A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 5, n. 37)
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – August 12, 2007
“Our Response to God”
BIBLE READINGS
Wis 18:6-9 // Heb 11:1-2, 8-19 // Lk 12:32-48
N.B. Series 5 of BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy of Year C from the perspective of the First Reading. For another set of reflections on the Sunday liturgy of Year C, please go to the PDDM Web Archives: WWW.PDDM.US and open Series 2.
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
Last June 13th, memorial of St. Anthony of Padua, I stayed after the 7:00 A.M. daily Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles to do my monthly recollection. After the people left, the cavernous Cathedral was filled with an intense silence that was a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit. I prayerfully contemplated the vast array of saints depicted on the beautiful tapestries that adorn the majestic walls of the Cathedral. The multi-ethnic features of the various personages portrayed on the tapestries speak of the beauty and universality of the Church triumphant in heaven. The communion with the saints that I felt at that moment was overwhelming. I blessed the Lord for that “little flock” of saints who had ardently sought the kingdom of God and are now experiencing “ an inexhaustible treasure in heaven” (Lk 12:33).
I then went down to the crypt to visit the Cathedral Mausoleum, which was totally deserted. As I walked solemnly through the softly lit corridors made enchanting by the stained glass windows from the former Cathedral of St. Vibiana, the silence was even more intense and marvelous. I was suffused with feelings of peace, joy and serenity. I fully embraced the beauty and the silence of that awesome place, which bore a sacred witness to God’s promise of resurrection. I lingered before the niche of Gregory Peck, one of my favorite actors. I offered special prayers for the repose of his soul and thanked the Lord for what he had done as a Christian actor. In the two films where he was featured, “The Keys of the Kingdom” and “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Gregory Peck brought out the best in human values and led people closer to God.
After some time, I went to the sun-drenched Cathedral patio looking for a nice place where I could eat my breakfast. A very distinguished-looking gentleman greeted me and said, “Thank you for your gift.” I was perplexed for I had never met him before nor offered him any gift. He continued, “Thank you for the gift of your vocation … for your religious consecration. We seldom see people like you anymore. You are a gift to us and to the Church. We pray that there will be more people like you.” I bowed my head in acknowledgment and told the kind gentleman that I would pray for him. I moved on and occupied one of the outdoor tables provided by the Cathedral’s Grill Restaurant. As I tranquilly nibbled the honey pretzels that I brought, a bird flew near me and played close to my feet. I gazed at the flowing fountains and admired the verdant Garden of Olives, which are some of the best attractions at the L.A. Cathedral. I felt a deep sense of wholeness and well being within me. I was in peace with God, with nature, with one another. I thanked the Lord for the gift of my religious vocation. Moreover, I realized more deeply the spiritual meaning and challenge that religious consecration offers to the world today.
The consecrated religious signify and proclaim in the Church and in modern society the glory of the world to come. In proposing to follow Christ more nearly, in giving themselves totally to the God who is loved above all, and in pursuing the perfection of charity in the service of the Kingdom, they present to the world the primacy and absolute value of the kingdom of God – of the “inexhaustible treasure in heaven”. Indeed, the consecrated religious are called to live radically and fully the baptismal consecration to Jesus Christ and thus serve as a leaven of transformation in today’s world.
The Bible readings of the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time help us to glean deeper insights into the call to religious consecration and priestly ministry. They enable the Christian community to perceive the astounding value and radical demand of Christian vocation, especially the priestly and religious vocation. The First Reading (Wis 18:6-9) underlines that God is the origin of our Christian vocation in general and of the priestly-religious vocation in particular. The Second Reading (Heb 11:1-2, 8-19) tells us that like our father Abraham, obedient and total faith is the response to the divine call, as Christian laity, priests and religious. Moreover, this Sunday’s Gospel reading (Lk 12:32-48) delineates the intense demand of Christian discipleship, which is to share with the needy, to live vigilant lives that are in harmony with our baptismal consecration, and to carry out our daily tasks as Christian disciples, priests and religious with deep responsibility and in a spirit of loving service.
The First Reading of this Sunday’s liturgy (Wis 18:6-9) highlights the vocation of Israel, radically “summoned” by God and eventually formed into a chosen people through the Passover events. The “transitus” or crossing over from a situation of slavery in Egypt into an experience of freedom in the Promised Land helped forge the tribes of Israel into a holy, priestly and kingly people consecrated to Yahweh. The trials and duress of the Exodus experience led to an intimate, covenantal relationship with the liberating God. As for the people of Israel, the Lord God is the origin of our Christian vocation and of priestly and religious vocations in the Church. The vocation to priestly ministry and to religious consecration occurs through God’s initiative and is accomplished in his Son Jesus Christ. Just as the saving will of God who “summoned” his people Israel manifested its special power during the night of Exodus, the divine call in Jesus Christ to religious consecration and priestly ministry manifests its irresistible force in our daily “paschal” experiences – in moments of trial, suffering and sacrifice. Intimate union with Jesus Christ in his paschal mystery disposes the Christian disciple to open up to God’s call to religious consecration and priestly ministry.
My own vocation story illustrates this. I was almost sixteen when my father was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. When I heard the terrible news I wept inconsolably. After midnight, I realized that the light in my mother’s room was still on. I peeked and saw my mom praying intensely, with arms extended in the form of a cross. I went to my mom and told her that if my father would get well, I would enter the convent and become a nun. By the healing power of God, my father miraculously recovered and lived for thirty more years. Three years after that paschal experience, I entered the PDDM congregation and dedicated my entire life to a ministry of prayer.
