Gaze at the face of Jesus
Jesus, the Good Physician
Jesus, the Good Physician
See his compassion for you
His sadness at your sin
- because it destroys you.
His patience with your weakness
His longing to heal you and
Be your friend.
Let him speak to your heart
Go beyond the picture to the Person
September 13, 2010
Memorial ofSaint John
Memorial of
Brothers and sisters:
In giving this instruction, I do not praise the fact
that your meetings are doing more harm than good.
First of all, I hear that when you meet as a Church
there are divisions among you,
and to a degree I believe it;
there have to be factions among you
in order that also those who are approved among you
may become known.
When you meet in one place, then,
it is not to eat the Lord's supper,
for in eating, each one goes ahead with his own supper,
and one goes hungry while another gets drunk.
Do you not have houses in which you can eat and drink?
Or do you show contempt for theChurch of God
and make those who have nothing feel ashamed?
What can I say to you? Shall I praise you?
In this matter I do not praise you.
In giving this instruction, I do not praise the fact
that your meetings are doing more harm than good.
First of all, I hear that when you meet as a Church
there are divisions among you,
and to a degree I believe it;
there have to be factions among you
in order that also those who are approved among you
may become known.
When you meet in one place, then,
it is not to eat the Lord's supper,
for in eating, each one goes ahead with his own supper,
and one goes hungry while another gets drunk.
Do you not have houses in which you can eat and drink?
Or do you show contempt for the
and make those who have nothing feel ashamed?
What can I say to you? Shall I praise you?
In this matter I do not praise you.
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,
that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over,
took bread and, after he had given thanks,
broke it and said, "This is my Body that is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,
"This cup is the new covenant in my Blood.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over,
took bread and, after he had given thanks,
broke it and said, "This is my Body that is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,
"This cup is the new covenant in my Blood.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters,
when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (1 Cor 11:26b) Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again Jesus founded a community of believers centred on him. The chief characteristic of this community is fellowship and a sharing of everything in love for one another. The celebration of the Holy Eucharist the climax of the community’s life and it should be a true celebration of fellowship in Jesus. It wasn’t like this is Corinth and St. Paul
Gospel
When Jesus had finished all his words to the people,
he enteredCapernaum
A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die,
and he was valuable to him.
When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him,
asking him to come and save the life of his slave.
They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying,
"He deserves to have you do this for him,
for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us."
And Jesus went with them,
but when he was only a short distance from the house,
the centurion sent friends to tell him,
"Lord, do not trouble yourself,
for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.
Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you;
but say the word and let my servant be healed.
For I too am a person subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes;
and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes;
and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."
When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him
and, turning, said to the crowd following him,
"I tell you, not even inIsrael
When the messengers returned to the house,
they found the slave in good health.
he entered
A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die,
and he was valuable to him.
When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him,
asking him to come and save the life of his slave.
They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying,
"He deserves to have you do this for him,
for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us."
And Jesus went with them,
but when he was only a short distance from the house,
the centurion sent friends to tell him,
"Lord, do not trouble yourself,
for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.
Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you;
but say the word and let my servant be healed.
For I too am a person subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes;
and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes;
and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."
When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him
and, turning, said to the crowd following him,
"I tell you, not even in
When the messengers returned to the house,
they found the slave in good health.
The centurion is a gentile but he shows deep humility and faith in Jesus. He is aware that he does not have any right to receive anything from Jesus. The centurion is an example to us Christians of faith without seeing. Blessed are those, Jesus said, who believe even though they do not see. But the centurion is not only a model of faith and humility. He is also a model of generosity to the community. He has built a synagogue for the Jews. Jesus is amazed at his faith and we can see how much joy Jesus has when he meets a person with complete trust in him. He is then able to do so much for them, more indeed than they are able to imagine or even pray for. At the time of Holy Communion the Church has us profess the same faith in Jesus as expressed by the centurion. When we are healed by Jesus we to serve the community. What service do you do for the community of believers?
September 14, 2010
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
With their patience worn out by the journey,
the people complained against God and Moses,
"Why have you brought us up fromEgypt
where there is no food or water?
We are disgusted with this wretched food!"
the people complained against God and Moses,
"Why have you brought us up from
where there is no food or water?
We are disgusted with this wretched food!"
In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents,
which bit the people so that many of them died.
Then the people came to Moses and said,
"We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you.
Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us."
So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses,
"Make a saraph and mount it on a pole,
and if any who have been bitten look at it, they will live."
Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole,
and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent
looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
which bit the people so that many of them died.
Then the people came to Moses and said,
"We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you.
Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us."
So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses,
"Make a saraph and mount it on a pole,
and if any who have been bitten look at it, they will live."
Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole,
and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent
looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
The Israelites had wandered through the desert now for forty years. They had wanted to go through Edomite territory but couldn’t. They had to turn back and go again through the desert. They are frustrated and there is open rebellion. In their anger they despise the food God has provided. Around Sinai they are afflicted by many deadly snakes which inhabit the region. They put it down to the punishment of God. With so many dying they repent of their sin. Moses is told to make a bronze snake. This is possible because copper was available there and people of the area made bronze snakes for worship. This however wasn’t magic. They needed faith in Yahweh. In his mercy he healed them. We are responsible for the death of Jesus but by looking at him in faith God heals us of all our sufferings.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord!
Brothers and sisters:
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
This passage teaches us that Christ Jesus did not save us by his divine power but by human weakness. Putting aside completely all his divine glory he was no stronger than the weakest human being. He was always Son of God but as a human being he loved God with all his heart, soul and strength. Adam and his children became captives of Satan by listening to him and rebelling against God. Jesus overcame Satan by humbly listening and obeying God in spite of everything Satan did to him. Jesus is the new Adam. We are to be his new children. Obedience in love leads to glory.
Gospel
Jesus said to Nicodemus:
"No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son ofMan.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."
"No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
On the even ground of human weakness Jesus met Satan in a deadly duel. Jesus entered the arena with nothing more than his humanity. Satan attacked him as with Adam and Eve through promises and temptation. He failed to have him sin. He used the opposition of his human allies to make him lose trust in God. He failed. He tempted him by his closest companion, Peter. “Get behind me Satan”. He inflicted torture, the Passion and Death on the Cross. He failed again to have Jesus lose his trust and love for God. Jesus died loving, obeying and offering his Spirit back to God. His life was a prayer of intercession. He won forgiveness for us. Look at Jesus with love and all your sin is forgiven. God will raise you to his right hand in glory. Do you have a heart of gratitude to Christ Jesus, the Lord?
September 15, 2010
Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
Brothers and sisters:
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.
But I shall show you a still more excellent way.
If I speak in human and angelic tongues
but do not have love,
I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.
And if I have the gift of prophecy
and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;
if I have all faith so as to move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away everything I own,
and if I hand my body over so that I may boast
but do not have love, I gain nothing.
but do not have love,
I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.
And if I have the gift of prophecy
and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;
if I have all faith so as to move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away everything I own,
and if I hand my body over so that I may boast
but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, love is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
It is not jealous, love is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing;
if tongues, they will cease;
if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.
For we know partially and we prophesy partially,
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
When I was a child, I used to talk as a child,
think as a child, reason as a child;
when I became a man, I put aside childish things.
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,
but then face to face.
At present I know partially;
then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.
So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.
If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing;
if tongues, they will cease;
if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.
For we know partially and we prophesy partially,
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
When I was a child, I used to talk as a child,
think as a child, reason as a child;
when I became a man, I put aside childish things.
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,
but then face to face.
At present I know partially;
then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.
So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.
Am I patient and kind? I am jealous of others? Am I pompous in my dealings? Am I conceited or rude with people? Do I seek my own interests? Am I short-tempered with others and brood over injuries done to me looking to get even? Do I always rejoice over the victory of truth and never at wrong-doing either by myself or others? Do I bear the imperfections of others patiently? Do I look for the good in others and hope for their well-being? Do I bear all things for the sake of Christ? The way we answer these questions will indicate how much we love and how like God we are. Everything we know will be swept away except love. That is eternal and it is the only treasure we should strive for.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.Gospel
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved
he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son."
Then he said to the disciple,
"Behold, your mother."
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved
he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son."
Then he said to the disciple,
"Behold, your mother."
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
Jesus said, “who are my mother, my brothers and sisters?” He gave a new meaning to his family. It is those who hear the Word of God and keep it. Mary’s greatness lies not in her biological motherhood of Jesus but in her faith in Jesus. She heard the Word of God, pondered it in her heart and proclaimed it in her Magnificat. She lived the Word of God even to going to the Cross on Calvary . She shared fully in the life and work of her Son. In his Passion her heart was pierced by the sword of suffering and the rejection of her Son. She was in the heart of his community after the Resurrection as she prayed with them for the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room. Have you asked her to pray for you to receive the Spirit? Do you both honour her and imitate her?
September 16, 2010
Memorial of Saint Cornelius, pope and martyr, and Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr
Memorial of Saint Cornelius, pope and martyr, and Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr
I am reminding you, brothers and sisters,
of the Gospel I preached to you,
which you indeed received and in which you also stand.
