A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday & Weekday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 14, n. 47)
Week 29 in Ordinary Time: October 16-22, 2016
(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 of Year C from various perspectives. For the Lectio Divina on the liturgy of the past week: October 8-15, 2016, please go to ARCHIVES Series 14 and click on “Week 28 in Ordinary Time”.
Below is a LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY - WEEKDAY LITURGY: October 16-22, 2016.)
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October 16, 2016: SUNDAY – TWENTY-NINETH SUNDAY
IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Teaches Us the Power of Prayer”
WORLD MISSION SUNDAY (U.S.A.)
(N.B. In some ecclesiastical territories WORLD MISSION SUNDAY is celebrated on October 23. Please go to our website www.pddm.us and click on “Eucharistic Adoration”
for a Prayer Guide on Mission Sunday.)
BIBLICAL READINGS
Ex 17:8-13 // II Tm 3:14-4:2 // Lk 18:1-8
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 18:1-8): “God will secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him.”
At times, the power of evil is so overwhelming that even persons of faith begin to falter. This is evident in the following account:
Archbishop Romero offers her a chair. Marianela prefers to talk standing up. She always comes for others, but this time she comes for herself. Marianela Garcia Vilas, attorney for the tortured and disappeared of El Salvador, does not come this time to ask the archbishop’s solidarity with one of the victims … This time she has something personal to say to him. As mildly as she can, she tells him that the police have kidnapped her, bound, beat, humiliated, stripped her – and they raped her. She tells it without tears or agitation, with her usual calm, but Archbishop Romero has never before heard in Marianela’s voice these vibrations of hatred, echoes of disgust, calls for vengeance.
When Marianela finishes, Archbishop Romero, who always gives advice and comfort, is weeping like a child without mother or home. He who always gives assurances, the tranquilizing assurance of a neutral God who knows and embraces all – Archbishop Romero doubts. He weeps and doubts.
Against the backdrop of today’s painful human realities experienced by those whose faith is severely tested, the Gospel of this Sunday (Lk 18:1-8) becomes exceedingly relevant and meaningful. Jesus comforts those whose faith is intensely challenged with the astounding truth: God secures the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him in faith. The evangelist Luke explains that the parable of the unscrupulous judge and the importunate widow, which Jesus addressed to his disciples, is about the need to pray always and never lose heart. The widow was relentlessly pursuing the dishonest judge and continually beseeching him to render a just decision on her behalf against her adversary. In order to get rid of the pestering widow and to stop being bothered by her any further, he finally granted her request.
The biblical scholar, Samuel Oyin Abogunrin, commented on this parable: “The key characters in the parable are a judge and a widow. The perversion of justice is condemned again and again in the Old Testament. Judges are to be impartial arbiters and champions of the helpless, poor, widows, orphans, foreigners, and the like … In this parable the judge appears not to uphold this standard. The widow is the figure of the oppressed and the defenseless who suffer at the hands of ruthless rulers and unjust judges. The poor widow, who is deprived of her rights by one more powerful than she, is in this parable asking only for justice. The judge stands in stark contrast to God who throughout the Bible is described as one who cannot condone evil … If an unjust judge will eventually hear the persistent pleas of a poor widow, how much more will a just judge, God, hear our cries for help if we will only be persistent in our appeals. Therefore we should never despair, but like the poor widow persist in hope.”
In the Gospel parable, the perverse judge acts as a foil for God, who will, at the end-time, see to it that justice is done speedily for those who persist in faith and prayer. The loving and compassionate God does justice for the poor and the oppressed. Indeed, if the persistent pleading of the helpless widow triumphs over the unjust judge, who is guided by neither divine or human law, how much more will the persistent praying of Christian disciples achieve true justice. If an unjust judge yields to the entreaties of a pestering widow, how much more will a gracious God come to the help of his disciples who cry out to him for succor.
The decisive question, therefore, is the one raised by the Lord Jesus: “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8). The decisive question is whether Jesus’ disciples will remain faithful to him. And the issue is one of faith: faith in the God who saves. The persevering prayer of Christian disciples who suffer injustice and fight for justice in the world is geared towards the strengthening of faith. Prayer is necessary for Christ’s followers to remain faithful as they await the coming of God’s kingdom in its fullness.
B. First Reading (Ex 17:8-13): “As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight.”
I was the Liturgy Coordinator of the Program and Events Committee that prepared the papal liturgy for World Youth Day ’95 held in Manila, Philippines. Some of our main concerns were the peace and security of the participants as well as fair weather for the open-air liturgical celebrations with Pope John Paul II. Challenged by these concerns and cognizant of many others, we organized youth “prayer warriors” to offer special supplication for the Pope and to invoke God’s blessings upon World Youth Day ’95, a wonderful pastoral event in the life of the Church. The late Jaime Cardinal Sin of the Archdiocese of Manila was greatly pleased when he came to know of the ministry of the youth “prayer warriors”. The heartfelt prayers of the “warriors” were answered. The culminating liturgy at the Rizal National Park in Manila was blessed with fair weather and the “phenomenal” assembly of about four million participants at the Eucharistic celebration presided by the Pope was spared from harm, terrorist attack and injury. A false alarm in that incomparable throng would have provoked a horrible stampede and a sinister plot on that tightly packed crowd would have resulted in utter disaster. I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw on television Pope John Paul II safely boarding the plane that would take him to his next pastoral destination – New Guinea.
