A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday & Weekday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 13, n. 42)
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time and Weekday 24: September 13-19, 2015 **
(N.B. The pastoral tool BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy of Year B from three perspectives. For reflections on the Sunday liturgy based on the Gospel reading, please scroll up to the “ARCHIVES” above and open Series 1. For reflections based on the Old Testament reading, open Series 4. For reflections based on the Second Reading, open Series 7. Please go to Series 10 - Series 13 for the back issues of the Weekday Lectio. For the Lectio Divina on the liturgy of the past week: September 6-12, 2015, please go to ARCHIVES Series 13 and click on “Week 23”.
(Below is a LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY - WEEKDAY LITURGY: September 13-19, 2015.)
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September 13, 2015: TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Christ, the Suffering Servant”
BIBLICAL READINGS
Is 50:5-9a // Jas 2:14-18 // Mk 8:27-35
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
(Gospel Reflection by Brother Andy Ruperto, Diocese of Fresno)
The Gospel passage for this week contains a question that goes to the heart of Christianity and of our Christian faith. It is posed by our Lord Jesus as He journeys with his disciples to “the villages of Caesarea Philippi”. The disciples, at this point, have been with Jesus for a while and have seen Him do mighty deeds, but there is still a cloud of mystery surrounding Jesus’ identity. So our Lord asks two important questions. The first one is “Who do people say that I am?” They answer Him, John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” Then Jesus asks the climactic second question, “But who do you say that I am?”
Jesus, my Lord, who are You?
So Peter replies – St. Peter … so bold … so quick to reply … so eager to speak his mind and to speak his heart. He replies, “You are the Messiah.” Can we speak this from our hearts with our first pope? Can we state it with our whole being? Can we be true to this faith? Well, to state it with our whole being we must first know what it means.
Jesus, my Lord, who are You?
To understand what it means to be the Messiah we look to our Lord’s following words. First he warned His disciples “not to tell anyone about Him”. Then He goes on to predict His passion and the necessity of the Cross. The Messiah is SAVIOR and has a mission to accomplish. The proclamation to the world must come after His death and resurrection. His mission is to become a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin through His blood on the cross. The savior is the one who “saves us from the fires of hell” and allows us to enter into the heavenly kingdom.
Jesus, my Lord, who are You?
We reach here a disparity between Peter’s idea of a Messiah and God’s idea of the Messiah. Peter is right in saying that Jesus is the Messiah, but his idea of what that means has to change. Peter is looking for a glorified earthly Messiah. This is why our Lord must rebuke Simon Peter. Satan’s road is earthly glory and the avoidance of the cross. Jesus has to show the world that to be His disciple is not to avoid or deny the cross but to accept, face, and embrace it as the means to our salvation. Jesus says, “My kingdom is not of this world.” We, with Simon Peter, must remember that we are in exile and that we are called to be witnesses of the coming kingdom.
Jesus, my Lord, who are You?
So too on our journey of faith, Jesus will ask us, “Who do people say that I am?” We might answer, “You are regarded as a mighty prophet in Islam and Judaism. Others say, “You are one of the many founders of a religion with good teachings …” Then He will ask, “But who do you say that I am?”
And we will say …
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The following news article gives insight into the meaning of confessing our faith in Christ in today’s world (cf. “Saira Makes US History” in Alive! December 2014.p. 6).
In the recent US elections 18-year-old Saira Blair of West Virginia made history by becoming America’s youngest state lawmaker. A devout Catholic, Saira’s campaign was openly prolife, pro natural marriage and pro jobs.
Asked about young people who would not agree with her, she explained, “once you give them the facts they begin to see things differently.”
She wants young people who share her views not to be afraid to stand up for them.
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An impressive story I read is “To Live Again” by Harold Koenig, M.D. (cf. “To Live Again” in Guideposts, September 2006, p. 20-24). The psychiatrist Dr. Koenig, who is the coordinator of the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health at Duke University in North Carolina, suffers from a crippling disease that racks him with vicious pain. Here is the inspiring personal account of how he was to deal with his sickness and suffering.
I had been diagnosed with psoriatic inflammatory arthritis. My immune system was attacking my tendons and joints. Any part of my body I used repetitively – legs, knees, ankles, hands, shoulders, back – could become inflamed. The disease could be progressive. There was no cure. Part of me was relieved to have a diagnosis – no more mystery pain. But then I saw the fear in Charmin’s eyes. I knew she was already mourning our walks together, our hiking vacations. I looked at Jordan. “What kind of father will I be? Will we play baseball together? Can we even roughhouse?” That night, I lay in bed, unable to sleep. My back was throbbing. But it wasn’t just the pain keeping me awake. Why? I asked, cycling through thoughts of patients, research, all that I felt God had called me to do. “Is all this work for nothing? Is it all going to get swallowed up in some disease? What am I supposed to do?”
The bedroom was dark, the pain relentless. Finally, I got up and limped to the sofa in the living room. I lay on it and found the soft cushions eased the ache. Thank you, God, I prayed. And then it hit me. It was such a simple movement, from bed to sofa. God didn’t snap his fingers and make the pain go away. He didn’t promise to cure me. But he did show me how to adapt, how to live instead of giving up. “Maybe that’s what I’m supposed to do, learn to follow God with the pain – and then help others do the same. Lord, that sounds hard. But if you’re with me, I’ll try.”
God showed Dr. Koenig how to live with pain and how to help others cope with it. In embracing the mystery of suffering, and in trusting the divine saving will, he was able to experience that God works through our weakness and our strength. Indeed, Dr. Koenig is a sterling example of how a disciple could participate fully and intimately in the paschal destiny of Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant-Messiah.
In today’s Old Testament reading (Is 50:4c-9a) we hear the confessions of the Suffering Servant of Yahweh, whose faith in God is unflinching despite tremendous opposition and persecution. Taken from the third poem of the “Suffering Servant”, this Sunday’s passage is a poetic reflection on suffering in the service of God. The authors of the Days of the Lord, vol. 5, comment: “In this poem, the Servant himself speaks. He evokes the ill treatment that his torturers have inflicted on him, resorting to blows in order to crush him by physical pain, and to insulting actions in order to overwhelm him under their contempt … But the way in which these torments are spoken of shows us a man of extraordinary grandeur and dignity: physically reduced to nothing in his body, he has not been injured in his soul. What is more, he remains serene beyond what we can imagine. No violence has succeeded in altering in the slightest his nonviolence. The Suffering Servant indicates from what sources he draws the strength of his nonviolence and his serenity in the worst of tribulations: The Lord GOD opens my ear that I may hear. And I have not rebelled; have not turned back. Therefore, this man has heard God revealing both his plan and mission to which he calls his servant in view of accomplishing his work. At the same time, this man learned of the difficulties he would have to face. God never deals with anybody in a disloyal manner. But he expects a complete trust and a total commitment of being, soul and body, from those he calls … Then, in spite of their weakness, humans become able to do anything. The servant experiences this certitude again and again: The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.”
Christian tradition has seen the Suffering Servant, persecuted unjustly by his enemies but then glorified by God, as one of the most striking figures of Jesus Christ. It was Jesus who remained true to his mission in spite of opposition and persecution. It was Jesus who suffered cruel torments with unflinching courage. Abandoned and rejected, Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant-Messiah, relied on God alone for strength and vindication.
