I am the Good Shepherd.
The Good Shepherd gives his life for his sheep.
I know my own and my own know me.
You are precious in my sight
And important - because I love you.
Monday September 27, 2010
Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, priest
Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, priest
One day, when the angels of God came to present themselves before the LORD,
Satan also came among them.
And the LORD said to Satan, "Whence do you come?"
Then Satan answered the LORD and said,
"From roaming the earth and patrolling it."
And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job,
and that there is no one on earth like him,
blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?"
But Satan answered the LORD and said,
"Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?
Have you not surrounded him and his family
and all that he has with your protection?
You have blessed the work of his hands,
and his livestock are spread over the land.
But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has,
and surely he will blaspheme you to your face."
And the LORD said to Satan,
"Behold, all that he has is in your power;
only do not lay a hand upon his person."
So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Satan also came among them.
And the LORD said to Satan, "Whence do you come?"
Then Satan answered the LORD and said,
"From roaming the earth and patrolling it."
And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job,
and that there is no one on earth like him,
blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?"
But Satan answered the LORD and said,
"Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?
Have you not surrounded him and his family
and all that he has with your protection?
You have blessed the work of his hands,
and his livestock are spread over the land.
But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has,
and surely he will blaspheme you to your face."
And the LORD said to Satan,
"Behold, all that he has is in your power;
only do not lay a hand upon his person."
So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
And so one day, while his sons and his daughters
were eating and drinking wine
in the house of their eldest brother,
a messenger came to Job and said,
"The oxen were ploughing and the asses grazing beside them,
and the Sabeans carried them off in a raid.
They put the herdsmen to the sword,
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
While he was yet speaking, another came and said,
"Lightning has fallen from heaven
and struck the sheep and their shepherds and consumed them;
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
While he was yet speaking, another messenger came and said,
"The Chaldeans formed three columns,
seized the camels, carried them off,
and put those tending them to the sword,
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
While he was yet speaking, another came and said,
"Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine
in the house of their eldest brother,
when suddenly a great wind came across the desert
and smote the four corners of the house.
It fell upon the young people and they are dead;
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair.
He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said,
were eating and drinking wine
in the house of their eldest brother,
a messenger came to Job and said,
"The oxen were ploughing and the asses grazing beside them,
and the Sabeans carried them off in a raid.
They put the herdsmen to the sword,
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
While he was yet speaking, another came and said,
"Lightning has fallen from heaven
and struck the sheep and their shepherds and consumed them;
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
While he was yet speaking, another messenger came and said,
"The Chaldeans formed three columns,
seized the camels, carried them off,
and put those tending them to the sword,
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
While he was yet speaking, another came and said,
"Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine
in the house of their eldest brother,
when suddenly a great wind came across the desert
and smote the four corners of the house.
It fell upon the young people and they are dead;
and I alone have escaped to tell you."
Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair.
He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said,
"Naked I came forth from my mother's womb,
and naked shall I go back again.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD!"
and naked shall I go back again.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD!"
In all this Job did not sin,
nor did he say anything disrespectful of God.
nor did he say anything disrespectful of God.
We love our illusions and will not face the truth. Life is fleeting. Years pass so fast though in our youth we thought they would last forever. Tragedies happen to everyone. In a word life on earth is hard. But Jesus gives us a hope that can buoy us up even in the hardest of times and indeed especially then. It is his presence. The secret of salvation in life is know Jesus personally and stay close to him.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (6) Incline your ear to me and hear my word.Gospel
An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
"Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest."
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
"Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest."
Then John said in reply,
"Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company."
Jesus said to him,
"Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you."
"Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company."
Jesus said to him,
"Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you."
How hard a lesson it is to learn: we all want to be considered important and we identify importance with position, whether in the Church community or outside it. In his community Jesus does not consider those in high positions, for instance popes, bishops, priests as by that fact important people. In fact we do not know who is important. All are worthy of the greatest respect because they are in Christ. Greatness is measured not by status but by loving service to others. The more love we have for Jesus then the more we will serve others with love. The least in the community whether small children or people who by their lifestyle are least are to be loved and served. Jesus doesn’t want just service, but service in love.