The Old Testament reading of this Sunday (Ex 17:8-13) depicts Moses with uplifted hands as a “prayer warrior”, a powerful symbol of the necessity and efficacy of prayer. The image of Moses interceding on the mountain with uplifted hands while Joshua and the Israelites battled the Amalekites at Rephidim illustrates the powerful, indispensable ministry of intercession. The Amalekites, who control the caravan routes between Arabia and Egypt, resent the intrusion of the Israelites, newly liberated by Yahweh from their slavery in Egypt. The Amalekites come and attack the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses orders a counter attack – the first military activity of the newly freed Israelites. The victory of the fledging Israelite army depends on divine help mediated through Moses, steadfastly brandishing “the staff of God”. Indeed, Moses – a figure of Jesus Christ - is an efficacious “prayer warrior” on account of divine predilection and because the power of “Yahweh-warrior” is upon him.
C. Second Reading (II Tm 3:14-4:2): “One who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every work.”
The Second Reading (II Tm 3:14-4:2) is about fidelity to the Word of God. The Christian disciple needs to listen, study and be nourished by the saving Word contained in the Scriptures in order to proclaim it faithfully. By imbibing the life-giving message of the Scriptures, those who truly belong to God become competent and equipped for every good work, especially the task of proclaiming the Word. As in prayer, one must be persistent in sharing the inspired Word of the Scriptures. The divine Word must be proclaimed perseveringly whether convenient or inconvenient. The follower of Christ is faithful to the Word and prayer. Empowered by the Word of God, Timothy and the Christian disciples of all time – well armed, thanks to “the Scripture inspired by God” – proclaim God’s saving love to all the nations.
A characteristic dimension of Christian prayer and service to the Word is loving concern for others. The following story illustrates the power of prayer – of a trusting, persevering and heartfelt prayer on behalf of others (cf. Arthur Callaway, “Up in the Air” in Guideposts, July 2010, p. 65).
Everything on this flight was going wrong. First, I was stuck in a window seat. And I never sit in a window seat. My bad knee cramps if I can’t stretch it into the aisle. The battery in my iPod was shot. I’d finished my book, and now my computer screen had died, so I couldn’t even catch up on work. I travel a lot for business, and plane rides were certainly nothing new. But a flight with nothing to distract me? This is sure going to be two long hours, I thought.
I laid my head back. Maybe I could get some sleep. But as soon as I closed my eyes, problems filled my mind, like the drought we were having back home in Texas. It had been over a month since we’d seen rain. My yard, my plants – everything was dying. Farmers and ranchers were suffering.
I opened my eyes and turned my head to look out the window. We were flying due south of Phoenix. The land far below was a patchwork of tan and brown. Then came a soft prompting: Why don’t you pray for those people down there? They need rain too.
I certainly had the time up here. Lord, it’s been a hot dry summer. There’s a lot of folks who need rain … I began. The plane flew on, and the scenery changed to the mountains, then cities and freeways. Sometimes all I could see were layers of clouds. But I never ran out of things to pray for: mothers, fathers, children, grandparents, the earth …
When I finally felt the soft thud of the landing gear against the runway, I could hardly believe so much time had passed. In fact, I had never felt so good at the end of a flight. I was energized. Hopeful. Ready to face whatever might come my way. It wasn’t until I exited the baggage claim and headed out to the parking lot with my gear that I realized something extraordinary – it was raining.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
What does it mean for me personally to lift up my hands, like Moses, in prayer? As Christian disciples, do we feel the necessity to pray always without becoming weary? Are we faithful to the Word contained in the Scriptures and persevering in proclaiming its life-giving message whether convenient or inconvenient? Do we see the connection between prayer and the proclamation of the Word?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
O loving Father,
you are loving and compassionate.
You care for us and listen to our prayers.
Grant that we may experience deeply your goodness
so that our prayers may be strengthened
by the truth of your saving Word.
Teach us to embrace the concerns of others
and those of the suffering world
so that we can pray for them with trusting hearts.
Help us to be faithful to your Word
and persevering in prayer.
We love you, almighty Father.
We 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 week. Please memorize it.
“God will see to it that justice is done for his chosen ones speedily.” (Lk 18:8)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Meditate on the meaning of intercessory prayer and our vocation to be “prayer warriors”. Especially on this World Mission Sunday, endeavor to exercise the ministry of intercession on behalf of the local community, the Church, and the whole world. As part of the missionary Church, be witnesses of God’s mercy and assist with your prayer and concrete deeds of charity the poor people around you.
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October 17, 2016: MONDAY – SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, Bishop, Martyr
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Essential One … He Reveals to Us the Riches of God’s Grace”
BIBLE READINGS
Eph 2:1-10 // Lk 12:13-21
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 12:13-21): “And the things you have prepared to whom will they belong?”
Disputes regarding family inheritance can be very bitter and destructive. A priest narrated to our Sisters an incident that he witnessed personally. He was called to assist a dying rich man. While he was praying over him and administering the last rites, the children were quarrelling in the kitchen over the inheritance. The priest was disappointed and frustrated.
We see in today’s Gospel (Lk 12:13-21) that this is probably the same feeling that Jesus has when someone in the crowd asks him: “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me”. Jesus’ response to the request shows that he is a wise Teacher. Refusing to be dragged into the litigation, he denies any jurisdiction over the dividing of inheritances: “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he turns to the crowd, warning them about the trap of earthly possessions: “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions”. As the Divine Master, he wants to show his disciples and would-be followers the true and efficacious way of dealing with earthly possessions. Jesus does this by narrating a parable about the hoarding Rich Fool. The latter is eagerly looking forward to a life of abundance and leisure, unaware that he is to die that very night.
