Sunday 11 October –Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Scripture: Wisdom 7: 7-11; Psalm 89; Hebrews 4: 12-13; Mark 10: 17-30
The man said to him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all the commandments since my youth.’ Jesus,
looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the
money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’.’
Throughout the gospels, we find encounters between Jesus and an individual. Quite often it is a
healing – and sometimes, as we have here, a conversation. All the encounters have the potential to
be life-changing. A physical healing is obvious but sometimes Jesus is working with someone at a
deeper level. As he looks into the man’s eyes, he sees someone who is truly trying to live a decent
life – following a path that has served his people well for generations. He also sees an ache – a
longing for more. He also sees what it is that is getting in the way – too great an attachment to
wealth. Jesus names the problem – but, for now, the rich man cannot take that step.
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When have you felt an ache – or a sense that there is more to life than you usually
experience?
What might have eventually happened to the rich man?
This could be a good gospel to pray with your imagination – simply allowing the story to unfold in
your mind and heart. Watch, particularly, as Jesus looks at the man – and the expression on his face
as he does so. Then allow Jesus to turn to you and ask him you might need to do – and then let him
look at you with love and see what happens. If you find this difficult, you might like to look out a
picture of Jesus looking out at you and allow that gaze to penetrate your heart.
KT
Monday 12 October – St Wilfrid
Scripture: 2 Timothy 4: 1-5; Psalm 22; Luke 6: 27-36
Jesus said, ‘I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless
those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.’
The information we have about St Wilfrid is quite limited but there are strong suggestions that he
was not an easy character to get along with and had strong ideas about how the Christian church in
England should be organised. He was passionate about the practices that came from Rome and
France and wanted to see them followed in Northumbria. There was, however, a very strong
Christian church here already – following practices brought from Iona. Clashes were inevitable – and
it may be that these words of Jesus might have been sources of consolation and strength to Wilfrid
as he worked to establish a church united with Rome.
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What do you know about St Wilfrid?
Why do you think Jesus ensured people needed to be told to love their enemies, etc?
If you are having a hard time with someone, pray with Jesus’ words today. Think about how you
might love them – and pray for them – without putting yourself at risk if that could be a problem –
and then try it. If you are not in this unfortunate situation, pray for those you know who are –
particularly, of course, those known to you.
KT
Tuesday 13 October – (St Edward the Confessor)
Scripture: Romans 1: 16-25; Psalm 18; Luke 11: 37-41
Jesus said, ‘Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?’
The Pharisees were devout Jews who followed the letter of the Law very precisely – and clearly, the
Pharisee who invited Jesus to dinner expected him to do the same. He is, therefore, shocked and
confused that this obviously holy man should pay little regard for the ritual washing before the meal.
Jesus takes this as an opportunity to highlight the link between outer cleanliness and inner
cleanliness. It is certainly right that we should look at external appearances – simple hygiene dictates
that eating with clean hands is sensible. But our faith also requires inner work to ensure that our
actions come from a pure and generous heart and are not just lip or hand service.
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What rules do you follow for outer cleanliness?
What rules do you follow to ensure an inner cleanliness?
Think today about how much you work on outward appearances of goodness – and how much you
do to ensure that your inner life is centred on God. Bring any thoughts or concerns to a time of
prayer – inviting Jesus to be honest with you so that you can keep your inner and outer lives in a
healthy balance.
KT
Wednesday 14 October (St Callistus)
Scripture: Romans 2: 1-11; Psalm 61; Luke 11: 42-46
Jesus said, ‘You tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of
God; it is these you ought to have practised, without neglecting the others.’
Tithing is an ancient and honourable practice – setting aside a tenth part of a harvest or other source
of wealth to be used for the support of the poor and upkeep of religious buildings. However, Jesus
offers us a powerful image of someone with a harvest of a few mint sprigs counting them out, and
weighing them to the last leaf to ensure that the tithe has been paid. They are so focused on this that
they find themselves neglecting the very things for which the Law was intended – to ensure justice to
the poor (not just the right amount of mint being available to them) and to deepen the love of God.