Tuesday September 28, 2010
Tuesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Tuesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.
Job spoke out and said:
Job spoke out and said:
Perish the day on which I was born,
the night when they said, "The child is a boy!"
the night when they said, "The child is a boy!"
Why did I not perish at birth,
come forth from the womb and expire?
Or why was I not buried away like an untimely birth,
like babes that have never seen the light?
Wherefore did the knees receive me?
or why did I suck at the breasts?
come forth from the womb and expire?
Or why was I not buried away like an untimely birth,
like babes that have never seen the light?
Wherefore did the knees receive me?
or why did I suck at the breasts?
For then I should have lain down and been tranquil;
had I slept, I should then have been at rest
With kings and counselors of the earth
who built where now there are ruins
Or with princes who had gold
and filled their houses with silver.
had I slept, I should then have been at rest
With kings and counselors of the earth
who built where now there are ruins
Or with princes who had gold
and filled their houses with silver.
There the wicked cease from troubling,
there the weary are at rest.
there the weary are at rest.
Why is light given to the toilers,
and life to the bitter in spirit?
They wait for death and it comes not;
they search for it rather than for hidden treasures,
Rejoice in it exultingly,
and are glad when they reach the grave:
Those whose path is hidden from them,
and whom God has hemmed in
and life to the bitter in spirit?
They wait for death and it comes not;
they search for it rather than for hidden treasures,
Rejoice in it exultingly,
and are glad when they reach the grave:
Those whose path is hidden from them,
and whom God has hemmed in
Job is living before men knew of a life after death. They still thought that there was only this life and God’s blessing was here or nowhere. Nonetheless like everyone and indeed worse than most, he was suffering the tragedies of life. The story of Job is man struggling with on the one hand his belief in a God he cannot see and whom he believes is just and caring and on the other hand the suffering he has to undergo though he has tried with all his might to be true to his God. Why does God allow this? Why me? He asked the question almost three thousand years ago and we are still asking it. Since suffering is unavoidable, the pertinent question is: how should I respond to it?
Responsorial Psalm
R. (3) Let my prayer come before you, Lord.Gospel
When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey toJerusalem
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey wasJerusalem
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
"Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?"
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village.
he resolutely determined to journey to
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
"Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?"
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village.
We begin today the story of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem
Wednesday September 29, 2010
Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels
Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels
As I watched:
Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened, and the books were opened.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw
As the visions during the night continued, I saw
One like a son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
or
War broke out in heaven;
Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.
The dragon and its angels fought back,
but they did not prevail
and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,
who is called the Devil and Satan,
who deceived the whole world,
was thrown down to earth,
and its angels were thrown down with it.
Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.
The dragon and its angels fought back,
but they did not prevail
and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,
who is called the Devil and Satan,
who deceived the whole world,
was thrown down to earth,
and its angels were thrown down with it.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.
For the accuser of our brothers is cast out,
who accuses them before our God day and night.
They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
love for life did not deter them from death.
Therefore, rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them."
"Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.
For the accuser of our brothers is cast out,
who accuses them before our God day and night.
They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
love for life did not deter them from death.
Therefore, rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them."
Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth. This is our faith but is it our experience? Intimate friendship with Jesus in faith is the only worthwhile goal in life. Since as our closest friend, he is with us in all things there is then nothing we cannot accomplish. But is this our experience. Experience of Jesus is hugely more important than knowing and notionally accepting our faith.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (1) In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.Gospel
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
"Here is a true child ofIsrael
There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King ofIsrael
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son ofMan.
"Here is a true child of
There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of
Can Jesus say of you, “There is no duplicity in him/her”? – Transparent before the Lord and sincere and honest before men. Jesus does see us always whatever we do and wherever. But he sees us with love. If we do good he rejoices because we grow. If we do evil he grieves because evil destroys the one who does it. To think of Jesus or God as One who sees us in order to catch and punish is an insult and misunderstanding of God. God manifested in Jesus loves us with human and divine love. He longs for us to make our home with him, now in faith and one day in glory. We too will see the heavens opened but now in faith we can also experience Jesus both human and divine. As human he is our Friend and as divine he leads us to the Father.
