BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD
A LECTIO DIVINA Approach
to the Weekday Liturgy
CYCLE 1
ORDINARY TIME: WEEK 1-9
First Week in Ordinary Time (n. 37)
Second Week in Ordinary Time (n. 38)
Third Week in Ordinary Time (n. 39)
Fourth Week in Ordinary Time (n. 40)
Fifth Week in Ordinary Time (n. 41)
Sixth Week in Ordinary Time (n. 42)
Seventh Week in Ordinary Time (n. 43)
Eighth Week in Ordinary Time (n. 44)
Ninth Week in Ordinary Time (n. 45)
Prepared by
Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang, PDDM
*** Text of the Cover Page ends here. ***
A Lectio Divina Approach to the Weekday Liturgy: Cycle I
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (n. 37)
ORDINARY SEASON: WEEK 1
MONDAY: FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Calls Us to Follow Him … He Is the
Father’s Spoken Word”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 1:1-6 // Mk 1:14-20
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 1:14-20): “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Today’s Gospel reading (Mk 1:14-20) contains the inaugural words of Jesus’
public ministry: “Repent and believe in the gospel.” The reign of God has begun in Jesus,
the “Good News” in person. Jesus’ Gospel proclamation is exhilarating, but it is linked
to his call for a radical response. Jesus demands total conversion and faith which entails
adherence to his very person. The inaugural ministry of Jesus is followed by the call of
the first disciples. The vocation of the fishermen Simon, Andrew, James and John
provides a model for our response to Jesus and depicts the sacrifices of Christian
discipleship. Together with the first disciples, we are invited to respond, “Yes, I leave all
and follow you” in a progressive conversion and self-giving until the end.
The following is an example of a modern day response to Jesus’ call to radical
discipleship (cf. “Spanish Youth Lead Religious Revolution” in ALIVE! October 2014, p.
6).
Olalla Oliveros was one of Spain’s top models, a regular in TV ads such as
Special K, and was recently offered the lead role in a high-budget film. But, at the
top of her career, the 36-year-old stunned Spanish society by tossing it all aside
in order to become a nun, and in May this year she entered the convent.
She has spoken little in public about her religious vocation, but did let it be known
that the change in her life began four years ago. During the visit to the Shrine of
Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal she had what she called “an earthquake”
experience.
With her faith reawakened, she got the image of herself dressed as a nun. At the
time she thought the experience was “weird”, but the image stayed with her. After
much prayer and thought she decided to take the radical step. “The Lord is never
wrong”, said Olalla. “He asked if I would follow him, and I could not refuse.”
B. First Reading (Heb 1:1-6): “God spoke to us through the Son.”
In 1990, I attended the Liturgy Week in Taranto (southern Italy). I was on a bus
for an eight-hour ride back to Rome and I whiled the time away by reading a book. The
young man sitting beside me was also reading a book. No word was spoken. After four
hours, the bus made a stopover somewhere and we disembarked. We re-boarded the bus
and I was about to continue reading. The young man extended his hand and with a kind
word offered some mint candies. I spoke a word of gratitude in response. That was the
beginning of a friendly dialogue and interesting conversation that lasted until we reached
Rome. The spoken “word” made the difference. It made the second part of my journey
significant and pleasant.
In the next four weeks, the Old Testament reading of the weekday liturgy is taken
from the letter to the Hebrews. In today’s First Reading (Heb 1:1-6), the author asserts
that God speaks! God has spoken in varied but partial ways to our ancestors through the
prophets. But in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son, through whom God
created the universe. The Son reflects the Father’s glory and is the icon of divine
Goodness. The “word” that God speaks is self-revelation. The ultimate revelation is when
the “word” of God entered decisively our human history through the mystery of the
Incarnation and through the Paschal event of the Son’s sacrifice for our sins and his
subsequent glorification. Since God’s Son is infinitely superior, even to the angels, we
ought to make an appropriate response to the new mode of God’s speaking in the Son. By
listening and responding to the Son, we hear God’s word and respond to the Father’s
stupendous manifestation of love.
The German theologian Karl Rahner writes that Jesus is the Father’s word of love
spoken to us. In his Christmas meditation, Rahner became poetic and ecstatic: “When we
say, It is Christmas, we mean that God has spoken into the world his last, his deepest, his
most beautiful word in the Incarnate Word, a word that can no longer be revoked because
it is God’s definitive deed, because it is God himself in the world. And this word means: I
LOVE YOU! (…) This is the Word that God has spoken in the birth of his Son.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
Do we treasure the significance and importance of God speaking to us through his
Son? How do we respond to God, who speaks to us his definitive word of love in Jesus
Christ? Are eager to follow Christ who proclaims the Gospel and calls us to speak his
word and compassion to the people around us?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
God the Father,
you speak to us through the prophets
and, in these the final days,
through your divine Word Jesus Christ.
Through the Word made flesh
you manifested to us your stupendous love.
Give us the grace to listen to Jesus.
He is the living Gospel we must proclaim.
We give you glory and praise, now and forever.
Amen
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“Repent and believe in the Gospel.” (Mk 1:15) // “In these last days, he spoke to
us through the Son.” (Heb 1:2)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Resolve to spend quality time on the meditation of the Gospel and the study of the
Sacred Scriptures. Be courageous to share God’s word, especially with the people around
you and be thankful for the gift of Christian vocation.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
TUESDAY: FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Teaches with Authority … He Is Made
Perfect Through Suffering”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 2:5-12 // Mk 1:21-28
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 1:21-28): “He taught them as one having authority.”
Today’s Gospel (Mk 1:21-28) continues to depict the early phase of the public
ministry of Jesus - God’s “Good News” in person. The passage portrays him in the
synagogue at Capernaum on a Sabbath, speaking the saving word of God and teaching
with authority. The evangelist Mark describes the impact of Jesus’ teaching-prophetic
ministry on the worshipping assembly: “The people were astonished at his teaching, for
he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes”. Indeed, Jesus speaks
with authority as he truthfully and faithfully reveals God’s message to the people.
Moreover, he reinforces the power of God’s saving word by performing a healing sign –
by curing a man possessed by an unclean spirit. The Benedictine liturgist, Adrian Nocent,
comments: “Both word and action highlight the authority – that is the point St. Mark
wants to make. Jesus is manifesting himself as Messiah, and his teaching differs from that
of others not only by its content but by the fact that it is linked to an effective power from
on high. His teaching thus manifests his person and the fact that he has been sent from
God.”
Bong Tiotuico, a member of the Association of Pauline Cooperators: Friends of
the Divine Master, sends us, from the Philippines, his insightful reflection on today’s
Gospel.
The crowd is amazed at the ability of Jesus to command an unclean spirit to
depart from one person’s body. Jesus performs the ritual of exorcism a few times
in the gospel of Mark. The Church has received this power and office from him.
Exorcisms may not be commonplace in the 21st century, but as we ponder through
our everyday lives, we carry with us certain mindsets and behaviors we call our
“personal demons”. While they may not fall under the category of psychological
illness, we need to “exorcise” them too because they bring long term harm to our
health, to our relationships with others, to our careers/vocations and even draw
us farther away from God’s kingdom. These are big words we often hear at
Sunday homilies, but never had a chance to reflect on, like: covetousness, envy,
vice, selfishness, despair, anger, hatred, impulsiveness, depression, cynicism,
loneliness, blind ambition, instant gratification, indifference, conflict, violence,
bigotry and others. They represent a cabal of “demons and unclean spirits” that
we live with, while surviving in a very competitive and materialistic world.
We must pray to our Lord through the intercession of our Blessed Mother to help
us cast out these “evil spirits” from our lives. We can start by being attentive to
the reading of the word of God during the Mass and supplement it by private
study. This will make the gospels more instructive in our lives. It will not be easy,
as these “unclean” spirits will be convulsing and screaming as we attempt to get
rid of them. Also with the help of people around us: our loved ones, close friends
who care, co-workers, members of our congregation, and if necessary,
professional help – we can certainly succeed. Then we create room for the Holy
Spirit to occupy our lives and produce within us, as St. Paul tells us in Gal. 5:22,
his gifts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness
and self-control: big words we also hear during Sundays, but sadly more and
more alien to us these days. Amen.
B. First Reading (Heb 2:5-12): “He made the one who leads them to their salvation
perfect through suffering.”
In today’s First Reading (Heb 2:5-12), the author of the letter to the Hebrews
expresses the ideal relationship between God and his people in terms of a filial, intimate
relationship. Jesus, who consecrates and redeems, and those he consecrates and redeems
all have one origin. Thus, they are all brothers and sisters in the Lord. Christ’s incarnation
and his redemptive suffering brought about the reconciliation and the intimate union
between God and his prodigal children. The paschal mystery of the Servant-Son of God
led to his glorification and the perfection of our filial relationship with God the Father.
Indeed, because of Jesus’ deep solidarity with us, we are able to attain a profound,
fruitful, and life-giving relationship with our Creator God and Father.
The sacrificial dimension of Christ’s redeeming work continues to be verified in
the lives of his disciples today. The faith-motivated stance shown by Eric LeGrand,
paralyzed from the neck down in a football accident, incarnates in the here and now the
words: “He made the one who leads them to their salvation perfect through suffering”
(cf. Adam Hunter, “To Walk Again” in Guideposts, January 2013, p. 72-75).
The collision had fractured Eric’s C3 and C4 vertebrae, paralyzing him from the
neck down. Doctors estimated that Eric had less than a five-percent chance of
regaining any motor function – much less be able to walk again. (…)
“I believe that everything happens for a reason”, Eric said. “That God is working
a miracle through me. Because of all those times I was praying when I was on my
deathbed. And the answers God gave me.”
In his first months at the hospital, a ventilator and a feeding tube kept him alive.
Doctors said he’d never breathe again on his own. The noise of the machines kept
Eric up, and he lay there at night wondering if he’d survive. “Those months, I just
prayed Psalm 23 with my aunt all the time”, Eric said. He found comfort in the
messages he got from teammates, friends, fans, even perfect strangers. “I became
determined to get off the ventilator”, he said. Finally, Eric convinced his doctors
to let him try to breathe without it. “They told me I wouldn’t last more than a few
minutes”, Eric said. “First time I came off I lasted an hour and a half. I knew
right then there’s a plan for this whole thing.
The miracles Eric experienced next were like that – not parting-of-the-Red-Seahuge, but no less significant. At first, doctors found no muscle response in Eric’s
body. But in rehab, a needle-prick test caused Eric’s muscles to contract, showing
the paralysis was not total. He once couldn’t sit without toppling over, but he
slowly built upper body strength and can now sit up for as long as 15 minutes. He
can shrug his shoulders, twitch his biceps and triceps, and even move one of his
fingers the tiniest bit. In May, an electromyogram test showed, for the first time,
that some nerves in his spine were sending signals below the level of his injury. “I
can see the progress”, Eric told me. “So how can I not believe miracles can
happen?”
Delivering that message is what Eric believes God wants him to do. He wasn’t
sure he could. But a visit to a middle school in Jersey City changed his mind.
“You know how middle school kids are; all laughing and jumping around”, Eric
said. “But you could hear a pin drop when I spoke. I could tell I was making an
impact.”
Afterward, a boy walked up to Eric. “I’m blind”, the boy said. “What advice do
you have for somebody with a disability like me?” A tough question. Recovery
from paralysis is rare, but recovering sight, even rarer. How could Eric tell him
to just “believe”? Eric answered from the heart. “You still need to strive”, he
said. “You still have a voice, you can still hear, you can still feel. You may not be
able to see the world, but you can still affect it in many different ways.” That’s
what Eric has done. (…)
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we surrender ourselves to the power and authority of Jesus as he teaches us with his
life-giving word and releases us from the shackles of our “personal demons”?
2. What does it mean for you that Christ was made perfect through suffering?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
O loving Jesus, Divine Master,
you are the holy and mighty One of God!
We recognize your great power and you teach with authority.
The power of your word
drives away the “personal demons” within us.
Cleansed from sin and evil,
we turn to you in humility
to receive the gifts of your Holy Spirit.
Teach and reign in our life, now and forever.
Amen.
***
Loving Father,
by his obedience Christ learned suffering
and was perfected in suffering.
The humiliation of his earthly life,
his suffering and death,
were means to glory.
Help us to accept trials and sufferings
that are woven into the fibers of our daily life.
Teach us to believe
that they are paths to eternal life
through Christ our Savior.
He lives and reigns, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“A new teaching with authority!” (Mk 1:27) // “For it was fitting that he …
should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.” (Heb 2:10)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
By your gracious words and acts of charity, be united with Jesus in his ministry of
deliverance from evil. // Unite the difficulty and suffering you are experiencing today
with that of Jesus for the salvation of souls.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
WEDNESDAY: FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Healer … He Is Like Us”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 2:14-18 // Mk 1:29-39
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 1:29-39): “Jesus cured many who were sick with various
diseases.”
In today’s Gospel reading (Mk 1:29-39), the paschal victory of Jesus Healer is
prefigured in the healing he carries out on behalf of Simon’s sick mother-in-law and
many others with various diseases and those possessed by demons. The healing ministry
of Jesus is a sign that the kingdom of wholeness has come. By his mission of healing, he
shows that sickness, suffering and death do not have the ultimate word. The evangelist
Mark narrates: “Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place,
where he prayed”. The “dawn” of Jesus is poised in earnest towards greater intimacy
with the loving Father and the proclamation of the Gospel. The saving ministry of the
healing Lord is sustained by his life of prayer and personal dialogue with the Father.
Hence, the restoring touch of Jesus reaches out more extensively and the Good News
extends, propelled by a life of recollection and prayer.
Also from the Philippines, the psychiatrist Dr. Eleanor Ronquillo, also a member
of the Association of Pauline Cooperators: Friends of the Divine Master, sends her
inspiring reflection on today’s Gospel.
These days, many people are getting sick from grave illnesses like strokes, heart
attacks, cancer, AIDS, rare pneumonias. People seek many types of cures, search
for doctors far and near, the latest medicines, the most advanced medical
technology, herbal medicine, etc. They seek the CURE, not the HEALING. Amidst
the sick person’s suffering is a big plea to God to take away this illness and this
suffering. In the Gospel, as Jesus HEALS many, one is led to believe in such a
“miraculous” CURE. And it is not surprising for some to turn away from God for
not providing such a cure. “Why me God … why do you let me be sick like this?
… I’m not a bad person … There are so many out there criminals/murderers, why
don’t they get this illness? … I can’t take this anymore … You must have
forgotten me Lord … I do not wish to live like this.”
It is beyond physical CURE of an illness that is the essence of the Lord’s
HEALING. The Gospel says, “People brought to Jesus all the sick … Jesus
healed many who had various diseases.” I recall the story of a man who was
disabled and paralyzed. He continually sought cures to be able to walk again. He
struggled with his condition and felt his life was full of difficulties and
hopelessness because of his disability. He prayed that God might take away his
illness. One time (I think it was his visit to Lourdes in the Grotto in France) after
a deep prayer, he felt an aura of peace within. He began to cry, to accept what he
had, to see life as God willed it to be, to find hope and meaning in his “suffering”,
to embrace the Lord and find peace. Finally, when he left, he had been healed.
We must seek the Lord in our suffering, that he may heal us. For a lot of people in
crisis, that is the time when opportunity knocks. The opportunity to seek and be
closer to the Lord knocks on our doors in the face of crisis. And healing will
come, as Jesus heals us, if we seek him and let him heal us. This healing is a
process that only the suffering person can undergo. No doctor can effect a healing
for the patient, a treatment perhaps, yes; but the healing, no. The person himself
has to undergo the internal process of accepting his condition and surrendering
to the Lord one’s suffering … and find peace and solace in his loving arms.
