31-OCT-'24, Thu of the 30th Wk in OT

Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 482

Reading 1

Ephesians 6:10-20

Brothers and sisters:

Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.

Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm

against the tactics of the Devil.

For our struggle is not with flesh and blood

but with the principalities, with the powers,

with the world rulers of this present darkness,

with the evil spirits in the heavens.

Therefore, put on the armor of God,

that you may be able to resist on the evil day

and, having done everything, to hold your ground.

So stand fast with your loins girded in truth,

clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,

and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace.

In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield,

to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One.

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,

which is the word of God.

With all prayer and supplication,

pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.

To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication

for all the holy ones and also for me,

that speech may be given me to open my mouth,

to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel

for which I am an ambassador in chains,

so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.

Responsorial Psalm

144:1B, 2, 9-10

R. (1b) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Blessed be the LORD, my rock,

who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.

R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

My mercy and my fortress,

my stronghold, my deliverer,

My shield, in whom I trust,

who subdues my people under me.

R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

O God, I will sing a new song to you;

with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise,

You who give victory to kings,

and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.

R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Alleluia

See Luke 19:38; 2:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 13:31-35

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,

“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”

He replied, “Go and tell that fox,

‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,

and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.

Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day,

for it is impossible that a prophet should die

outside of Jerusalem.’

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem,

you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,

how many times I yearned to gather your children together

as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,

but you were unwilling!

Behold, your house will be abandoned.

But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Reflection 1

Catholic Daily Reflections 

Protection, Healing and Salvation

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling!” Luke 13:34

It’s helpful to ponder the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His heart is one that is strong and gentle, compassionate and just, merciful and truthful. In this Gospel passage, we are given a glimpse of Jesus’ love for the people of Jerusalem. He was not expressing His love for the city, but for the people in the city. It is clear that His deepest desire, His strong yearning, was that they allow Him to draw them close to Him so that He can protect them from all evil.

Jesus begins by speaking the word “Jerusalem” twice. This expresses deep compassion for the people of that city. It also expresses a lament that they have not turned to Him, remaining unwilling to change. Their refusal began long before Jesus walked the earth when their forefathers rejected the call of the prophets to repent and turn back to God. The stubbornness of their fathers continued with the people of Jesus’ day, and He experienced their rejection. This rejection did not lead Jesus to anger or condemnation as much as it led Him to holy sorrow.

The image of a hen gathering her brood under her wings is a lovely image to meditate upon. A mother hen protects her chicks with great courage and without concern for her own safety. When danger approaches, she extends her wings and covers the vulnerable chicks to protect them. Jesus uses this motherly image to express His desire to protect not only the people of Jerusalem, but all of us.

If Jesus yearned to gather the people together under his “wings” to protect them, then we should know, with certainty, that we need our Lord’s protection. He would not desire something that was unnecessary. He is not an overly protective God Who irrationally worries about His children. His concern is real and necessary, and we must know that we need His protection.

As you go about your daily life, do you feel as though you can handle life on your own? Do you act as an independent child who wants to separate yourself from the safety of your parents? Though we must all work to become responsible in life, we will never arrive at a point where we no longer need the protection of our loving God. The world in which we live is filled with dangers from which only God can protect us.

At the beginning of today’s Gospel, Jesus referred to Herod as a “fox.” That image must be seen in the context of Jesus desiring to act as a mother hen, protecting her brood. Jesus was told that Herod was trying to kill Him, but He clearly was not afraid of Herod. Of Herod’s desire to kill Jesus, Jesus said, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.’” As a protector, Jesus took authority over demons, performed healings and opened the gates of Heaven by rising from the dead on the third day. As we go through life, there will be many demons who seek to attack us. We will need many forms of healing, and without the gift of Jesus’ triumph over death itself, we will not be led to the glories of Heaven. Demons are real. Wounds are real. And the need for a Savior is real.

Reflect, today, upon the image of Jesus acting as a mother hen, extending His wings over you to protect you from the many temptations and diabolical attacks you will encounter in this world. Ponder the fact that you need His daily protection. The demons will never stop their attacks. Mental, emotional and spiritual wounds need His healing. Jesus is the only one Who can protect you and heal you so that He can then pour forth the gift of eternal life. Remain under His protective care, and allow Him to fulfill the yearnings of His Sacred Heart.

Reflection 2

One Bread, One Body 

DON’T BUDGE

“Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm.” —Ephesians 6:11

We Christians “put on the armor of God so that” we “may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil” (Eph 6:11). Our goal in battle is to hold our ground and stand fast (Eph 6:13-14). The devil’s goal in battle is to get us to move away from the place to which God has called us so he can manipulate us.

If we are in the right place at the right time, we are anointed with the power of God. In that God-given place, we are invincible if we remain in a state of grace. Accordingly, the devil’s goal is to deceive, push, and pressure us to give an inch. When we are out of place, even slightly, we no longer draw our “strength from the Lord and His mighty power” (Eph 6:10), but are on our own. Relying on ourselves, we are no match for the devil, and we can’t even claim the victory Jesus has already won (see Jn 15:5).

For example, the devil tried to get Jesus to give an inch. Certain Pharisees told Jesus: “Leave this place! Herod is trying to kill You” (Lk 13:31). But Jesus refused to deviate in even the slightest way from doing His Father’s will. Finally, while hanging in crucified agony, Jesus was tempted to come down from the cross (Mt 27:40). He refused to budge and thereby conquered the evil one. “Hold your ground” (Eph 6:13).

Prayer:  Father, may I never let the evil spirit move me, and may I always let the Holy Spirit move me!

Promise:  “At every opportunity pray in the Spirit, using prayers and petitions of every sort. Pray constantly and attentively for all in the holy company.” —Eph 6:18

Praise:  Jesus set Robert free from a twenty-year drinking problem.

Reflection 3

By Fr. Martin Hogan 

Jesus often uses images from nature to express the meaning and purpose of this mission. In today’s gospel reading he compares himself to a mother hen gathering her brood under her wings. Jesus longed to gather the people of Jerusalem in a similar way. Yet, the tragedy is that Jerusalem refused to be gathered. Jesus speaks in the gospel reading out of a sense of powerlessness. He has a deep longing to gather people to himself but that longing goes unfulfilled if people refuse to allow themselves to be gathered. Jesus acknowledges his powerlessness before the great mystery of human freedom. The Lord’s desire for us needs to meet with some level of desire in us for him, if his purpose for our lives is to come to pass. Yet, in the first reading Paul expresses his conviction that nothing can come between us and the love of God made visible in Jesus Christ. Perhaps then the Lord’s love, his longing for our hearts, can eventually overcome even our resistance. However, the gospel reading today suggests that the Lord longs for us to respond to his loving initiative towards us, and is greatly distressed when that response is not forthcoming.