The final words of Jesus in the parable of the Rich Fool wield a cutting edge and a tone of judgment: “Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God” (Lk 12:21). The indictment against those who are obsessed with material possessions should make us focus on what is essential. Romano Guardini asserts: “Here is the sharp division between the essential and the non-essential … Eternal possessions or temporal possessions – which are essential? Naturally, the eternal ones, for the others fade away … The more deeply people realize that Christ is the essential, the less concerned they will be about everything else.”
B. First Reading (Eph 2:1-10): “God brought us to life in Christ and seated us with him in the heavens.”
The First Reading (Eph 2:1-10) delineates not only the abundant riches of God’s mercy and grace, but also the need for a dutiful response to his forgiving love. Once we fully realize how much God loves us, we are able to respond wholeheartedly and spontaneously in loving deeds. Deeply conscious that we are recipients of the undeserved gift of God’s love, we are filled with thanksgiving and contribute to the wellbeing of the Church, humanity, the entire creation and the whole world.
The liturgical scholar Adrian Nocent remarks: “We contemplate the superabundant grace the Father has bestowed on us. We are saved by grace. This grace is inexhaustibly rich and makes our actions good in God’s sight … As we contemplate it, we must grasp the marvelous coherence of God’s plan of salvation. But more than that, we must ask ourselves how we are to live out the mystery in our everyday lives.”
Here is an example of how one can respond to the mystery of undeserved grace in his everyday life (cf. Bob McGreevy, “Treated to a Blessing” in Amazing Grace for the Catholic Heart, ed. Jeff Cavins, et. al., West Chester: Ascension Press, 2004, p. 257-258).
Walking out into a crisp September afternoon, my mood soared. My co-workers and I had just completed the first milestone of a very important and complicated project. As an energy and environmental comfort specialist, I had sold a product for renovating the heating, cooling, lighting, and indoor air quality for a 220,000 square foot, ten-story building in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
“This deserves celebration”, I thought to myself as I walked into the convenience store next-door. As I looked at the shelves for something to treat myself to, a thought came to me: “Someone needs this more than I do.” It was not as if I was down to my last dollar and had to choose between buying myself something or giving to charity, but the thought seemed to be a direction – a prompting. Recently, I seem to be getting more direction from God in my life since I changed my morning prayer routine. My new routine involves sitting quietly and trying to be fully present to the Lord, to be open to what He wants me to do. I am no mystic. I do not hear audible voices, but I sense that this morning spiritual exercise has helped me to be more in tune with God’s plan for me each day. On this particular day, it would have been easy for me to brush the thought away and go ahead and buy myself a candy bar or cupcake. After all, the idea that interrupted my confectionary plans seemed totally subjective. I could choose to listen to this soft prodding or brush it aside. I turned on my heels and left the store.
Back outside, there were street maintenance vehicles and personnel working nearby. I watched what they were doing for a few minutes. A man alongside me explained that a transformer had blown the day before. The crew was working on the repair. As we were watching the scene, another man walked up to me and asked, “Can you spare fifty cents?” The middle-aged man looked homeless. He carried his belongings in a bag. He had probably slept outside on some park bench or in some doorway entrance. Despite his appearance, you could see that he was probably new to living on the streets. He was certainly down on his luck, but perhaps it was only a temporary situation. He had a pleading look in his eyes as he quietly said, “Even a dime would help.”
I reached into my pocket, and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and gave it to him. The man looked at the bill and then back up at me, obviously surprised. Looking me square in the eyes, he said, “Thank you! You do not know how important this is to me.” He then turned and walked away with a livelier step than when he approached. I watched him pump his fist and mouth, “Yes!” That look in his eyes and that gesture of excitement gave me much more satisfaction that any treat could ever have offered.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. How do I deal with material goods and temporal possessions? Is it obsessively, or with true freedom and wisdom? How do I respond to Christ’s indictment: “Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God”? Do I deeply realize that Christ is the essential? How does this realization affect my daily choices and actions?
2. How do we manifest to the world that God is indeed rich in mercy? How do we share the rich treasures of divine grace with the people around us? Do we realize that as God’s handiwork, we are created in Christ Jesus for good works and that we are instruments of the divine saving grace?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Loving Father, source of all good and rich in mercy,
you give to us the greatest gift - your Son Jesus,
the essential one and the ultimate good.
He is the Divine Master
who invites us to trust in your providence
and deal wisely with earthly possessions.
Fill us with concern for the poor, hungry and needy
so that we may share with them your blessings.
Let us listen to the voice of Jesus.
In him you have shown us
the immeasurable riches of your grace.
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.
“One’s life does not consist of possessions.” (Lk 12:15) // “By grace you have been saved.” (Eph 2:8)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Thank the Lord for the blessings you have received from him. Then ask him to inspire you how to share the goods you have received from God with others.
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October 18, 2016: TUESDAY – SAINT LUKE EVANGELIST
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Calls Us to Proclaim the Advent of God’s Kingdom … He Gives Strength to His Missionaries”
BIBLE READINGS
II Tm 4:10-17b // Lk 10:1-9
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 10:1-9): “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.”
This happened in November of 1984 in Bombay, India. I accompanied our Italian Superior to a cemetery where hundreds of Italian soldiers, who died during World War II, were buried. A special memorial service was held for them. Italian citizens and members of the diplomatic corps attended the celebration, which was graced by the presence of the Italian Minister of Finance, the Honorable Signor Spadolini. After the laying of the floral wreath, a Mass followed. Two good-looking young men were actively participating in the Mass. Probably, the sons of some diplomats, I thought. After the Mass, the two were introduced to us as members of Chiara Lubich’s Focolare Movement. They were residing and working in the slums of Bombay. As we hitched a ride back home, a Sister was reciting a litany of miseries. She cynically asked, “Where is the Kingdom of God, tell me!” One of the two Focolare missionaries answered, “The Kingdom of God is within you!” She sobered up.