The prophetic image of the Suffering Servant can also be applied to any Christian disciple who stands for principle against all odds. The Servant of Yahweh who suffers in the service of God is a model of Christian discipleship, which involves denying oneself, taking up the cross, and losing one’s life for the sake of Christ and his Gospel. Such radical discipleship is made possible by the Lord God who comes to the aid of the suffering servant, who is totally surrendered to the divine ineffable love. Indeed, suffering is integral to Christian faith. The following of Jesus involves redemptive sacrifice.
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The Second Reading (Jas 2:14-18) underlines the exigency of faithful discipleship and reinforces the reality that true faith expresses itself by doing the will of God. Combating the superficiality and pretense of the so-called “faith” that was widespread in his day, James showed the intimate connection between faith and good works. “Faith” is the free acceptance of God’s saving revelation and “works” is the obedient implementation of God’s revealed will in every aspect of life. For James, true faith is practical and permeates the entire life, for faith without works is “dead” and will not lead to salvation. His great concern is to show covenant faith to all, especially the disadvantaged members. Indeed, the way we live in conformity or in contradiction to our faith is of vital importance. It is the perspective to judge the value, or lack of it, of our religious commitment to God.
The following account is an example of a living faith that expresses itself in concrete acts of charity on behalf of God’s poor (cf. Frank Maurivich, “Feeding God’s People” in The Anthonian, Summer 2009, p. 225). Faithful discipleship and authentic worship manifest its vitality in works of loving compassion for our needy brothers and sisters.
As the bell peals in the tower of St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City at precisely 7 a.m., a Franciscan friar enters the sanctuary to begin the celebration of Mass. At the same moment outside the church on West 31st Street of Midtown Manhattan, another brown-robed Franciscan friar leads three volunteers, one pulling a cart and the other dispensing hearty breakfast sandwiches to some 375 needy people. Two more volunteers pour cups of hot coffee to the homeless in what the Franciscans affectionately call the St. Francis Breadline.
Father Jerome Massimino, OFM, the pastor of the parish, sees an intimate connection between what is happening at the altar and on the sidewalk. “God’s chosen are being fed in both places”, he says. The scene outside the church began during the 1929 Depression when Brother Gabriel Mehler, OFM, established this ministry as a way to feed the hungry and the homeless. Since then, this scene has been repeated every morning for almost 80 years. Rain or shine, the friars will greet those who line up for coffee and food. “Alongside the ministry of reconciliation, the Breadline is the most beloved ministry of St. Francis Assisi Church”, the pastor says. Father Michael Carnevale, OFM, who has served as coordinator of the Breadline ministry for the past three years, says, “We have only one rule: ‘No questions asked.’ We take the people as they are – brothers and sisters in Christ. If they want to approach us, that’s a different story.”
The Breadline is inclusive – it welcomes everyone in need. The majority are male with only a handful of women. All are poor, and many are homeless. Some have or have had problems with alcohol or drugs; a few are mentally challenged. “We seldom have any trouble”, says Fred Dumas, the tall, husky security man on the parish staff. “If an occasional fight breaks out, others in the line usually break it up.” Fr. Mike estimates that some 70 percent of the people in the line are regulars. “They know one another”, the friar says. “They help among themselves. They have a sense of community.” They also appreciate Fr. Mike’s initiative in improving and varying the menu. What were once cheese or baloney sandwiches on white bread are now changed every day from roast beef, chicken cutlet, turkey, ham and cheese on a hero roll. The breakfast bag also includes a box of Juicy-Juice. “We can do this”, Fr. Mike says, “because our people in the spirit of St. Francis generously support this effort for people who are less fortunate.” (…)
Tony Ruba, for example, comes on the subway from his apartment in the Bronx to Manhattan at 3:30 every morning to begin bagging the sandwiches which are made and delivered from Manganaro’s Hero Boy Deli. Tony, like three others of the six volunteers on duty this day, was once on the receiving end of the line. He was homeless for eight years, but, he says, “Fr. Mike helped me get my head on straight.” The other volunteers refer to Tony as “the boss”.
“I like to get up early”, says Berkley “Burke” Stokes, who used to sleep on the church steps. Now, he has a regular job and has been volunteering every morning for 16 years. He and white-haired, handlebar mustached Frank Wallace, another regular volunteer who has been on both sides of the Breadline, each handle two large urns to dispense coffee. Burke does his job quietly, while Frank does a running commentary with his clients.
“I like to help in any way I can”, says Paul Johnson, another volunteer with experience of receiving and now giving. Friendly and loquacious, Paul serves as the cleanup man, but before attacking the refuse, he doles out the ball scores and news commentary. “How did the Rangers do last night?” a man holding a steaming Styrofoam coffee cup asks. “They won. A great hockey game”, reports Paul. “How about the Sixers?” a Philadelphia basketball fan asks. “Sorry, Bill, they lost.” Then Paul and round-shouldered Jimmy start a lively conversation on whether the city’s health department is doing enough to control the flu epidemic.
Tall, thin Erwin Schaub and curly-haired Anita Mark both volunteered after seeing a notice in the church bulletin. “I have been coming once or twice a week for four years”, Erwin says. Anita, who is also a Eucharistic minister at the church, serves on the Breadline almost every morning, but after dispensing the sandwiches, she rushes up the church stairs. “I’ve got to go inside”, the lively Eucharistic minister says, “to feed the others”.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
Are we faithful to God’s commands and rely on him for strength and vindication? Have we tried to negate, resist or repel the various trials and sufferings that come our way? Have we let ourselves be overwhelmed with despair in the midst of pain and suffering? Do we look to Christ as the fulfillment of the Suffering Servant song? How does the life of Christ, the Suffering Servant-Messiah, touch us and give us strength? Do we trust that the Lord comes to the aid of his Suffering Servant who suffers in the service of God and for his glory?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Loving Jesus,
you are our Master.
You show us the depths of human suffering
and perfect submission to the Father’s will.
You are our help and strength.
Together with you
we taste the bitterness of suffering
and the dregs of human pain.
Teach us how to suffer
and embrace the life-giving cross.
Give us strength to take up our cross daily
and follow you on the road to Mount Calvary.
Thank you, Lord Jesus,
for transforming our suffering into saving grace,
for the glory of God and the good of our souls.
We love and glorify you,
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.
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly.” (Mk 8:31)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for those who are afflicted and overwhelmed by sufferings. Offer your own sufferings in union with Christ as a priestly sacrifice. Endeavor to help people live through their pain and loneliness, to unite their sacrifice with that of Christ, and to embrace the mystery of the cross with courage and trust.
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September 14, 2015: MONDAY – THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
“JESUS SAVIOR: We Glory in His Cross”
BIBLE READINGS
Nm 21:4b-9 // Phil 2:6-11 // Jn 3: 13-17
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Jn 3:13-17): “So the Son of Man must be lifted up.” /
This true story took place in 1945, during World War II, in the Japanese-occupied Philippines, a former American colony. During the fierce battle to liberate the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, the American forces were bombarding Japanese military installations. Hundreds of civilians took refuge in a big school run by Catholic nuns. The refugees feared that the American troops, unaware of the civilian presence, might bomb the school and kill them all. To avoid being killed by their own liberators, the civilians rushed to the open playground and, with their trembling bodies, formed a gigantic living cross, easily recognizable by the American pilots from the sky. Sure enough, the incredible outline of the living cross, formed by the bodies of hundreds of refugees, deterred a disastrous and involuntary attack on innocent civilians. In assuming the form of the cross, the Manila populace experienced salvation. Indeed, the cross is an enigmatic sign. The mystery of the cross is the font of salvation.