Thursday September 30, 2010
Memorial ofSaint Jerome
Memorial of
Job said:
Pity me, pity me, O you my friends,
for the hand of God has struck me!
Why do you hound me as though you were divine,
and insatiably prey upon me?
for the hand of God has struck me!
Why do you hound me as though you were divine,
and insatiably prey upon me?
Oh, would that my words were written down!
Would that they were inscribed in a record:
That with an iron chisel and with lead
they were cut inthe rock forever!
But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives,
and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust;
Whom I myself shall see:
my own eyes, not another's, shall behold him,
And from my flesh I shall see God;
my inmost being is consumed with longing.
Would that they were inscribed in a record:
That with an iron chisel and with lead
they were cut in
But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives,
and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust;
Whom I myself shall see:
my own eyes, not another's, shall behold him,
And from my flesh I shall see God;
my inmost being is consumed with longing.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
In the midst of his suffering Job is still able to trust in the goodness of God. He knows that one day his suffering will be over and that he will see God. He stresses that is he himself who will see God. Now in faith we cling to God but one day we will experience him in all his majesty and love. Job’s understanding of God is still to grow. He still sees God as the cause of his sufferings. God allows sufferings for a greater good but never causes them.
Gospel
Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples
whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
to every town and place he intended to visit.
He said to them,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say,
'Peace to this household.'
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.
whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
to every town and place he intended to visit.
He said to them,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say,
'Peace to this household.'
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,
for the laborer deserves his payment.
Do not move about from one house to another.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
eat what is set before you,
cure the sick in it and say to them,
'The
Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,
go out into the streets and say,
'The dust of your town that clings to our feet,
even that we shake off against you.'
Yet know this: the
I tell you,
it will be more tolerable for
than for that town."
Jesus sends out seventy disciples. According to the Jews there were seventy nations in the world. It is a mission that symbolically covers all nations. Jesus sends them out to harvest, not to plant. Someone else has done the planting. Jesus himself is the grain of wheat that is planted and dies and so produces a harvest through the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that moves a person’s heart long before the preacher has come. However the labourers are few. How many in the Church have a passion to bring those outside in darkness into the light of Jesus? How many search for the lost? Few. This is a major tragedy. What do we need to preach the Gospel. First we need to live the Gospel. We must bring the peace of Jesus’ presence to people. Jesus is our message. Have you a passion inside you?
Friday October 1, 2010
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church
The LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said:
Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning
and shown the dawn its place
For taking hold of the ends of the earth,
till the wicked are shaken from its surface?
The earth is changed as is clay by the seal,
and dyed as though it were a garment;
But from the wicked the light is withheld,
and the arm of pride is shattered.
and shown the dawn its place
For taking hold of the ends of the earth,
till the wicked are shaken from its surface?
The earth is changed as is clay by the seal,
and dyed as though it were a garment;
But from the wicked the light is withheld,
and the arm of pride is shattered.
Have you entered into the sources of the sea,
or walked about in the depths of the abyss?
Have the gates of death been shown to you,
or have you seen the gates of darkness?
Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all:
Which is the way to the dwelling place of light,
and where is the abode of darkness,
That you may take them to their boundaries
and set them on their homeward paths?
You know, because you were born before them,
and the number of your years is great!
or walked about in the depths of the abyss?
Have the gates of death been shown to you,
or have you seen the gates of darkness?
Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all:
Which is the way to the dwelling place of light,
and where is the abode of darkness,
That you may take them to their boundaries
and set them on their homeward paths?
You know, because you were born before them,
and the number of your years is great!
Then Job answered the LORD and said:
Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again;
though twice, I will do so no more.
I put my hand over my mouth.
Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again;
though twice, I will do so no more.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
The universe is so big that scientists don’t even know how big it is, let alone are able measure it. How it all holds together and what is its internal structure are all mysteries to man. Each day new scientific discoveries make us marvel. Then what can we say of the Creator? The Psalmist says, standing before the Creator the whole universe is as a grain of sand on the scales, then what of you and me? Before God our role is silent adoration. But we know from Christ Jesus that he is merciful and kind and wants to share his greatness with us. This is more wonderful than all the scientific discoveries put together for those who can understand it a little.
Gospel
Jesus said to them,
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you,Bethsaida
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done inTyre and Sidon
they would long ago have repented,
sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
But it will be more tolerable forTyre and Sidon
at the judgment than for you.
And as for you,Capernaum
You will go down to the netherworld.’
Whoever listens to you listens to me.
Whoever rejects you rejects me.
And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you,
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in
they would long ago have repented,
sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
But it will be more tolerable for
at the judgment than for you.
And as for you,
You will go down to the netherworld.’
Whoever listens to you listens to me.
Whoever rejects you rejects me.
And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
People are free to respond to or reject the invitation of Jesus for salvation. Jesus met with rejection. He was God living among people, but they refused to accept him. How, you might think, can a person reject the invitation to share in God’s life? The fact is that the people in the cities Jesus mentions did reject him even though through his Word and miracles he demonstrated that he was from God. The tragedy is that to refuse is to invite disaster. The fact is: the towns mentioned are today no more than names. Like them we too have received so much grace through Jesus. How are we responding to his invitation? We are to be his messengers too. We become his messages by becoming his message. Just as Jesus was the message he preached, so we are to ‘be Christ’ wherever we are. Are you?
Saturday October 2, 2010
Memorial of the Guardian Angels
Job answered the LORD and said:
I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.
I have dealt with great things that I do not understand;
things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know.
I had heard of you by word of mouth,
but now my eye has seen you.
Therefore I disown what I have said,
and repent in dust and ashes.
and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.
I have dealt with great things that I do not understand;
things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know.
I had heard of you by word of mouth,
but now my eye has seen you.
Therefore I disown what I have said,
and repent in dust and ashes.
Thus the LORD blessed the latter days of Job
more than his earlier ones.
For he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels,
a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses.
And he had seven sons and three daughters,
of whom he called the first Jemimah,
the second Keziah, and the third Kerenhappuch.
In all the land no other women were as beautiful
as the daughters of Job;
and their father gave them an inheritance
along with their brothers.
After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years;
and he saw his children, his grandchildren,
and even his great-grandchildren.
Then Job died, old and full of years.
more than his earlier ones.
For he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels,
a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses.
And he had seven sons and three daughters,
of whom he called the first Jemimah,
the second Keziah, and the third Kerenhappuch.
In all the land no other women were as beautiful
as the daughters of Job;
and their father gave them an inheritance
along with their brothers.
After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years;
and he saw his children, his grandchildren,
and even his great-grandchildren.
Then Job died, old and full of years.
The story of Job is written at a time before the revelation of a future life. It is filled with the truth however that God is faithful, true to himself. He will not allow his own to perish and will vindicate them. The author saw this in terms of this life since that is all he knew. We have the fullness of revelation that God has given us eternal life as his own children and that we will live forever in‘prosperity’ with him beyond anything the eye has seen or ear heard or as has ever entered into the heart of man. As for Job this is for those who live in faithfulness to him through any trial that may come their way.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (135) Lord, let your face shine on me.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge,
for in your commands I trust.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge,
for in your commands I trust.
Gospel
The disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”
Little children are not perfect but they love their parents and depend on them. They feel dependent and are lost without them. They need to be close to them and experience their presence. They feel everything is all right if Mummy and Daddy are there. Jesus says your relationship with God is to be of the same kind. He is a Parent who can never be lost. He is always with us: “Do not be afraid, I am with you”. He wants to bless us “with all the spiritual blessings of the heavenly places” even to sharing his divine Life with us. He can only give us everything when we humbly acknowledge what we are. Then his floodgates of mercy and love are opened. A little child hasn’t lost this yet. God loves them and we are to as well. Receive a child and you receive God.
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