I am the resurrection.
and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full
October 11, 2010
Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Brothers and sisters:
It is written that Abraham had two sons,
one by the slave woman and the other by the freeborn woman.
The son of the slave woman was born naturally,
the son of the freeborn through a promise.
Now this is an allegory.
These women represent two covenants.
One was fromMount Sinai , bearing children for slavery;
this is Hagar.
But theJerusalem
For it is written:
Rejoice, you barren one who bore no children;
break forth and shout, you who were not in labor;
for more numerous are the children of the deserted one
than of her who has a husband.
Therefore, brothers and sisters,
we are children not of the slave woman
but of the freeborn woman.
It is written that Abraham had two sons,
one by the slave woman and the other by the freeborn woman.
The son of the slave woman was born naturally,
the son of the freeborn through a promise.
Now this is an allegory.
These women represent two covenants.
One was from
this is Hagar.
But the
For it is written:
Rejoice, you barren one who bore no children;
break forth and shout, you who were not in labor;
for more numerous are the children of the deserted one
than of her who has a husband.
Therefore, brothers and sisters,
we are children not of the slave woman
but of the freeborn woman.
For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm
and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.
and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see 2) Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Praise, you servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD
both now and forever.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Praise, you servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD
both now and forever.
Paul is writing in the context of Christian preachers who want the Galatians to go back to the Law of Moses. These preachers believed in Jesus but still revered the Law of Moses and taught that the observation of the Law was also necessary for salvation. Paul opposed this with all his strength. He teaches that in Christ there is only one law and that is to love. In Christ we are called to love with all our heart and soul. This has profound implications for our practice of the Faith. We do not live by law but by love. We should never even give the impression that the Church is an organization of laws. It is a community of love.
Gospel
While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
“This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men ofNineveh
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here.”
“This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here.”
Jonah was a prophet with weaknesses of his own. He disobeyed the command of God. He was a reluctant preacher and would prefer the Ninevites to perish than be saved. Yet when he preached the people of Nineveh
Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Brothers and sisters:
For freedom Christ set us free;
so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.
For freedom Christ set us free;
so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.
It is I, Paul, who am telling you
that if you have yourselves circumcised,
Christ will be of no benefit to you.
Once again I declare to every man who has himself circumcised
that he is bound to observe the entire law.
You are separated from Christ,
you who are trying to be justified by law;
you have fallen from grace.
For through the Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness.
For in Christ Jesus,
neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything,
but only faith working through love.
that if you have yourselves circumcised,
Christ will be of no benefit to you.
Once again I declare to every man who has himself circumcised
that he is bound to observe the entire law.
You are separated from Christ,
you who are trying to be justified by law;
you have fallen from grace.
For through the Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness.
For in Christ Jesus,
neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything,
but only faith working through love.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (41a) Let your mercy come to me, O Lord.
Let your mercy come to me, O LORD,
your salvation according to your promise.
Let your mercy come to me, O LORD,
your salvation according to your promise.
True Christianity is to fall in love with Jesus. Anyone in love does not live by law but by love for the other. So it is with the true believer. We are called to the freedom of love which will indeed sacrifice everything joyfully for the beloved, Jesus, as he has sacrificed everything joyfully for us, his beloved. When love is imperfect we need law. Further, we cannot win salvation by “good works”. Salvation is offered to us freely by the One who loves us. The one who responds will always do the will of the beloved out of love for him.
Gospel
After Jesus had spoken,
a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home.
He entered and reclined at table to eat.
The Pharisee was amazed to see
that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal.
The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees!
Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish,
inside you are filled with plunder and evil.
You fools!
Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?
But as to what is within, give alms,
and behold, everything will be clean for you.”
a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home.
He entered and reclined at table to eat.
The Pharisee was amazed to see
that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal.
The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees!
Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish,
inside you are filled with plunder and evil.
You fools!
Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?
But as to what is within, give alms,
and behold, everything will be clean for you.”
The washing was not hygienic but a ritual to wash away “the sin” caused by touching the unclean. Jesus does not see sin as something external. Washing the body without ‘washing the heart’ is like cleaning a vessel externally while inside it stinks with rotting material. Our inner spirit must be consecrated to God in love. Then we will be full of justice and love for others, as God is. We hate to part with out material possessions because we love them and cling to them. ‘Where your treasure is, there is your heart’. Giving our treasures away to those in need purifies our heart of greed. We are able to love God and our brothers and sisters. Without a heart of pure love external religious practices, prayers and fasting have no value. To have a heart for God have you given away all you do not need.
October 13, 2010
Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Brothers and sisters:
If you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious:
immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry,
sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy,
outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness,
dissensions, factions, occasions of envy,
drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.
I warn you, as I warned you before,
that those who do such things will not inherit theKingdom of God
In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh
with its passions and desires.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.
If you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious:
immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry,
sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy,
outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness,
dissensions, factions, occasions of envy,
drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.
I warn you, as I warned you before,
that those who do such things will not inherit the
In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh
with its passions and desires.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see Jn 8:12) Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
The Holy Spirit is not limited to professed Christians. Like the wind he moves where he wills. All the good in the world comes from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. By belief in Jesus we explicitly receive the Holy Spirit. We are no longer to live our lives according to law but according to the Spirit who lives within us. This needs a mature spirituality. We need to listen to the Spirit and summit ourselves to him. Then within us will be produced the fruits of the Spirit that Paul enumerates. They are caused by the Spirit in us in as far as we surrender ourselves to him. Without the Spirit we fall into the slavery of self-indulgence. The fruits of this are also very clear as Paul explains. They bring self-destruction.