The “Feast of the Triumph of the Cross” is an invitation to contemplate the saving mystery of the cross, the instrument of our salvation. The entrance antiphon of today’s Mass asserts: “We should glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life and our resurrection; through him we are saved and made free.” The true value of the triumphant cross is derived from the Crucified and Exalted One, Jesus Christ, the Son of Man who was “lifted up”. Therefore, the true focus of our contemplation today is our Lord Jesus Christ, who has taken the shape of the cross, a dreaded tool of criminal punishment, in order to save us and set us free. The cross, as a Christian symbol, has meaning only in relation to the primordial sign of the Son of Man in whom heaven and earth meet, especially as he hung upon the tree of condemnation and salvation.
The Son of Man died on the illustrious cross on Mount Calvary. His death on the cross was a summation of his whole life given to God in humble obedience. St. Ireneus remarks: “Through his obedience unto death, hanging upon the cross, he destroyed that ancient disobedience committed on a tree of wood.” By loving unto death on the cross, Jesus crystallized God’s love for humanity in his very person. The sole motive for his sacrificial death on the cross is the ineffable mystery of divine love. According to the Gospel proclaimed in today’s liturgical assembly: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that he who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).
B. First Reading (Nm 21:4b-9): “Whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.”
The lifting up of the bronze serpent that we hear about in the Old Testament reading (Nm 21:4b-9) is fascinating and illumines the mystery of the cross that we venerate. The bronze serpent on the pole that brings healing to those bitten by poisonous saraph snakes is a symbol of God’s benevolent saving will. Like the terror-stricken Israelites seeking salvation from the serpents in the desert, we too are in need of redemption from the snares of sin and death. And just like the Israelites who have experienced God’s mercy for the umpteenth time by gazing upon the bronze serpent on the pole, we too must look at Jesus lifted up on the cross that we may not die but live.
In the following article by Mother Angelica of EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) she gives an example of a redemptive experience (cf. Mother Angelica with Christine Allison, Mother Angelica’s Answers, Not Promises, New York: Pocket Books, 1987, p. 141-142).
I’ve counseled so many women who have aborted children, and when they come to me, distraught, anguished, and bereft, I can see that they are devastated by the realization that they have taken a human life – and they just don’t know what to do about it.
I believe that the guilt over having aborted a child is one of the more severe pains a person can experience. I’m reminded of a letter received from a woman in Michigan:
Mother, you won’t remember this, but four years ago I called you to ask you to save my life. I had attempted suicide twice, and a friend suggested that I call you.
It only took a couple of minutes to get to the root of my problem. I had aborted two children within six months of each other. When I told you, I knew you were as heartbroken as I was. Well, I know you probably won’t recall our conversation, but you told me something odd. You told me I was not alone and that I still had two children, even though they had gone to the next life.
You told me to name my children. You told me to ask them to pray for me. I thought you were some kind of weirdo, but I had nothing to lose. I did what you said to do. Over time, I realized that my children were not lost, but were created and loved by God even though they are no longer in this world.
Two years later I married a wonderful man, and last month we had a little girl. We named her Mary Michael. This is a birth announcement, Mother. I know I love her with a depth I could never have had were it not for God’s forgiveness and healing Power. I’ve tried to warn other woman about abortion, and I’ll fight it now with an even greater love for God and the life you helped me find.
This woman had experienced an extraordinary healing from God through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. She had suffered tremendous guilt and remorse for her abortions and had asked God for his Help and Forgiveness. She had repented for her sins and was now healthy, fueled with a higher joy and understanding than most people today. She didn’t sugarcoat her sins. With God’s Grace, she had overcome her guilt.
C. Second Reading (Phil 2:6-11): “He humbled himself; because of this God greatly exalted him.”
In today’s Second Reading (Phil 2:6-11), Christ’s death on the cross is the climax of a life totally given to God in humble obedience. Upon the cross, the Son-Servant of God carries out the ultimate act of sacrificial love and fulfills the Father’s benevolent plan of salvation. The cross of Christ is therefore a glorious throne, a font of healing and a means to eternal life. Saint Paul and the early Christian community, therefore, sing this beautiful hymn of faith: “Christ humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth. And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The following story illustrates the participation of Christian disciples in the mystery and triumph of the cross (cf. Full Sail with the Wind of Grace: Peter Kibe and 187 Martyrs, written and edited by “Martyres” Editorial Committee, Tokyo: Don Bosco Sha, 2008, p. 44-46).
Genka’s daughter Maria was married to the son of Kondo Kisan, the commissioner of Tachiura (Hirado City, Nagasaki Prefecture). Kondo was a devout Buddhist. He tried to convert his daughter-in-law and make her give up her faith. Maria always responded with the same words: “I was baptized by my father and have always walked the way of God that was taught to me. I cannot give up my faith.” “If you do not renounce your faith, we cannot keep you in our household. Think well and choose either my son or your faith.” Kondo oppressed Maria with these harsh words. After two years of struggling with the situation, Maria told her husband of her decision, and returned to her father Genka.
“It must be Genka who encouraged her to leave. He must pay for this!” Kondo discussed the matter with his friend, a Buddhist monk in Hirado, and appealed to Shigenobu to punish Genka. Shigenobu was furious with Genka who not only disobeyed his orders and continued to practice his faith, but also worked as a Christian leader. Shigenobu ordered the execution of Genka together with his wife Ursula and their eldest son John Mataichi.
Genka was handed over to the commissioner of Yamada (Hirado City, Nagasaki Prefecture), Inoue Umanojo, to be executed on 14 of November 1609. To Umanojo, Genka was a friend for whom he had a great respect. Genka told him of his only wish. “Lord Inoue, could you do me a favor and perform my execution at the Kurusu (cruz = cross) Trail? “Why the Kurusu Trail?” “Once a cross stood there, and my parents and friends are buried there, too.”
Umanojo nodded and they started to walk toward the Kurusu Trail. When they arrived at the spot, Genka said to Umanojo, “Lord Inoue, it was my heart’s desire to offer my life here. None of this is your fault. Please be at peace.” Genka knelt down, raised his tied hands toward heaven and silently bowed his head. Umanojo, choking down his tears, performed the execution with one stroke of his sword so that Genka would not suffer too much.
Genka’s wife Ursula and their son John Mataichi were also beheaded about the same time at a place nearby. Gaspar Nishi Genka and his wife Ursula were both 54 years old. Their oldest son John Mataichi was 24 years old. Their remains were buried at the Kurusu Trail. The Christians secretly planted a pine tree on the spot.
In 1992, the Christians of Ikitsuki built a large cross on the Kurusu Trail. It is to remind them of the importance of faith strengthened in the family, a precious heritage of Gaspar Nishi Genka.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. Why is the cross of Christ the supreme proof of God’s infinite love for us? What made the triumph or exaltation of the cross possible? Are we disposed to participate in the folly of the cross and the mystery of Christ’s sacrificial love?
2. What was the significance of the bronze serpent that Moses fashioned and lifted up on the pole? What was its saving effect on the distressed people of Israel? How is the mounted bronze serpent a symbol of Jesus Christ? Are we willing to fix our gaze on Jesus Christ crucified and seek healing from him?
3. How does the Pauline hymn of Christ’s self-emptying (“kenosis”) and exaltation impact us? Do we wish to share in the Divine Master’s twofold movement of self-abasement and exaltation? Are we willing to meditate on the mystery of the cross and its meaning for us? Are we willing to proclaim to the world the triumph of Christ on the cross and give a living witness to it?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
the mounted bronze serpent
that saved the ancient Israelites from sure death
prefigures your crucifixion and redeeming death on Mount Calvary.