The Gospel reading (Lk 10:1-9) depicts the mission of Christian disciples to be bearers of peace and the Gospel joy as they move from village to village, proclaiming the coming of God’s kingdom. The image of the “rich harvest” signifies the peoples of the whole world that need to be gathered into the kingdom of God. In order to be more efficacious in gathering the people of God as in a “rich harvest”, Jesus gives his disciples remarkable directives. They are to travel light and not to carry any moneybag, sack or sandals. The detachment from material goods would enable them to uphold the absolute priority of preaching the Good News. The spirit of detachment would also help them to trust more deeply in Divine Providence and oblige them to rely humbly on the hospitality of those who are receptive to the Gospel. The mission of the Christian disciples is urgent. Hence, they are enjoined not to greet anyone on the way. Above all, they need to persevere. Even if not always welcomed, they are to continue to bring the peace of Christ and the Good News of the Kingdom. Their power to heal the sick would reinforce their message that the Kingdom of God is at hand.
B. First Reading (II Tm 4: 10-17b): “Luke alone is with me.”
As we celebrate the feast of Saint Luke, Evangelist, the First Reading (II Tm 4:10-17b) underlines the loneliness that Christian disciples may experience in their apostolic ministry. Saint Paul speaks of being abandoned, but in the midst of a general disloyalty he is consoled by the loyalty of some faithful apostolic workers. He remarks that “Luke is the only one with me”. Paul also requests Timothy to come and to bring with him Mark, who is helpful to Paul in his ministry. Noteworthy is the apostle’s avowal of faith and the meaning of his mission: “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it.”
In Paul’s apostolic ministry he has Saint Luke as one of his eminent fellow workers. Considered as patron saint of artists, physicians, surgeons, students and butchers, Saint Luke authored the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. These works give important information about Christ and the early Church. Below are some excerpts from EWTN’s article on Saint Luke that can be accessed on the Internet.
St. Luke was a native of Antioch, the metropolis of Syria, a city famous for the agreeableness of its situation, the riches of its traffic, its extent, the number of its inhabitants, the politeness of their manners, and their learning and wisdom. Its schools were the most renowned in all Asia, and produced the ablest masters in all arts and sciences. St. Luke acquired a stock of learning in his younger years, which we are told he improved by his travels in some parts of Greece and Egypt. St. Jerome assures us he was very eminent in his profession, and St. Paul, by calling him his most dear physician, seems to indicate that he had not laid it aside.
Besides his abilities in physics, he is said to have been very skillful in painting. The Menology of the Emperor Basil, compiled in 980, Nicephorus, Metaphrastes, and other modern Greeks quoted by Gretzer in his dissertation on this subject, speak much of his excelling in this art, and of his leaving many pictures of Christ and the Blessed Virgin. Though neither the antiquity nor the credit of these authors is of great weight, it must be acknowledged, with a very judicious critic, that some curious anecdotes are found in their writings. In this particular, what they tell us is supported by the authority of Theodorus Lector, who lived in 518, and relates that a picture of the Blessed Virgin painted by St. Luke was sent from Jerusalem to the Empress Pulcheria, who placed it in the church of Hodegorum which she built in her honour at Constantinople. Moreover, a very ancient inscription was found in a vault near the Church of St. Mary in via lata in Rome, in which it is said of a picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary discovered there, "One of the seven painted by St. Luke." Three or four such pictures are still in being; the principal is that placed by Paul V in the Barghesian chapel in St. Mary Major.
About the year 56 St. Paul sent St. Luke with St. Titus to Corinth with such high commendation that his praise in the gospel resounded throughout all the churches. St. Luke attended him to Rome, whither he was sent prisoner from Jerusalem in 61. The apostle remained there two years in chains; but was permitted to live in a house which he hired, though under the custody of a constant guard; and there he preached to those who daily resorted to hear him. St. Luke was the apostle's faithful assistant and attendant during his confinement, and had the comfort to see him set at liberty in 63, the year in which this evangelist finished his Acts of the Apostles.
St. Luke did not forsake his master after he was released from his confinement. That apostle in his last imprisonment at Rome writes that the rest had all left him, and that St. Luke alone was with him. St. Epiphanius says that after the martyrdom of St. Paul, St. Luke preached in Italy, Gaul, Dalmatia, and Macedon. By Gaul some understand Cisalpine Gaul, others Galatia. Fortunatus and Metaphrastus say he passed into Egypt and preached in Thebais. St. Hippolytus says St. Luke was crucified at Elaea in Peloponnesus near Achaia. The modern Greeks tell us he was crucified on an olive tree. The ancient African Martyrology of the fifth age gives him the titles of Evangelist and Martyr.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. Do we follow Jesus’ instructions to his disciples, especially with regards to the sense of urgency, spirit of trust and detachment, and absolute commitment that the mission of the Gospel entails? Do we take to heart Jesus’ exhortation: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest” (Lk 10:2)?
2. How does the life and ministry of Saint Luke inspire you? Do you believe that God, who has strengthen Saint Paul, Saint Luke and the other apostles-disciples, will also stand by you and give you strength?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
(Cf. Opening Prayer of the Mass on the Feast of Saint Luke)
Father,
you chose Luke the evangelist to reveal
by preaching and writing
the mystery of your love for the poor.
Unite in one heart and spirit
all who glory in your name.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, 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 kingdom of God is at hand for you.” (Lk 10:9) // “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength.” (II Tm 4:17)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
In your daily life and by your acts of charity, especially to the poor and needy, be bearers of the joy of the Gospel. Make an effort to study prayerfully the Gospel of Saint Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.