Prayers

My compassionate Lord, You yearn to protect me from the many evils in this world. You yearn to heal me of the wounds my sins have caused. And You yearn to bestow upon me the gift of eternal life. I accept Your protection, dear Lord, and pray for the healing I need. Please cover me always and bestow upon me the gift of eternal life. Jesus, I trust in You.

Lord Jesus, I place all my trust and hope in you. Come make your home with me and take possession of my heart and will that I may wholly desire what is pleasing to you. Fill my heart with love and mercy for others that I may boldly witness to the truth and joy of the gospel through word and example, both to those who accept it and to those who oppose it.

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

Reflection 304: The Truth in All Things

Should we fear the truth?  On one hand the truth can get us in trouble.  Look, for example, at the Martyrs.  They are witnesses to the truth with the shedding of their blood.  They “got in trouble” only in the sense that their testimony to the truth brought forth their persecution.  But in the eyes of God this is no trouble at all.  It is an act of great love and honesty, courage and resolve.  They chose the truth over life itself.  Though you most likely will not be called to be a witness to the truth to the point of literally shedding your blood, the resolve in your mind and heart must be the same as the great martyrs.  We must have an unwavering adherence to that which is in the Mind of God and must never hesitate to speak that truth with conviction.  Of course, prudence is a guiding virtue that will enable us to discern what to say when.  But we must, nonetheless, always be ready to adhere to and proclaim the truth with all the powers of our soul (See Diary #1482).

Reflect upon how firmly you attach yourself to Him who is the Eternal Truth.  Do you submit your mind to all that God speaks and believe it with every fiber of your being?  This must be your firm resolve.  Reflect, also, upon how you speak the truth to others.  At times we can be tempted to speak without prudence which is ultimately a lack of charity.  But at other times we can give into fear in the face of some opposition to the truth which is also a lack of charity.  Seek to live in the Truth of God and to proclaim it with His merciful Heart and the Lord will accept this resolve of yours as a sacrifice of holy martyrdom.

Lord, I pray for courage and prudence as I go through life seeking to live and to proclaim all that You speak.  May I never give into fear or cowardice when opposed or challenged.  Instead, give me a peaceful resolve to be a great witness to You in all things.  Jesus, I trust in You.

30-OCT-'24, Wed of the 30th Wk in OT

Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 481

Reading 1

Ephesians 6:1-9

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Honor your father and mother.

This is the first commandment with a promise,

that it may go well with you

and that you may have a long life on earth.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,

but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling,

in sincerity of heart, as to Christ,

not only when being watched, as currying favor,

but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

willingly serving the Lord and not men,

knowing that each will be requited from the Lord

for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

Masters, act in the same way towards them, and stop bullying,

knowing that both they and you have a Master in heaven

and that with him there is no partiality.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 13cd-14

R. (13c) The Lord is faithful in all his words.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,

and let your faithful ones bless you.

Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom

and speak of your might.

R. The Lord is faithful in all his words.

Making known to men your might

and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,

and your dominion endures through all generations.

R. The Lord is faithful in all his words.

The LORD is faithful in all his words

and holy in all his works.

The LORD lifts up all who are falling

and raises up all who are bowed down.

R. The Lord is faithful in all his words.

Alleluia

See 2 Thessalonians 2:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God has called us through the Gospel

to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages,

teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.

Someone asked him,

"Lord, will only a few people be saved?"

He answered them,

"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,

for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter

but will not be strong enough.

After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,

then will you stand outside knocking and saying,

'Lord, open the door for us.'

He will say to you in reply,

'I do not know where you are from.'

And you will say,

'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.'

Then he will say to you,

'I do not know where you are from.

Depart from me, all you evildoers!'

And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth

when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God

and you yourselves cast out.

And people will come from the east and the west

and from the north and the south

and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God.

For behold, some are last who will be first,

and some are first who will be last.”

Reflection 1

Catholic Daily Reflections 

Entering the Narrow Gate

Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” Luke 13:27

We should definitely take our Lord’s words spoken above to heart. It’s easy to presume we will be saved. It’s easy to simply presume that God is kind and that we are good people at heart and, therefore, salvation is assured. But that’s not what Jesus says.

So who will be saved? When we get to Heaven, God willing, we may be surprised at who is saved and who is not. This is clearly one of the messages of today’s Gospel. Jesus even goes so far to say that some, when they die, will assume they are going to enter into Heaven but will hear our Lord say to them, “I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!” Again, we should take these words to heart.

One of the most dangerous sins we can fall into is presumption. Presumption is deadly because it has a double effect upon us. First, the person caught in presumption is one who has committed mortal sin but has not repented of it. But the presumptuous person also remains incapable of repentance because they refuse to acknowledge their sin. Their conscience is not working. They have blinders on and expect God to wear those same blinders. But God sees all things and judges accordingly.

The “narrow gate” of which Jesus speaks is a simile used by Jesus to tell us that it is not easy to obtain Heaven. It requires a concerted effort on our part as well as the infinite mercy of God. But regarding our part, the attainment of Heaven is only possible if we intentionally seek out the will of God and respond generously to Him. First, that means we confess and turn away from our sins. But from there, it means that we make every effort to fulfill God’s will in our lives.

If this is hard to accept, simply remind yourself that this teaching came directly from Jesus Himself. He is absolutely clear and means what He says. If that fills you with a sort of holy fear, then that is a good thing. “Holy fear” is a gift by which we have a well-ordered conscience that is able to identify those things in our lives that have become immovable obstacles to eternal salvation. The same well-ordered conscience will lead us to that narrow gate which is the only path to eternal life.

Reflect, today, upon the fact that we must all take eternal salvation seriously. If you find that you have become lax in your spiritual life, then use this Gospel as a motivation to change. Do not allow yourself to be one of those knocking at the gates of Heaven, only to realize that our Lord does not know you. Do all you can to eradicate the sin of presumption from your life, and your reward will be truly great in Heaven.