We thank you for your obedient sacrifice.
Above all, we render praise and thanksgiving to God the Father
who loved us so much that he sent you, his Servant-Son,
to be lifted up on the cross.
Now in faith we look upon the cross of your sacrifice
and see in it the source of healing and the font of eternal life.
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
Through your cross you brought joy to the world.
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.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” (Jn 3:16)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for the victims of violence, hatred, and war and all those suffering from acts of injustice and oppression. By your compassion and charity, allow them to experience the healing and saving love of Christ on the cross.
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September 15, 2015: TUESDAY – OUR LADY OF SORROWS
“JESUS SAVIOR: His Mother Shared in His Sorrowful Passion … He Is the True Minister of the Church”
BIBLE READINGS
I Tm 3:1-13 // Jn 19:25-27 or Lk 2:33-35
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
Today’s feast, which comes after the feast of the Exultation of the Cross, reminds us that the Blessed Virgin Mary, standing by the cross, shares in her Son’s passion and suffering. Like her Son, the King of martyrs, the Mother is a martyr in spirit. Saint Bernard remarks: “The martyrdom of the Virgin is set forth both in the prophecy of Simeon and in the actual story of the Lord’s passion. The holy old man said of the infant Jesus: He has been established as a sign which will be contradicted. He went on to say to Mary: And your own heart will be pierced by a sword. Truly, O Blessed Mother, a sword has pierced your heart. For only by passing through your heart could the sword enter the flesh of your Son … Then the violence of sorrow has cut through your heart, and we rightly call you more than martyr, since the effect of compassion in you has gone beyond the endurance of physical suffering.”
Any parent is bound to suffer, but Mary’s suffering is more intense than any other. She is the Mother of Christ, the Redeemer. Because of her spiritual closeness to her child, her sorrow is more acute. And because of her sinless nature, she is more sensitive to other people’s sufferings, especially that of her Son. The ancient hymn “Stabat Mater” beautifully depicts the pathos at the foot of the cross and Mary’s poignant sorrow: “At the cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last. Through her heart his sorrow sharing, all his bitter anguish bearing, now at length the sword had passed. (…) Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled, she beheld her tender Child, all with bloody scourges rent. For the sins of his own nation saw him hang in desolation, till his spirit forth he sent.”
As Mary shared in the sufferings of her Son, we too are called to participate in the passion of Christ … in the passion of the world … in the lot of our suffering brothers and sisters. The following charming story tells us of the compassion and spiritual communion experienced by two pilgrims, both cancer victims, when they met in Lourdes, France (cf. Jill Paris, “Miracle Seeker” in Saturday Evening Post, March-April 2012, p. 46-47).
“Is this your first time at Lourdes?” I look up at a frail-looking pilgrim just beside me in the line for the sacred grotto. “Yes”, I say. The woman’s name is Selam. She has come from Vancouver, Canada, but originally hails from Ethiopia. She is 40 years old. Within seconds we are swapping war stories. “Melanoma, Stage III”, I say. “Colon cancer … I’ve been given six months to live”, she whispers.
I let her step in front of me and study how she grazes the grayish stone that leads to the niche with her left hand, stopping every few feet to kiss the rock. A white rosary entwined in her right hand swings gently from side to side. I begin to copy her every move. If she makes the sign of the cross, I do, too. If she pats the water droplets that trickle from the cave-like surface and touches her face, I do the same. It is as if she’s been sent to me as a personal guide. Nearing the sacred spot, she begins to weep. I stroke her back the way a mother would soothe a child with a skinned knee.
She kneels before the statue of Mary resting high in an alcove. Dabbing moisture from the stone, my hand presses the gash on my upper left arm, but I forget to ask Mary for anything because of a deep concern for my new companion. Selam’s despairing sobs grow louder – agonizing wails echoing in an already hushed enclave. Minutes later, she rises and turns toward me. I open my arms wide and she collapses against me. We hold each other in a long embrace as though lifelong friends. “I want you to have this”, I say, reaching into my bag for a vintage religious medal of Bernadette that a dear friend sent with me for luck. “Pin it over your heart. It will protect you.” “Oh, thank you, my love”, she says. “I prayed I would meet someone here.”
Who knew my presence alone would answer a dying woman’s prayers? (…) Six months later, after a chest X-ray, I am classified as disease-free. I harbor much hope, but there is always my next scan. Upon returning from Europe, I would speak with Selam twice. Her cancer had rapidly spread, and she was bravely undergoing extreme bouts of experimental chemotherapy. Her last words to me were, “I’ll call you next week, my love.” That was several months ago. Just recently I have signed up with Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American Volunteers to become one of the thousands of companion caregivers that Selam and I had seen.
***
The reading (I Tm 3:1-13) is about the leaders and the helpers in the Church. Saint Paul describes the qualifications for Church ministry. To be a minister of the Church is not for selfish gain, but to promote the welfare of the community. The office of the bishop is a noble task which involves regulating the life of the community and presiding at the assembly of worship. The bishop must have the ability to teach because preaching the Gospel is the central duty of the leader of the faith community. Hence, he must not be a recent convert, for the work of evangelization needs suitable preparation. On account of the importance of his office, he must be irreproachable and self-controlled, gentle and peaceful, temperate and hospitable. Besides being a person of good character, the bishop should be a unifying force both within his home and in the Church. By his life of integrity, the bishop wields a sense of respect even from people outside the Church.
The list of qualifications for deacons is similar to that of a bishop. The deacons must be persons of good character and repute. They must not be polygamous and must be able to manage their children and family. Since deacons are particularly subject to temptations because they are in charge of alms, Saint Paul underlines that they must not be greedy for money. Above all, they must be steadfast in truth. They should hold to the revealed truth of the faith with a clear conscience. Those deacons who do their work well win for themselves a good standing and are able to speak boldly about their faith in Christ Jesus.
The following profile of a modern-day bishop gives insight into the meaning of Church ministry (cf. Matthew Bunson, “Cardinal Luis Tagle: An Emerging Voice in Asia Church” in Our Sunday Visitor, December 30, 2012, p. 11).
On November 24, Pope Benedict XVI officially installed Archbishop Luis Tagle, the archbishop of Manila, Philippines, as a member of the College of Cardinals. The high honor capped a year in which Cardinal Tagle, 55, emerged onto the scene of global Catholicism.
Nicknamed by his friends “Chito”, the American-educated bishop and theologian (he earned a doctorate in theology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.) had been bishop of Imus, Philippines, from 2001 until 2011 when he was transferred to the archdiocese of Manila as its new archbishop. He was a member of the International Theological Commission and earned notoriety for his remarks at the Synod of Bishops in 2005 and 2008 and at the International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City. He is famous across Asia for his great concern for the poor, taking the bus to work every day and playing the guitar.
His profile increased when he was named by Pope Benedict XVI to the Synod of Bishops held in Rome in October that focused on the New Evangelization. He called on the Church to discover the power of silence as a sign of a new spirit of humility, declaring, “The Church’s humility, respectfulness and silence might reveal more clearly the face of God in Jesus.”
He was subsequently nominated by the Pope as vice president of the “Commission for the Message” and produced the formal statement on the New Evangelization at the synod. He was in Rome during the canonization of St. Pedro Calungsod. Tagle is considered a young and important voice for the rapidly growing Church in Asia.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. How does the presence of Mary at the foot of the cross affect you personally? How do you participate in the passion of Christ … in the passion of the world … in the sufferings of your brothers and sisters?