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October 19, 2016: WEDNESDAY – SAINTS JOHN DE BREBEUF AND ISAAC JOGUES, Priests, AND COMPANIONS, Martyrs
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Wants Us to Be Faithful Servants …
He is the Mystery Revealed”
(N.B. In the Pauline Family - the Memorial of Blessed Timothy Giaccardo, SSP)
BIBLE READINGS
Eph 3:2-12 // Lk 12: 39-48
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 12:39-48): “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much.”
In today’s Gospel (Lk 12:39-48), Jesus exhorts us to be ever ready because his coming is as uncertain as the coming of a thief. Peter asks a question which Jesus ignores because it is impertinent. The lesson of Jesus’ parable is meant for all disciples, but especially for Church leaders who are called to greater accountability. They are to be punished in proportion to their irresponsibility. The leaders of the faith community are called to greater fidelity in fulfilling the mission Jesus entrusted to them. Jesus warns them: “Much will be required of a person entrusted with much … and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
My mother mirrors for me the quality of faithful vigilance. She was an elementary school teacher for 38 years. No matter how tired or stressed she was, she would prepare the following day’s lesson plan. School supervisors would come unannounced to check. She would rather be absent than go to school without a lesson plan. She did not want them to find her unprepared for that would be a big blot on her integrity as a teacher. But I suppose, even if there were no school supervisors, she would continue her good work just the same because of her loyalty to God and her sense of responsibility for the children entrusted to her care.
B. First Reading (Eph 3:2-12): “The mystery of Christ has now been revealed and the Gentiles are coheirs in the promise.”
Today’s First Reading (Eph 3:2-12) contains a very concise Christian message: by means of the Gospel the Gentiles have a part with the Jews in God’s blessings. As members of the same body, they share in the promise that God made through Christ Jesus. This is the saving “mystery” once hidden, but is now made known to Paul and to the apostles and prophet by the activity of the Holy Spirit. Paul is a minister of this “mystery”. God gives him the privilege of taking to the Gentiles the Good News about the infinite riches of Christ. Like Paul, the Church has a mission in the breaking down of barriers and the coming together of people. In union with Christ and through our faith in him we have the boldness to go into God’s presence with all confidence. The saving “mystery” needs to be contemplated in great depth before we can grasp its implications in daily life.
The following modern day account gives insight into how we can promote the divine saving plan in our daily life (cf. Scott Walker in Daily Guideposts 2010, p. 333).
All of our children are now in college or graduate school: Drew, a student at University of South Carolina Law School; Luke, a senior at Samford University; and Jodi, a sophomore at Furman University. Over the years many older friends told us that our children would grow up before we realized it. They were right!
But we have anything but an “empty nest”. My wife Beth is the international student relations adviser at Baylor University. One of her responsibilities is to find host families in our community of Waco, Texas, who will befriend international students. This year we have adopted three students: Lulu, a pre-dentistry student from Singapore; George, a pre-law student from the Philippines; and Lian, a graduate student in photojournalism from China.
This afternoon I received an e-mail from George’s father. Tonight Lulu ate dinner with us and is spending the night. Yesterday Beth had lunch with Lian. Our life is enriched by our friendship with these wonderful young adults from Asia. They are now part of our family.
Beth and I are discovering that when we extend friendship and hospitality with God’s children, we receive far more than we give. And when we embrace people from around the world, God is able to multiply goodness and love between cultures and nations.
God’s greatest gifts to us have been Drew, Luke and Jodi. We just didn’t know that He would also give us the surprise package of Lulu, George and Lian.
Father, help me to know that all children are my children because they are Your children. Amen.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. Do we heed Jesus’ exhortation to be vigilant and faithful? How?
2. Are we grateful that the divine mystery of the salvation of all peoples has been revealed and fulfilled through Jesus Christ? How does this reality impact us?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you teach us to be ever ready for your second coming.
You warn us that from those who have received much,
much more will be demanded.
Teach us to prepare for your coming
by our faithful service and personal dedication.
Help us to be persevering and responsible servants
until you come again.
Be with us as we promote the divine saving plan
in our daily living.
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.
“Much will be required of the person entrusted with much.” (Lk 12:48) // “The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same Body.” (Eph 3:6)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
When you are tempted to be lax in the responsibilities entrusted to you, remember the words of Jesus about faithful vigilance. Find in them inspiration for renewed commitment. Seek ways to promote the gathering of nations and the unity of all peoples in Jesus Christ.
*** *** ***
October 20, 2016: THURSDAY – WEEKDAY (29); SAINT PAUL OF THE CROSS, Priest (U.S.A.)
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is a Prophet of Contradiction …
In Him, We Are Rooted in Love”
BIBLE READINGS
Eph 3:14-21 // Lk 12:49-53
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 12:49-53): “I have not come to establish peace but division.”
I was in my third year of high school when I came across Leo Tolstoy’s novel, “War and Peace”. It was irresistible. I did not go to school for three days to read it from cover to cover. I am fascinated by the Russian “prophet” Tolstoy. I appreciate his commitment to Christ’s teaching on love, compassion and non-violence. Conscience-stricken and upset by the plight of the poor, Count Tolstoy opted for a simplified life and dedicated more greatly his literary pursuits to socio-religious themes. His wife Sonya did not share his zeal for reform and for his new lifestyle that was simple and austere – for example, making himself a brew of barley and acorns because coffee was a luxury! She was chagrined that he chose to work on pugnacious tracts that put people off, when he could be producing wonderful novels that would bring in lots of money. Tolstoy did not care about money, but she had to, otherwise what would become of their children? Unable to bear any longer the divisive and oppressive situation at home and detesting the luxury found in his estate, Yasnaya Polyana, the 82-year old Tolstoy left home on November 10, 1910, accompanied only by his doctor. He fell ill on a southbound train and died at a stationmaster’s house on November 20, 1910. Leo Tolstoy is a fascinating figure – a modern day example of a prophet of contradiction.