Reflection 2

One Bread, One Body 

THE SPIRIT OF SUBMISSION

“Slaves, obey your human masters with the reverence, the awe, and the sincerity you owe to Christ.” —Ephesians 6:5

Everyone should submit to each other (Eph 5:21). Wives should submit to husbands (Eph 5:22), children to parents (Eph 6:1), and employees to employers (Eph 6:5). Those in authority should submit to the Lord (see Eph 6:4, 9). The Lord wants to create an entire culture of submission.

If we accept God’s call to be submissive in circumstance after circumstance, we will open ourselves to being filled with the Spirit. The beginning of this teaching on submission in Ephesians is verse 5:21. Although this verse looks like a sentence in some translations, it is a participial phrase in the original. Verse 21 is subordinated to the main verb in the sentence, which is “be filled” (with the Holy Spirit) in 5:18. In the original Greek, the Lord is saying that we must live lives of submission if we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Blessed Virgin Mary received the Holy Spirit after calling herself God’s handmaid (Lk 1:38). Those who received the Spirit at the first Christian Pentecost humbled themselves in asking: “What are we to do?” (Acts 2:37) Twelve Ephesian men received the Spirit after they humbly admitted that they had never heard of the Spirit (Acts 19:2). Cornelius and his household received the Spirit after Cornelius prostrated himself in submission to Peter (Acts 10:25). The Spirit descended on Jesus when He submitted Himself to John’s baptism (Mt 3:14-15). Life in submission leads to life in the Spirit.

Prayer:  Father, I love You by submitting myself to those whom You have given authority over me.

Promise:  “Try to come in through the narrow door.” —Lk 13:24

Praise:  Despite his terminal cancer, Father John continued to perform as much of his ministry to his parishioners as possible.

Reflections 3

Shared from God's Word

“When you have a choice between the easy and the difficult, choose the difficult,” says Saint Ignatius of Loyola. The world always looks for easy money, short cuts, fast food and almost everything on one click. Jesus invites us to take the road less travelled and enter through a narrow path. It is the narrow path that becomes the door to divine revelation. It is in the struggles of life that we learn life’s important lessons.  Success in life may bring happiness but failure in life will definitely bring growth. People thought that because Jesus preached on their streets and ate with them, they would easily get entry into Heaven. Jesus detests their unrighteous behaviour. What criterion do I use while making a choice between two options?

Prayers 

My most merciful Lord, You and You alone can open the gates of Heaven to us, and You and You alone will do so only to those who have responded to Your holy will. Please open my eyes to any ways that I turn from You and remain lax in my spiritual journey. Give me the grace I need to see clearly and to respond to You with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You.

Lord Jesus, may I never doubt your guiding presence and your merciful love towards me. Through the gift of your Spirit fill me with courage and persevering faith to trust you in all things and in every circumstance I find myself. Give me the strength to cling to your promises when the world around me begins to shake or crumble. And when my love and zeal begin to waver, fan into my heart a flame of consuming love and dedication for you who are my All.

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

Reflection 303: Silence

One of the dangers many encounter in our modern technological world is that of constant noise.  We are easily bombarded with chatter all day long.  It could be through the radio, TV, Internet, or the ceaseless conversation of another.  Rarely do we find times of great silence.  As a result, when silence is offered us, we often look to fill that silence immediately.  But is this wise?  Is it good to occupy our minds day and night with noise?  Though every person will be different, especially depending upon their vocation, every person does need times of regular silence and solitude.  Without this it is hard to be recollected and to hear the Voice of God.  God speaks in the silence and He desires to communicate to you through this sacred language.  Do not run from silence for, if you do, you will be running from the Voice of God (See Diary #1476).

Try to take some time today alone in silence.  If you find that it is difficult to do even for five minutes, then this is a sign that there is too much noise in your life.  Entering silence can bring on a form of “withdrawal” from noise.  We tend to be comfortable with it as we are entertained all day long.  But try to take time in silence today.  Resolve to do so as long as you can.  Turn off the radio in the car, go for a walk, or sit and pray without thinking or speaking, just being quiet in the presence of God.  The gift of silent communication with God is a gift that you need and you will learn more from silence than from hours of the noise of the world.

Lord, I desire to seek You in the silence.  I choose to listen to Your quiet promptings of love spoken in this way.  Give me the wisdom and strength I need to dedicate myself to moments of quiet every day.  May these moments bring clarity to my soul and understanding to my life.  Jesus, I trust in You.

29-OCT-'24, Tue of the 30th Wk in OT

Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 480

Reading 1

Ephesians 5:21-33

Brothers and sisters:

Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.

For the husband is head of his wife

just as Christ is head of the Church,

he himself the savior of the Body.

As the Church is subordinate to Christ,

so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives,

even as Christ loved the Church

and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,

cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,

that he might present to himself the Church in splendor,

without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,

that she might be holy and without blemish.

So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.

He who loves his wife loves himself.

For no one hates his own flesh

but rather nourishes and cherishes it,

even as Christ does the Church,

because we are members of his Body.

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother

and be joined to his wife,

and the two shall become one flesh.

This is a great mystery,

but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church.

In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself,

and the wife should respect her husband.

 

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

R. (1a) Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Blessed are you who fear the LORD,

who walk in his ways!

For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;

blessed shall you be, and favored.

R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine

in the recesses of your home;

Your children like olive plants

around your table.

R.  Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Behold, thus is the man blessed

who fears the LORD.

The LORD bless you from Zion:

may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem

all the days of your life.

R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

 

Alleluia

See Matthew 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;

You have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 13:18-21

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?

To what can I compare it?

It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.

When it was fully grown, it became a large bush

and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”

Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?

It is like yeast that a woman took

and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour

until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

 

Reflection 1

Catholic Daily Reflections 

Planting the Seed, Over and Over Again

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.” Luke 13:18–19

This short parable should speak to many people far more than they realize. It should be a source of great encouragement to us all as we seek to build up the Kingdom of God through apostolic works.

The mustard seed is very small. At first, when someone holds it in their hand, they may not think much of it. But if they did plant it under ideal conditions, that seed could grow into a tree upwards of 20 feet tall.

Jesus uses this parable to teach us many lessons. One such lesson is that of our apostolic works of charity. When you think of the call of being an apostle for the Lord, spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth, what comes to mind? Perhaps the first thought is of those who have been entrusted with a very large, public and vibrant ministry. In this case, it is easier to see the good fruit born of one’s apostolic works. But what about you? For most people, they may strive to love and serve others in every small way they can, and they fail to see the abundance of good fruit born from their efforts. When this happens, some may become discouraged and lose zeal for the spreading of the Gospel.