2. How do we understand the meaning of Church ministry today and the role of bishops, priests and deacons in the faith community?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Father,
as your Son was raised on the cross,
his mother Mary stood by him, sharing his sufferings.
May your Church be united with Christ
in his suffering and death
and so come to share in his rising to new life,
where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
O loving God,
we thank you for Jesus, the true minister of the Church.
We pray for all baptized Christians
that we may be totally immersed into the life of Jesus,
the one who serves.
We pray for bishops, priests and deacons
that they may be faithful to the ministry they have received.
Make them pure and blameless in your sight.
Let them serve your people with personal dedication.
We give you glory and praise, 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.
“Standing by the cross of Jesus was his mother …” (Jn 19:25) or “And you yourself a sword will pierce.” (Lk 2:35) //“A bishop must be irreproachable … deacons must be dignified, holding fast to the mystery of faith with a clear conscience.” (I Tm 3:1, 8)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Offer a decade of the Rosary: “The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus on the Cross” or “The Finding of Child Jesus in the Temple” for today’s persecuted Christians. If possible, share a meal with a poor and needy member of your parish community. // Make an effort to know more about the bishop, priests and deacons in your local Church. By word, prayer and action assist them in their ministry.
*** *** ***
September 16, 2015: WEDNESDAY – SAINTS CORNELIUS, Pope, AND CYPRIAN, Martyrs
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Does Not Square Up to Their Expectations … He Is the Mystery of Our Faith”
BIBLE READINGS
I Tm 3:14-16 // Lk 7:31-35
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
This happened in Rome many years ago. It was summer and the weather was sultry. Instead of using a black habit (that is, the Sister’s dress), I wore white for hygienic reasons. Several Sisters commented that I look better in black. A few days later, I changed again to a black habit for a practical purpose - because I was making a long trip from Rome to northern Italy by train and a black dress is less messy. Some Sisters remarked that I look better in white. I was chagrined! I could not please them either in black or in white.
In today’s Gospel (Lk 7:31-35), Jesus is likewise chagrined by the whims and capriciousness of the people of his generation. They are like children playing in the marketplace who call to one another: “We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge for you and you did not weep.” The spoiled brats are not happy because their expectations are not met. Similarly, the religious leaders of Israel are difficult to satisfy. Neither John nor Jesus has squared up to their standards and expectations. They find fault with John because he is too ascetic. They are unhappy with Jesus because he is lax and gluttonous. They are indecisive. Their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah reveals their stubbornness and foolishness. They lack wisdom of heart and have negated God’s plan and his gift of salvation through his Son Jesus Christ.
***
In today’s First Reading (I Tm 3:14-16), Saint Paul speaks of his travel plans and the possibility of delay. In the event that he should be delayed, he expects them to know how to behave in the Church, which is “the household of God”. The Church of the living God is the pillar and foundation of truth. Indeed, through the divine epiphany in Jesus Christ, the faith community becomes the place of God’s presence and the guarantor and bulwark of faith. Saint Paul then cites a beautiful hymn which encapsulates the mystery of faith, who is Christ: he became man and died for all, vindicated by God and exalted before the angels, preached among the nations and believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory. Indeed, the “catholic” Church is the privileged communicator of the saving event centered on our “catholic” Savior, Jesus Christ.
The following article illustrates how the “mystery of devotion” Jesus Christ is proclaimed to the nations today (cf. Brandon Vogt, “Bishop Christopher Coyne: Leading the Flock in the Digital Word” in Our Sunday Visitor, December 30, 2012, p. 11).
In his message for the 44th World Communications Day, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged priests to “make astute use” of new media. After all, he asked, who better to “help the men and women of our digital age sense the Lord’s presence”? Many priests have heeded that call, but few better than Bishop Christopher Coyne, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. In the last few years, he’s started a popular blog titled “Let Us Walk Together” and has connected with thousands of followers through Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
Every morning, Bishop Coyne tweets out short reflections on the Mass readings or the saints of the day, usually followed by a quote or prayer. His messages are then beamed across the world and even his brother bishops take note. One recently confessed to using Bishop Coyne’s daily Twitter reflections to draft his own morning homilies.
Besides the devotional messages, Bishop Coyne uses new media because it personally connects him to his flock. It’s common for parishioners to tell him, “I read your tweets every morning, and they’re such a great way to start the day.” A young couple once messaged him on Facebook, explaining their baby was about to have surgery. They asked for Bishop Coyne’s prayers and, thanks to Facebook, he was able to immediately respond with encouragement and supplication.
Among bishops, Bishop Coyne is the clear online leader. Back in November, this was affirmed when he was invited to be a panelist at the special USCCB bishops and bloggers meeting. In his opening remarks he explained, “It’s not a question if bishops and the Church should be involved in digital media, but how. As a living bridge between the episcopacy and the digital world, Bishop Coyne modeled that “how” throughout 2012. While his brother bishops may be hesitant about websites and social media, perhaps even afraid, they can rest easy knowing one of their own is leading the way.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. How do we respond to God’s offer of salvation in Jesus Christ? Are we indecisive and obstinate, or are we open and receptive to divine grace?
2. Do we value our belonging to the Church, “the household of God, which is the Church of the living God”? How do we proclaim the “mystery of devotion”, centered on Jesus Christ, to the nations?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Loving Jesus,
you are the Father’s gift of salvation.
But we are full of whims and caprices
like the spoiled brats in the marketplace.
We refuse to let you enter into our lives.
Forgive us, Lord Jesus,
for we are foolish and stubborn.
Grant us wisdom of heart
so that we may receive divine grace.
Let us welcome you as our saving Lord,
now and forever.
Amen.
***
Loving Father,
we thank you for our belonging to the Church,
“the household of God, which is the Church of the living God,
the pillar and foundation of truth”.
How marvelous is the “mystery of devotion”
centered on our Lord Jesus Christ!
Grant that we may fully embrace this saving mystery in our life
and efficaciously share the mystery of faith
to all nations and creation.
We give you glory and praise, 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.
“To what shall I compare the people of this generation?” (Lk 7:31) //“Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion.” (I Tm 3:16a)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Today follow through with your decision to imitate the goodness and kindness of Christ to others, especially the needy and the unfortunate. // Invite one or more persons to visit the PDDM website: www.pddm.us and profit from the pastoral tools “LECTIO DIVINA” and “EUCHARISTIC ADORATION”.
*** *** ***
September 17, 2015: THURSDAY – WEEKDAY (24); SAINT ROBERT BELLARMINE, Bishop, Doctor of the Church
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Forgives Our Sins … His Ministers Are to Set an Example”
BIBLE READINGS
I Tm 4:12-16 // Lk 7:36-50
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
When I was old enough to understand, my mother told me this beautiful story of forgiveness. I was about two years old and the youngest in a brood of three when my father became sick with tuberculosis. Three-fourths of his lungs were gone and my mom had to take care of him full time. My mom felt she could not afford to have another baby, and when she conceived, she tried to abort the pregnancy by taking contraceptive pills. One night she had a nightmare. She dreamed that two children were pursuing her with long handled, deadly sickles in their hands. My mom woke up trembling and sweating. The following morning she went to church and confessed to a priest. The priest, however, protracted the sacramental absolution. He advised her to do all what she could to make the baby live. My mother went directly to her friend, a nurse practitioner and asked for help. The nurse gave her vitamins and medications to promote the pregnancy. She also gently chided my mother for her lack of faith in Divine Providence. The baby in my mother’s womb survived and was brought forth. A strong, healthy and handsome boy, and very fair! He would grow up and become a dentist. My mother was forgiven. She was blessed with other children. My father was healed and would live serenely and fruitfully for 82 years.