The Second Reading (Heb 11:1-2, 8-19) depicts the wonderful response of faith of Abraham to God’s call. Faith is our response to God. “By faith, Abraham obeyed when God called him” (v. 8). He put absolute trust in the word of God and the divine promise to make out of him a great nation. Harold Buetow comments: “Abraham’s faith was not according to the principle of most people, who cautious and comfort-loving, put safety first, his faith went into the unknown, where it could not see the end of the path. Abraham did everything God wanted of him – and, sure enough, ultimately his wife conceived and his son Isaac was born. Then, when God asked him to leave the comforts of his hometown Ur in the Chaldean mountains for what came to be known as the Promised Land and endure all the problems of a stranger in a foreign land, he did it – even though he was not sure where God was leading him. God, to test him even further, some years later asked him to give his young son Isaac as a living sacrifice. Despite his hope that through Isaac he would have descendants, he prepared to do as God asked. It was only at the last moment that God prevented him from going through with his sacrifice. We, like Abraham, should let go and let God!“
The life of my former student, Rhoel Gallardo, who was ordained a Claretian priest, is an example of a total faith response to God. After ordination, he was assigned in Basilan Island, in southern Philippines, a place infested by the dreaded Abu Sayaf Muslim rebels, notorious for senseless crimes and kidnapping. The young Fr. Rhoel was kidnapped together with some catechists of his parish. He was mocked for his faith and ordered to do something ugly and awful – to rape his own catechists. The priest refused. He was tortured and eventually, killed. He sacrificed his own life to protect his sheep. His response to his priestly vocation was total and sacrificial. Fr. Rhoel was faithful to his priestly ministry until the end.
The call to greater fidelity and authenticity in our Christian vocation and most especially in the lives of consecrated religious and ordained ministers is reinforced in this Sunday’s Gospel reading (Lk 12:32-48). Through various images (the treasure in heaven, the servants awaiting the Master’s return, the burglar who comes in unexpectedly, the faithful steward and the abusive, irresponsible slave), the Gospel passage reminds us of the challenge of our Christian vocation, especially those called to priestly ministry and religious consecration. We are called to share our resources with the needy and seek “the inexhaustible treasure in heaven”. We are exhorted to be vigilant and ever ready for the coming of God’s kingdom. We are challenged moreover to fulfill our daily tasks with personal dedication and to be the faithful stewards and responsible servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. Priests and religious, who have received gifts and blessings more abundantly in view of their particular vocation and mission, need to be keenly aware of the double edged warning issued by Jesus: “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more” (Lk 12:48).
The life of Mother Theresa is an example of consecrated religious life at its very best. Last June 10, feast of Corpus Christi, we attended the 25th anniversary of the ordination to the priesthood of Msgr. Kevin Kostelnik, pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral. It was a very inspiring celebration and Msgr. Kevin’s homily was exceedingly nourishing. He narrated an experience he had with Mother Theresa of Calcutta when the latter visited Los Angeles. Requesting an inspiring thought from her, Mother Theresa responded with this one: “There is only one pail of water, and out there are a hundred destitute standing in line, needing a bath. Overwhelmed by the situation, do we refuse to help them? Do we tell them that there is not enough for everybody and close the door behind us? Obviously not! That is not the Christian response. Rather, we should take the first person, bring him inside and give him a bath. Just take care if the one needy person in front of you and trust immensely that God would take care of the rest.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
A. Do we truly believe that God is the font of Christian vocation? Do we realize that the loving God, in his mercy and compassion to extend his saving plan to the whole world and entire creation, has called particular persons to the priestly ministry or to a life of religious consecration? Do we esteem the gift of religious consecration and the sacrament of priestly ordination in the Church? Do we believe that we are all vocational promoters in the Church? What do we do to help promote the vocation to priesthood and religious life?
B. Are we sensitive to the voice of God calling us to our true destiny? Are we receptive to his “summons” and loving plan for us? Do we contemplate the inspiring story of Abraham, our father in faith, and allow the wonderful events of his life to inspire us? Do we endeavor to make an obedient, faithful and total response to God? Do we pray that those called by God to the priestly ministry and a life of religious consecration may be total in their response and integral in their commitment?
C. How do we respond to the demands of Christian discipleship? Do we share with the needy? Are our lives coherent with the faith we profess? Do we carry out our daily tasks with personal dedication and in a spirit of loving service? Are we happy in our vocation? If not, how do we discern and live up to the challenge of our true vocation? Are we a leaven of transformation in today’s world?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
(By Pope Benedict, March 4, 2006)
O Father, raise up among Christians
abundant and holy vocations to the priesthood,
who keep the faith alive
and guard the blessed memory of your Son Jesus
through the preaching of his word
and the administration of the Sacraments,
with which you continually renew your faithful.
Grant us holy ministers of your altar,
who are careful and fervent guardians of the Eucharist,
the sacrament of the supreme gift of Christ
for the redemption of the world.
Call ministers of your mercy,
who, through the sacrament of Reconciliation,
spread the joy of your forgiveness.
Grant, O Father, that the Church may welcome with joy
the numerous inspirations of the Spirit of your Son
and, docile to His teachings,
may she care for vocations to the ministerial priesthood
and to the consecrated life.
Sustain the Bishops, priests and deacons,
consecrated men and women,
and all the baptized in Christ,
so that they may faithfully fulfill their mission
at the service of the Gospel.
This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Mary, Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“By faith, Abraham obeyed when God called him.” (Heb 11:8)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
A. ACTION PLAN: Pray that all Christians may realize the wonderful gift of our baptismal vocation. As we welcome joyfully the numerous inspirations of the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us promote and care for vocations to the ministerial priesthood and to the consecrated life. Offer special prayers for Australia’s National Vocation Week (August 5-12) that is concluded this Sunday.
ACTION PLAN: To help us pray more ardently for priestly and religious vocations, make an effort to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the PDDM WEB site (www.pddm.us) for the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 3, n. 37): A Weekly Pastoral Tool.
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