Death is depicted in haunting images as the snapped silver cord, the broken golden bowl, the shattered pitcher, and the broken pulley. These various poetic images prepare for Qoheleth’s climactic description of death: “Our bodies will return to the dust of the earth, and the breath of life will go back to God who gave it to us.” Qoheleth concludes with his signature theme: “Vanity of vanities, all things are vanity!” Qoheleth does not see any lasting gain in human life. When everything has been said, what matters alone is to reverence God and keep his commandments. For God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret.
In a humorous vein, the following story gives insight into the preparation for the “last things” (Florence Littauer, “Cramming for Final” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories of Faith, ed. Jack Canfield, et. al. Cos Cob: CSS, 2008, p. 274).
A ninety-six-year-old lady was a faithful attendant at my women’s club Bible studies. She came with her lessons prepared and knew all the answers. One day a tactless member asked her, “Why do you work so hard on these lessons when you’re so old and it doesn’t matter?” Little Bess Elkins looked up and said confidently, “I’m cramming for my finals.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. Are we willing to understand the meaning of the passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ and their personal implications for our life?
2. How do we prepare for the “last things”?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you speak to us about your passion.
Help us to listen with the heart
and understand what it means to be your disciple.
Do not let us be trapped by the vanities of today’s world.
Give us the grace to prepare for the “last things”
and for the moment when we will return to dust
and when our life-breath will return to you.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” (Lk 9:44) // “The life breath returns to God who gave it.” (Eccl 12:7)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for the grace of a happy death and to learn to cherish the legitimate pleasures that God gives you daily as a gift.
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Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US