Gospel
Gospel
Luke 11:42-46
The Lord said:
“Woe to you Pharisees!
You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb,
but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.
These you should have done, without overlooking the others.
Woe to you Pharisees!
You love the seat of honor in synagogues
and greetings in marketplaces.
Woe to you!
You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.”
“Woe to you Pharisees!
You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb,
but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.
These you should have done, without overlooking the others.
Woe to you Pharisees!
You love the seat of honor in synagogues
and greetings in marketplaces.
Woe to you!
You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.”
Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply,
“Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.”
And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law!
You impose on people burdens hard to carry,
but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”
“Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.”
And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law!
You impose on people burdens hard to carry,
but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”
The Pharisees were so religious, yet Jesus does not approve of them. Fasting, saying prayers and observing the law was their life. But why were they doing this? Were they interested in what God thought of them.? St. Paul
October 14, 2010
Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
to the holy ones who are inEphesus
and faithful in Christ Jesus:
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
to the holy ones who are in
and faithful in Christ Jesus:
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.
In Christ we have redemption by his Blood,
the forgiveness of transgressions,
in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.
In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us
the mystery of his will in accord with his favor
that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times,
to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.
the forgiveness of transgressions,
in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.
In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us
the mystery of his will in accord with his favor
that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times,
to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.
This is a letter written long after the death of Paul, but through reflection and prayer on the development of the Church applies and develops Paul’s thought under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Though not from the hand of Paul, it is a Pauline document. Since God chose you before creation, he knew you and desired you as a dear child in Christ his only begotten Son. The goal of life is then to become in every way like Jesus. Adopted by the Father and sharing his life through the Spirit each of us is to become in every way a ‘true child of God’. Through Christ we can be “holy and without blemish before him” and true members of his divine Family. This is our dignity and destiny..
Responsorial Psalm
R. (2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
Gospel
The Lord said:
“Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute’
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.”
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
“Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute’
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.”
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
Not all Pharisees were bad but there were those who deserved the rebukes that Jesus gives. They may well have been the vocal ones in opposition to him. The Gospel is however not a history but a message for the believers of Jesus. Jesus demands that we be internally dedicated to God. It is not enough to go to church, on pilgrimages and be active members of the parish. Jesus demands a new heart which is sincere before God and man. He demands that our hearts be full of love for God. This love will manifest itself in love and service for others. We help others find the Kingdom by the lives we lead. We must be consciously the light of the world, not to attract attention to us but to God. Evangelisation is to share our experience of Jesus. Have you a burning desire to bring people to Jesus?
Friday October 15, 2010
Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church
Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church
Brothers and sisters:
In Christ we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.
In him you also, who have heard the word of truth,
the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
which is the first installment of our inheritance
toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.
In Christ we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.
In him you also, who have heard the word of truth,
the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
which is the first installment of our inheritance
toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten‑stringed lyre chant his praises.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten‑stringed lyre chant his praises.
Gospel
At that time:
So many people were crowding together
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
“Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.
So many people were crowding together
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
“Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.
“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows.”
nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows.”
The crowds are following Jesus to Jerusalem
October 16, 2010
Saturday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Saturday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Brothers and sisters:
Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and of your love for all the holy ones,
I do not cease giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
for us who believe,
in accord with the exercise of his great might,
which he worked in Christ,
raising him from the dead not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the Church,
which is his Body,
the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and of your love for all the holy ones,
I do not cease giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
for us who believe,
in accord with the exercise of his great might,
which he worked in Christ,
raising him from the dead not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the Church,
which is his Body,
the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (7) You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.O LORD, our LORD,
how glorious is your name over all the earth!
You have exalted your majesty above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
you have fashioned praise because of your foes.
The author prays that we may receive the Spirit so that our eyes may be opened to understand the hope by which we live, and what is the inheritance that will be given to all who believe in Jesus, and what is the immense power of God at work in all those who believe. It is the same power that raised the dead Jesus and made him head of the whole of creation and head of the universal Church which is his Body.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you,
everyone who acknowledges me before others
the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.
But whoever denies me before others
will be denied before the angels of God.
“I tell you,
everyone who acknowledges me before others
the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.
But whoever denies me before others
will be denied before the angels of God.
“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,
but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will not be forgiven.
When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities,
do not worry about how or what your defense will be
or about what you are to say.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will not be forgiven.
When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities,
do not worry about how or what your defense will be
or about what you are to say.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
We must have no fear in publicly acknowledging our faith in Jesus. Our salvation depends on publicly professing Jesus as Lord and Saviour. It is hypocrisy to hide our faith. God is active in the world bringing salvation through Jesus. If a person calls his work, which is manifestly from God, from the Devil he sins against the Spirit. He knowingly rejects the salvation which brings forgiveness. God is always ready to forgive but the person has cut himself off from the source of salvation. The Christian life is life in the Spirit. The children of God are lead by the Spirit at all times. He is the source of their power and wisdom to witness to Jesus even in extreme circumstances. We are not then to worry. Do you experience the courage given you by the Spirit in your Christian life among non believers.
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