God's Word for the weekdays from 12th Sept.

some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew,
it produced fruit a hundredfold

 

 

Saturday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
17th Sept. 2011

Reading 1 1 Tm 6:13-16

Beloved:
I charge you before God, who gives life to all things,
and before Christ Jesus,
who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate
for the noble confession,
to keep the commandment without stain or reproach
until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ
that the blessed and only ruler
will make manifest at the proper time,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light,
and whom no human being has seen or can see.
To him be honour and eternal power. Amen.

God lives in “unapproachable light” and “no human being has seen or can see” him and yet out of love for us this God has come and lived among us. Jesus is the visible likeness of the invisible God (Col 1:15) and through him we can see and meet God and even become his friend (John 15:15).

Responsorial Psalm Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5

R. (2) Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Sing joyfully to the LORD all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.

Gospel Lk 8:4-15

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."

Then his disciples asked him
what the meaning of this parable might be.
He answered,
"Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom 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.

"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. Palestine has very rocky fields. They ploughed after sowing so that the seed would go deeper into the soil. Seed, then, may fall in very rocky or thorny places or on the path people made through the field.  It is not enough to hear the Word. We must plough it into our hearts.  We do this by daily prayer and surrender to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit working in us, we will bear no fruit. He does not work alone but with us. We must constantly prayer that he will make our inner being strong. Do you pray for and in the Spirit?

Sept 16th

Reading 1 1 Tm 6:2c-12

Beloved:
Teach and urge these things.
Whoever teaches something different
and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ
and the religious teaching
is conceited, understanding nothing,
and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.
From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,
and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds,
who are deprived of the truth,
supposing religion to be a means of gain.
Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world,
just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.
If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.
Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap
and into many foolish and harmful desires,
which plunge them into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is the root of all evils,
and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith
and have pierced themselves with many pains.

But you, man of God, avoid all this.
Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion,
faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life,
to which you were called when you made the noble confession
in the presence of many witnesses.

The author pointsout something which makes everything relative but something we often forget. We brought nothing into the world and will take nothing with us. Hence to spend all out efforts to amass a fortune of whatever kind in this world is foolishness. As Jesus warned us we are to amass a fortune in the world which is eternal.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 49:6-7, 8-10, 17-18, 19-20

R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Why should I fear in evil days
when my wicked ensnarers ring me round?
They trust in their wealth;
the abundance of their riches is their boast.

Gospel Lk 8:1-3

Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another,
preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom 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.

Jesus did not follow the cultural habits of his time. No Pharisee would have women disciples but Jesus did and they were close to him. They were the ones who were faithful to him throughout the Passion when the male disciples fled. They were on  Calvary. They were grateful to him for the healing that he had given to them and so ministered to him. In the early Church too women played an important role. St. Paul also says that there is no Jew or gentile, no Greek or barbarian, no male or female, but we are all one in Christ Jesus. The Church becomes often bound by the cultural patterns of the day. We need to break out of them and follow the values of Christ. Women need to have a more important role in the Church community according to the gifts given to them by the Holy Spirit

Sept 15^th 2011

Reading 1 1 Tm 4:12-16

Beloved:
Let no one have contempt for your youth,
but set an example for those who believe,
in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
Until I arrive, attend to the reading, exhortation, and teaching.
Do not neglect the gift you have,
which was conferred on you through the prophetic word
with the imposition of hands by the presbyterate.
Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them,
so that your progress may be evident to everyone.
Attend to yourself and to your teaching;
persevere in both tasks,
for by doing so you will save
both yourself and those who listen to you.

It what we are more than what we do. The leader in the community is to be a person filled with the Holy Spirit. Like iron when it is hot radiates heat so will the person who is filled with Holy Spirit radiate holiness and bring others to faith in Jesus.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 111:7-8, 9, 10

R. (2) How great are the works of the Lord!
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever,
wrought in truth and equity.

Gospel Jn 19:25-27

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.

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?

With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses,"Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert,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. 

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 Ps 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38

R. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord!
Hearken, my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable,
I will utter mysteries from of old.

Phil. 2:6-11

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.

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."No one has gone up to heaven

 The Gospel John 3:13-17

 Jesus said to Nicodemus:

No one has gone up to heaven

except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.
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

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 of 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?

1 Timothy 3:1-13

 Beloved, this saying is trustworthy:
whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task.
Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable,
married only once, temperate, self-controlled,
decent, hospitable, able to teach,
not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle,
not contentious, not a lover of money.
He must manage his own household well,
keeping his children under control with perfect dignity;
for if a man does not know how to manage his own household,
how can he take care of the Church of God?
He should not be a recent convert,
so that he may not become conceited
and thus incur the Devil's punishment.
He must also have a good reputation among outsiders,
so that he may not fall into disgrace, the Devil's trap.

Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful,
not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain,
holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
Moreover, they should be tested first;
then, if there is nothing against them,
let them serve as deacons.
Women, similarly, should be dignified, not slanderers,
but temperate and faithful in everything.
Deacons may be married only once
and must manage their children and their households well.
Thus those who serve well as deacons gain good standing
and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

St. Paul gives us the qualities of anyone who wants to be a leader in the Church. We are to lead first by example and then only by word.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 101:1b-2ab, 2cd-3ab, 5, 6

R. (2) I will walk with blameless heart.
Of mercy and judgment I will sing;
to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.
I will persevere in the way of integrity;
when will you come to me?

Gospel Lk 7:11-17

Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain,
and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him.
As he drew near to the gate of the city,
a man who had died was being carried out,
the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
A large crowd from the city was with her.
When the Lord saw her,
he was moved with pity for her and said to her,
"Do not weep."
He stepped forward and touched the coffin;
at this the bearers halted,
and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!"
The dead man sat up and began to speak,
and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming,
"A great prophet has arisen in our midst,"
and "God has visited his people."
This report about him spread through the whole of Judea
and in all the surrounding region.

In Nazareth Jesus had outlined his mission. He was to preach good news to the poor, liberate captives, give sight to the blind and proclaim the time of the Lord’s favour.Now Luke shows him liberating all those who are in distress. He is moved with pity by the widow’s sorrow and he is moved with pity for our distress too. He gives life back to her son. But Jesus will give life to everyone, not just a few. He gives eternal life.  This life he has already given to us who believe. It is like a seed which will develop until it reaches its crowning glory and we are like him: we are already the children of God What we will be in the future has not yet been revealed. We will be like him because we will see him as he is. Do you experience this life in you?

Reading 1 1 Tm 2:1-8 

Beloved:First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers,

petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,
for kings and for all in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life
in all devotion and dignity.
This is good and pleasing to God our saviour,
who wills everyone to be saved
and to come to knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God.
There is also one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus,
who gave himself as ransom for all.

This was the testimony at the proper time.
For this I was appointed preacher and Apostle
(I am speaking the truth, I am not lying),
teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray,
lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.

We are to share in the work of Redemption by praying for non-believers because God wants them all to be saved and come to the knowledge of Jesus who is the Truth. Paul insists that there is only one source of salvation and that his through Jesus who is the Christ. He alone is the mediator between God and man.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 28:2, 7, 8-9

R. (6) Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my prayer.

Hear the sound of my pleading, when I cry to you,
lifting up my hands toward your holy shrine.

Gospel Lk 7:1-10

When Jesus had finished all his words to the people,

he entered Capernaum.
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 Israel have I found such faith."
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. 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 trust in him. He is then able to do so much for them. At the time of  Holy Communion the Church has us express the same kind of faith in Jesus as expressed by the centurion. When we are healed by Jesus we are able to serve the community. What service do you do for the your community?