Through it you are also being saved,
if you hold fast to the word I preached to you,
unless you believed in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he was buried;
that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once,
most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
After that he appeared to James,
then to all the Apostles.
Last of all, as to one born abnormally,
he appeared to me.
For I am the least of the Apostles,
not fit to be called an Apostle,
because I persecuted theChurch of God
But by the grace of God I am what I am,
and his grace to me has not been ineffective.
Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them;
not I, however, but the grace of God that is with me.
Therefore, whether it be I or they,
so we preach and so you believed
of the Gospel I preached to you,
which you indeed received and in which you also stand.
Through it you are also being saved,
if you hold fast to the word I preached to you,
unless you believed in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he was buried;
that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once,
most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
After that he appeared to James,
then to all the Apostles.
Last of all, as to one born abnormally,
he appeared to me.
For I am the least of the Apostles,
not fit to be called an Apostle,
because I persecuted the
But by the grace of God I am what I am,
and his grace to me has not been ineffective.
Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them;
not I, however, but the grace of God that is with me.
Therefore, whether it be I or they,
so we preach and so you believed
Our faith and our religion centre on Jesus. He is the new Adam. He lived a life of love, trust and obedience to God. It brought him to the Cross. He offered his life for our forgiveness. In appreciation for the life he lived God raised him to life and to his right hand. Jesus is God in glory. How do we know? He appeared to Peter and to all the apostles including Paul. They are witnesses. The Gospel they all preached is their witness. Paul gave his witness to the Corinthians. He has worked harder than others but it was not him but grace working in him. Grace is another word for the Holy Spirit. If we receive him, there is nothing we cannot do.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (1) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.Gospel
A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him,
and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table.
Now there was a sinful woman in the city
who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.
Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
she stood behind him at his feet weeping
and began to bathe his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself,
"If this man were a prophet,
he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him,
that she is a sinner."
Jesus said to him in reply,
"Simon, I have something to say to you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.
"Two people were in debt to a certain creditor;
one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty.
Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both.
Which of them will love him more?"
Simon said in reply,
"The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven."
He said to him, "You have judged rightly."
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon,
"Do you see this woman?
When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet,
but she has bathed them with her tears
and wiped them with her hair.
You did not give me a kiss,
but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil,
but she anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven;
hence, she has shown great love.
But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little."
He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
The others at table said to themselves,
"Who is this who even forgives sins?"
But he said to the woman,
"Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table.
Now there was a sinful woman in the city
who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.
Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
she stood behind him at his feet weeping
and began to bathe his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself,
"If this man were a prophet,
he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him,
that she is a sinner."
Jesus said to him in reply,
"Simon, I have something to say to you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.
"Two people were in debt to a certain creditor;
one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty.
Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both.
Which of them will love him more?"
Simon said in reply,
"The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven."
He said to him, "You have judged rightly."
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon,
"Do you see this woman?
When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet,
but she has bathed them with her tears
and wiped them with her hair.
You did not give me a kiss,
but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil,
but she anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven;
hence, she has shown great love.
But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little."
He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
The others at table said to themselves,
"Who is this who even forgives sins?"
But he said to the woman,
"Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Jesus had touched her before she touched him. She believed in him as the One sent by God. She believed his message of God’s love and desire to forgive sins. She knew then that God had forgiven her and she turned away from her sins and turned to Jesus. And so in gratitude she came to him and extravagantly showed her love for him. He was moved by her expression of love because he is God’s love in human form. God in Jesus loves us with a divinely human love and he longs for our love in return. This is our religion and this is our journey of faith. It is a journey into the mystery of Love. Love is not a state but a Person, in fact Three Persons. Until we have had her experience, have we really lived? Do you see life and religion as Love?
September 17, 2010
Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Brothers and sisters:
If Christ is preached as raised from the dead,
how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead?
If there is no resurrection of the dead,
then neither has Christ been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching;
empty, too, your faith.
Then we are also false witnesses to God,
because we testified against God that he raised Christ,
whom he did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised.
For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised,
and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain;
you are still in your sins.
Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If for this life only we have hoped in Christ,
we are the most pitiable people of all.
If Christ is preached as raised from the dead,
how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead?
If there is no resurrection of the dead,
then neither has Christ been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching;
empty, too, your faith.
Then we are also false witnesses to God,
because we testified against God that he raised Christ,
whom he did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised.
For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised,
and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain;
you are still in your sins.
Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If for this life only we have hoped in Christ,
we are the most pitiable people of all.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead,
the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Look at Paul’s argument. Christ has been raised so we will be raised. If we do not rise, then Christ has not risen. If you pick up this end of the stick, you automatically pick up the other, because it is one. Likewise we with Christ form one Body. It is the whole Body or none of it that rises from the dead. Through faith and Baptism we become members of Christ. What happens to him, happens to us too. This is the mystery and wonder of our life in faith. Do you contemplate on that you are in Christ and he in you. He expresses himself through you. Does he?