“And he also drove away demons.” The words tell us that the devil was at work in
people. The devil works in people’s hearts and minds. The “illness” is not exactly
a phenomenon of possession. It can be masked as a wonderful extramarital affair
though immoral, a wealth ill gotten, a successful oppression, an ongoing sexual
abuse of a child. The list is long. The many facets of evil are within and among us.
But do we recognize them? Do we recognize that we spite our neighbor, endlessly
criticize people, persist in being unforgiving and harboring anger, scheme and
carry out revenge, plan the next move to take what is not ours? The driving out of
demons is our turning away from evil and seeking Jesus to rule our hearts. That is
also our process of healing.
B. First Reading (Heb 2:14-18): “He had to become like his brothers and sisters in
every way, that he might be merciful.”
In today’s First Reading (Heb 2:14-18), the author of the letter to the Hebrews
underlines the true humanity of Jesus – his total and profound solidarity with human
beings. To liberate us all from the power of death, the Son of God chose to share our
human nature fully. Jesus is our brother because of our common origin in the Father, his
sharing in our “flesh and blood” and, above all, in his embracing our own death and
mortality. Because of his death and resurrection, the nature of death has changed – it has
become a door to eternal life. Jesus is destined by God to be the High Priest. In order to
be the High Priest who offers himself for the sins of his fellow human beings, he had to
become like us in every way – even to experience the human situation of sin and of the
hard challenge of temptations. Jesus Christ, however, is victorious over sin and death. He
overcame all temptations that assailed his fidelity to the messianic mission. We who are
tempted become victorious in him. He is the Eternal High Priest who is both in intimate
union with God and in full solidarity with his brothers and sisters.
The following story entitled “Snowy Christmas Eve”, circulated on the Internet,
gives insight into why Jesus Christ “had to become like us in every way”.
There was once a man who didn’t believe in God and he didn’t hesitate to let
others know how he felt about religion and religious holidays like Christmas. His
wife, however, did believe, and she raised their children to also have faith in God
and Jesus, despite his disparaging comments.
One snowy Christmas Eve, his wife was taking their children to a Christmas Eve
service in the farm community in which they lived. She asked him to come, but he
refused. “That story is nonsense!” he said. “Why would God lower Himself to
come to Earth as a man? That’s ridiculous!” So she and the children left and he
stayed home. A little while later, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned
into a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding
snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a
loud thump. Something had hit the window. Then another thump. He looked out
but couldn’t see more than a few feet.
When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been
beating on his window. In the field near the house he saw a flock of wild geese.
Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the
snowstorm and could not go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no
food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low
circles, blindly and aimlessly. A couple of them had flown into his window, it
seemed. The man felt sorry for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn
would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It is warm and safe; surely
they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he walked over to the barn
and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited, hoping they would notice
the open barn and go inside. But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and did
not seem to notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them.
The man tried to get their attention, but that just seemed to scare them and they
moved further away. He went into the house and came back out with some bread,
broke it up, and made a breadcrumbs trail leading to the barn. They still didn’t
catch on. Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo
them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every
direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the
barn where they would be warm and safe.
“Why don’t they follow me?” he exclaimed. “Can’t they see this is the only place
where they can survive the storm?” He thought for a moment and realized that
they just wouldn’t follow a human. “If only I were a goose, then I could save
them”, he said out loud. Then he had an idea. He went into the barn, got one of
his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of
wild geese. He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into
the barn – and one by one, the other geese followed it to safety.
He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier
replayed in his mind. “If only I were a goose, then I could save them!” Then he
thought about what he had said to his wife earlier: “Why would God want to be
like us? That’s ridiculous!” Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had
done.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
Do you turn to Jesus, the wounded Healer, for healing? // What does it mean for
us personally that the divine Son Jesus had to become like us in every way?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
God our Father,
great is your love for us!
You sent your beloved Son to save us
and to heal us of all our infirmities.
He was tested through what he suffered
and, in solidarity with us,
he remained faithful.
We thank you for Jesus,
our merciful High Priest and ultimate Healer.
He embraced our human lot
and became victorious over sin and death
and the challenge of temptations.
We praise and bless you, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“He cured many who were sick with various diseases and he drove out many
demons.” (Mk 1:34a) // “He had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way.”
(Heb 2:17)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Be an instrument of God’s healing love by alleviating the problems and sufferings
of the people around you. // When burdened with the daily duties of serving and caring,
trust in Jesus who, in his great love, has embraced our sufferings, pain, struggles, etc.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
THURSDAY: FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is Full of Compassion … He Teaches Us
to Embrace the Today of Salvation”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 3:7-14 // Mk 1:40-45
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 1:40-45): “The leprosy left him and he was made clean.”
In today’s Gospel reading (Mk 1:40-45), the evangelist Mark depicts one of the
most beautiful pictures of Christian compassion. Breaking down the barriers of hygiene
and ritual purity, Jesus does the unimaginable. Responding with compassion to the
leper’s faith invocation, “If you wish, you can make me clean”, Jesus stretches out his
hand and touches him saying, “I do will it. Be made clean.” He touches the
“untouchable” with his healing hand. He comforts the outcast with an authoritative
cleansing word that brings wholeness. Indeed, in the Gospel accounts, the cleansing of
lepers is a messianic sign that the Kingdom of God has come.
One of the exigencies of Christian life is to bring the healing ministry of Jesus to
the many “lepers” of today, especially the millions of victims of Hansen’s disease all
over the world who, more than all others, fit the description “the poorest of the poor”.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta dedicated her ministry of charity in a special way to these
lepers, impelled by the slogan that was a rewording of the ancient taboo. “Touch a leper
with your compassion.” Mother Teresa, moreover, spoke of the “leprosy of the Western
world”, which is, the leprosy of loneliness. In her ministry to the lonely, the unwanted,
the marginalized, the rejected, the AIDS victim, etc. she had given witness that with the
love of Christ, there is healing for the leprosy of our modern times. Indeed, Mother
Teresa of Calcutta, together with St. Francis of Assisi, Blessed Damien of Molokai, and
many other Christian disciples, had shown that it is possible to respond to the Christian
missionary imperative: “Cure the sick … cleanse the lepers!” and that it is necessary to
replicate the healing gesture of Christ: “Touch a leper with your compassion.”
B. First Reading (Heb 3:7-14): “Encourage yourselves daily while it is still ‘today’.”
In today’s reading (Heb 3:7-14), the author of the letter to the Hebrews issues a
warning against infidelity using Israel’s Exodus experience. Shortly after the Israelites
left Egypt, where they were enslaved, and when they arrived near the Promised Land,
God invited them to take possession of it. The scouts witnessed that the land was very
rich and fertile (cf. Numbers 14). When they came to Eschol Valley, they cut off a branch
which had one bunch of grapes on it so heavy that it took two men to carry it on a pole
between them. They also brought back some pomegranates and figs. But the cities were
well-fortified and the people powerful. Intimidated and fearful at the prospect of
engaging the Canaanites in battle, some of the scouts spread false reports that the land
was not productive and that the inhabitants were giants. The people wailed and, greatly
discouraged, refused to take possession of the Promised Land as God has commanded.
As a consequence of their disobedience and lack of faith, they wandered in the wilderness
for forty years.
Christians are cautioned against unfaithfulness. Like the Israelites of old they are
on an Exodus. They are journeying to the heavenly sanctuary where Jesus has gone
before. They must persevere in Christ lest they, like the Israelites who rebelled against
God, fail to reach their goal. They must not have an evil and unfaithful heart so as to
forsake the living God, who reveals himself in Jesus Christ. Instead, they must help and
encourage each other “today”, with its gracious offer of salvation. They must not grow
hardened by the deceit of sin for they are “partners of Christ”. They, too, are called to
share with Jesus the joy of the heavenly sanctuary.
The following story gives us an idea how to support each other on our journey to
conversion and how to respond to the grace that the “today” offers (cf. Christine
Trollinger, “Healing Grace” in Amazing Grace for the Catholic Heart, ed. Jeff Cavins,
Matthew Pinto & Patti Armstrong, West Chester: Ascension Press, 2004, p.64-68).
Mother and I had never been close. She was very temperamental and
domineering. Her quick temper had inflicted great emotional wounds on our
family as we were growing up. My father, on the other hand, was a gentle soul. I
adored him and was always Daddy’s little girl. As an adult I tried to leave the
past in the past, but my mother’s behavior while my beloved father was dying
brought fresh strain to our relationship. Mother was neither patient nor kind
during Dad’s suffering. The disruption in her life angered her, and probably
scared her. Yet, I could not accept her bad temperament during this time.
After my father’s death in 1985, however, I knew I had a responsibility to both
God and Dad to forgive. It helped to remember how patient my father had always
been. He loved my mother, faults and all. I recalled many times as a child that
whenever Mom had been especially cruel, my father would come into my room,
out of my mother’s earshot. He would hug me and say, “Please don’t hate her;
she needs more love and forgiveness than most people do. She is God’s treasure
just as you are.”
After Dad’s death, I wanted to honor my Dad. I knew his hopes and prayers were
that I could love and forgive my mom. This was beyond my human frailties so I
prayed to God for the grace to do so. As the years passed my feelings of distrust
and resentment ebbed. I managed to lay the past to rest as Christ would have me
do. Mother and I built a decent, if not perfect, relationship as mother and
daughter. The past was just that – the past. The future I would leave to God.
Then during the first week of September 1992, I awoke from a dream sensing a
very firm command: “Go home and see your mother.” I had ceased to question
God’s inspiration when I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit. As soon as daylight
broke, I packed my suitcase. My husband suggested we call to make sure she was
all right. Everything was fine and Mother sounded very happy that I would be
visiting her over Labor Day.
I arrived by mid-afternoon and Mom and I had an enjoyable time going out to
dinner and visiting friends. Mother cut the evening short explaining there was a
program on television she wanted to watch. When we got home I got ready for
bed and sat in the living room reading my nightly scripture as Mom watched TV.
The television volume gradually increased. Every few moments Mom asked,
“Does that bother you?” “No, it’s fine”, I repeatedly told her. Finally she had
turned the volume all the way up. “Does that bother you?” She asked in a loud
but shaky voice. I put down the Bible and looked at her. “Well, it is loud. Are you
trying to tell me something? Are you having hearing problems?” I asked. Mother
looked at me with searching eyes. Still, I did not understand. Returning the sound
back to normal, she explained, “No, what I mean is, does this program bother
you?” For the first time, I looked over to see what she was watching. It was a
program on child abuse. “I was not talking about the sound”, she said. “I meant,
what do you think of parents who abuse their children?”
I was caught off guard. I stared into her eyes. For the first time I recognized pain
and remorse. Huge tears trickled down her cheeks. My response was instinctive.
“Mom, I love you”, I cried, truly meaning it. “And if you are asking for my
forgiveness, you have had it for years. Don’t cry”, I said, coming over to kiss her
cheek. “It is all in the past. It doesn’t matter anymore.” I then hugged her and
wiped her tears away. No more words were needed. It truly was now in the past.
For my proud mother to humble herself to ask forgiveness was a grace I never
imagined.
The next Saturday, we began with a visit to church to pray the Rosary. Tears of
joy, and also of sorrow for all the wasted years, streamed down my face. But I
praised God for this new beginning. The rest of the day we filled with shopping
and sharing as a mother and daughter who fully loved and respected one another.
We went to an estate sale and found ourselves giggling and laughing like young
schoolgirls. Mom bought me a statue of Our Lady of the Immaculate Heart, which
had seen better days. The face was chipped and it had no nose. But it was a
precious treasure, representing our newfound love for one another. I basked in
the grace of healing. (…)
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. A touch can be a beautiful gesture of encouragement, reconciliation and love. A touch
can heal the suffering spirit of a person. When was the last time you showed your love
and concern with a gentle, healing touch?
2. Do we strive to be faithful to the living God and, as Christians, to encourage each
other daily while the gift of “today” still holds?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
O loving God,
great and compassionate are you!
Fill us with tender feelings for your injured children,
for a society that needs healing,
and for “the holy mystery of creation”
besieged by threats of cosmic destruction.
Let everything we do and say in love and healing for today’s lepers
become a sign of Christ’s paschal victory over sin and death
and of the beauty of the resurrected world.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
O compassionate Father,
may our hearts be receptive to your voice.
Do not allow us to be hardened by the deceit of sin.
Give us the grace to be faithful to the grace of “today”.
Together with Christ,
let us reach the heavenly rest.
You live and reign,
forever and ever,
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper …” (Mk 1:41) //
“Encourage yourselves daily while it is still ‘today’.” (Heb 3:13)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
By your kind words and charitable deeds, encourage those whose faith is getting
weak and those who are losing hope on account of various trials. // Offer a corporal work
of mercy for any of today’s lepers: the homeless, the AIDS victims, the destitute, etc. and
especially, the victims of Hansen’s disease.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
FRIDAY: FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Source of Total Healing … He
Leads Us into God’s Rest”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 4:1-5, 11 // Mk 2:1-12
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 2:1-12): “The Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on
earth.”
The following story gives insight into the message of today’s Gospel (Mk 2:1-12)
about a person’s need for total healing (cf. Hal Manwaring, "Fourteen Steps" in A 3rd
Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Deerfield Beach: Health Communications, Inc.,
1996, p. 264-267).
I became afflicted with a slowly progressive disease of the motor nerves, affecting
first my right arm and leg, and then my other side … In spite of my disease I still
drove to and from work each day, with the aid of special equipment installed in
my car … As I became older, I became more disillusioned and frustrated. I’m sure
that my wife and friends had some unhappy times when I chose to expound to
them my philosophy of life. I believed that in this whole world I alone had been
chosen to suffer …
On a dark night in August 1971, gusty winds and slashing rain beat down on the
car as I drove slowly down one of the less-traveled roads. Suddenly the steering
wheel jerked in my hands and the car swerved violently to the right. In the same
instant I heard the dreaded bang of a blowout … It was impossible for me to
change that tire! Utterly impossible! … Then I remembered that a short distance
up a little side road was a house. I started the engine and thumped slowly along
… Lighted windows welcomed me to the house and I pulled into the driveway and
honked the horn … The door opened and a little girl stood there, peering at me. I
rolled down the window and called out that I had a flat and needed someone to
change it for me because I had a crutch and couldn’t do it myself. She went into
the house and a moment later came out bundled in a raincoat and hat, followed
by a man who called a cheerful greeting. I sat there comfortable and dry, and felt
a bit sorry for the man and the little girl working so hard in the storm. Well, I
would pay them for it … It seemed to me that they were awfully slow and I was
beginning to become impatient … Then they were standing at my car window. He
was an old man, stooped and frail-looking under his slicker. The little girl was
about eight or 10 I judged, with a merry face and a wide smile as she looked up at
me. He said, “This is a bad night for car trouble, but you’re all set now.”
“Thanks,” I said, “thanks. How much do I owe you?” He shook his head.
“Nothing, Cynthia told me you were a cripple – on crutches. Glad to be of help. I
know you’d do the same for me. There’s no charge, friend.” I held out a fivedollar bill. “No! I like to pay my way.” He made no effort to take it and the little
girl stepped closer to the window and said quietly, “Grandpa can’t see it.”
In the next few frozen seconds the shame and horror of that moment penetrated,
and I was sick with an intensity I had never felt before. A blind man and a child!
… They changed a tire for me – changed it in the rain and wind, with me sitting in
snug comfort in the car with my crutch. My handicap. I don’t remember how long
I sat there after they said good night and left me, but it was long enough for me to
search deep within myself and find some disturbing traits. I realized that I was
filled to overflowing with self-pity, selfishness, indifference to the needs of others
and thoughtlessness. I sat there and said a prayer. In humility I prayed for
strength, for a greater understanding, for keener awareness of my shortcomings
and for faith to continue asking in daily prayer for spiritual help to overcome
them.