Today’s Gospel reading (Lk 7:36-50) helps us to see the intimate relationship between forgiveness and the gift of love. The sinful woman, who bathes Jesus’ feet with tears of repentance, dries them with her hair, kisses them with devotion, and anoints them with precious ointment, expresses her profound love for Jesus, who is the font of forgiveness. She is overwhelmed with love for the one who forgives – for the one who understands – for the merciful Love in person. The divine forgiveness is always present – we just have to welcome it, respond to it and own it – for Jesus is always present to us. The loving and tender actions of the woman prove that her many sins are forgiven. Because she has embraced Jesus - God’s forgiving love made incarnate - her many sins are forgiven. Indeed, loving deeds and works of charity are indicators that we have really opened ourselves up to the divine gift of forgiveness.
***
In today’s First Reading (I Tm 4:12-16), Saint Paul delineates Timothy’s duties, which serve as a job description for typical Church ministers. Timothy joined Paul’s company about 18 years previously, and when the Pauline letter was written (circa 65 AD), Timothy was probably about 35 years old. Paul advises Timothy to compensate for his youthfulness with exemplary personal conduct and dedication. Timothy has been ordained as Church pastor with a specific duty to teach and to be guardian of faith. Before the believers he is to be a living witness of love and faith and must endeavor to live in integrity. In view of the saving mission, Timothy must keep watch on himself and must keep at heart his teaching ministry.
In the following article, one unnamed priest shares how he witnesses to Christ on a “typical” day (cf. “Your Parish Priest: Very Busy Days Bookended by Prayer” in Our Sunday Visitor, December 30, 2012, p. 12).
My “typical” day always begins with prayer: I pray a Morning Prayer to the Sacred Heart even before I get out of bed! This sets the tone for the rest of the day which continues with a prayer of meditation, the office of readings and morning prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours and then Mass. If there’s a funeral or burial, that can easily fill the rest of the morning. Otherwise, I often spend the time answering E-mails and letters, writing bulletin columns or blog posts, returning phone calls or meeting with staff members – the preschool director, the music director, the financial administrator, the plant manager or the cemetery superintendent.
Some days, I grab lunch with whatever staff members happen to be around. At other times, it’s a “working” lunch. I’ve found that a meal is an excellent way to connect with people, especially teens and adults. In fact, I like to say, half jokingly, that I do some of my best pastoral work in restaurants!
Right after lunch, I like to spend a few minutes sorting through the day’s mail. Then I try to devote an hour or two to prayer and spiritual reading, preparing homilies, or thinking over the next presentation to the youth group. I cover for the chaplain of the local Catholic hospital on his days off each week, so there’s often a round of visits and calls for anointing of the sick.
One or two afternoons each month are devoted to visiting our homebound parishioners: those moments are often the high points of their month! When a parishioner dies, I visit the wake in the afternoon, because things around the parish only pick up in the evening. On any given day, I may have a parish council or finance council meeting, youth group meeting or activity, Catholic Daughters, Knights of Columbus, or a diocesan meeting.
Sometimes I don’t eat supper until very late, after which I like to walk around our property and pray the Rosary. Then, it’s time for night prayer and bed. If it sounds like a lot, it is – but the rewards are literally out of this world.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. What insights can we derive from the “sinful woman” who had greatly loved Jesus, the forgiving Love made flesh? Do we endeavor to approach Jesus, wash his feet with tears of repentance and anoint them with the balm of love and spirit of contrition? Do we allow Jesus’ merciful love to transform us?
2. Do we care for our bishops, priests and deacons? Do we pray for them and assist them in their ministry? Do we promote their integrity and defend them from unjust accusations?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you forgave the sinful woman
who washed your feet with tears of repentance
and anointed them with the balm of love.
Listen to our prayers:
forgive our sins,
renew our hearts by your love,
help us to live in unity as your disciples
that we may proclaim to all your saving power.
You incarnate God’s loving mercy
and you live now and forever.
Amen.
***
Loving Father,
we thank you for the ordained ministers
who watch over your Church,
teaching and nourishing our faith.
Protect them from unjust accusations
and help them to live a life of holiness and integrity.
Bless them in all their endeavors
to bring the saving love of Christ to all.
We give you glory and praise, 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.
“Her many sins have been forgiven” (Lk 7:47) // “Set an example for those who believe.” (I Tm 4:12)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray that God’s merciful love may be experienced by those who have sinned against him and that they may open themselves up to his gift of forgiveness. // Make an effort to commend your pastor for the good work he does on behalf of the parish community.
*** *** ***
September 18, 2015: FRIDAY – WEEKDAY (24)
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is Accompanied By Ministering Women … He Ministers Compete Well for the Faith”
BIBLE READINGS
I Tm 6:2c-12 // Lk 8:1-3
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
Today’s Gospel reading (Lk 8:1-3) is a beautiful image of ministering women. While Jesus travels through towns and villages preaching the Good News about the Kingdom of God, he is accompanied not only by the “Twelve” apostles but also by women who responded to Jesus out of gratitude for the blessings received from him. These remarkable women use their own resources to help Jesus and his disciples. Jesus imparts a new dignity and role to women, involving them in his public ministry. The “ministering women” of the Gospel are a figure of the wonderful array of women who fulfill vital ministries in the Church through the ages. The backbones in most missionary movements are women and they continue to play prominent and indispensable roles in successful Christian spiritual-apostolic endeavors.
The ministering women in Jesus’ public ministry are intimate participants in the paschal mystery of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. When Jesus dies on the cross, the women who have followed him from Galilee are present, standing and witnessing the event at a distance. They prepare the spices and perfume for Jesus’ burial and witness how Jesus’ body is placed in the tomb. Above all, they are the first witnesses and messengers of the resurrection. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the Risen Lord’s Easter gift, women continue, through time and space, to proclaim zealously the joy of the Gospel.
The following account in the life of Blessed James Alberione, Founder of the Pauline Family, is an example of how women cooperate in the spread of the Gospel and in the priestly zeal (cf. Luigi Rolfo, James Alberione: Apostle for Our Times, trans. Salvatore Paglieri, New York: Alba House, 1987, p. 113-114)
A Great Benefactress: In those days, he came to know a truly precious cooperator to whom he felt duty bound to pay a debt of gratitude … He met her under circumstances of which we have news through the testimony of one of the very first Paulines.
The government had requisitioned a wing of the diocesan seminary for military use. The wing had been left vacant since many clerics had been called into military service. Among the soldiers lodged at the seminary where Father Alberione maintained a bedroom – since he still did not have one at his own house – there was a young, pale official of distinguished and aristocratic mien who one day revealed to the young priest the discomfort it caused him to have to sleep in the middle of such slovenly and poorly educated soldiers. Father Alberione felt obliged to perform an act of Christian and priestly generosity: he let the young official have his room and bed and resigned himself to sleeping on a couch in the refectory or in the hallway of his house.