If this is you, then consider the mustard seed. Planting this small seed is representative of much of our apostolic endeavors. God calls us to do small acts of kindness, share our faith in subtle and even hidden ways, serve out of love even when it is unnoticed, and to do so without ceasing. Do these small acts bear fruit for the Kingdom of God? If you believe this parable of the mustard seed, then the answer must be a resounding “Yes.”

Many times in life, we will never see the full effects that our actions have on others. Our negative influence will affect them far more than we realize. And our loving acts of charity, by which we share our faith, will also affect people far more than we realize. Believing in the message of this Parable of the Mustard Seed should lead us to believe that planting those small seeds of faith, through our charity, virtues, and words, will indeed bear an abundance of good fruit, far more than we may ever know, until we enter the glories of Heaven. 

Reflect, today, upon your duty to daily plant the smallest seeds of faith and love. Do not get discouraged if your efforts do not bear abundantly obvious fruit. Simply commit yourself to the planting, over and over. Take delight in sowing the seed of faith and see this as your mission. If you do this throughout your life, from Heaven you will look back and be amazed at how God powerfully brought forth His Kingdom through those seemingly insignificant acts of faith and love.

Reflection 2

One Bread, One Body 

MEN OF LOVE

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church. He gave Himself up for her.” —Ephesians 5:25

The secular culture chokes on the opening of today’s first reading, “Wives should be submissive to their husbands” (Eph 5:22). Yet that is not the most radical sentence of this passage. St. Paul’s call for husbands to love their wives as Jesus loves the Church (Eph 5:25) is an extraordinarily radical challenge, both for the culture of Paul’s time and for every age since.

In Paul’s time, wives were considered the property of the husband and had no rights at all. Yet Paul commanded husbands to lay down their lives for their wives, to care for them as they cared for their own body (Eph 5:28-29), as Christ loves the Church (Eph 5:25). How does Jesus love the Church? He says to the Church: “This is My body, to be given up for you” (see 1 Cor 11:24). To love his wife in this way means that the husband says to his wife: “This is my body, to be given up for you.”

Jesus asks in today’s Gospel passage: “What does the reign of God resemble?” (Lk 13:18) The kingdom of God is like the radical love of a husband who loves his wife as Jesus loves the Church. He literally lays down his life — his interests, schedule, hopes, dreams — for her welfare. He walks to the cross for her. He honors, nourishes, and provides for her. He uplifts her, as Jesus does for His Church. He spiritually leads her, teaches her, and loves her. He leads and teaches the children they bring into the world.

Yes, the world will notice a husband who loves his wife like this. The people in the world, seeing this married love, will realize that Jesus loves them (Eph 5:32).

Prayer:  Father, raise up husbands and wives who will lead the way in evangelization through love, hospitality, and making and raising disciples for You (Mt 28:19-20).

Promise:  “Happy are you who fear the Lord.” —Ps 128:1

Praise:  Kevin reconciled with his wife and their marriage lasted until death.

Reflection 3

The Servants of the Word 

What God's Kingdom Is Like

What can mustard seeds and leaven teach us about the kingdom of God? The tiny mustard seed literally grew to be a tree which attracted numerous birds because they loved the little black mustard seed it produced. God's kingdom works in a similar fashion. It starts from the smallest beginnings in the hearts of men and women who are receptive to God's word. And it works unseen and causes a transformation from within.

The transforming power of the Holy Spirit within us

Leaven is another powerful agent of change. A lump of dough left to itself remains just what it is, a lump of dough. But when the leaven is added to it a transformation takes place which produces rich and wholesome bread when heated - the staple of life for humans. The kingdom of God produces a transformation in those who receive the new life which Jesus Christ offers. When we yield to Jesus Christ, our lives are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. Paul the Apostle says, "we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Do you believe in the transforming power of the Holy Spirit?

Prayers

My glorious King, You desire that Your Kingdom grow far and wide through our efforts of love. Please do use me, dear Lord, to plant Your seeds of faith and charity every day. May I never tire of these apostolic endeavors and may I always take great delight in serving You and building Your Kingdom in every way I can. Jesus, I trust in You.

Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and transform me into the Christ-like holiness you desire. Increase my zeal for your kingdom and instill in me a holy desire to live for your greater glory.

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

Reflection 302: A Great, Powerful & Keen Intellect

Our minds are a gift from God and one of the two primary ways we are made in His image and likeness. The other way is through the gift of our free will. But the intellect is an incredible gift that must be given to the work of God. It is good to pray that our Lord make our minds great, powerful and keen so that we may know Him, understand Him and comprehend all the rich mysteries that He desires to reveal to us. Our minds grasp the truths of God in two primary ways. First, we must strive to engage all the many truths revealed by God through His Church. This includes the truths contained in Holy Scripture, the teachings offered by the Magisterium, the revelations from the lives of the saints and the theological discourses that seek to clarify and deepen our understanding. These precious gifts, given through the Church, reveal to us the mysteries of God. But the mind is also capable of receiving direct infusion from God. When we allow our minds to be given to God, He imparts a knowledge and wisdom directly from His own Mind. This gift offers us immediate clarity in life and discernment of His holy Will (See Diary #1474).

Reflect today upon how fully you have given your mind over to the teachings of our Lord. Reflect, first, upon whether you seek God’s Truth through the Church. Do you study the Scripture and all that has been revealed through the Church? Reflect, also, upon the direct infusion of Truth that our Lord wishes to impart to you. This precious gift comes on account of His abundant Mercy so as to lead you into knowledge of His very essence and His holy Will.

Lord, my life is Yours. Today I especially surrender my intellect to You to use as You will. Teach me Your ways and reveal to me the very essence of Your eternal being. As I come to know You, dear Lord, give me the grace to follow You with all my mind and heart. Jesus, I trust in You.

28-OCT-'24, Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

Lectionary: 666

Reading 1

Ephesians 2:19-22

Brothers and sisters:

You are no longer strangers and sojourners,

but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones

and members of the household of God,

built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,

with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.

Through him the whole structure is held together

and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;

in him you also are being built together

into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5

R. (5a) Their message goes out through all the earth.

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Day pours out the word to day,

and night to night imparts knowledge.

R. Their message goes out through all the earth.

Not a word nor a discourse

whose voice is not heard;

Through all the earth their voice resounds,

and to the ends of the world, their message.