Today’s Gospel (Lk 12:49-53) presents the divisions that Jesus’ mission creates even in families. The way of Jesus catalyzes separations and provokes conflicts among those who had made a radical choice for him and those who had not. Aelred Rosser remarks: “The division Jesus speaks of with such force (listing several familial relationships for emphasis) is an inevitable consequence of well-lived faith. Into every life there comes a time when the choice to be truly Christian comes into conflict with another choice – perhaps a good choice. When that moment comes, we recognize the division Jesus brought into the world. The peace that comes from making the right choice is also something Jesus brought, but it is his peace, not the kind of peace the world gives.”
B. First Reading (Eph 3:14-21): “Rooted and grounded in love, you may be filled with the fullness of God.”
Today’s First Reading (Eph 3:14-21) contains Paul’s beautiful prayer of adoration and intercession for the Ephesians. In an intense and solemn posture of worship, the apostle kneels before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. That God “names” the family indicates his power and authority over every family, which has a very important role in the divine saving plan. In a contemplative mood, Saint Paul prays that the faithful may be strengthened inwardly by the Spirit, that Christ dwell in their hearts through faith, that they be rooted in love so that they may have insight into the full extent of Christ’s love that surpasses all understanding, and that they may be filled with the fullness of God, who by nature is “love”. Saint Paul’s prayer concludes with a celebration of the glory of God whose power transforms the lives of believers: “To him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” In this prayer of glory and praise, Christ and the Church are deeply united, in the here and now and in the ages to come.
The following story gives insight into the meaning of being rooted and grounded in love (Anthony De Mello, Taking Flight: A Book of Story Meditations, New York: Image Books, 1988, p. 160).
It was time for monsoon rains to begin and a very old man was digging holes in his garden. “What are you doing?” his neighbor asked. “Planting mango trees” was the reply.
“Do you expect to eat mangoes from those trees?”
“No. I won’t live long enough for that. But others will. It occurred to me the other day that all my life I have enjoyed mangoes planted by other people. This is my way of showing them my gratitude.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. Are we willing to embrace the detachment, renunciation and opposition that the peace of Christ may entail? Are we willing to be fully united with Christ and become, in him, a “sign of contradiction” in today’s world?
2. Are we rooted and grounded in love of Christ and do we allow ourselves to be strengthened by Christ in the Spirit?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
You are the prophet of contradiction.
Grant us the grace to be faithful
when our radical choice for you creates division.
Help us to embrace the detachment and opposition
that our Christian commitment entails.
Let us experience the peace that you bring and
not the deceptive peace that the world offers.
Let our life be deeply rooted in you
and strengthen us inwardly by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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.
“Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” (Lk 12:51) // “To him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus!” (Eph 3:21)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
While avoiding facile compromises and easy tradeoffs, endeavor to bring the peace of Christ to a distressing situation that needs healing and reconciliation. Have the courage to be a “sign of contradiction” when the situation calls for it. In your daily actions and choices, seek to be deeply rooted in the love of Christ.
*** *** ***
October 21, 2016: FRIDAY – WEEKDAY (29)
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Exhorts Us to Read the Signs of the Times … In Him, There Is One Faith”
BIBLE READINGS
Eph 4:1-6 // Lk 12:54-59
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 12:54-59): “You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”
In today’s Gospel episode (Lk 12:54-59) we see Jesus talking to a crowd. He is disappointed that they are able to read correctly the signs of the weather, but not the signs of God’s kingdom on earth in the person of Jesus. He exhorts the people to interpret correctly the “present time”, that is, the meaning of his mission. If only they were receptive, they should be able to perceive in the ministry of Jesus – in his words and deeds – that the kingdom of God has come. They should therefore respond to his call to conversion. The certainty of divine judgment should lead people to seek full reconciliation with God. Jesus warns them not to delay decision making for the kingdom. When God’s righteous judgment comes, they will wish that they had settled the issue before – just as a losing plaintiff wisely settles a legal case with a powerful opponent on the way to the magistrate and thus escapes punishment.
As Christians in the modern world, we too are called to scrutinize the “signs of the times”. We are called to recognize and understand the distinctive characteristics, expectations, longings and needs of the people of today. We are called to be receptive to the signs of the kingdom value and the tasks it entails. The following story illustrates the receptive stance of a Christian disciple to the demands of the kingdom values (cf. Sarah Ball, “Stay-at-Home Help” in Guideposts, October 2012, p. 19)
Earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes. They all played out before me on the evening news. I clicked off the TV. Every scene of people in need made me want to rush out to do something. But rushing out to do anything was impossible for me right now. I was recovering from surgery for breast cancer. With drainage tubes in my side, expanders in my chest, not to mention all the medications I took for the pain, I could barely move. What help could I be to people in trouble?
I can pray for them, I thought. And pray I did. I prayed for God to comfort those who were grieving, to heal the injured, to speed recovery. But I still felt helpless. “Please, Lord, isn’t there anything I can do myself?” I can’t even lift a gallon of milk these days, I thought. How can I help anyone? I couldn’t go anywhere. And although I’ve fostered animals in the past, even taking care of one displaced pet seemed beyond me.