The mother of the official, Mrs. Amalia Cavazza-Vitali, occupant of the castle of Barbaresco, informed about what had happened, wanted to meet the priest who had been so generous towards her son; and, in finding out that he didn’t have a mattress, hurried to acquire one better than the one he had given up to her son and donate it to him. Father Alberione thanked her, but immediately passed the mattress on to one of his boys who had none. The lady bought a second one which went yet to another boy. Then, like any mother, she acquired a third and brought it to Father Alberione. She consigned it to him stating very clearly: “Remember I’m not giving this to you but only lending it and I intend to be able to come back and get it at any moment. For that reason, you can use it only. Do I make myself understood?” And so, whether he liked it or not, the priest had to accept these conditions, keep the mattress for himself and use it.
The mattresses were just a small part of the many gifts which Mrs. Cavazza, now an enthusiastic cooperator in the works of Father Alberione, gave to the House up to 1922 when the Lord called her to Himself. When she came to know that Father Alberione wanted to have a little chapel in the house, she gave him a beautiful chalice, which was used for the first time on June 29, 1918. Twice a week a cart left Barbaresco carrying to Alba the famous “Barbaresco” wine, coffee, meat, home-made bread, fruit, medicine, etc. – all things destined for Father Alberione but which, because of his disposition, were regularly passed on to his boys.
The lady wanted to do more and to give not only things but her time as well: she helped in editing The Gazette of Alba; she offered two manuscripts of her own, “The Duties of Daughters” and “Duties of Wives and Mothers”; and she assisted every time she could in reading and correcting the proofs.
***
In today’s first Reading (I Tm 6:2c-12), Saint Paul reminds Timothy about the danger of wealth and money. Timothy, a leader of a Christian community, must not succumb to seductions of worldly riches, but rather pursue the virtues and qualities of true discipleship. He must “compete well for the faith” in order to reach the goal of eternal life. Paul reminds Timothy of the “noble confession” he made at his baptismal consecration and ordination. Timothy’s task is to bear faithful witness to Christ and the Gospel. His duty as bishop includes the pursuit of justice and righteousness - of love, patience and gentleness - on behalf of the people he serves. His pastoral commission involves striving for justice and care for the poor.
The Korean martyrs Saint Andrew Kim Taegon and Sant Paul Chong Hasang exemplify the sterling qualities of Christian discipleship and Church ministry (cf. Wikipedia profiles on the Internet).
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon: Saint Kim Taegon Andrea (1821-1846), generally referred to as Saint Andrew Kim Taegon in English, was the first Korean-born Catholic priest and is the patron saint of Korea. In the late 18th century, Roman Catholicism began to take root slowly in Korea and was introduced by laypeople. It was not until 1836 that Korea saw its first consecrated missionaries (members of the Paris Foreign Missions Society) arrive, only to find out that the people were already practicing Catholicism.
Kim’s parents were converts and his father was subsequently martyred for practicing Christianity, a prohibited activity in heavily Confucian Korea. After being baptized at age 15, Kim studied at a seminary in the Portuguese colony of Macau. He also spent time in study at Lolomboy, Bulacan, Philippines, where a statue of him stands in a village. He was ordained a priest in Shanghai after nine years (1844) by the French bishop Jean Joseph Ferreol. He then returned to Korea to preach and evangelize. During the Joseon Dynasty, Christianity was suppressed and many Christians were persecuted and executed. Catholics had to covertly practice their faith. Kim was one of several thousand Christians who were executed during this time. In 1846, at the age of 25, he was tortured and beheaded near Seoul on the Han River.
His last words were: “This is my last hour of life, listen to me attentively; if I have held communication with foreigners, it has been for my religion and for my God. It is for Him that I die. My immortal life is on the point of beginning. Become Christians if you wish to be happy after death, because God has eternal chastisements in store for those who have refused to know Him.”
Before Ferreol, the first Bishop of Korea, died from exhaustion on the third of February 1853, he wanted to be buried beside Kim, stating, “You will never know how sad I was to lose this young native priest. I have loved him as a father loved his son; it is a consolation for me to think of his eternal happiness.”
On May 6, 1984, Pope John Paul II canonized Kim along with 102 other Korean martyrs, including Paul Chong Hasang, during his trip to Korea. Their memorial is September 20.
***
Saint Paul Chong Hasang: Saint Paul Chong Hasang (1794 or 1795 – September 22, 1839) was one of the Korean martyrs. He was the son of the martyr Augustine Jeong Yak-Jong and a nephew of noted philosopher John Jeong Yak-Jong, who were among the first converts of Korea, who wrote the first catechism for the Roman Catholic Church in Korea (entitled “Jugyo Yoji”). When Yakjong was martyred with Hasang’s older brother, Yakjong’s wife and the remaining children were spared and went to a rural place. Hasang was seven years old.
When he grew up, Hasang chose to become a servant of a government interpreter. This enabled him to travel to Beijing multiple times, where he entreated the bishop of Beijing to send priests to Korea, and wrote to Pope Gregory XVI via the bishop of Beijing, requesting the establishment of a diocese in Korea. This happened in 1825.
Some years later, Bishop Laurent-Marie Joseph and two priests were sent. The bishop found Hasang to be talented, zealous and virtuous. He taught him Latin and theology, and was about to ordain him when a persecution broke out. Hasang was captured and gave a judge a written statement defending Catholicism. The judge, after reading it, said: “You are right in what you have written, but the king forbids this religion; it is your duty to renounce it.” Hasang replied, “I have told you that I am a Christian, and will be one until my death.”
After this Hasang went through a series of tortures in which his countenance remained tranquil. Finally, he was bound to a cross on a cart and cheerfully met his death at the age of 45.
The Korean Martyrs are commemorated by the Roman Catholic Church with a memorial on 20 September. 103 of them, including Hasang, were canonized by Pope Paul II in 1984.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. Am I sensitive to the needs of the Gospel workers? Do I promote and collaborate in their ministry? How?
2. Like Saint Timothy and the martyrs, are we willing to compete well for our faith and to make a noble confession of our faith?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Loving Father,
your Son Jesus became poor
and allowed the ministering women
to provide for his needs.
Like the holy women who joined Jesus in his public ministry,
may we collaborate intimately in his saving ministry.
We give you glory and praise, now and forever.
Amen.
***
Loving Father,
we pray for the ministers of the Church
that they may strive
for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Grant that they may compete well for the faith
and firmly profess their faith before all.
We give you glory and praise, 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.
“They provided for them out of their resources.” (Lk 8:3) // “Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life.” (I Tm 6:11-12)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Endeavor to help the needy priests in any way you can. // Pray for priests who are in crisis. Do what you can to help them persevere in the race of faith.
*** *** ***
September 19, 2015: SATURDAY – WEEKDAY (24); SAINT JANUARIUS, Bishop, Martyr; BVM ON SATURDAY
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Sows the Seed of the Living Word … He Is God’s Faithful Witness”
BIBLE READINGS
I Tm 6:13-16 // Lk 8:4-15
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
(Gospel Reflection by Dr. Eleanor Ronquillo, Member: ASSOCIATION OF PAULINE COOPERATORS – Friends of the Divine Master, Antipolo Unit, Philippines)
Here is the story of three people:
1. A mother of a young boy, an only son, served her parish well. Then her young son got sick and died of dengue fever. She transferred to the Born Again Movement.
2. A father of four young children, two boys and two girls, had been a devout Catholic, a humble servant. His eldest child, one of his daughters, suddenly died in a car accident. Then within a few months, his other daughter died of a lingering heart disease. He has remained steadfast, in fact more busy with his apostolate, so that people admire his courage and great faith.
3. A fifty-year old man had several medical illnesses, many physical pains and fears. He often fought with neighbors and relatives. Then he began to study the Bible and claimed he had found God. Now, he goes about criticizing priests, scrutinizing the works of parish workers, largely becoming disgusted by the way people behave.