R. Their message goes out through all the earth.

Alleluia

See Te Deum

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

We praise you, O God,

we acclaim you as Lord;

the glorious company of Apostles praise you.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 6:12-16

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray,

and he spent the night in prayer to God.

When day came, he called his disciples to himself,

and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:

Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,

James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,

Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,

Simon who was called a Zealot,

and Judas the son of James,

and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Reflection 1

Catholic Daily Reflections 

Sent Forth by Christ

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles…  Luke 6:12

Simon and Jude were among those very select few who were chosen by Jesus Himself to be His Apostles. Today’s Simon is not the same person as Simon Peter, and today’s Jude is not the same person as Judas Iscariot. Little is known about these two Apostles. Simon is referred to as a zealot in the Gospels, which could have meant he was a member of a more radical sect within Judaism. Jude is popularly known as the Patron Saint of Hopeless Causes. Some suggest this is because he was often the last Apostle to be prayed to by the early Christian faithful on account of the fact that he shared a name with Judas Iscariot, and praying to Jude reminded people of that betrayer. If that was the case, then in God’s providence, since Jude became the last Apostle to be prayed to, he also became the last hope for many and, thus, the patron saint for those with truly hopeless causes.

One tradition states that Saints Simon and Jude are linked together in the Roman Canon and also share the same feast day because they were both martyred together on the same day, possibly in Syria, Lebanon, or Persia. However, the true details of their missionary journeys and martyrdom is unclear. The one thing that is certain about these Apostles, however, is that they were Apostles. They were chosen by our Lord and appointed by Him as two of the first bishops of our Church and were given a mandate to share the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

From our perspective today, being one of those chosen Twelve is an incredible privilege. The effect of their ministry in establishing the first Christian communities has resulted in our worldwide universal Catholic Church. These men most likely did not realize the impact that their faithful service would have upon the world.

As we honor these two Apostles, we are also reminded that each one of us is called to go forth to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. We each do so in a way specific to the calling and mission that Christ has entrusted to us. We are each called to make an eternal difference in the lives of those whom we serve. And if we are faithful to our mission, we can be certain that the effects of our apostolic service will be felt in the lives of countless others until the end of the world.

Reflect, today, upon Jesus choosing these two men and appointing them as Apostles. As you do, listen to God’s voice as He also speaks to you. Do not underestimate the importance of accepting the mission that Jesus gives to you. Say “Yes” to Him in imitation of these two Apostles and know that your choice to serve our Lord in this way will not only have a great effect in your life, it will also have an effect in the lives of many others for all eternity. 

Reflection 2

One Bread, One Body 

APOSTLES OF TRUTH

Jesus “went out to the mountain to pray, spending the night in communion with God. At daybreak He called His disciples and selected twelve of them to be His apostles.” —Luke 6:12-13

How do we know which books are in the Bible? The Church has been given the authority to say which books are in the Bible. How do we know which church is the true Church? The Church, which can trace its origins back to the apostles, is the true Church because Jesus founded it on the apostles (Eph 2:20; Lk 6:13; Rv 21:14). Therefore, without the apostolicity of the Church, we would not know which books are in the Bible.

Many holy and learned Christians sincerely don’t believe that Jesus gives us His Body and Blood in Holy Communion. Other Christians believe that Jesus literally meant “This is My Body” and “This is My Blood” (Mt 26:26, 28). Who is right? The Church alone is “the pillar and bulwark of truth” (1 Tm 3:15) and can decide this matter and thousands of other disagreements about interpreting the Bible. Once again, however, we must be able to recognize the true Church. The Church founded by Jesus is recognized by its apostolicity.

Because the apostolicity of the Church has such mammoth ramifications, we celebrate in a special way the feasts of the apostles, including today’s feast of St. Simon and St. Jude. Today, we celebrate the true Church and its authority in service to the truth.

Prayer:  Father, may the truth set me free (Jn 8:32).

Promise:  “In Him you are being built into this temple, to become a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.” —Eph 2:22

Praise:  Praise You, Jesus, for “the prophetic words of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 17)

Reflection 3

The Servants of the Word 

Freedom from Bondage for Eighteen Years

Is there anything that keeps you bound up or oppressed? Infirmity, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, can befall us for a variety of reasons and God can use it for some purpose that we do not understand. When Jesus encountered an elderly woman who was spent of her strength and unable to stand upright, he gave her words of faith and freedom and he restored her to health. She must have suffered much, both physically and spiritually for eighteen years, since Jesus remarked that Satan had bound her. How can Satan do this? The Scriptures indicate that Satan can act in the world with malice and can cause injuries of a spiritual nature, and indirectly even of a physical nature. Satan's power, however, is not infinite. He cannot prevent the building up of God's kingdom or reign in our lives.

Jesus wants to set free us from oppression

Jesus demonstrates the power and authority of God's kingdom in releasing people who are oppressed by physical and emotional sickness, by personal weakness and sin, and by the harassment of the evil one in their lives. It took only one word from Jesus to release this woman instantly of her infirmity. Do you believe in the power of Jesus to release you from affliction and oppression?

The Jewish leaders were indignant that Jesus would perform such a miraculous work on the Sabbath, the holy day of rest. They were so caught up in their ritual observance of the Sabbath that they lost sight of God's mercy and goodness. Jesus healed on the Sabbath because God does not rest from showing his mercy and love, ever. God's word has power to change us, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Is there anything that keeps you bound up or that weighs you down? Let the Lord speak his word to you and give you freedom.

Prayers

My glorious Lord, You called these two ordinary men, Simon and Jude, to be Your Apostles. You filled them with Your grace, taught them with Your Word, and sent them forth to preach to the ends of the earth. Please also send me, dear Lord, to whomever You choose. Use me as Your instrument and help me to always remain faithful and zealous, reaching out to those in need, especially to those who lack faith and hope in their lives. Saints Simon and Jude, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.

Lord Jesus, you grant freedom to those who seek you. Give me freedom to walk in your way of love and to praise and worship you always. Show me how I can bring your mercy and healing love to those in need around me.