Here we have the personal account of a crippled man who discovers that his need
for inner healing is greater than that of physical healing. Indeed, there is more to it than
physical malady. There is more to it than a physical cure. Jesus Christ, who embodies the
Reign of God, shows us that the Kingdom of wholeness involves more than just physical
healing. The messianic ministry of Jesus, the Healer, includes the liberation of human
beings from the bondage of sin. The Kingdom of wholeness includes the forgiveness of
sins.
B. First Reading (Heb 4:1-5, 11): “Let us strive to enter into that rest.”
In today’s First Reading (Heb 4:1-5, 11), the author of the letter to the Hebrews
continues to speak of the fidelity required of Christians. At the time of the Exodus, the
good news was: “The Lord your God has given the land to you; go up, take possession.”
The feckless Israelites, however, did not believe the good news. They were too
intimidated to engage the powerful Canaanites in battle. As a result they were not able to
enter the Promised Land and remained wandering in the desert. The Good News for
Christians is Christ’s paschal victory. If we put our faith in this Good News, we will be
able to experience God’s rest. The goal of entering God’s rest implies a persevering
journey toward the heavenly homeland. Those who are faithful will enter God’s
sanctuary and will be given a share in the rest upon which God entered after the work of
creation had been completed.
The following story depicts the faith stance of the Olympic sprinter Eric Liddell
and his effort to honor the Lord’s Day and enter God’s rest (cf. Craig Groeschel, “The
Lord’s Day” in Guideposts, December 2012, p. 40-41).
On a ship headed to Paris for the 1924 Olympic games, Eric learns the heat for
the race, the 100 meters – a race he’s favored to win – falls on a Sunday. “Does it
matter?” his teammate asks. “Yes”, Eric replies. He refuses to run on the
Sabbath. Finally, a teammate offered to switch races and let Eric run the 400
meters. No one believes a sprinter has a chance to win the 400. The starting gun
fires. Eric leads from the outset … He pumps his legs, never tiring till he reaches
the finish line – first. Just before he crosses, he recalls what he told his sister
earlier. “God made me fast.” (…)
Eric Liddell ran for God, but his most important act wasn’t winning a race. It was
the race he didn’t run. He honored a commandment – to keep the Sabbath as a
day of rest.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we realize that a situation of sin is an illness that weakens, paralyzes and imprisons
us in pain? Do we realize that being reconciled with God entails true healing?
2. Do we truly strive to enter into God’s rest? How do we honor the Lord’s Day?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Loving Lord,
our sinful hearts are broken and we are in pain.
But we believe, O Christ, that you are the “healing Physician”.
Heal our hearts and make us turn back to you.
Take away the “paralysis” that results from our sins.
Strengthen our will
and fill us with the strength of new life.
May your healing hand and word of forgiveness
be the source of joy for God’s injured children.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
Loving Father,
we accept the Good News of Christ’s resurrection
and the power derived from it
to continue our spiritual journey to heaven.
Bless us and strengthen us
as we strive to enter into your perfect and eternal “rest”.
You live and reign,
forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
week. Please memorize it.
“He said to the paralytic, ‘Child, your sins are forgiven’.” (Mk 2:5b) //
“Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest.” (Heb 4:11)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for the grace of inner healing. Extend God’s gift of healing forgiveness to a
person who has offended you. // Honor the day of the Lord with quality time of prayer,
Church worship, and acts of charity.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
SATURDAY: FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Healing Physician … His Word
Pierces More than a Two-Edged Sword”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 4:12-16 // Mk 2:13-17
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 2:13-17): “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Today’s Gospel (Mk 2:13-17) tells us that healing love springs forth from Christ.
Jesus is the physician par excellence and he does not have to justify his presence among
the sick. His presence amidst tax collectors and sinners is a mandate and a mission of
mercy. He is sent by the Father to assuage suffering of every kind. The vocation to
experience God’s mercy and compassion is offered to the entire Church and the challenge
to incarnate the divine mercy in today’s world is directed to each of us.
The Fresno-based Poverello House is a nonprofit, nondenominational
organization whose mission is to enrich the lives and spirits of all who pass their way, to
feed the hungry, offer focused rehabilitation programs, temporary shelter, medical, dental
and other basic services to the poor, the homeless, the disadvantaged, without regard to
race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex or disability through Providential and
community support. Its founder is Mike McGarvin, a man who had experienced God’s
mercy and transforming compassion through a saintly Franciscan priest, Fr. Simon
Scanlon. They met at the “Poverello Coffee House” which Fr. Simon opened in San
Francisco’s Tenderloin district, notorious for its poverty, prostitution and violence. Mike
narrates: “Gradually my life of self-indulgent destruction was being replaced by a life of
service … I began seeing people through Father Simon’s eyes. He, in turn, saw people
through Christ’s eyes, and he deeply believed that Jesus walked among the poor and the
outcast. It was a revelation to me. The more I got to know the people who came to
Poverello, the more compassion I felt for them.” Indeed, through the mercy and
compassion of Fr. Simon, the “wayward” Mike finally experienced the healing and
transforming love of Christ.
B. First Reading (Heb 4:12-16): “Let us confidently approach the throne of grace.”
Jesus Christ is the incarnate wisdom. He is the divine word personified – the word
of God made flesh - to enlighten our core decisions in life. Today’s First Reading (Heb
4:12-16) gives wonderful insight into the word of God and underlines its efficacy and
capacity of discernment. God’s living and effective word penetrates to the innermost part
of a person and forces him/her to come to grips with what really matters. It scours our
entire being, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and reveals the
deep truth about God’s love and our gracious destiny. Likewise, the life-giving word of
God – the font of salvation Jesus - is as incisive as a two-edged sword in its power of
judgment.
The 12th century Christian writer Baudouin de Ford remarks: “Yes, this Word is
living, living in the heart of the Father, in the mouths of those who proclaim it, in the
hearts of those who believe and love … When God’s words are heard, they pierce the
believers’ hearts as the sharp arrows of the warrior (cf. Ps 120:4). They penetrate and
remain in the heart’s innermost depths. This Word is sharper than a two-edged sword,
more cutting than any force or power, more subtle than all the finesse of human genius,
more pointed than every learned thrust of human discourse.”
The following interesting story entitled “Throwing Darts”, and circulated on the
Internet, gives an insight into the power of Christ as the living Word.
A young lady named Sally relates an experience she had in a Seminary Class,
given by her teacher, Dr. Smith. She says Dr. Smith was known for his elaborate
object lessons.
One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were in for a
fun day. On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Dr.
Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone
who had made them angry, and he would allow them to throw darts at the
person’s picture. Sally's girlfriend drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her
boyfriend. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture
of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing
pimples on the face. Sally was pleased at the overall effect she had achieved. The
class lined up and began throwing darts, with much laughter and hilarity. Some
of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping
apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when
Dr. Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats. As
Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn't have a chance to
throw any darts at her target.
Dr. Smith began removing the target from the wall. Underneath the target was a
picture of Jesus..... A complete hush fell over the class as each student viewed the
mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes
were pierced. Dr. Smith said only these words: "In as much as ye have done it
unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me" (Mt 25:40).
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Are we willing to welcome fully into our hearts Jesus and the gift of divine mercy that
he brings into our fragile, often times broken and self-destructive lives? Are we ready to
incarnate God’s compassionate heart in today’s distressed world so needful of healing
and mercy?
2. Do I truly welcome the word of God that is living and effective, able to discern and
reveal reflections and thoughts of the heart? Do I allow myself to be challenged and
appraised by the word that penetrates, judges, and heals?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you are the most beautiful expression of God’s mercy.
You come to us with your healing touch.
You are the divine physician
who assists us in all our distress.
Heal us in our mind, body and soul
that fully restored we may give you praise, now and forever.
Amen.
***
Loving Father,
we thank you for your living and efficacious word.
It helps us to come to grips with ourselves
and inspires us to make core decisions in view of eternal life.
We thank you for the challenge of Jesus Christ,
the wisdom from on high personified and the divine word made flesh.
Help us to respond with wisdom to Christ’s call
to embrace radically the Kingdom value.
Make us totally receptive
to the power of your living word at work in our hearts,
now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“I did not come to call the righteous but sinners…” (Mk 2:17) // “Indeed, the
word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword.” (Heb 4:12)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
In your compassionate stance for the poor and needy, and especially for the
“outcasts”, let the loving mercy of God be revealed in today’s world. // Pray that the
living word of God may continue to be proclaimed and incarnated in today’s world,
especially by the disciples’ commitment to the truth.
*** Text of Week 1 in Ordinary Time ends here. ***
A Lectio Divina Approach to the Weekday Liturgy: Cycle I
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (n. 38)
ORDINARY SEASON: WEEK 2
MONDAY: SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Bridegroom of the Church … He
Is Priest through Suffering”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 5:1-10 // Mk 2:18-22
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 2:18-22): “The bridegroom is with them.”
In today’s Gospel (Mk 2:18-22), Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church, invites us
to a new relationship that transcends mere legal observances and superficial piety. A
loving relationship with the Bridegroom entails a radical transformation and infuses new
meaning into such religious practices as fasting. The Christian disciples would fast, yes,
but for the right reason. Indeed, the followers of Jesus exercise various forms of salutary
asceticism, in a spirit of receptivity to the coming of the Kingdom. They carry these out
in anticipation of the full joy that is prepared for them by Christ-Bridegroom in the
heavenly wedding feast.
The radical newness of our relationship with Christ can be compared to a piece of
new cloth which should not be sewn onto an old cloak, for it will make the tear even
greater. It can also be compared to new wine which should not be poured into an old
wineskin for it will cause the skin to break and spill the wine. Indeed, the loverelationship with Christ, the Bridegroom, demands an exhilaratingly new vision and lifestyle, symbolically portrayed by Mark as “new wine being poured into fresh wineskins”
(cf. Mk 2:22).
The following story is charming and funny, but it gives us an idea of what
“fasting” from evil thoughts and unkind words means (cf. Anthony de Mello, Taking
Flight: A Book of Story Meditations, New York: Image Books, 1988, p. 125).
There was once a priest so holy that he never thought ill of anyone. One day he
sat down at a restaurant for a cup of coffee which was all he could take, it being a
day of fast and abstinence, when, to his surprise, he saw a young member of his
congregation devouring a massive steak at the next table. “I trust I haven’t
shocked you, Father”, said the young fellow with a smile. “Ah! I take it that you
forgot that today is a day of fast and abstinence”, said the priest. “No, no. I
remember it distinctly.” “Then you must be sick. The doctor has forbidden you to
fast.” “Not at all. I’m in the pink of health.” At that, the priest raised his eyes to
heaven and said, “What an example this younger generation is to us, Lord! Do
you see how this young man here would rather admit his sins than tell a lie?”
B. First Reading (Heb 5:1-10): “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what
he suffered.”
Today’s First Reading (Heb 5:1-10) gives a beautiful insight into the priestly
character of Christ’s sufferings. This reading helps us to appreciate the life-giving
meaning of the Servant-Son’s obedient stance. It inspires us to a spirit of conversion and
thankfulness for the infinite goodness and eternal salvation that flow forth from his
priestly sacrifice on the cross. This remarkable text expresses the paschal glorification of
Christ with new depth because its shows its connection to priestly mediation.
The Jesuit biblical scholar Albert Vanhoye, the foremost authority on the letter to
the Hebrews, comments: “For Christ the path leading to the priesthood was a path of
humility and suffering, a path of effective solidarity with human weakness. His priestly
office consisted of prayer and supplications emerging from a situation of distress, and
they were accompanied by a loud cry and tears. In this way Christ’s whole passion is
presented as a priestly action that assumes human anguish in the presence of death
and transforms it into an offering of prayer. This prayer was offered to God with
reverent submission. Jesus did not pretend to impose his own will on God; instead, he let
his Father choose the best solution. This is the reason why he was heard. The divine
solution did not consist in preserving him from death; it transformed his sufferings
and death into the instrument of definitive victory over evil and over death itself.
Distorted by sin, human nature had to learn obedience so that it could forever be
reintroduced into God’s intimacy. Since Christ was a Son he did not need this painful
learning for himself, yet he accepted it because of his generous solidarity with us. Thus
he became the perfect man, fully worthy of being accepted and even enthroned at God’s
right hand, and he did that for the sake of all since perfection was the fruit of his
complete solidarity with us.”
The following excerpt illustrates the sacrificial aspect in the life of the
Vietnamese Archbishop Van Thuan, a prisoner in various Communist prisons for thirteen
years, nine of them in solitary confinement (cf. Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan,
Testimony of Hope, Boston: Pauline Books and Media, 2000, p. 77-80).
During the first months of my imprisonment, I found myself in the most Catholic
part of the city of Nha Trang where I had been a bishop for eight years. From my
cell, I could hear the bells of my cathedral ringing day and night, and throughout
the whole day those of the parishes and religious communities nearby. I would
have preferred to be in the mountains so that I would not have had to hear them.
In the silence of the night, I heard the sound of the ocean waves of the Pacific,
which I used to watch from my office window. No one knew where to find me,
though the prison was only a few kilometers away from my own house. Absurd
life!
As I have already mentioned, on the evening of December 1, 1976, I was taken
from the prison of Thu Duc. I was to embark on the ship of Hai Phong. That
evening as all the prisoners waited to set sail, we were told to sit down on the
ground in the dark. At a distance of only 3 kilometers, I could see the lights of the
city of Saigon, the center of the diocese of which I had been named coadjutor on
April 24, 1975. I knew my journey would take me far away. The pain this caused
me was agonizing. I thought of the Apostle Paul at Miletus, when he gathered the
elders of Ephesus knowing that he would never see them again. And yet, I could
not gather my own! I could not comfort them or give them any advice. Within
myself I said goodbye to all of them, and especially to my dear elderly Archbishop
Phaolo Nguyen Van Binh, with a broken heart at the thought of never seeing him
again.
I experienced a profound pastoral suffering in all of this, but I can testify that the
Father did not abandon me and that he gave me strength.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Are we faithful to our covenant with Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church? How?
2. How do we imitate the obedient stance and the priestly sacrifice of our Lord Jesus
Christ? Do we strive to love Christ more intimately; he who is the source of eternal
salvation?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
when you took on flesh,
you made a marriage of mankind with God.
Help us to be faithful to your word.
Give us the grace to persevere
until you call us to the heavenly marriage feast.
We love you and adore you;
we praise and serve you, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
Loving Father,
we thank you for the gift of the New Covenant,
sealed in the blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
His “reverent submission” to your saving will
earned for us our eternal salvation.
Help us to be intimately united
with the priestly sacrifice of your Servant-Son on the cross
and thus share in his ultimate victory over death and sin.
May we always live as your true children, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“New wine is poured into new wineskins.” (Mk 2:22) // “Son though he was, he
learned obedience from what he suffered.” (Heb 5:8)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
When you attend a wedding, pay attention to the text and rituals used in the
celebration, and see how they evoke the nuptial relationship between Christ and his
Body, the Church. // By your charitable deeds and acts of justice, allow the priestly
sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ to bear “abundant fruits” of healing in today’s world.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
TUESDAY: SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is Lord of the Sabbath … He Anchors
Our Hope”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 6:10-20 // Mk 2:23-28
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 2:23-28): “The Sabbath was made for people, not people for
Sabbath.”
The wind was howling when I opened the gate. The village leader asked shelter
for women and children from an impending typhoon. I presented the urgent request to the
Superior. She acted promptly with good judgment and compassion. We prepared a place
for the evacuees. This happened in the 1970s when rules for convent enclosure were
strictly enforced. Indeed, we felt that in a crisis situation charity takes precedence over
cloister rules.
Today’s Gospel (Mk 2:23-28) presents Jesus as Lord even of the Sabbath. Like
David, who disregarded the sanctity of the tabernacle to feed his men, Jesus manifests the
same freedom and sensitivity to the needs of others. He shows that genuine human need
subsumes norms governing human life and conduct. Rules are meant for the total good of
the human person and the spirit of charity must prevail over all. Wisely guided by the
principle – The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath – Christians cannot
be too-rigid or too-lax in the observance of rules that promote the individual and the
common good.