Three lives, three different levels of faith. Which seed fell on good ground and bore fruit? Which seed started to grow on rock, but was scorched by the sun? Which seed grew among thistles and weeds, ready to be choked by them?
Our lives are constantly challenged by weeds, thistles, rocks, the heat of the sun … Can we say we are founded on good ground? Such are the pains of life that some may reach their breaking point at which they break away. Others are strengthened in faith by their intense crises. Quite honestly, I am afraid. Like the plant that grows on good ground, I want to grow and bear fruit. But there are just times when strong forces of heavy rains, strong winds, intense heat, and being trampled upon might weaken the plant. Those are the times I need to cling, I need to hold on, I need to anchor, to be nurtured. Like the plant, we all need to be nurtured. And we must be nurtured in our faith in order to grow.
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In today’s reading (I Tm 6:13-17), Saint Paul reminds Timothy of the “noble confession” he made at his baptismal consecration and ordination, as well as the faith confession Jesus himself made before Pontius Pilate, which climaxed in Christ’s passion and death on the cross. With this powerful reminder, Paul admonishes Timothy to fulfill God’s command faithfully until the Lord’s coming. Timothy’s task is to bear faithful witness to Christ and the Gospel, just as Jesus bore faithful witness before Pilate. His duty as bishop includes the pursuit of justice and righteousness - of love, patience and gentleness - on behalf of the people he serves. Indeed, Timothy’s pastoral commission involves striving for justice and care for the poor.
Aelred Rosser concludes: “The letter to Timothy advises the young bishop about his new role as a leader of the community. It also reveals the kind of persons we ought to be. We are to have integrity, which means putting everything together for God and fellow human beings.”
Mother Teresa of Calcutta exemplifies the power of love that ministers to the needy and the pursuit of gentleness that benefits the world’s poor. A person of profound integrity and tremendous dedication, she became God’s instrument to alleviate the pain and hunger, the fear and despair, of the “Lazarus” in our world today. As we celebrate the centenary of the birth of Mother Teresa, it is our joy to present the following excerpt that depicts her boundless love for the poor and destitute (cf. Paul Cheruthottuputam, SDB, “The Power of a Smile” in L’Osservatore Romano, September 10, 2010, p. 6-7).
Mother Teresa’s Contribution to Church and Society: It is difficult to judge the impact Mother Teresa had on the Church and society. It would be true to say that her dedication to helping those who couldn’t help themselves has been an inspiration to the world. I know of a young man who volunteered in her Kalighat home for the dying. Inspired by her philosophy of service, he made a film entitled “My Karma” which won several international awards. Not only did this Hindu Bengali youth quit his job as an officer in the Indian navy and now works in a Muslim slum in Narekeldanga area of Calcutta, calling Mother Teresa his mother and Mahatman Gandhi his father. Mother Teresa did more than inspire. She taught that the greatest way to show God’s love is to meet the needs of others, one person at a time, here and now. She offered no magical solution to the problems and injustices in the world. But, she showed how we can make a difference in the life of one person at a time!
The Nirmal Hriday (home for the dying), her first institution started in 1952 in the temple precincts of Calcutta’s presiding deity, Kali, is still the hallowed place which makes her friends and foes stand in awe. It was the place where Mother Teresa met every journalist who interviewed her for the first time. Since its creation, some 50,000 men, women and children taken from the streets have been transported to this home. Of these, one half died surrounded by love and kindness. For those who survived, the Sisters helped to find a job or they were sent to homes where they could live happily,
Her Shishu Bavan (home for babies) as well as other orphanages have offered shelter and hope to countless children around the world. Many of the children that were raised in them went on to become productive citizens and some even joined her mission. The leper colony which Mother Teresa founded with monies from her 1971 Pope John XXIII Peace Prize has offered a place where the outcasts can find acceptance. When she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, she convinced the committee to cancel the official banquet and use the money to buy meals for 15,000 poor. She opened houses for alcoholics, drug addicts, AIDS patients, and the homeless and destitute in Rome. Mother Teresa also supported the rehabilitation of women prisoners with the help of late West Bengal Marxist Chief Minister, Jyoti Basu.
Mother Teresa and Her Critics: She has been praised by many individuals, governments and organizations; however, she has also faced a diverse range of criticisms. (…) Attacking the wrinkled, hunched-over Sister of Calcutta, accusing her of being a goggle-eyed fanatic and a mad and disgusting celebrator of poverty, is the aetheistic equivalent of mugging an old woman
To take us into Mother Teresa’s world, celebrated British journalist Malcom Muggeridge sets up a contrast between his commonplace perception of the world and that of Mother Teresa. Early in his book Something Beautiful for God (Harper & Row, 1971) Muggeridge mentions a brief stay (as the assistant editor of The Statesman newspaper) in Calcutta in the 1930s during which he became disgusted by the slums and wretched social conditions. He remembers self-righteously asking people, “Why don’t the authorities do something?” And he quickly left. Mother Teresa, by contrast, saw the same squalor and stayed – armed, as Muggeridge puts it, only with “this Christian love shining about her”. Muggeridge remarks, “As for my expatiations on Bengal’s wretched social conditions – I regret to say that I doubt whether in any divine accounting, they will equal one single quizzical half smile bestowed by Mother Teresa on a street urchin who happened to catch her eye” (p. 220).
Mother Teresa had a short response to her critics: “No matter who says what, you should accept it with a smile and do your own work.”
Mother Teresa’s Spirituality: (…) As much as she believed in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, she believed that in the bodies of the poorest of the poor, she touched the body of Jesus. (…) Maintaining constant union with God was the hallmark of her spirit of prayer. Have you seen any of her photos without those gnarled hands clutching her Rosary beads? For she knew there was no other way to know what God wanted every moment of the day except by asking Him for the grace to know His divine will and then to do it with all her heart! (…) The striking aspect of Mother Teresa’s spirituality is that she never did anything more than what she insisted with every Missionary of Charity Sister – the spirituality of the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, and the fourth vow, to give “wholehearted and free service to the poorest of the poor”.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. With eagerness and humility, do we endeavor to be the rich, welcoming soil that will make the seed of the Kingdom grow and bear abundant fruit to be shared with those who long for the blessings of God? When we are not receptive to grace, what do we do to surmount this spiritual resistance and difficulty?
2. Do we endeavor to keep God’s commandments without stain or reproach until the “appearance” of our Lord Jesus Christ that God will make manifest at the proper time?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
let the gentle dew of your grace
fall on the parched soil of our heart
to soften it and make it fruitful.
Let the seed of your living Word grow in our heart
and yield a bountiful harvest.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
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O loving God,
the blessed Ruler, the King of kings and the Lord of Lords
you alone are immortal.
You dwell in unapproachable light.
With Jesus Christ
and Saint Paul, Saint Timothy and all the apostles and disciples,
let us give faithful witness to you.
To you be honor and eternal power!
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.
“They bear fruit through perseverance.” (Lk 8:15) // “Keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Tm 6:14)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray that the seed of the Kingdom may find rich soil to nourish it, and make it grow and be fruitful. Pray for Christian disciples-apostles who broadcast the seed of the word of God in today’s field of human concerns and affairs, that they may be strengthened in their endeavors. Do what you can to cooperate in their mission of sowing the word of God. // Spend some quiet moments before the Blessed Sacrament to meditate and pray on God’s life-giving commands.
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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