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

Reflection 301: The Communion of Saints

One motivation we should have for working diligently at spreading the Mercy of God is the reality of the Communion of Saints.  Understanding this eternal communion will enable us to realize that what we do now we will rejoice in forever in Heaven.  For example, if you go out of your way to share the Mercy of God with another and this Mercy is received and affects that soul for the good, this fact will be known and proclaimed for all eternity as you share Heaven with this person.  Imagine spending your whole life on Earth spreading the Mercy of God as your greatest passion.  And then imagine spending eternity glorying in the effects of this Mercy in the lives of countless other saints who are in perfect communion with you in Heaven, some on account of your holy efforts.  Pondering eternity in this way will motivate you to fervently make it your most central mission in life to spread God’s Mercy to all whom you meet and in the way our Lord inspires you (See Diary #1471).

Do you ever think of Heaven?  Spend some time today thinking about this glorious reality that awaits us.  What will you delight in once in Heaven?  Certainly you will delight in God, but reflect today upon the delight you will have when you see clearly the effects of the love you have shared with others.  These merits of grace will live on forever.  Think about these treasures that await and try to allow them to become an inspiration to you and a motive for your work of Mercy.

Lord, I pray that You will inspire me continually to work diligently at spreading Your works of Mercy.  Use me, dear Lord, and touch many lives through my efforts.  Keep my eyes on Heaven and help me to make this goal the guiding force and motivation of my love for others.  I give myself to You, dear Lord.  Use me to save souls.  Jesus, I trust in You.

27-OCT-'24, Thirtieth Sun in OT

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 149

Reading I

Jeremiah 31:7-9

        Thus says the LORD:

    Shout with joy for Jacob,

        exult at the head of the nations;

        proclaim your praise and say:

    The LORD has delivered his people,

        the remnant of Israel.

    Behold, I will bring them back

        from the land of the north;

    I will gather them from the ends of the world,

        with the blind and the lame in their midst,

    the mothers and those with child;

        they shall return as an immense throng.

    They departed in tears,

        but I will console them and guide them;

    I will lead them to brooks of water,

        on a level road, so that none shall stumble.

    For I am a father to Israel,

        Ephraim is my first-born.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6

R. (3)    The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,

    we were like men dreaming.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

    and our tongue with rejoicing.

R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Then they said among the nations,

    "The LORD has done great things for them."

The LORD has done great things for us;

    we are glad indeed.

R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD,

    like the torrents in the southern desert.

Those that sow in tears

    shall reap rejoicing.

R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Although they go forth weeping,

    carrying the seed to be sown,

They shall come back rejoicing,

    carrying their sheaves.

R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Reading II

Hebrews 5:1-6

Brothers and sisters:

Every high priest is taken from among men

and made their representative before God,

to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring,

for he himself is beset by weakness

and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself

as well as for the people.

No one takes this honor upon himself

but only when called by God,

just as Aaron was.

In the same way,

it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest,

but rather the one who said to him:

    You are my son:

        this day I have begotten you;

just as he says in another place:

    You are a priest forever

        according to the order of Melchizedek.

Alleluia

Cf. 2 Timothy 1:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death

and brought life to light through the Gospel.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mark 10:46-52

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd,

Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,

sat by the roadside begging.

On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,

he began to cry out and say,

"Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."

And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. 

But he kept calling out all the more,

"Son of David, have pity on me."

Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."

So they called the blind man, saying to him,

"Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you."

He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. 

Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?" 

The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see." 

Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you." 

Immediately he received his sight

and followed him on the way.

Reflection 1

Catholic Daily Reflections 

I Want to See

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” Mark 10:46–47

Imagine the humiliation you might experience if your only way to survive each day was to sit on the side of the road and beg. As a blind man at that time, Bartimaeus was not able to work and support himself. Many saw his blindness as a curse from God and the result of his sin or the sins of his parents. He would have been treated as an outcast of society and as a burden to his family and community. Thus, the mental and emotional trauma a blind person experienced at that time would have been just as difficult to deal with as the physical blindness itself.

The symbolism in this story is extraordinary and teaches us many things about our Christian journey. First, we must strive to identify with Bartimaeus’ humility and weakness. On a spiritual level, we are all blind and, in our fallen natural state, we are spiritual outcasts. This means that we cannot attain Heaven by ourselves. Bartimaeus is a symbol of our fallen natural state. We need to humble ourselves every day and see ourselves as people in dire need who are incapable of saving our own souls.

Bartimaeus is also a symbol of what we must do in order to be drawn out of the blindness and misery we experience in life. The moment he heard that Jesus was walking by, he cried out for mercy. But he didn’t just cry out to our Lord. He did so with perseverance. The people who heard him crying out rebuked him and told him to stop. But their rebukes only led him to be more fervent in his prayer. Also, it appears that Jesus ignored him at first. Why would Jesus do that? It certainly wasn’t because Jesus didn’t care. It was because our Lord knew that Bartimaeus would persevere and He wanted him to do so. Jesus wanted Bartimaeus’ prayer to become more resolute, and it did.

The prayer of Bartimaeus must become the way we pray. It is very easy to become discouraged in life and to lose hope. When that happens, our prayer becomes weak and ineffective. At times, we will experience many other temptations to give up on prayer. The rebukes by the crowd are a symbol of the many temptations we will experience to give up on prayer. When those temptations come, we must double our effort and strengthen our resolve. Jesus’ silence at first must also be seen as an invitation to pray with greater faith. If we pray and feel as though God is not listening, we must know that God does hear us and His initial silence is His way of inviting us closer and to a deeper level of faith and prayer.

When Jesus stopped and told the disciples to bring Bartimaeus to Him, Bartimaeus immediately got up, threw off his cloak and went to our Lord. His cloak is a symbol of everything we need to shed in life that keeps us from immediately and quickly responding to the promptings of grace. Though there is nothing wrong with having a cloak, in that moment it was a slight hindrance to his prompt response to Jesus. So also with us; we must be ready and willing to eliminate anything that keeps us from responding to God the moment He calls to us.

Finally, Bartimaeus’ prayer was perfect. “Master, I want to see.” Spiritually speaking, we must work to foster the deepest desire to see God, to see our Lord. If we desire the gift of faith, the ability to see spiritual truths and understand them, then our Lord will answer that prayer. Our Lord will also say to us, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.”

Reflect, today, upon this poor blind beggar, Bartimaeus. See in his humble soul a model of how you must see yourself and of how you must pray. Observe the humility of your fallen state, the isolation you experience from your sin, and the perseverance you need to have in prayer. Follow the example of Bartimaeus, and our Lord will remove the blindness of your heart so that you can follow Him more fully every day.