B. First Reading (Heb 6:10-20): “This hope we have as an anchor sure and firm.”
In today’s First Reading (Heb 6:10-20), the author of the letter to the Hebrews is
aware of the danger of apostasy in the Christian community. His stern warning is meant
to preserve the members from becoming sluggish, and his energetic encouragement is to
help them persevere in the faith. Their zeal for works of charity should be matched by
their perseverance in their Christian vocation, which is based on hope. Just as the
patriarch Abraham was given the twofold support of a promise of numerous descendants
and an oath to fulfill it, so the Christians benefit from this twofold support: the promise of
eternal inheritance and the divine oath that guarantees the priesthood of Christ. The
Christian hope is steadfastly anchored in what Christ has done in the eternal order by his
priestly sacrifice.
Archbishop Van Thuan gives us an inspiring account of how a little fish brought
him hope during the time of his imprisonment (cf. Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan,
Testimony of Hope, Boston: Pauline Books and Media, 2000, p. 155-156).
I was in isolation in Hanoi when one day, a policewoman brought me a small fish
for me to cook. As soon as I saw the wrappings, I immediately felt a start of joy,
but I was careful not to show this externally. My happiness was not because of the
fish, but because of the pages of the newspaper in which it was wrapped: two
pages of the L’Osservatore Romano. At that time, when the Vatican newspaper
arrived at the post office in Hanoi, it was often confiscated and sold at the market
as paper. Those two pages had been used to wrap the little fish. Calmly, without
bringing attention to myself, I washed those sheets of paper to remove the smell,
and then dried them in the sun and preserved them as a relic.
For me, in that unbroken regime of isolation, those pages were a sign of
communion with Rome, with Peter, with the Church, and an embrace from Rome.
I would not have been able to survive without an awareness of being part of the
Church.
Today we live in a world that rejects the values of the civilization of life, of love,
and of the truth; our hope is in the Church, Image of the Trinity.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. What is our attitude towards the rules and norms in society and in the Church?
2. Do we trust in God’s promise of eternal life, and do we rely on his oath that guarantees
Christ’s priesthood on our behalf? Is our hope firmly anchored in Jesus Christ?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
O loving Father,
teach us the wisdom and compassion of Jesus
that we may understand the meaning of the law in the Church.
Rules are meant for the well-being of the person
and to promote the common good.
Grant us the freedom of the spirit
and the charity that never fails.
We surrender to your all-embracing care.
We thank and bless you, now and forever.
Amen.
***
Loving Father,
we thank you for the promise of eternal salvation
and for the oath that assures us of Christ’s priesthood on our behalf.
Our hope of salvation is steadfastly anchored
in Jesus Christ, the eternal High Priest.
Let us be a prophetic witness to that hope.
He lives and reigns, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mk 2:28) // “Hold fast to the
hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul.” (Heb 6:18-19)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Make an effort to understand, memorize and put into practice the Ten
Commandments and the precepts of the Catholic Church. // By word and deed, offer a
testimony of hope to those who are overwhelmed with trials, sufferings, and despair. Be
ready to listen and to welcome them tenderly.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
WEDNESDAY: SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: His Healing Love Transcends Barriers … He
Is a Priest Forever Like Melchizedek”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 7:1-3, 15-17 // Mk 3:1-6
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 3:1-6): “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to save life rather than to
destroy it?”
In today’s Gospel (Mk 3:1-6), Jesus is angered and grieved at the hardness of
heart of the Pharisees who object to his healing ministry on a Sabbath. Jesus, the Lord of
the Sabbath, declares that the Sabbath is made for man and not the other way around. He
performs healings even on a Sabbath for he feels it is better to do good on the Sabbath
rather than to do evil, and to save life rather than to destroy it. His saving love is totally
inclusive and greatly transcending. His saving works could not be restricted by a narrowminded view of the Sabbath observance. There is no time or day when Jesus feels
restricted to heal the sick and serve the needy. Jesus breaks down false restrictions and
man-made barriers that militate against human well-being and dignity.
The following story illustrates the need to follow the non-restrictive stance of
Christ and the necessity of overcoming barriers of alienation in our community (cf. Bill
Zalot, “I Belong!” in The Word Among Us, Advent 2011, p. 62-65).
You Don’t Belong: Until I was twelve, I felt like a valued member of the church.
This had a lot to do with the fact that my home parish was founded just before I
was born and that for years, until a church could be built, we had Mass in the
gymnasium of the parish school. The place was easily accessible to people like me
who needed wheelchairs. I felt an intimacy and closeness to God there that I will
never forget. There was no barrier, no silent sign telling me I didn’t belong.
Everything changed with the opening of our new church in 1988. Suddenly, the
place where I always felt accepted became the place where I felt most rejected.
This building had no way for me to get inside. There was no wheelchair ramp –
just two flight of steps that said, You don’t belong.
Our pastor’s attitude affirmed my sense of rejection. “There’s no need to bring
him here”, he would tell my parents. Thankfully, they ignored his advice and
found ways to get me to Sunday Mass. Still his words angered me. I became
determined to attend Mass – both to defy him and to obey a God who I thought
would condemn me if I missed. Inside, though, I grew increasingly bitter and
withdrawn.
Unbound! It took the help of other priests – a college chaplain, as well as those
who succeeded our founding pastor – to reverse my attitude. These men were
more like one of my heroes, St. Lawrence. He is the third century Roman martyr
who saw the lame, the blind, and the poor members of the church as its true
treasures. With their encouragement, I began to participate in parish life and to
discover a God of mercy who loves me and welcomes me as I am.
In the process, I came to realize that I couldn’t let physical barriers dictate my
mood. It was my responsibility to determine whether I would be positive and
caring or negative and bitter. It was something I could choose to do. Just as I
could freely choose to use my wheelchair to get around, I didn’t have to let anger
and resentment keep me from moving forward with the Lord.
This realization made a huge difference in my life. For one thing, it helped me to
forgive the pastor who had caused me so much pain. And as my bitterness slipped
away, I felt myself grow. No longer was I content with being a Catholic who
simply “follows the rules”. I wanted to embrace my faith and live it fully every
day! I wanted to be near Jesus and get to know his word and his love for me –
regardless of whether I felt welcome at church or was physically able to do the
things that everyone else could do.
It has been a pleasant surprise to discover how many things I can do. Over the
years, I have used my gifts to serve the parish as a lector, sponsor, religiouseducation teacher, and outreach committee member. I wrote a series of parish
bulletin articles on the role of people with disabilities in the church today. I have
represented our parish at archdiocesan conferences. All of this has been truly
healing for me. (…)
B. First Reading (Heb 7:1-3, 15-17): “You are a priest forever according to the order
of Melchizedek.”
Today’s First Reading (Heb 7:1-3, 15-17) helps us to contemplate the meaning of
the priesthood of Christ. The author presents Christ’s priesthood in terms of its
resemblance to that of Melchizedek in the book of Genesis. Melchizedek, a king of Salem
and a priest of the Most High, blessed Abraham who was coming victoriously from a
battle. Abraham offered tithes to him. The fact that Melchizedek is depicted as having no
genealogy and no record of birth or death makes him an appropriate image of the
“eternal” Priest: Jesus Christ. The figure of Melchizedek points to the Son of God who is
infinitely superior and eternal. The name “Melchizedek” means righteousness and his
title “king of Salem” means “king of peace”. His name and title evoke the blessings of
justice and peace that Christ the Priest-Messiah would bring. He lives forever to intercede
for us before God.
Msgr. Bernardo Antonini, a professed member of the JESUS PRIEST
INSTITUTE, a branch of the Pauline Family founded by Blessed James Alberione, lived
his priesthood under the guiding hand of the eternal High Priest Jesus Christ. The
following biography prepared by the Society of St. Paul (SSP) underlines the glory of his
priesthood.
Msgr. Bernardo Antonini was born in Cimego, Italy, on October 20, 1932, two
years before his parents went to live in the Diocese of Verona. He entered the
Verona Seminary and was ordained on June 26, 1955.
He was assigned to parish ministry at first but soon his gifts of mind were
recognized and he took his Degree in Modern Languages at Catholic University
and his Licentiate in Theology two years later. Meanwhile he had begun to teach
in the Diocesan Junior Seminary until 1972. He was awarded his License in
Sacred Scripture by the Pontifical Biblical Institute in 1975 and subsequently
taught that subject for more than ten years meanwhile being Prefect of Young
Priests, Director of Ongoing Clergy Formation and of the Center for Religious
Formation in his Diocese.
Little did he know, however, what Divine Providence had in store for him. In
1977 he entered the JESUS PRIEST INSTITUTE where he met the Delegate
Director, Fr. Lamera and shared with him his dreams of further apostolic
initiatives. Under Fr. Lamera’s direction he remained strongly attached to his
Diocese but also began to form his heart on the heart of Saint Paul and to
understand better the urgency of bringing the Gospel to people everywhere with
modern means. He also continued and increased his life-long devotion to Mary
and was notable for his particular fidelity to the Holy Father.
His studies in modern languages had enabled him to acquire a good knowledge
of Russian and, when Gorbachov began gradually to create more openness in
Russian society toward the end of the eighties, he was released by his Bishop for
his missionary work and went to Moscow on July 2, 1989, first working with the
Apostolic Nuncio, and then with Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, the
“Metropolitan” (or major Church figure in an area outside the normal Church
confines).
From that time onwards his zeal had every opportunity to express itself. He was
appointed Founder and Rector of the first Russian Seminary which he named, not
surprisingly “Regina Apostolorum” – Queen of Apostles. He also taught Sacred
Scripture, was a tireless preacher, and directed the local Catholic newspaper
“Svet Evangelia” – “The Light of the Gospel”. During the Jubilee Year 2000, he
was responsible for all the local initiatives: arranging pilgrimages, pastoral
animation programs, Spiritual Exercises, Jubilee literature, organization of interreligious dialogue and much more.
But he wished to work in poorer and deprived churches and so, on August 16,
2001, he transferred, with the permission of his Bishop, to be Vice-Rector of the
local Seminary and Episcopal Vicar in Kazakhstan. But the end of his totallycommitted life was near. On the Saturday before Palm Sunday he complained of a
“stomachache” and some friends suggested he return to Italy for a check-up.
However, he had just sent one of the priests to Italy for that purpose and he
replied: “It’s not feasible to have two priests absent from the Diocese during
Holy Week. Don’t worry. I will get over it.”
Tuesday of Holy Week saw him concelebrating with the Bishop at the Mass for the
Blessing of Oils. In the evening he retired to his room. Next morning he was not in
church (he was usually there before anyone else) and someone went to knock at
his door. It was open. Inside he was still sitting upright at his desk as if working.
He had written his last line and said his last word. After seventy utterly dedicated
years in the Lord’s service he had gone to celebrate Easter in Paradise!
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Is our love for our brothers and sisters all-inclusive, or do we give in to legalism,
prejudices and other attitudes that create barriers and limit our care for them?
2. Do we value the gift of Jesus the eternal High Priest? Do we value the gift of the
ordained priesthood? What do we do to help the ordained priests to be more efficacious
in their ministry?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Thank you, loving Jesus,
for your courage to do good.
Give us the grace to overcome “barriers”
so that your healing love may touch the afflicted
at any moment and at any place.
Fill us with your all-inclusive compassion
and love that knows no seasons.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
God our Father,
we thank you for the gift of Jesus, the Priest.
He lives forever to intercede for us.
His ministry of intercession continues
in his ordained priests.
Help us to love and care for your priests.
Teach us to live fully
the dignity and value of our common priesthood.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather
than to destroy it?” (Mk 3:4) // “You are a priest forever according to the order of
Melchizedek.” (Heb 7:17)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Resolve to help the disabled and other people who are physically challenged and
enable them to experience the healing power of God. // Pray for the priests and for
priestly vocations. See what you can do to help priests in their ministry and those who are
experiencing various difficulties.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
THURSDAY: SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: His Touch Heals … He Offered Sacrifice
Once-for-All”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 7:25-8:6 // Mk 3:7-12
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 3:7-12): “The unclean spirits shouted, ‘You are the Son of
God’, but Jesus warned them sternly not to make him known.”
In January 2014 I was in Cebú Island in the Philippines to attend the Santo Nino
celebration. I had a chance to participate at the vigil novena in Saint Joseph’s Cathedral
in Mandaue City. I was awed by the thousands of people who lined up in snake-like
formation and were patiently waiting to touch the Santo Nino. At the fluvial parade the
following morning, a great crowd was lined up on the seashore. Many thousands more
were on the bridge. Hundreds of boats with thousands of devotees accompanied the
transfer of the Santo Nino from a wharf in Mandaue to a pier in Cebu City. The number
of devotees waiting by the seaside to welcome the Santo Nino was unbelievable. They
want to “touch”, even if only with their gaze, the beloved Nino, who is the font of
blessing and healing.
In today’s Gospel (Mk 3:7-12), a great crowd seeks Jesus. His pursuers are not
only from his native Galilee, but also from Judea and the border regions to the south
(Idumea), east (Transjordan) and north (Tyre and Sidon). Pressing upon Jesus, they yearn
to be healed. Indeed, with his “touch”, Jesus has healed the man with the withered hand,
made the paralytic walk and forgave his sins, cured Simon’s mother-in-law of fever,
liberated the demoniac, and cleansed the leper. Jesus has cured so many that the sick
crowd about him. There is power in Jesus’ touch. The sick and the needy, through time
and space, would continue to seek Jesus and yearn for his touch, for all who touch him
are made whole.
B. First Reading (Heb 7:25-8:6): “He offered sacrifice once for all when he offered
himself.”
In today’s First Reading (Heb 7:25-8:6), we focus our contemplative gaze upon
Jesus, the eternal High Priest, whose once-for-all sacrifice upon the cross is infinitely
efficacious. The saving sacrifice that he offered is his own self. Jesus is able, now and
always, to save those who come to God through him. Jesus lives forever to plead with
God for us all. Jesus, the holy Priest who offers the perfect sacrifice, is the “mediator” of
the New Covenant. His perfect sacrifice on the cross has been the means of union
between God and man. It has taken away sin – the barrier to that union – and has made
possible our new and everlasting covenant with the compassionate and merciful God.
The sacrificial dimension of the Christian priesthood is illustrated anew in the life
of Blessed Timothy Giaccardo, who offered his life for the Pauline Family and in a very
special way, for the ecclesial approval of the religious congregation Pious Disciples of
the Divine Master. Here is an excerpt from a brief biography prepared by the Society of
St. Paul.
Fr. Giaccardo, the first priest of the Society of St. Paul, made Perpetual Vows on
June 30, 1920, and took the name “Timothy” in religion in honor of St. Paul’s
beloved disciple. Aware of his special devotion to the Pope, Fr. Alberione sent Fr.
Timothy to Rome in January of 1926. There he founded the first St. Paul House
outside Alba, in the area known as “St. Paul’s Vineyard” near the Basilica of St.
Paul-outside-the-Walls.
He came back to Alba ten years later, in 1936, to be superior of the House there.
He remained until 1946, during which time he was responsible for the many
additions to the interior of the church Fr. Alberione had built. He was also
actively engaged in the regular apostolate and priestly ministry in the Diocese.
He was appointed Vicar General of the Society of St. Paul in 1946 and went to
reside in Rome. There, in a demonstration of remarkable fidelity to Fr. Alberione,
he gave his considerable talents to the work of developing all the Pauline
Congregations. He guided and sustained them as, one by one, they came into
being, ensuring that each had a profound spirituality and an understanding of the
special type of apostolate to which each one was called.