Responsorial Psalm
R. (15b) Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.Gospel
Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another,
preaching and proclaiming the good news of theKingdom of God
Accompanying him were the Twelve
and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza,
Susanna, and many others
who provided for them out of their resources.
preaching and proclaiming the good news of the
Accompanying him were the Twelve
and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza,
Susanna, and many others
who provided for them out of their resources.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd searching for his sheep. He is the Son of God become man living among us. He eats, he drinks, he sleeps, he walks on this earth. By doing all these things, he has sanctifies these activities. He calls women to be his disciples. This was something unheard of in Jewish society. The women and the Twelve accompany him. They will be his more faithful disciples being with him on the Cross. They were persons whose lives had been totally transformed by meeting Jesus. They proved their love by supporting him financially. Now in the new age of Christ there is no distinction between male and female, but all are one in Christ Jesus (Gal). All share his Life and form one Body. Women played an important role in the early Church communities. Have we still to grow towards the ideal of Jesus?
September 18, 2010
Saturday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Saturday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Brothers and sisters:
Someone may say, "How are the dead raised?
With what kind of body will they come back?"
Someone may say, "How are the dead raised?
With what kind of body will they come back?"
You fool!
What you sow is not brought to life unless it dies.
And what you sow is not the body that is to be
but a bare kernel of wheat, perhaps, or of some other kind.
What you sow is not brought to life unless it dies.
And what you sow is not the body that is to be
but a bare kernel of wheat, perhaps, or of some other kind.
So also is the resurrection of the dead.
It is sown corruptible; it is raised incorruptible.
It is sown dishonorable; it is raised glorious.
It is sown weak; it is raised powerful.
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual one.
It is sown corruptible; it is raised incorruptible.
It is sown dishonorable; it is raised glorious.
It is sown weak; it is raised powerful.
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual one.
So, too, it is written,
"The first man, Adam, became a living being,"
the last Adam a life-giving spirit.
But the spiritual was not first;
rather the natural and then the spiritual.
The first man was from the earth, earthly;
the second man, from heaven.
As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly,
and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly.
Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one,
we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.
"The first man, Adam, became a living being,"
the last Adam a life-giving spirit.
But the spiritual was not first;
rather the natural and then the spiritual.
The first man was from the earth, earthly;
the second man, from heaven.
As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly,
and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly.
Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one,
we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.
Like us St. Paul
Responsorial Psalm
R. (14) I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.Gospel
When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another
journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable.
"A sower went out to sow his seed.
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled,
and the birds of the sky ate it up.
Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew,
it withered for lack of moisture.
Some seed fell among thorns,
and the thorns grew with it and choked it.
And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew,
it produced fruit a hundredfold."
After saying this, he called out,
"Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."
journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable.
"A sower went out to sow his seed.
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled,
and the birds of the sky ate it up.
Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew,
it withered for lack of moisture.
Some seed fell among thorns,
and the thorns grew with it and choked it.
And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew,
it produced fruit a hundredfold."
After saying this, he called out,
"Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."
Then his disciples asked him
what the meaning of this parable might be.
He answered,
"Knowledge of the mysteries of theKingdom of God
has been granted to you;
but to the rest, they are made known through parables
so that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.
what the meaning of this parable might be.
He answered,
"Knowledge of the mysteries of the
has been granted to you;
but to the rest, they are made known through parables
so that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.
"This is the meaning of the parable.
The seed is the word of God.
Those on the path are the ones who have heard,
but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts
that they may not believe and be saved.
Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear,
receive the word with joy, but they have no root;
they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation.
As for the seed that fell among thorns,
they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along,
they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life,
and they fail to produce mature fruit.
But as for the seed that fell on rich soil,
they are the ones who, when they have heard the word,
embrace it with a generous and good heart,
and bear fruit through perseverance."
Freedom is an awesome gift. It is our making or breaking. The Word of God is powerful. It can produce a hundredfold harvest. On the other hand it may produce nothing at all. Everything depends on how we freely accept it. The seed is the word of God.
Those on the path are the ones who have heard,
but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts
that they may not believe and be saved.
Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear,
receive the word with joy, but they have no root;
they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation.
As for the seed that fell among thorns,
they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along,
they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life,
and they fail to produce mature fruit.
But as for the seed that fell on rich soil,
they are the ones who, when they have heard the word,
embrace it with a generous and good heart,
and bear fruit through perseverance."
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