Reflection 2

One Bread, One Body 

AN EYE-OPENING NOVENA

“ ‘Rabboni,’ the blind man said, ‘I want to see.’ Jesus said in reply, ‘Be on your way! Your faith has healed you.’ Immediately he received his sight and started to follow Him up the road.” —Mark 10:51-52

To live God’s Word (see Jas 1:22), we must pray God’s Word. I invite you to pray a novena to be free from spiritual blindness. For nine days, pray: “I want to see” (Mk 10:51).

Most Christians believe that other people, including their spouses, family members, neighbors, and fellow workers, need to see much better spiritually. The sin, injustice, abortion, racism, and oppression in our culture of death prove that we live in an epidemic of spiritual blindness. Nevertheless, we find it difficult to believe that we are spiritually blind or even that we have planks in our eyes while others may have only specks in theirs (Mt 7:5). We are tempted to react like the Pharisees when they said to Jesus: “You are not calling us blind, are You?” (Jn 9:40)

You may be so holy that you are not spiritually blind. Yet are you certain that you have 20/20 vision spiritually? If you’re blind to being blind, you are trapped. If you’re not sure you have 20/20 spiritual vision, pray the novena to be freed from spiritual blindness. Try to go to Mass daily or as often as possible. Go to Confession. Pray daily: “I want to see.” Invite others to join you. Write and tell us the good news.

Prayer:  Father, in this novena teach me about myself.

Promise:  “I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst.” —Jer 31:8

Praise:  Praise Jesus, our risen Lord and Love! Alleluia!

Reflection 3

Shared from God's Word

Today’s Gospel presents three dynamics of the process of restoration represented by three characters: a) Jesus as the main character of the story is walking towards Jerusalem. He has complete control over the situation.  b) The crowd is presented as an obstacle in the process of salvation: However, Jesus heeds the plea of the blind man and commands the crowd to bring the blind man to him. c) The blind man is presented as the proof of completion of the process of salvation: This process includes divine grace and human co-operation. The blind man uses his faculties of hearing and speech and cries for help. He obeys the suggestions of the crowd. His sight is restored. Where am I in the process of salvation brought about by Jesus? Am I an obstacle in this process? Do I use my God-given faculties in order to restore my lost paradise?   

Prayers

My healing Lord, by myself I am weak, a beggar and a sinner. My only hope is to cry out to You in my need and to do so with much zeal. Please do restore my sight, dear Lord. Heal me and help me to see You so that I can follow You wherever You lead. Jesus, I trust in You.

Lord Jesus, may I never fail to recognize my need for your grace and mercy. Strengthen my faith and trust in you that I may seek your presence daily and listen to your word with a readiness to follow you who are my All.

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

Reflection 300: Revealing the Secrets of Your Soul

It is actually quite consoling to have someone with whom you can reveal the depths of your soul.  This sort of confidant is a great blessing when absolute confidentiality, mercy and understanding are offered.  Speaking even of your sins without hesitation can bring much healing when the person with whom we share these things responds with perfect love and is able to offer you the Mercy of God.  We all need such a confidant.  But in truth we do!  We have the priest, waiting for us in the glorious Sacrament of Reconciliation.  His confidentiality is certain, his compassion and mercy is offered and the forgiveness and Mercy of God is poured forth upon the deepest and darkest secrets in your heart.  Do not hesitate and do not delay in going to Confession.  You need this gift from our Lord and He will bless you with an abundance of His Mercy through it (See Diary #1464).

Reflect honestly upon the deepest and “darkest” sin in your heart.  What is it that you fear revealing the most?  The Lord desperately desires to enter into that darkness and bring the healing balm of His light and Mercy.  Do let Him in through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  The power of this Sacrament is unmatched and is exactly what you need to begin your healing and to be set free from your burdens.  Do not fear it and do not put it off.  Make an act of faith today in this glorious Sacrament and you will be amazed at the effect that it has on your life.

Lord, please give me courage to confess my sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Please also give me the wisdom to know that this is among Your greatest gifts.  In this Sacrament I encounter Your Mercy to the greatest degree.  Thank You, dear Lord, for this priceless gift.  Jesus, I trust in You.

26-OCT-'24, Sat of the 29th Wk in OT

Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 478

Reading 1

Ephesians 4:7-16

Brothers and sisters:

Grace was given to each of us

according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Therefore, it says:

He ascended on high and took prisoners captive;

he gave gifts to men.

What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended

into the lower regions of the earth?

The one who descended is also the one who ascended

far above all the heavens,

that he might fill all things.

And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,

others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,

to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,

for building up the Body of Christ,

until we all attain to the unity of faith

and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood

to the extent of the full stature of Christ,

so that we may no longer be infants,

tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching

arising from human trickery,

from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.

Rather, living the truth in love,

we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ,

from whom the whole Body,

joined and held together by every supporting ligament,

with the proper functioning of each part,

brings about the Body’s growth and builds itself up in love.

 

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4AB, 4CD-5

R. (1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

I rejoiced because they said to me,

“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”

And now we have set foot

within your gates, O Jerusalem.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Jerusalem, built as a city

with compact unity.

To it the tribes go up,

the tribes of the LORD.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

According to the decree for Israel,

to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

In it are set up judgment seats,

seats for the house of David.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Alleluia

Ezekiel 33:11

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,

but rather in his conversion that he may live.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans

whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.

He said to them in reply, 

“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way 

they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?

By no means!

But I tell you, if you do not repent,

you will all perish as they did!

Or those eighteen people who were killed 

when the tower at Siloam fell on them–

do you think they were more guilty 

than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?

By no means!

But I tell you, if you do not repent,

you will all perish as they did!”

And he told them this parable: 

“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, 

and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,

he said to the gardener,

‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree 

but have found none.

So cut it down.

Why should it exhaust the soil?’

He said to him in reply,

‘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.’”

Reflection 1

Catholic Daily Reflections 

Cultivating the Soil of Your Heart

“‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘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.’”  Luke 13:7–9

How much good fruit is born from your life? This is an important question to answer honestly. One of the best ways to discern whether or not we are serving the will of God is to look at the fruit being born from our lives.

Good fruit is born in various ways and manifests itself in various forms. However, the fruit you must look for is twofold. First, it is the fruit found within your own soul resulting from a life of true prayer and union with God. Second, we must look for the fruit that is born of charity in our actions toward others.