Meanwhile he personally practiced what he preached: a constant unrelenting
effort to correct his defects and reach spiritual maturity. So successful was this
effort that he attained the practice of perfect charity to the point of offering his
life so that the Pauline Congregation Pious Disciples of the Divine Master
(PDDM) would be recognized by the Church. The Lord accepted his offering and
granted his request. He was stricken with leukemia and died in a short time, on
Saturday, January 24, 1948. By no coincidence, this was the feast of St. Timothy
and the Vigil of the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.
His funeral took place in the Basilica of St. Paul-outside-the-Walls on January 26
in the presence of a large number of clergy, civil authorities and people. His
remains now lie in a place of honor in the Shrine of Mary, Queen of Apostles in
Rome, not too far from the first House he founded there. (…) On May 13, 1989,
the Pope, John Paul II, signed the Decree approving the miracle that decided that
the Beatification of Fr. Giaccardo would take place on October 22, 1989, Mission
Sunday.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we seek Jesus and yearn to “touch” him?
2. In the joys and sufferings of our daily life, do we associate ourselves with the once-forall sacrifice that Jesus the eternal High Priest offered on the cross? Do we trust in the
power of Christ’s ministry of intercession for us in heaven?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Jesus,
your touch heals
and your power drives out the evil that threatens us.
You are always there for us.
We extend our hand to touch you
and you allow yourself to be touched.
We praise and bless you
for you are our Savior, now and forever.
Amen.
***
O loving Father,
we give you glory and praise
for your beloved Son Jesus, the eternal High Priest.
His sacrifice on the cross won for us our salvation.
He lives forever to make intercession for us.
He is the mediator of the New Covenant sealed in his blood.
Help us to live out his priestly sacrifice
in the joys and sufferings of our daily life.
Through him, with him, and in him,
we give you glory and praise, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing
about him to touch him.” (Mk 3:10) // “He offered one sacrifice, once and for all, when
he offered himself.” (Heb 7:27)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
By your act of care and charity to the sick and the marginalized, let the healing
touch of Jesus come to them. // Unite your sufferings, pains, difficulties and trials with
the priestly sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. And in union with his priestly intercession in
heaven, pray for those who suffer in any way.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
FRIDAY: SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Summons and Sends Them … He Is the
Mediator of the New Covenant”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 8:6-13 // Mk 3:13-19
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 3:13-19): “Jesus summoned those whom he wanted and they
came to him.”
In yesterday’s Gospel episode we hear of the crowd pressing about Jesus, wanting
to touch him and be healed. Jesus had to withdraw into a boat to avoid being crushed by
them. Against that rather chaotic setting, today’s episode of the call of the disciples (Mk
3:13-19) seems so refreshing and peaceful. Jesus goes up the mountain and summons his
chosen ones. And they come to him. He designates the “Twelve” and symbolically
founds the twelve tribes of the new Israel, the Church – the new people of God. Their
mission is to be with Jesus. The blessed intimacy with Jesus is a formative moment to
learn the mysteries of the kingdom and the demands of discipleship. But the life of
intimacy is in view of mission: that he may send them forth to preach and to have
authority to drive out demons.
Jesus Christ lives on in the Church. He continues to call his disciples that he may
send them to preach the Gospel and exorcise evil powers. In 2003, I was in our convent
in Staten Island to give a liturgy course to our novices. After the course, we went to a
nearby parish to attend the concert of John Michael Talbot. His beautiful music manifests
a deep spirituality and reveals his intimate communion with God. As God’s troubadour,
he spreads the Gospel through his songs. During the concert, while John was singing and
playing a guitar, the sound system squealed diabolically. The malfunction caused a great
disturbance. John stopped singing and put down the guitar. He prayed. He invoked God
to cast out the spirit of disorder and to restore the order needed to sing his praise.
Immediately peace and order were restored. John continued his songs undisturbed. It was
awesome. The power to cast out evil is given to Christian disciples even today.
B. First Reading (Heb 8:6-13): “He is mediator of a better covenant.”
In today’s First Reading (Heb 8:6-13), the author cites the majestic passage from
the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 31:31-34) which announces the ratification of a “new
covenant”. This “new covenant” is brought about through the mediation of Jesus, that is,
through the priestly offering of himself on the cross. Jesus is the “mediator of the new
covenant” because by his sacrifice he becomes the means of union between God and
men. He has taken away “sin”, the barrier to that union. The “newness” of the covenant
in Christ consists in its interiority (God’s law is written in the hearts); in personal
intimacy with God, and in the forgiveness of sins.
The following modern-day article gives insight into the reality that an important
gift, as well as radical challenge of the “new covenant”, is the forgiveness of sins (cf.
Fred Bauer in Daily Guideposts 2010, p. 175).
According to anthropologists, ancient tribes often practiced unlimited retaliation
for offenses committed against them. And if one tribe responded more harshly
than another, they raised the ante until all-out war resulted. Then, according to
our Judeo-Christian heritage, the Law of Moses was given. These laws, which
contain far more than the Ten Commandments, number more than six hundred
and include such teachings as “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” (Exodus 21:24).
These laws were less harsh than previous practices, limiting retaliation. But
forgiveness was still on the back burner.
Then Jesus came along and espoused something that was revolutionary:
unconditional forgiveness. Check your Bible concordance and note how many
times Jesus spoke about it. He told His followers to practice unlimited forgiveness
(seven times seventy, or without end), which is spelled out in Matthew 5:44: “But
I say unto you: Love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them
that hate you; and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.”
Once I interviewed the renowned missionary E. Stanley Jones. While working in
India, he told me he became a friend of Mahatma Gandhi, who, though a Hindu,
was a great admirer of Christ. According to Jones, Gandhi considered Christ’s
statement about forgiving one’s enemies Jesus’ most memorable commandment
and the most difficult to keep. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? Not with God’s grace.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we treasure our vocation of intimacy with the Lord and faithfully respond to the
mission we have received to preach the Gospel and cast out the power of evil?
2. Do we treasure the gift of the “new covenant” ratified in the blood of Christ and are we
faithful followers of Christ, the “mediator of the new covenant”?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
we thank you for calling the “Twelve”
and for summoning us to a life of intimacy with you.
Teach us, form us, mould us and consecrate us to your service.
Give us the grace to share the Gospel with the nations.
Grant us the power to cast out the power of evil in today’s world.
We love you and we put our trust in you.
We praise you and glorify you now and forever.
Amen.
***
Lord Jesus,
we thank you for your priestly sacrifice on the cross
by which you ratified the “new covenant” with your blood.
Help us live out this “new covenant”
by which our sins are forgiven
and we enter into an intimate relationship with God.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
week. Please memorize it.
“Jesus summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him.” (Mk 3:13) //
“He is mediator of a better covenant.” (Heb 8:6)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for greater fidelity to the Christian vocation and mission. By your spiritual,
moral and material help, promote and assist priestly and religious vocations in the
Church. Likewise, also promote the Church’s inter-religious dialogue with the Jews, try
to discover and savor the Jewish “roots” of the “new covenant”.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
SATURDAY: SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is Misunderstood … By His Blood He
Obtains for Us Eternal Salvation”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 9:2-3, 11-14 // Mk 3:20-21
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 3:20-21): “They said, ‘He is out of his mind.’”
Jesus comes down from the mountain with his twelve disciples. As before, people
seek him for healing and crowd around him. Responding compassionately to their needs,
he performs healings, especially exorcisms. The crowd is so great that Jesus and his
companions could not even manage to eat. The situation alarms his over-protective
relatives. They misinterpret Jesus’ intense preoccupation with the sick as madness. They
try to take control of the situation and protect him from further folly. The relatives are
appalled by his exaggerated ways and perceive his behavior as bordering on insanity.
Thus Jesus is misunderstood and falsely perceived by his very own. In the same way,
Christian disciples would experience rejection and misunderstanding as they proclaim the
Gospel and carry out the ministry they have received from Christ.
The following charming story is about a Buddhist monk who, like Christ, is
totally misunderstood and despised (cf. Anthony de Mello, Taking Flight: A Book of
Story Meditations, New York: Image Books, 1988, p. 120-121).
Gessen was a Buddhist monk. He was also an exceptionally talented artist. Before
he started work on any painting, however, he always demanded payment in
advance. And his fees were exorbitant. So he came to be known as the Greedy
Monk.
A geisha once sent for him to have a painting done. Gessen said, “How much will
you pay me?” The girl happened to be entertaining a patron at that time. She
said, “Any sum you ask for. But the painting must be done right now before me.”
Gessen set to work at once and when the painting was completed he asked for the
highest sum he ever charged. As the geisha was giving him his money, she said to
her patron, “This man is supposed to be a monk, but all he thinks of is money. His
talent is exceptional, but he has a filthy, money-loving mind. How does one
exhibit the canvas of a filthy, money-loving man like that? His work is good
enough for my underclothing!”
With that she flung a petticoat at him and asked him to paint a picture on it.
Gessen asked the usual question before he started the work: “How much will you
give me?” “Oh, any sum you ask for”, said the girl. Gessen named his price,
painted the picture, shamelessly pocketed the money, and walked away.
Many years later, quite by chance, someone found out why Gessen was so greedy
for money. Devastating famine often struck his home province. The rich would do
nothing to help the poor. So Gessen had secret barns built in the area and had
them filled with grain for such emergencies. No one knew where the grain came
from or who the benefactor of the province was.
Another reason why Gessen wanted money was the road leading to his village
from the city many miles away. It was in such bad condition that oxcarts could not
move on it; this caused much suffering to the aged and the infirm when they
needed to get to the city. So Gessen had the road repaired.
The final reason was the meditation temple which Gessen’s teacher had always
desired to build but could not. Gessen built this temple as a token of gratitude to
his revered teacher.
After the Greedy Monk had built the road, the temple, and the barns, he threw
away the paint and brushes, retired to the mountains to give himself to the
contemplative life, and never painted another canvas again.
B. First Reading (Heb 9:2-3, 11-14): “He entered once for all into the Sanctuary with
his own Blood.”
In today’s First Reading (Heb 9:2-3, 11-14) the author speaks of two tabernacles:
the one in the Holy Place and the one in the Holy of Holies, which can be accessed only
by the High Priest. Just as the High Priest has right of access to the Holy of Holies, the
sacrificial life of Jesus gives him right of access to the heavenly tabernacle. By his death
offered for our salvation, Christ passes through the veil of separation and enters the
sanctuary in heaven into the presence of the living God. The death of Jesus is the
efficacious sacrifice that atones for the sins of humanity. Moreover, his very sacrifice
surpasses and replaces the various Old Testament rituals of atonement and purification. It
is through the eternal Spirit that Jesus offers himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. His
sacrificial death enables us to serve and worship the living God.
The following account is an example of what it means “to worship the living
God” in the sacrificial charity of our daily life (cf. Elizabeth Sherrill in Daily Guideposts
2015, p. 269).
What made Corrie ten Boom risk her life to save Jewish people living in occupied
Holland? It must have been some great event, I thought, some dramatic soulstirring call from God.
“No”, she said, “it was a simple, very ordinary moment.”
By 1942, it was dangerous for Jews to appear in the streets of Haarlem. So
Corrie, a watchmaker and repairer, started going to the homes of her Jewish
customers to pick up and deliver work. One evening this took her to the house of a
doctor and his wife. They were chatting over cups of rationed tea stretched with
rose leaves, when from upstairs a child’s voice pipe, “Daddy, you didn’t tuck us
in!”
Excusing himself, the doctor hurried upstairs. Corrie and her hostess kept
chatting. Nothing had changed. Everything had changed. At any minute, Corrie
realized, there could be a knock on the door of this house. This mother, this
father, these children could be herded into the back of a truck.
Still carrying on their conversation, still sipping tea, Corrie silently dedicated her
life to the Jewish inhabitants of Holland. “Lord Jesus, I offer myself for Your
people in any way, any place, any time.”
Out of a daily domestic moment grew a heroine of the Dutch resistance, whose
story of loss, suffering and unstoppable joy inspires even today.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. What do we do when, like Jesus, we are misunderstood and rejected?
2. How does Christ’s sacrificial death impact us personally? Are we willing to be washed
in his blood and offer ourselves as a “living sacrifice to God”?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you are the most caring and compassionate person.
You gave yourself totally on our behalf.
You were misunderstood, rejected and despised.
Help us to realize that suffering is part of our discipleship.
When we are rejected, we cling to you.
When we are misunderstood,
we trust that in God’s time, our accusers will see the light.
Bless us, now and forever. Amen.
***
Jesus, mediator of the new covenant,
by your sacrificial death you obtain salvation for us.
Let you life-giving blood purify us from the guilt of sin
and enable us “to worship the living God”.
Help us to offer our lives in the service of our needy brothers and sisters.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“They said, ‘He is out of his mind’.” (Mk 3:20) // “He took his own blood and
obtained eternal salvation for us.” (Heb 9:12)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
When you are misunderstood and falsely criticized, stand firm and unite your
sufferings with Christ. // Let the “sacrificial charity” that you carry out on behalf of our
needy brothers and sisters be a pleasing offering to God.
*** Text of Week 2 in Ordinary Time ends here. ***
A Lectio Divina Approach to the Weekday Liturgy: Cycle I
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (n. 39)
ORDINARY SEASON: WEEK 3
MONDAY: THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Was an Object of Blasphemy … He
Takes Away Sin by His Sacrifice”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 9:15, 24-28 // Mk 3:22-30
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 3:22-30): “It is the end of Satan.”
In today’s Gospel episode (Mk 3:22-30), the scribes who have come from
Jerusalem to observe are vicious. Having witnessed the exorcisms performed by Jesus,
they accuse him of demonic possession and collusion. The Divine Master refutes their
tortured reasoning, tainted with cold venom and vitiated with jealousy. Indeed, Satan is
not so foolish as to align with Jesus in destroying his very self. Rather, Jesus expels
demons through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus is the “stronger one” who
overpowers Satan and subdues his household. Jesus exorcises through the power of the
Holy Spirit. To declare that the power at work in Jesus is “demonic” and that the Holy
Spirit that animates him is “unclean” is blasphemy. The animosity of the scribes is such
that they willfully reject the power of God’s saving grace to work in them. Hence, in this
sense, forgiveness is not for them.
The following story could give us an idea of the misunderstanding and rejection
that Jesus suffered both from his kinsmen and opponents – the same experience that his
disciples and people of good will continue to have today (cf. Anthony de Mello, Taking
Flight: A Book of Story Meditations, New York: Image Books, 1988, p. 124).
A family of five was enjoying their day at the beach. The children were bathing in
the ocean and making castles in the sand when in the distance a little old lady
appeared. Her gray hair was blowing in the wind and her clothes were dirty and
ragged. She was muttering something to herself as she picked up things from the
beach and put them into a bag. The parents called the children to their side and
told them to stay away from the old lady. As she passed by, bending every now
and then to pick things up, she smiled at the family. But her greeting wasn’t
returned. Many weeks later they learned that the little old lady had made it her
lifelong crusade to pick up bits of glass from the beach so children wouldn’t cut
their feet.
B. First Reading (Heb 9:15, 24-28): “Christ, who offered once to take away the sins of
many, will appear a second time to those who eagerly await him.”
In today’s reading (Heb 9:15, 24-28) we hear that Jesus is the mediator of the
New Covenant because, by his sacrifice on the cross, he delivers us from sin. Through
him we receive the eternal blessings that God has promised. His life-giving sacrifice is
definitive and final. It continues eternally in heaven on our behalf. Jesus’ priestly act
surpasses the Day of Atonement sacrifice offered by the Old Testament High Priest.
Through his once-and-for-all sacrifice, Christ has effectively made salvation available
through time and space. He will appear a second time not to deal with sin, but to bring
into eternal glory and salvation those who trust in him.