The next day I got word of another disaster looming – the one close to my home in Iowa. Weathermen were predicting massive flooding in my area. There was a call out for volunteers. Workers were frantically piling sandbags against buildings and strengthening the levees. And here I was, stuck at home – not in danger, but still on the couch. The only way I could help would be if the Lord dropped something in my lap.
During a call to a friend I told her about my frustrations. “My friend Francis is really in a bind”, she said. “She lives on the flood plain and has decided to evacuate her mobile home, but she can’t afford a storage facility for her things. She’s scared she’ll come home and find all of her furniture destroyed. I can’t take any of it because my place is too small.”
“She can store it here!” I said. “Our basement is nearly empty; there’s plenty of room. It’s perfect!” Friends moved Francis’ furniture into my house the next day. It was the answer to her prayers – and mine.
B. First Reading (Eph 4:1-6): “There is one Body, one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
The theme of “the unity of the Body” is underlined in today’s reading from the letter to the Ephesians (4:1-6), which is called “the epistle of unity”. Jesus Christ is the Savior sent by the Father to gather all human beings in the unity of the one body and one Spirit. Their vocation is to serve one Lord and to share one faith and one hope. Immersed into the blood bath of Christ, they are reborn and renewed by that one baptism and become the beloved children of the one God and Father of all. Cognizant of this reality, Saint Paul exhorts the Ephesians to live a life worthy of the calling they have receive and to be always humble, gentle, patient and loving to one another.
In the following story, we have a glimpse of the spirit of love and unity at work in a domestic Church in Guatemala (cf. “Missioner Tales” in Maryknoll, March 2009, p. 6.)
A village in the highlands of Huehuetenango, Guatemala, where I served as a missioner, was having its annual festival for its patron saint. Standing on the fringes observing the comings and goings, I noticed a man and a woman and two children – a girl about 8 and a boy maybe 6 years old. Most likely they came from an outlying area, and from their clothing, I sensed they were quite poor. Quietly and respectfully, they stood as a family enjoying the music and the activities.
Nearby a man was selling ice cream cones. They were not expensive, maybe the equivalent of 10 cents. Suddenly, the father approached the ice cream man and bought just one cone. What I witnessed then made a lasting impression upon me. The father returned to his wife and children, and the four of them shared one ice cream cone.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. Do we make an effort to read the “signs of the times” and ask the Lord for the grace not just to perceive them, but to be able to respond to them?
2. Are we grateful to God for making us one Body – united in “one Lord, one faith, one baptism”? How do we promote the unity of the Body?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Loving Jesus,
you exhort us to read the signs of your kingdom.
Give us the grace to be receptive to the “signs of the times”
and help us to carry out our duties
on behalf of the kingdom value.
We thank you for making us one Body,
united in one Lord, one faith and baptism.
Help us to build up daily the unity of the Body.
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.
“Why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” (Lk 12:56) // “There is one Body and one Spirit.” (Eph 4:4)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for the grace to scrutinize the “signs of the times”. In your own little way, respond positively to the demands they entail. Be thankful for the one Body of Christ and by your daily acts of charity, promote the growth of the Body.
*** *** ***
October 22, 2016: SATURDAY – WEEKDAY (29); SAINT JOHN PAUL II, Pope (U.S.A.); BVM ON SATURDAY
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Ultimate Chance …
He Is Head of the Body”
BIBLE READINGS
Eph 4:7-16 // Lk 13:1-9
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 13:1-9): “If you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”
In an article by Jerry Davis in Guideposts magazine (February 2004), he tells us about a remarkable journey that led him on the right path. He was kicked out of school repeatedly as a teenager. One sleepless, cold evening in February 1963, while living on charity at the Salvation Army in Kentucky, where he sought refuge, something clicked in his mind, as if everything had suddenly been put into focus for his 19-year-old eyes. Jerry narrated: “Somebody had to be looking out for me. Somebody who wouldn’t let me push him away, no matter how hard I tried. In fact, the farther I ran from God, the closer he seemed to pull me. I slipped out of bed and knelt in a patch of moonlight. Lord, I prayed, the words finally coming. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your love. I don’t know what’s good for me. Please, I need your guidance.” The runaway college dropout found work at a Kentucky hospital and enrolled at a nearby college. That was the beginning of a long road that led to graduate school and a Ph.D. Today he is the president of a college in Missouri – the College of the Ozarks. Indeed, Jerry Davis has given us a testimony of what it means to be given another chance and what it takes to respond to that chance. His was a beautiful story of a positive response to the patient mercy of God.
Today’s Gospel (Lk 13:1-9) underlines the Christian call to metanoia, which means conversion, repentance, and inner change, and encourages us with the reality of God’s patient mercy. In this account, Jesus calls for decision and conversion by referring to two contemporary disasters and by narrating the parable of the barren fig tree. Jesus dispels the popular belief that links disaster with punishment for sin. Indeed, in the present age, good fortune and disaster are not indications of a person’s spiritual state. In the judgment to come, however, the evil ones will experience the ultimate disaster - complete alienation from the life-love of God. Jesus dismisses the popular speculations regarding the personal culpability of the victims of the Galilean massacre and the Siloam accident by stressing the universal need for repentance. Unless all repent and respond positively to the Gospel, all will suffer the greater disaster of being alienated from God.
The last section of the Gospel reading is Jesus’ parable of the barren fig tree which received a reprieve, or stay, from the impending punishment by the vineyard owner in response to the gardener’s compassionate plea: “Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down” (Lk 13:8-9). The biblical scholar, Samuel Oyin Abogunrin remarks: “The parable reminds us of the long-suffering of God but it also implicitly warns that those who persist in their sinful refusal to repent will suffer and eventually be cut down.”