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When have you been so focused on the details of something that you have forgotten the
“big picture” of why you are doing it?
What is the difference between giving alms to the poor – and giving them justice?
Think today about that difference between obeying the letter of the Law or Church rules to their nth
degree and seeing them as ways to a closer relationship with God and with our neighbour. Pray for
the grace to keep the balance right.
KT
Thursday 15 October – St Teresa of Avila (500th Anniversary)
Scriptures: Romans 8: 22-27; Psalm 18; John 15: 1-8
Jesus said, ‘Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me
you can do nothing.’
St Teresa of Avila was one of the great mystics and the first woman Doctor of the Church because of
her teaching on prayer. She was absolutely clear that everything she did – or said – or simply was –
was entirely due to her relationship with Jesus. As with many leaders, she encountered opposition
and, particularly as a woman leader at that time, suspicion and hostility. Her firm grafting onto the
Vine that is Christ ensured that she was able to weather any storms that came her way and bore
fruit which endures to our own day.
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What do you know about St Teresa of Avila?
Why do you think someone teaching about prayer and a deeper relationship with Christ
would encounter hostility?
One of St Teresa’s insights was that prayer does not depend on how long we spend doing it (though
we do need to give it some time) or the place. Here are some words from Teresa to ponder today:
“Do not think that if you had a great deal of time you would spend more of it in prayer.
Get rid of that idea! God gives more in a moment than in a long period of time, for His
actions are not measured by time at all. Know that even when you are in the kitchen, Our
Lord is moving among the pots and pans.”
Live with that thought during the day – wherever you find yourself and whatever you do. At the end
of the day, give thanks that the Lord has been with you “moving among the pots and pans” – or
whatever you have been using today.
KT
Friday 16 October (St Hedwig or St Margaret Mary Alacoque)
Scripture: Romans 4: 1-8; Psalm 31; Luke 12: 1-7
Jesus said, ‘Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in
God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more
value than many sparrows.’
To think that God does not forget even a sparrow stretches our comprehension to the limit. How
many have each of us seen in our lifetime? We might remember odd ones being particularly cheeky
but, on the whole, we do not really notice them at the time, let alone recall each one of them years
later. But God can do this. And God can count the hairs on our heads when many of us only count
the ones that end up in the sink or the shower or the hairbrush. These tiny details actually give us an
impression of just how great God is – how open and wide his gaze is – and how extensive his love
and compassion for all his creatures is… especially his human children.
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How many sparrows can you remember?
What does Jesus giving us these details tell you about God?
If the opportunity arises, spend time today watching sparrows and other birds and animals –
thinking about the fact that, as you look at them, God is doing the same – and that he will remember
them long after you have forgotten. At the end of the day, draw your reflections together and .give
thanks for any new insights that have come to you.
KT
Saturday 17 October l (St Ignatius of Antioch)
Scriptures: Romans 4 13: 16, 18; Psalm 104; Luke 12: 8-12
Jesus said, ‘Everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will
acknowledge before the angels of God.’
If we had to sum up evangelisation and what it means, this would be a good place to start. We can
tend to think of it meaning we have to be very up-front and in people’s faces. What Jesus is
suggesting here is that it is actually very simple – we simply need to acknowledge him and the place
he has in our lives. This could be wearing a cross – reading something to do with our faith on the bus
– seeing an opening to mention that we are going to church and why – talking about current issues
in the Church (the Synod or Year of Mercy) – and so on. We do not need to be experts but just
prepared to take the small opportunities we can… And the rewards for doing so are enormous.
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When have you acknowledged Jesus or your faith before someone else?
When have you had negative – and positive – o to doing this?
Think about some of the opportunities you might have for a simple acknowledgement that you are a
Catholic – a Christian – a friend and disciple of Jesus Christ. You might like to practise a couple of
sentences that you could use- not too heavy nor too long but something that will help you to have
confidence in speaking about your faith.
KT