The eternal value of Christ’s efficacious sacrifice is made present in the Holy
Mass. Hence, the “weight” of one Holy Mass is beyond our imagining. The following
true story was related by Sr. M. Veronica Murphy, an elderly nun, who heard it from the
lips of the late Reverend Father Stanislaus, SS.CC.
One day many years ago, in a little town in Luxemburg, a Captain of the Forest
Guards was in deep conversation with the butcher when an elderly woman
entered the shop. The butcher broke off the conversation to ask the old woman
what she wanted. She had come to beg for a little meat but had no money. The
Captain was amused with the woman and the butcher. “Only a little meat, but
how much are you going to give her?” he wondered.
“I am sorry I have no money but I’ll hear a Mass for you”, the woman told the
butcher. Both the butcher and the Captain were indifferent about religion, so they
at once began to scoff at the old woman’s idea. “All right then”, said the butcher.
“You go and hear a Mass for me and when you come back I’ll give you as much
as the Mass is worth.”
The woman left the shop and returned later. She approached the counter and the
butcher said, “All right then, we’ll see.” She took a slip of paper and wrote on it:
“I heard a Mass for you.” He placed the paper on the scales and a tiny bone on
the other side, but nothing happened. Next he placed a piece of meat instead of
the bone, but still the paper proved heavier. Both men were beginning to feel
ashamed of their mockery but continued their game. A large piece of meat was
placed on the balance, but still the paper held its own. The butcher, exasperated,
examined the scales but found they were correct. “What do you want, my good
woman? Must I give you a whole leg of mutton? At this he placed the leg of
mutton on the balance, but the paper outweighed the meat. A larger piece of meat
was put on, but again the weight remained on the side of the paper. This so
impressed the butcher that he was converted and promised to give the woman her
daily ration of meat.
As for the Captain, he left the shop a changed man and became an ardent lover of
daily Mass. Two of his sons became priests, one a Jesuit and the other a Father of
the Sacred Heart. Father Stanislaus finished the story by saying, “I am from the
Religious of the Sacred Heart and the Captain was my father.” From the incident
the Captain became a daily Mass attendant and his children were trained to
follow his example.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Are we guilty of jealousy and unable to recognize the grace at work in other persons?
What do we do about this?
2. Do we believe in the eternal value of Christ’s once-and-for-all sacrifice? Do we truly
welcome his gift of redemption, and look forward to the glory of his final coming at the
end time?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you were misunderstood and viciously accused.
But as for us, we embrace your love.
Let the power of your Holy Spirit be with us.
Help us to bring order and justice
to a world convulsed with the violence of evil and sin.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
Jesus Lord,
you are the mediator of the New Covenant.
Through you, we receive
the eternal blessings that God has promised.
By your “once-and-for-all” sacrifice on the cross
we are saved.
We adore you and praise you
as our saving Lord.
Help us to be faithful to you so that,
as we look forward to your final coming,
we may give efficacious witness
that you are indeed Christ, the eternal High Priest,
living on in the heavenly sanctuary,
now and forever.
Amen
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have
forgiveness.” (Mk 3:26) // “Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will
appear a second time.” (Heb 9:28)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for perpetrators of blasphemy against God, especially those who do this
making use of the means of social communication. Make an effort today to spread the
Good News to the people around you. // By your life of holiness and service, manifest to
the world the efficacy of Christ’s once-and-for-all sacrifice.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
TUESDAY: THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: His True Family Does the Will of God … He
Comes to Do God’s Will”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 10:1-10 // Mk 3:31-35
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 3:31-35): “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and
sister and mother.”
In today’s Gospel (Mk 3:31-35), the relatives of Jesus misunderstand his public
ministry as “crazy” and “overdone”. They want to take charge of him. They probably
have pleaded with Mary to come and see the frantic situation involving her son Jesus.
They arrive when a crowd is sitting around Jesus and listening to him. The relatives send
in a message, asking for him. Jesus uses the moment to declare what true family means to
him. Those who do the will of God are his mother, his brother and his sister. Jesus
redefines the sacred boundary of the family in a radical way. The biological family is
replaced with the larger family of God, that is, those who do the will of God, of whom his
mother Mary is foremost. Jesus subordinates natural kinship to a higher bond of
relationship based on the obedience of faith. Indeed, the “family of God” inaugurated by
Jesus is greatly inclusive and faith-intensive.
The following missioner tale illustrates the beauty and warmth of belonging to a
spiritual family based on the love and service of God and his people (cf. Jason Obergfell,
“Missioner Tales” in Maryknoll, May/June 2011, p. 11).
Recently, Maryknoll Sister Marilyn Bell passed away in Bolivia after countless
years of service here. She was a tough woman who was active until a few months
before her death, which is why she died in Cochabamba, Bolivia, where I serve as
a Maryknoll lay missioner, rather than in the United States. Although no one from
Marilyn’s biological family in the States was able to attend her funeral, her death
brought together her Maryknoll family of priests, Brothers, Sisters and lay
missioners who also serve in Bolivia.
Just last year being in mission in Bolivia, I was unable to attend the funeral of my
grandmother, but now I was able to attend Sister Marilyn’s funeral as a
“grandson” in our Maryknoll family. It was an experience that revealed what we
only strive to describe with words. The Maryknoll family of missioners, thrown
together by chance but held together by love for one another, is a lived example of
Jesus’ message – we are all family. Sister Marilyn’s family in Bolivia wasn’t just
limited to Maryknollers. The church was filled with Bolivians who had become
her family because of her love for them. Being a model of God’s family, bound
together by our love for one another, may just be the most important thing any of
us will accomplish in mission or in life.
B. First Reading (Heb 10:1-10): “Behold, I come to do your will, O God.”
Today’s First Reading (Heb 10:1-10) gives us a profound insight into the “why”
of the Lord’s incarnation. The Son of God became man so that through his “body” he
could offer a sacrifice of perfect obedience to the Father’s saving will. The effect of
Christ’s perfect sacrifice is our salvation and redemption. Through the offering of the
body of Christ for all, we have been sanctified and consecrated to the loving, merciful
God the Father. Through Christ, with Christ and in Christ, we are able to offer a sacrifice
that is pleasing to God.
The following article in the Irish newspaper, Alive! (July/August 2009 issue, p. 6)
extols the decision of a young Catholic couple to trust in God and accept the divine will.
The moral commitment of Austin and Nuala Conway gives us an insight into Christ’s
irrevocable resolve to follow the divine saving will.
The parents of Ireland’s first ever set of sextuplets decided to put their trust in
God rather than follow the doctors’ immoral advice during their pregnancy.
“These babies are a wonderful gift from God. Whatever God laid out for our lives
we were taking it”, said 26-year-old Nuala Conway of Dunamore Co Tyrone.
Doctors warned the married couple about the risks of a multiple pregnancy, and
“more or less” advised them to have several of their unborn babies aborted. But
the young Catholic couple rejected such a heartless solution and opted to trust in
God and accept his will. “Doctors gave us a couple of days to think about it, but
we knew without discussion what we both wanted”, said Nuala. “Whatever God
laid out for our lives, we were taking it.”
The four girls and two boys, weighing between 1 lb 7 oz and 2 lb 7 oz, were
delivered by Caesarian section 14 weeks early at Belfast’s Royal Victoria
Hospital, with the aid of 30 medical staff. In an interview with the Sunday
Express, Mrs. Conway said, “I prayed as much as I could for a child. I would
have been happy with one, but God blessed us with six, which is amazing.” It
wasn’t until just three months before the birth that a scan showed she was
carrying six babies. “I’m in love with every single one of them. I fell in love when
they were in the womb. When one moved they would all move and I could
definitely feel 24 limbs kicking”, she said.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we strive to belong truly to the family of God by our life of obedient faith and
serving love?
2. Do you imitate Christ in his total submission to the Father’s saving will? Do you
declare “through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ” with receptive heart: Behold, I come
to do your will, O God?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
O Jesus, you are our brother.
You revealed to us the criterion for belonging to the family of God:
by doing the Father’s saving will.
We thank you for Mother Mary.
She exemplifies in her life the obedient faith
that makes us belong to God’s family.
Teach us to be faithful children of God our Father.
You live and reign, and forever.
Amen.
***
Loving Father,
we thank you for Christ the Lord.
At his incarnation, your divine Son avowed,
Behold, I come to do your will, O God.
For this wondrous mystery of love,
we praise you, God our Father.
Grant us the grace to follow our vocation to holiness
and to live out our calling to perfect charity.
We adore you and praise you, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mk
3:35) // “Behold, I come to do your will, O God!” (Heb 10:7)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
By your acts of charity and compassion to the poor and vulnerable, prove to the
world that you belong to the family of God and inspire people to be submissive to the
divine saving will.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
WEDNESDAY: THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Sows the Seedling of the Word … He
Makes Us Perfect by His Sacrifice”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 10:11-18 // Mk 4:1-20
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 4:1-20): “A sower went out to sow.”
Today’s Gospel (Mk 4:1-20) depicts Jesus as sitting in the boat on the sea, with a
large crowd gathered on the shore. The eager crowd of country folks has the potential of
opening their hearts to the word of Jesus. To them he addresses the parable of the sower
and the seed. The seed sown by the sower falls on the path, on rocky ground, among
thorns and on rich soil. In the first three cases nothing happens, but in the last case an
abundant harvest is produced. Indeed, the coming of the kingdom of God means the
abundance of all good. Jesus is the sower who sows abundantly the word of the
Kingdom. The “seed” of the word is lavishly sown because the Lord wants to address all
without discrimination.
Saint John Chrysostom asserts: “The sower does not make distinctions between
different soils; he simply throws the seed. Similarly, Jesus does not distinguish between
rich and poor, learned and unschooled, careless and fervent, courageous and timid. His
word concerns everybody.” Though the parable underscores the inherent fecundity of the
seed of God’s kingdom, it also emphasizes the responsibility and the positive response to
be given by the recipients of the “seed” of the divine word. We need to believe and be
more open to God’s word.
The following is a testimony regarding the power of God’s word and one’s
personal response to the offer of God’s kingdom (cf. Janet Perez Eckles in Daily
Guideposts 2015, p. 90). Janet lost her sight at the age of 31, when her sons were 3, 5 and
7. She uses her own example of victory to teach others to triumph over trials. She lives in
Orlando, Florida, and is warmed by the love of Gene, her husband of thirty-eight years,
and the joy of her two grandchildren.
“Retinitis pigmentosa”, the doctor said, and finally the dreaded day came. I
awoke, held my hands in front of my face, and saw nothing. At thirty-one, I was
facing the rest of my life as a blind person. It terrified me.
“I can’t do this, God. I hate my life”, I whispered. How could God let a young
mother go blind? Why would He refuse to answer my prayers for sight? Family
and friends tried to support me, but none could understand the depth of my pain.
Then a friend called. “Come to my church. You’ll enjoy the service.” A trace of
hope flickered, and I went. The message of Matthew 6:33 shook me. God was
asking me to seek Him first. Tears rolled down my cheeks. I soaked in God’s
Word. He promised to be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I believed it. I
received it. And I applied it to my every moment as a wife and mom.
My life is peaceful now. Rest comes knowing God guides my footsteps, holds my
future, and erases my fear.
B. First Reading (Heb 10:11-18): “He has made perfect forever those who are being
consecrated.”
In today’s First Reading (Heb 10:11-18), the author of the letter to the Hebrews
underlines for the umpteenth time the superiority of Christ’s priesthood over the Old
Testament priesthood. The Jewish priest performs his services every day and offers the
same sacrifices many times, but they can never take away sins. In contrast, Christ offers
one sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins and is effective forever. By his death on the cross,
Christ has made perfect forever those who share in his priestly consecration. The words
of the Holy Spirit give witness to the efficacious power of the New Covenant for the
transformation of hearts and the forgiveness of sins. God will remember our sins no more
because, in Jesus, our sins are forgiven.
The Christian disciples who share in his priestly consecration by baptism are
called to live out in today’s world the meaning of forgiveness of sins and total conversion
(cf. Patricia Treece, God Will Provide, Brewster: Paraclete Press, 2011, p. 159-160).
A nineteen-year-old student of metallurgic engineering, Paul Caporali had been
surrendered to Christ since he fell “in love with him” somewhere around the age
of sixteen or seventeen. Paul was home in his native Terni, with his mother, his
fiancée, Lea, and his sister and her toddler on August 11, 1943, when American
planes bombed the Italian city during WW II. Although Paul survived, and his
father and two younger brothers were later found alive, after the bombing the
young student found those he loved the most were dead. They had headed toward
a shelter a few minutes too late. As he knelt at the grisly site, Paul wrote in his
2009 memoir, “I wanted to curse the bombers, but a deep surging of Christian
piety arose … and looking up at the sky I called out, ‘Father, forgive them! They
know not what they do!’ And I meant it. They’re soldiers, I thought, bowing my
head. They are only carrying out commands.”
Experiencing “desolation too strong for tears”, Paul found in his fiancée’s purse
a little prayer book he himself had given her. He read the words Lea would have
meditated on that morning after her daily Mass: “Do not be overly distressed if I
take something from you; it is mine and I take it back.”
“Thanks a lot, Lord”, he said with momentary bitterness. Continuing reading, he
came to the words, “If I take something good from you, it is to give you something
better.” Lea had told Paul that if the devout youth ever felt a call to the
priesthood she would work to put him through the seminary. “Trying to get rid of
me?” he had teased this selfless woman – who, like him, put God above
everything. Immediately with her death he knew marriage could no longer be in
his future. Lea could never be replaced.
Some years after his harrowing loss, the ways of providence led Paul Caporali to
become a Salesian priest sent to work in the very country whose bombers had
killed those he loved. Because of that earlier, wholehearted forgiveness, the
Italian priest has been able to help countless American souls forgive their own
tragedies, opening them to all the joys of living in the flow of divine providence.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Are we thankful for the goodness and generosity of Jesus the Sower? Do we truly
believe in the power of the word of God?
2. Do we value the efficacious “one sacrifice” that Christ offered to take away our sins?
What is our response to God’s kindness and loving mercy?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
(The first prayer is by Nerses Snorhali in Jesus, Fils unique du Pere in Sources
chretiennes 203, Paris: Cerf, 1973, p. 133)
I hardened myself like a rock;
I became like the path;
the thorns of the world have choked me
and have made my soul unfruitful.
But, O Lord, Sower of good,
make the seedling of the Word grow in me
so I may yield fruit in one of these three:
Hundredfold, sixtyfold, or even thirtyfold.
Thank you, loving Jesus,
Amen.
***
God our Father,
we thank you for the priestly consecration
that we share with Christ, the eternal High Priest.
We are grateful that in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross,
we are saved from sin.
Help us to respond to your kindness and tender mercy
and let us be renewed in your love.
You live and reign,
forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit.” (Mk 4:8) // “For by one
offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.” (Heb 10:14)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray that the seed of the Kingdom may find rich soil to make it grow and be
fruitful. Be attentive to the word of God in the liturgical assembly and in the daily events
of life. // Pray that the Christian disciples of today may be instruments of the mercy and
forgiving love of God. Practice the acts of forgiveness in your daily life.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
THURSDAY: THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Reveals the Mystery of the Kingdom …
He Is the New and Living Way”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 10:19-25 // Mk 4:21-25
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 4:21-25): “A lamp is to be placed on a lamp stand. The
measure with which you measure will be measured out to you .”
Jesus Master continues to reveal himself not only through miraculous deeds, but
also by his teaching. His parables were not meant to conceal the mystery of the Kingdom
but to enable his audience to take his word to heart more personally and more profoundly.
A lit oil lamp is not put under the bed or covered with a bushel basket, but placed on a
stand to maximize its light-giving. The parables of Jesus, when received with humble
hearts, are like an oil lamp that shines brightly from a stand. They shed light on the
heavenly kingdom that Jesus proclaims. They challenge the audience to conversion and,
when pondered dutifully and lovingly, they evoke their faith response.