B. First Reading (Eph 4:7-16): “Christ is the head from who the whole Body grows and builds itself up in love.”
Today’s First Reading (Eph 4:7-16) underlines that in the basic unity of the Body, there are diverse gifts from the Risen Christ so that each member may contribute in a unique way to the growth and well-being of the Church. Christ, who descended victoriously into the realm of death and ascended in glory into heaven, is the giver of gifts. The various gifts that the exalted Christ bestows empower the ministers and are meant to build up the Church. The Church leadership with its special ministries as Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers is integral to community harmony in Ephesus. The goal is to become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ’s full stature. This means they will not take on a childish stance when confronted with false teachings brandied about by deceitful men. By speaking the truth in a spirit of love is to grow in every way to Christ, who is the Head, from whom the whole Body grows and builds itself up in love. When each separate part works together as it should, there is unity in an attempt to attain unity in Christ.
The following is a beautiful modern day example of how a member contributes to the building up of the Body of Christ (cf. “A New Side” in Extension, Fall 2014, p. 6-8).
Stepping into the shoes of the people you serve can change your ministry. Just ask Deacon Randy Canale of the Diocese of Lubbock, Texas. As a longtime minister to the sick, he experienced a bout with cancer that left him weakened and scarred. This event changed everything – his commitment to his ministry, the response he received from the sick and his understanding of God’s intentions.
Hospital Ministry: Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, Randy started his career in the cotton business in 1966 at age 20, two years after he wed his high-school sweetheart, Cindy. His international company sent him to Texas, the largest cotton-producing state in the U.S. In 1975, Randy started his own cotton company in Lubbock, buying cotton from farmers and selling it to merchants and mills. The cotton business was perfect for him – allowing lots of time to socialize with people on both ends of the trade.
As he welcomed three sons into his family, Randy began to think more seriously about his faith – a part of his life that he sometimes neglected. With a Catholic upbringing and a wife who converted to Catholicism a few years after their wedding, Randy wanted more God in his life. In 1978, he started attending daily Mass at 6:45 a.m. at Christ the King Cathedral. It was peaceful and reflective. Soon, a fellow parishioner asked Randy to help with hospital ministry. Randy obliged. One Sunday, Randy went to the hospital and returned home several hours later – exhausted, but moved. He had brought Communion and prayers to people who otherwise would have been alone. He was hooked.
In 1992, his friend, Bishop Michael Sheehan of Lubbock, who is now Archbishop of Santa Fe, asked Randy to consider joining the diaconate. Randy laughed. He had no idea what a deacon did and wasn’t interested. He was happy with his life: he had active teenage boys, the cotton business was demanding, he enjoyed golf, and his hospital ministry was meaningful. He wasn’t looking for a new commitment.
While he thought of how to gracefully say “No”, Bishop Sheehan asked him to pray. When Randy asked God why he should become a deacon, he wasn’t thrilled with the response, “Why not you?” To further give him a nudge, Bishop Sheehan told him, “You’re already doing the work of a deacon; you just haven’t been ordained yet.”
Health Scare: During his diaconate training, Randy’s health took a major turn. In 1995, he was diagnosed with cancer of the parotid gland – the salivary gland located between the ear and jaw. Surgery removed the tumor, but in the process, he lost an eardrum and part of his sight. Speaking also became difficult. As he recovered, Randy continued training with a fresh commitment to the diaconate and renewed dedication to his ministry. When he was ordained in 1996, Randy said, “Becoming a deacon reaffirmed my faith and my need to serve, and helped me become a better bridge between people and the Church.”
But cancer was still waiting in the wings. In 1997, it was discovered in his left lung, and half that lung was removed. The following year, cancer was found in the other lung, and the bottom of his right lung was removed. After the surgery, doctors told him that he likely wouldn’t be around for long., but Randy said, “God had other plans for me.”
Randy’s cancer gave him a new appreciation for vulnerabilities and a different visage to show to the sick. His face has an indentation, his smile is crooked, his eye droops, his breath is short, and his voice is raspy. But it’s a combination that works. “His cancer is a special scar”, Cindy said. “People know he’s been through something and overcome it. It gives them hope to see he survived. One thing they know for certain – this person will understand me.”
For years, Randy has been visiting 30 to 40 people a week in all kinds of venues: hospitals, nursing homes and individual homes. He sees the young, the elderly, the remote and the forgotten. Sometimes, he meets people whose families have abandoned them.
Sacred Work: For Randy, ministering to the sick is sacred work. (…) In his humble, cheerful way, Randy brings the light of Christ to those who are infirm and physically unable to be part of a parish community, but want to keep their faith alive. Randy Canale, cancer survivor and dedicated deacon, gets in his car and brings them hope.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. Do we respond to Christ’s call to conversion and apostolic fruitfulness? How do we react to the local and universal disasters that impinge upon our senses day after day through the mass media? What challenge does the parable of the barren fig tree give to us?
2. How do we contribute to the building up of the Body the Church? Do we build up ourselves in the love of Christ?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Father of mercy and goodness,
you revealed to us your patient mercy
by offering us the “ultimate chance”,
Jesus Christ, your beloved Son,
who loved us unto death on the cross.
Help us to welcome your forgiveness and love.
We are truly grateful for making as members of Christ’s Body.
Make us mature in faith
and personally dedicated in serving love.
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.
“If you do not repent, you will all perish as they did.” (Lk 13:4) // “We should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ.” (Eph 4:15).
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray to the Lord for the gift of repentance and sincere conversion from sin, and for the gift of spiritual renewal. Pray for prisoners, especially those who have received the death penalty, and for all those who minister to their care. Do what you can do be a means of conversion for others. Let your daily acts of charity be for the building up of the Church.
***
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