When you look honestly at your own soul, what do you see? Often, you may see a sort of war within you in which your disordered passions and appetites fight against the Spirit of God. Good spiritual fruit will require interior purification. Through prayer, fasting, spiritual reading and the like, you must look for ways in which God’s Spirit takes control of your disordered human nature and reorders it in accord with His holy will. Though we are all sinners and will all fall at times, we must work diligently to overcome every action, desire and temptation that we can objectively discern to be contrary to the will of God. At times, your fallen human nature can so forcefully draw you into sin that it can confuse your intellect and lead you to rationalization of your sins. But if you want the fruit of God’s presence in your life, then you must continually choose to make your interior life a fruitful garden in which the virtues of God grow and are nourished in abundance. So, again, what do you honestly see as you look into your own soul?

As God nourishes the virtues within us, and our disordered passions and appetites fall under the control of the Spirit of God, then we will also discover a need to allow the interior fruits of God’s love to flow forth from our lives into the lives of others. We will begin to desire selfless and sacrificial living. We will begin to desire to put others first. We will consider others’ lives as precious and filled with dignity. And we will overcome judgment, harshness, anger, and the like. We will find ourselves desiring the good of others and will supernaturally be drawn to do many small acts of kindness toward all. But it all starts with one’s interior life which our Lord desires to cultivate and fertilize with His grace so that the interior fruits of His love will grow within and ultimately become very manifest in one’s daily exterior actions toward all.

Reflect, today, upon your soul being like this fig tree that has not been bearing fruit. See our Lord coming to you and asking you to allow Him to cultivate the ground and fertilize it. Know that this requires change on your part. If you are to bear good fruit, then you need this intervention by our Lord. Work with Him, be diligent, and do all you can to begin to bear an abundance of good fruit so that you are not among those who are ultimately cut down by God’s justice.

Reflection 2

One Bread, One Body 

CHILDREN NO MORE

“Be children no longer.” —Ephesians 4:14

We Christians are called to be child-like, not childish (1 Cor 14:20). Being childish means being “tossed here and there, carried about by every wind of doctrine that originates in human trickery and skill in proposing error” (Eph 4:14). It means being manipulated and enslaved.

The way to freedom from childishness is to profess the truth in love (Eph 4:15). The truth will set us free (Jn 8:32) and help us “grow to the full maturity of Christ the Head” (Eph 4:15).

We grow up and grow out of childishness by obeying apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers who will equip us for the work of service to build up the Body of Christ (Eph 4:11-12). Thus, the truth that sets us free from childishness is not just general spiritual information; it is the truth that prepares us for full-time service to Christ and His Body. This is the call of all baptized people.

Furthermore, the truth that frees and equips us for service is based on the Bible, as handed on to us by the Catholic Church. “All Scripture is inspired of God and is useful for teaching — for reproof, correction, and training in holiness so that the man of God may be fully competent and equipped for every good work” (2 Tm 3:16-17).

Therefore, study and know God’s Word in the Scriptures to prepare for God’s service, or else live the enslaved, confused life of a child. Grow up or be manipulated. It’s the Bible and God’s service, or confusion and darkness. “Let us, then, be children no longer” (Eph 4:14).

Prayer:  Father, may I give You reason to rejoice in my growth. May I be “fully mature and lacking in nothing” (Jas 1:4).

Promise:  “Through [Jesus] the whole body grows, and with the proper functioning of the members joined firmly together by each supporting ligament, builds itself up in love.” —Eph 4:16

Praise:  The Walker family raised several sons who became priests and several daughters who became religious sisters.

Reflection 3

By Fr. Martin Hogan 

Many of the parables of Jesus leave us thinking and reflecting; they encourage us to tease out what they might mean. In this morning’s parable we have a fig tree in a vineyard that seems as good as dead. It has failed to bear fruit for three successive years. The reaction of the owner of the vineyard seems quite reasonable; have the fig tree cut down because it is only taking up space that could be used for vines. However, the owner’s worker had a different perspective. He looked at the apparently useless fig tree and he saw the possibility that it could still bear fruit. He had a more generous vision of the fig tree, a more hopeful vision. He felt all was not lost; there was still time for the fig tree to come good. The parable may be saying that this is the way the Lord looks upon us. When the Lord looks on us he sees not just what we have failed to do in the past but what we are capable of doing in the future. He looks on us with generous and hopeful eyes. That is the way we are to look at each other and, indeed, at every situation in life. Like the worker in the vineyard, we need to be patient, to be prepared to wait, and to be able to see beneath the unpromising surface to the faint signs of new life that may be there.

Prayers

My labouring Lord, You never cease to work diligently to cultivate the soil of my soul so that the seeds of Your mercy will grow and produce the good fruit You desire to come forth from my life. Please give me the grace I need to be faithful to a daily life of prayer, a practice of penance and a search for Your holy Word. Transform me, dear Lord, and bring forth the good fruit of Your holy Kingdom in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.

Lord Jesus, increase my hunger for you that I may grow in righteousness and holiness. May I not squander the grace of the present moment to say "yes" to you and to your will and plan for my life.

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

Reflection 299: The Weariness of Human Wisdom

The words of truth, spoken from the Heart of our Lord, bring joy to our lives and rejuvenate our spirits.  When you hear these words of truth, take them in and act on them, you are set free from the burden of error and may experience a certain lightness of spirit and refreshment.  However, the opposite is true also.  When you listen to an error, take it in and believe it, the fruit of this error is one of sadness and burden.  The truth sets you free and an error weighs you down.  This is good to be attentive to when you offer advice to another.  If your words appear to lift them up and strengthen them, then you have an indication that you are speaking from the Heart of Christ.  The same is true when you take the counsel of another.  If their words immediately connect with you, filling you with a sense of inspiration and clarity, then listen and receive this word because they are most likely speaking the words our Lord has inspired them to speak to you (See Diary #1461).

Reflect today upon the conversations you have had this past week.  How did you feel afterwards?  Did you feel inspired and renewed?  Or did you feel dry and down.  And how have your words affected others over this past week?  Did you notice a healthy difference in them and a lightening of their spirits?  Do a practical and concrete examination of your conversations and recommit yourself to listening to and speaking that which comes from the merciful Heart of Jesus. 

Lord, I desire to be an instrument of Your Mercy in every way.  I pray, today, that I may especially do so through the words I offer to others.  May my words be Your Word, dear Lord.  And may I seek refreshment from Your Heart as I open myself to Your Word spoken through others.  I love You, dear Lord, help me to love You more and to be an instrument of that love to all with whom I converse.  Jesus, I trust in You.