Today’s Gospel (Mk 4:21-25) also contains a parable-like saying of Jesus about
the measure that is given is the measure that is received and that to one who has more
will be given while the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is a
powerful invitation to respond wisely and generously to the kingdom of God. The wise
person who seeks to grow in the knowledge of God is fully rewarded. Those who
foolishly refuse to listen to Jesus would end up terrible losers. Indeed, the Divine Master
calls us to an attentive hearing and true understanding of his saving word. Jesus calls his
disciples to a deep spirituality.
The following charming story gives insight into what true light means and what
deep spirituality entails (cf. Anthony de Mello, Taking Flight: A Book of Story
Meditations, New York: Image Books, 1988, p. 161).
A Guru asked his disciples how they could tell when the night had ended and the
day begun. One said, “When you see an animal in the distance and can tell
whether it is a cow or a horse.” “No”, said the Guru. “When you look at a tree in
the distance and can tell if it is a neem tree or a mango tree.” “Wrong again”,
said the Guru. “Well, then, what is it?” asked his disciples. “When you look into
the face of any man and recognize your brother in him; when you look into the
face of any woman and recognize in her your sister. If you cannot do this, no
matter what time it is by the sun it is still night.”
B. First Reading (Heb 10:19-25): “Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that
gives us hope and consider how to raise one another to love.”
In today’s First Reading (Heb 10:19-25), the author of the letter to the Hebrews
enthusiastically describes the grace-filled situation resulting from Christ’s priestly
offering on the cross. The Christian disciples now have access to the heavenly sanctuary
“by the blood of Christ”, that is, through his sacrificial death that earned our salvation.
Through the glorified humanity of Jesus, the new and living way, we are able to come
near to God. Christ the Priest is our guide to a deeper relationship with God.
This privileged gift of access into the house of God obliges us to live in sincere
faith, unwavering hope, and effective love. We are called to live our baptismal
consecration to the full for Christ has washed us in his paschal blood. We are urged to
hold on to the faith we profess because God is trustworthy. We are inspired to live in
mutual love, showing concern for one another and encouraging each other to do good.
Participation in the Eucharistic assemblies is a great stimulus for fraternal love and
mutual encouragement. Hence, it is very unfortunate that some members of the
congregation are neglecting to attend these Church gatherings. The imminence of the
“Day of the Lord” makes the exhortation to live in faith, hope and love even more
pressing.
The life of the great missionary to Russia, Fr. Ciszek, is an example of what it
means to follow Jesus, “the new and living way” in today’s world (cf. Columbia,
December 2012, p. 5). He is one who has held unswervingly to the faith that gives us
hope and enables us love self-sacrificingly.
FATHER WALTER CISZEK (1904-1984): Born to Polish immigrant parents in
the mining town of Shenandoah, Pa. Walter Ciszek grew up with a tough
demeanor and often got into fights. To the surprise of his parents, he decided to
become a priest and entered minor seminary in Michigan. Walter left to join the
Jesuits in New York in 1928. In response to Pope Pius XI’s appeal for
missionaries in Russia, he studied theology in Rome and was ordained to the
Byzantine rite in 1937, receiving the name Father Vladimir.
Father Ciszek was first assigned to work in Poland. With the start of World War
II two years later, he was able to enter Russia using false papers. In June 1941,
the secret police arrested him under the suspicion that he was a spy. Father
Ciszek spent five years in Moscow’s Lubianka prison, mostly in solitary
confinement, and was subjected to torture and interrogation. He was then sent to
serve a 15-year sentence at Gulag labor camp in Siberia. Amid brutal conditions,
he managed to secretly celebrate Mass and hear the confessions of other
prisoners.
Long presumed dead by his family and religious order, Father Ciszek was
released under strict conditions in 1955. In 1963, he was allowed to return to the
United States as a result of a prisoner exchange negotiated with the help of
President John F. Kennedy.
After his return, Father Ciszek published a memoir titled With God in Russia
(1964). In a second book, a spiritual reflection about his experience titled He
Leadeth Me (1973), he explains how he found strength and comfort in realizing
that God’s will was not an “abstract principle”, but was found in the unavoidable
circumstances of any given day, even amid hardship and suffering.
Father Ciszek died in New York on December 8, 1984. His cause for canonization
began five years later.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do I cherish the light of the Word of God and make it shine like a burning lamp on a
stand? Do I dedicate myself to the meditation of God’s Word and the study of the
parables of Jesus?
2. Trusting in the power of Christ’s priestly sacrifice and in the faithful love of God, do
we hold unwaveringly to our confession of faith, to the hope that anchors it and to the
love that gives substance to it?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Jesus Lord,
your Word is a light that brightens our path.
Help us to respond generously to your saving Word.
Let it transform us and may we continue to grow in your love.
You are our Divine Master, our way, truth and life.
We love and adore you, now and forever.
Amen.
***
O loving Father,
your Son Jesus Christ is “the new and living way”
to the heavenly sanctuary.
His priestly sacrifice on the cross
enables us to live in filial relationship with you.
Help us to respond to such a gracious gift
by upholding the faith we profess,
the hope that anchors it
and the love that gives substance to it.
Teach us to nourish this gift in the sacred assembly
and in our celebration of the saving mystery.
We give you honor and praise, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“Is a lamp not to be placed on a lamp stand?” (Mk 4:21) // “Let us hold
unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope.” (Heb 10:23)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Make an effort to study and meditate upon the Gospel parables. // Let your daily
duties and acts of service to your family, friends, and the people around you be a
manifestation of your faith, hope, and love for Jesus Christ.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
FRIDAY: THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Makes the Seed Grow … He Helps Us to
Endure”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 10:32-39 // Mk 4:26-34
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 4:26-34): “A man scatters seed on the land and would sleep
and the seed would sprout and grow; he knows not how.”
The farming images we have in today’s reading (Mk 4:26-34) are beautiful and
powerfully symbolic. The parable of the growing seed while the farmer sleeps (verses 2629) teaches us that the growth of the Kingdom is inevitable and that it is God’s initiative.
The image of the sleeping farmer shatters the illusion of those who believe that the
coming of the Kingdom is under human control. The Kingdom grows by the power of
God. Like a seed that breaks forth from the ground, God’s Reign has already irrupted into
the world through Jesus’ ministry.
The parable of the mustard seed (verses 30-34) underlines the contrast between an
insignificant beginning and the full growth of God’s kingdom. The tiny seed grows into a
full-blown tree. This symbolizes the organic continuity between Jesus’ ministry, so
disappointing to Israel’s hopes, and the future of the Kingdom of God, that would
encompass both the Israelites and the Gentiles – indeed peoples from all nations and
cultures.
We are called to promote the growth of the Kingdom of God and the integration
of creation. The following story illustrates the value of our personal contribution to
bringing about the fruition of the divine saving plan (cf. Fr. Eric Haarer, “The Old Man in
the Plaza” in Catholic Digest, July-August 2011, p.66-67).
Barcelona, Spain is an amazing city … I had been walking all day and it was hot,
in the 80s. I wanted a rest away from the hustle and bustle, so I ambled down a
side street and sat on a low wall in a tiny plaza near the Gothic Quarter. To my
right was a small fountain, basically a pipe in the wall that spilled drinking water
into a cement basin. In front of me stood a sickly looking sapling. It received little
light in this narrow plaza, and its leaves were drooping and discolored from thirst
and exhaust. An older, well-dressed gentleman at the fountain was filling an
empty plastic soda bottle. He walked over to the tree and poured the water at its
base. He returned to the fountain for more, and again watered the tree. And
again. And again. I stopped counting after 12 trips and was on my way before he
finished.
This simple act of kindness touched me deeply. It reminded me of something
Mother Teresa said about her work in India: “We don’t do great things; we do
small things with great love”. (…) This gentle man was tending the Earth, and in
this “small thing done with great love”, he did his part to bring hope and new life
into the world. Certainly he brought it to one foot-sore pilgrim.
B. First Reading (Heb 10:32-39): “Do not throw away your confidence. It will have a
great reward.”
In today’s First Reading (Heb 10:32-39), the author of the letter to the Hebrews
reminds them of their identity and dignity as baptized Christians – those “enlightened” by
the light of faith. Having welcomed the light of Christ, they have endured all sorts of
suffering. They have suffered for their Christian identity and share in the similar
sufferings of others. They have been publicly insulted and mistreated; dispossessed and
put in prison. Yet they are not defeated by the struggle. They are not disheartened by the
loss of belongings because they know that they still possess something that which would
last forever. Indeed, they need to endure and not lose courage. They should remember the
prophet Habakkuk’s exhortation that the just one lives by faith. They have made a
tremendous personal response in following Christ. It would be unfortunate if they give it
up. Through the example of Christ in his passion, they will not turn back, but instead
persevere in faith and be saved.
The following example of enduring faith in today’s society is very inspiring. Fr.
Jon Sobrino, a Jesuit theologian based in El Salvador, gives us a firsthand account of an
incident that illustrates Archbishop Oscar Romero’s radical faith response for Christ and
his people.
“On May 19, 1977, the army went to Aguilares, expelled the three remaining Jesuits,
desecrated the church and sacristy, and declared a state of emergency. After a month
of the state of emergency, the army simply drove the people out of Aguilares.
Archbishop Romero decided to go there at the first opportunity, denounce the
atrocities that had been committed, and try to inspire a threatened, terrorized people
with hope. ‘You are Christ today, suffering in history,’ he told them. After the Mass
we held a procession of the Blessed Sacrament. We processed out into a little square
in front of the church to make reparation for the soldiers’ desecration of the
sacramental Body of Christ and the living Body of Christ, the murdered
‘campesinos’. Across the square, in front of the town hall, were armed troops,
standing there watching us, sullen, arrogant and unfriendly. We were uneasy. In fact,
we were afraid. We had no idea what might happen. And we all instinctively turned
around and looked at Archbishop Romero, who was bringing up the rear, holding the
monstrance. ‘Adelante! (Forward!)’, said Archbishop Romero. And we went right
ahead.”
On March 24, 1980, Archbishop Romero was shot to death while celebrating the
Mass, the blood of his martyred body mixing with the sacramental body and blood of
Christ on the altar of Eucharistic sacrifice. His death was a priestly sacrifice radically
united with the sacrificial offering of Jesus, the eternal Priest-Victim upon the cross.
Archbishop Romero was beatified on May 23, 2015 in the capital city of El Salvador.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we believe in small beginnings and in the power of God to make his kingdom grow
and embrace all nations and creation? What do we do to promote the growth?
2. Are we willing to live by faith and endure the sacrifices that Christian discipleship
entails? Do we trust that, united with Christ, we will not be overcome by suffering and
not be defeated by the struggle?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
how marvelous is the growth of the heavenly kingdom!
It is a seed sown in human history by your messianic ministry.
Its power irrupts into our lives and we are a part of its growth.
We thank you for the power of life
and the universal expanse of the kingdom of God.
Grant that we may continue to give our very best
– no matter how humble and insignificant –
to promote the growth and fruition of God’s Reign
upon earth and in all creation.
We love you and praise you, now and forever.
Amen.
***
Loving Father,
we thank you for the light of faith
and for our Christian identity.
Give us the grace to endure the sufferings
that our consecration to Christ entails.
Let the passion of Christ be our strength
and help us to believe
that with faith we will have eternal life.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
week. Please memorize it.
“Once it is sown, it springs up.” (Mk 4:32) // “You need endurance to do the will
of God and receive what he has promised.” (Heb 10:36)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for social justice and the integration of creation. In view of the integration of
God’s creation, practice proper waste management in your household using the
ecological principles: reduce, reuse and recycle. // Be courageous to uphold the social
teaching of the Church in the public square.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
SATURDAY: THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Calms the Raging Sea … He Calls Us to
Faith”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 11:1-2, 8-19 // Mk 4:35-41
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 4:35-41): “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”
(Gospel Reflection by Andy Ruperto, Fresno, CA – U.S.A.)
Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him? Lord, who are You? Is
this not the question we must constantly ponder? In today’s Gospel we again see Jesus’
disciples continuing on their journey of faith and asking, “Lord, who are You? You have
power over the wind and the sea!”
In this event, we must place ourselves in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. The wind
and waves are beginning to violently shake the boat. The disciples are stumbling around
and yelling, trying to get things under control. I do not know what it must have been like
being in a potentially life-threatening storm, but I do remember being in a motorboat with
family on a lake. When the front of the boat took on some water, because it was too
heavy, there were screams and a bit of hysteria. How much more so if we were in a
violent storm?
In the meantime, our Lord is asleep in the stern. So, then the disciples ask –
“Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” This is a question I sometimes ask in
different life situations. God, do You not know what I’m going through?” “Why is this
happening to me?” Sometimes I ‘feel’ like my life is ending or that I cannot go on. There
are too many storms – confusion, stress, studies, relationships, finances … So I ask,
“Lord, do You not care that I am perishing?”
Jesus then comes in power, and stills the storms with His word and says, “Peace!
Be still.” This is the peace that comes from Jesus and it is a peace not as the world gives
it. Christ is the only way to true peace. Here, our Lord Jesus shows His power over the
wind and sea and amazes the disciples. Jesus is GOD. He is powerful. He is mighty. He
can do anything. He can calm these modern-day storms. He is also humble and
sometimes we cannot see through the veil of humanity.
A friend once told me that the hard part for God is not the miracles, but changing
human hearts. It seems that in this event, our Lord Jesus was using the storm to awaken
the disciples’ hearts to faith. He asks them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no
faith?”
The “good news” of the reading today is one that was constantly repeated by our
late Holy Father, John Paul II. It was the message, “Do not be afraid!” Our Lord tells us
not to let our hearts be troubled. He is with us, and so what can we fear? He will take care
of us. It is our faith that enables us not to fear. Let us always call on the name of Jesus in
the stormy chapters of our lives. In these times let us quickly say, “Jesus, I trust in You.
Jesus, I trust in You …”
B. First Reading (Heb 11:1-2, 8-19): “He was looking forward to the city whose
architect and maker is God.”
Today’s Second Reading (Heb 11:1-2, 8-19) gives beautiful insight into the
meaning of faith. According to the author of the letter to the Hebrews, faith assures us of
the reality of what is hoped for and gives evidence of things not seen. God’s own
assurances are behind the object of our faith. Though we may not understand the events
of our lives, we trust in the benevolent God and his saving word. Abraham and other
patriarchs manifested great faith in God’s oath of salvation, which was fulfilled in due
time. We therefore imitate our great ancestors in faith.
The following story illustrates models of faith in today’s situation (cf. Patricia
Normile, “Caregivers Need Care Too” in Saint Anthony Messenger (May 2010, p. 22-26).
Both the caregiver and the dying person are animated with dynamic faith. In our
preparation for the eternal encounter with God, we must trust in his goodness, mercy and
saving promise. The faith of a Christian is rooted, informed and deepened by the word of
God spoken in his Son Jesus Christ.
Caregivers often share with patients the wisdom of Scripture and God’s mercy. A
hospice visitor, Deacon Amado Lim of Blue Ash, Ohio, knew Richard well. World
War II veteran, great story teller, man with a fine sense of humor, Richard (name
has been changed) was a joy to visit. Then one evening Deacon Lim noted that he
looked unusually sad. “I asked him why”, says the deacon. He said, “I was
afraid.”
Richard continued, “I’ve shared many stories, but there’s one story I’ve not told
you or anyone.” When Richard’s unit attacked a Nazi hiding place in Belgium,
they met heavy fire and his best friend was mortally wounded. “I became livid”,
Richard said. “I entered the building with my gun blazing. I saw two Nazi soldiers
fall. I rushed toward them. They sprawled on the floor, covered with blood. I saw
their faces. They were barely 12 years old – children! They didn’t say anything,
just looked at me. Their faces were pleading, begging for mercy. My adrenaline
pumped furiously. I shot them both. The faces of those boys have haunted me ever
since. I cannot erase their images from my mind. Now I’m dying. I’m afraid to
stand before God. He’ll never forgive me for what I did to those boys.”
Deacon Lim invited Richard to describe God. To Richard, God was a just God
who rewards good and punishes evil. Voice trembling, Richard said that he
couldn’t imagine God forgiving anyone who hurts children. Deacon Lim asked
Richard to read aloud Bible stories describing God’s mercy. When the repentant
criminal crucified on Calvary begged, “Jesus, remember me when you come into
your kingdom”, Jesus replied, “Amen I say to you, today you will be with me in
Paradise” (Lk 23:42-43). Richard wept. When Deacon Lim returned later,
Richard smiled. “I’m no longer afraid. Jesus forgave the criminal. He forgives me
because he knows how sorry I am.” Richard died two days later.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we believe in faith that God is in control? Do we place our trust in Jesus whom
even the wind and sea obey? Do we derive strength from the fact that the Lord Jesus
masters the storms and the raging seas?
2. Do we experience in our daily life the assertion of the author of the letter to the
Hebrews: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen”?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
(Prayer n. 1 by Andy Ruperto, Fresno, CA-USA)
So, Lord, who are You?
You are my refuge, savior and teacher in the storms.
You are GOD!
I have often tried to control the storms myself.
Let me learn to go through them with You,
having recourse to You when I find myself in trouble.
Peace! Be still my soul!
Know that Jesus is GOD and that He does care
and that He loves me.
Mother Mary,
you know our Lord so intimately.
Please purify our faith in Him.
Form us into His likeness and into fearless saints.
Amen.
***
Loving Father,
how great was the faith of Abraham, Sarah and our ancestors
in your saving promise.
Help us to heed the call of Jesus
to live our faith in vigilance and readiness
for the advent of your kingdom of love, justice and peace.
Deepen our faith by your living Word spoken in your Son Jesus.
We praise and glorify you, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (Mk 4:41) // “Faith
is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Offer comfort and assistance to those whose faith is wavering. Share with those
who are overwhelmed in the sea of sorrows the comforting presence of Jesus who
masters the winds and the raging seas. // To grasp more deeply the meaning of Christian
faith and respond to its challenges, spend some moments of quiet prayer before the
Blessed Sacrament.
*** Text of Week 3 in Ordinary Time ends here. ***
A Lectio Divina Approach to the Weekday Liturgy: Cycle I
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (n. 40)
ORDINARY SEASON: WEEK 4
MONDAY: FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Breaks the Power of Evil
And Has a Cloud of Old Testament Witnesses”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 11:32-40 // Mk 5:1-20
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 5:1-20): “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”
In today’s Gospel reading (Mk 5:1-20), the description of the Gerasene demoniac
whom Jesus will exorcise is horrifying. He continually gashes himself. He breaks the
chains and smashes the irons on his feet to inflict more harm upon himself. The power of
evil that possesses him is a “legion” (literally six thousand foot soldiers, plus horsemen
and some technical personnel). He is beyond control and is alienated. He drives himself
to self-destruction. The demoniac lives in a state of death, dwelling among the tombs, the
place of death, and on the hillside wilderness, symbol of desolation, loneliness and
danger.
Jesus of Nazareth, who has just tamed the sea, meets the self-destructive
Gerasene. In an act of compassion, he liberates him from evil powers. The liberated
Gerasene, who is not chosen to belong to the “twelve”, is sent by Jesus to his family to
witness to them the kindness of the Lord. The healed Gerasene becomes a missionary to
the Decapolis (“Ten Cities”), populated by the Gentiles. He prepares the place for Jesus’
return (Mk 7:31) and ministry of healing to non-Jews. Indeed, the Good News is meant
for all peoples and the immense power of Jesus is for the liberation of everyone from the
power of sin and evil.
The following ministry of a Franciscan priest gives a glimpse into what we can do
today to liberate our brothers and sisters from self-destruction and death-dealing
situations (cf. Father Larry Dunphy, “Jail Ministry: Holiness in an Unlikely Place” in The
Way of St. Francis, July-August 2010, p. 11-16).
I also found out that there was need for a Catholic priest at the county jail … I
estimate that there are about 1,000 men and women in the jail … When I first
started, I only had three or four men to visit. They were not ready for Communion
and it took me more than a year to get clearance to celebrate Mass. Initially we
just talked. This is where I get the most satisfaction. They told me some of their
stories, and they asked questions – some of which were rather challenging. I was
surprised to learn that one of them had been a daily communicant “on the
outside”. The numbers gradually increased. Sometimes a person on the outside
would request that I visit a resident.
One of the residents on my list early in my tenure was in the section reserved for
those considered the most dangerous. At first I was not allowed to visit him. He
was over six feet tall and very strong, and the officers were obviously afraid of
him. After several requests, we finally were able to visit, while an officer stood
about three feet away and watched. I discovered this man was spiritually quite
hungry. He spent most of his time reading the Bible and praying. Eventually the
officers allowed me to sit in a locked classroom alone with him … Though in his
early twenties, he was looking at life in prison without parole. He told me that he
felt he was in prison for a reason, so that he could help others spiritually. He
planned to use his prison time to try to help others find a way to Christ … This
man told me that he felt so much better after visiting with me, that he was able to
be calmer and more able to control his tendency to violent anger.
B. First Reading (Heb 11:32-40): “By faith they have conquered kingdoms. God had
foreseen something better for us.”
In the reading (Heb 11:32-40), the author of the letter to the Hebrews delineates
the faith of the righteous in the Old Testament. He depicts an impressive general picture
of the sufferings and the triumphs of the faith-filled Old Testament heroes. They were
stoned (example: the prophet Zechariah); they were sawn in two (example: the prophet
Isaiah); they were killed by the sword. They were persecuted, mistreated, mocked,
whipped, imprisoned and deprived of their possessions. The travails they endured were a
presage of the passion of Jesus Christ. The triumphs of their faith evoked the glorification
of the Christ. Their refusal to accept earthly deliverance anticipated the heroic stance of
Jesus Christ in his life-giving passion. Though the record of what the Old Testament
heroes achieved was impressive, the realization of the promise they had hoped for took
place only by the saving work of Jesus Christ. Thanks to Christ’s “single offering” God’s
promise of ultimate salvation and benediction to our ancestors has been fulfilled!
Today’s Christian disciples are called to continue the stimulating example of our
faith-filled Old Testament heroes. We are called to let the faith of Christ and his passion
live on in the here and now. The passion of Christ continues to be the passion of the
Church and of every Christian disciple. The martyrdom of Fr. Thomas Pandippall, a
Carmelite of Mary Immaculate priest from India, is an example. He was brutally
murdered on August 16, 2008, on his way from a mission in Burgida, Andhra Pradish, by
a group of Hindu extremists who broke his hands and legs, tore out his eyes, beat him
with sticks and stabbed him repeatedly (cf. “Catholic Martyrs a Daily Reality” in
L’Osservatore Romano, September 3, 2008, p. 5-6). Archbishop Joji Marampudi,
Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Andhra Pradesh, gave the following
statements in an interview granted to L’Osservatore Romano journalist, Roberto
Sgaramella:
They killed Fr. Thomas for three reasons: because he was a religious, because he
was a Christian and because he was charitable to the poor. His attackers were
waiting for him on his way home from one of our missions in Burgida. He was
probably waylaid at about 10:00 o’clock in the evening, not far from the village
of Bellampally, an area unfortunately known for acts of violence perpetrated
there by groups of Hindu fanatics. They stopped him while he was returning on
his motorcycle and clubbed him with sticks. They then ferociously slashed his
body with knives. I myself went there the following morning and saw his blood
mingled with the dust. I saw the mess they had made of his body.
He was killed because Catholic missionaries take the side of the poor in this
region where, in fact, a rigid form of slavery still exists, linked to farming the
land. The landowners do not recognize that the peasants have any rights and use
bands of Hindu fanatics to thwart anyone who attempts to improve the standard
of living of the rural population. (…)
To be a Christian and, in particular, a Catholic, is a very courageous choice, but
a choice that puts one’s own life and that of one’s relatives at risk … I would like
to call the authorities’ attention to our men and women missionaries. Various
groups of Sisters work constantly for the needy in relatively isolated localities
where there are absolutely no policemen. They work at a serious risk to
themselves. They work for children and the elderly. They help mothers and the
sick. They organize classes for illiterate youth. They work trusting in God’s
protection alone. They do their utmost to help their neighbor and thereby bear
witness to the Gospel. I am thinking of these absolutely heroic missionary Sisters.
I am thinking of the missionary priests who never fail to go to the help of the
lowly as, precisely Fr. Thomas. I am thinking of our little Church of Hyderabad.
It is a small Church because of the number of the faithful but certainly large from
the point of view of their heroism – heroism because of their constant witness to
faith in God and in the Gospel.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Are there evil tendencies that possess us and prevent us from becoming the person God
intends us to be? What are they, and what do we do about them? Do we pray to Jesus for
liberation?
2. Are we willing to follow the example of the Old Testament faith-filled heroes and,
above all, of Jesus Christ, the ultimate model of faith? Are we ready to make ourselves a
sacrifice for the faith we profess?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
deliver us from evil.
As you liberated the Gerasene from evil powers,
free us from sinful tendencies and vicious addictions
that lead to self-destruction.
Let your blood-bath on the cross cleanse us.
May we proclaim your mercy to all the nations.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
Jesus Lord,
you have a cloud of Old Testament witnesses.
Their sterling example of faith
inspires us to proclaim with stout heart our own “Credo”
in today’s secularized and hostile world.
Loving Lord,
help us to rejoice in your promise of salvation
brought to fulfillment on the cross of life.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“The man began to proclaim what Jesus had done for him.” (Mk 5:20) // “God
had foreseen something better for us.” (Heb 11:40)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
By your acts of compassion, bring the liberating power of Jesus to those who are
in oppressive situations, e.g. those dealing with substance and drug abuse, the victims of
sexual violence, etc. // When you are beset by trials and difficulties, allow the faith of the
Old Testament heroes and of Christ to inspire you to be faithful to the all-compassionate
and all-knowing God.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
TUESDAY: FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Breaks the Power of Death … He Is the
Leader and Perfecter of Faith”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 12:1-4 // Mk 5:21-43
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 5:21-43): “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”
Today’s Gospel (Mk 5:21-43) presents two women who were in the clutches of
death: a twelve year old sick girl who died physically and a bleeding woman who died
virtually for twelve years. The woman hemorrhaging for twelve years was considered
unclean by Jewish law and thus experienced a social death with all the separation and
desolation it entails. The compassionate Jesus manifested great power in healing the
bleeding woman and in raising Jairus’ twelve-year-old daughter to life. The two women
experienced a “resurrection” event - a passage from death to life. Jesus the Healer, who
broke demonic powers, has power to destroy death and raise us to new life. The
courageous faith of the bleeding woman and the indomitable trust of Jairus inspire us to
trust in Jesus. In every death-dealing situation, Jesus Savior exhorts us, “Do not be afraid;
just have faith!”
The following beautiful story testifies that resurrection events and miracles
continue to happen if only we have faith and trust in Jesus (cf. Brian Thatcer, M.D. “The
Greater the Sinner, the Greater the Mercy” in Amazing Grace for the Catholic Heart, ed.
Jeff Cavins, et. al. West Chester: Ascension Press, 2004, p. 186-190).
On September 9, 1995, the fruit of our healed marriage was born – John Paul. He
was special from the start. At his birth, he struggled with life; turning blue and
unable to breathe. We prayed intently and John Paul soon stabilized and fully
rebounded. A friend distributing Holy Communion walked into the room and said,
“Wow, what happened? I can really feel the presence of God.”
I understood in my heart how God had truly blessed us. My three oldest, Andrea,
thirteen, Bryan, eleven, and Patricia, eight, did not always fully understand the
changes from being doctor’s kids to children of one dedicated to a simple life of
service to God. And yet they surely benefited from the renewal of our marriage
and my commitment to fatherhood as a holy vocation.
In early November, fourteen months later, I returned home from a conference in
the early morning hours. That evening a Mass was going to be celebrated in our
home. In spite of very little sleep, I awoke early to take care of some outside work.
I stepped onto our back patio, opened the gate to our swimming pool, and walked
out to the backyard. Young Bryan suddenly yelled from the front for help starting
the lawnmower. After helping him, I was reminded that it was time to drive
Andrea to swim practice. We jumped in the car with Patricia and hurried off.
While on our way, I received a call on my cell phone from Bryan. “Dad”, he said
in a strained voice, “John Paul is dead. Someone left the pool gate open.” Susan
had found John Paul lifeless; he was not breathing and did not have a palpable
heartbeat. As a trained nurse, she was already administering CPR in an effort to
pump life back into John Paul’s little fourteen-month-old body.
I told the girls what had happened and we immediately said a Hail Mary together.
The rest of the drive was spent in tears and silent prayers. “Jesus, have mercy on
John Paul and me”, I cried. Guilt overwhelmed me as I envisioned my helpless
little boy bobbing up and down in the pool, all because I left the gate open. John
Paul had been a part of my healing – a child promised for Susan and me. “Jesus,
why would You take him from us now?” my heart cried.
Then, as I frantically had to wait at a red light, I was suddenly hit with the
scripture story from Genesis of Abraham being asked to offer his son, Isaac, up to
God. “God, are you asking me for my son?” I asked, my heart breaking. It was
the moment of truth for me. I had been preaching trust in God’s Divine Mercy for
four years. God was calling me to a deeper trust. I wanted my little boy to live. I
loved him with all my heart. Could I accept God’s will if it meant never holding
John Paul again in my life?
“Jesus”, I prayed. “I trust in You, in all situations. I submit to Your will,
whatever that means.” I told God that I did not understand why He would take
John Paul from us at this time, but that I offered my son back to Him. I also
thanked God for the time He had given us with John Paul. I told Jesus that I
placed my trust in Him and wanted only that His will be done. I reflected on the
deep trust of Abraham as he was told to sacrifice Isaac. I felt a deep sense of
peace after that.
When we arrived at the house, the emergency squad had also gotten there.
Although John Paul was bloated and unresponsive, Susan felt a slight pulse after
doing CPR. I was ecstatic. There was still hope! Upon arriving at the hospital, I
called my sister who lives in another town and asked her to pray for John Paul
that night with her prayer group. Over the next thirty-six hours, John Paul’s
mental clarity improved hourly. Within two days, he was released, totally normal!
B. First Reading (Heb 12:1-4): “Let us persevere in running the race that lies before
us.”
Today’s Second Reading (Heb 12:1-4) presents running in the race as a metaphor
for Christian life. We must get rid of whatever impedes us as we run in the spiritual race.
Above all, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, “the leader and perfecter of faith”. He is
the foundation of our faith having imaged what true faith means. He endured the
opposition of sinners and the pain of the cross. He went to the extreme in putting up with
so much hatred from sinners. On account of his faith and fidelity, God has glorified him.
His glorious passion allows believers to have access to “full assurance of faith”. The
awesome example of Jesus sustains the Christian disciples in their struggle against sin.
We should therefore not let ourselves be discouraged and we should not to give up in our
“struggle against sin”.
The life of the Sicilian priest Father Pino Puglisi who, in his priestly ministry, is a
beautiful example of resisting evil and sin “to the point of shedding blood” (cf. Katia Di
Roucco, “Father Pino Puglisi Embodies in Himself the Word and Death of Christ”, in Il
Rosario e la Nuova Pompei, September/October 2012, p. 8-11).
Giuseppe Puglisi was born on September 15, 1937, in Palermo, in the infamous
neighborhood of “Brancaccio”, characterized by poverty, high moral
degradation and organized crime. He himself was of humble origins, the son of a
cobbler and a dressmaker. He was ordained a priest on July 2, 1960, and on the
stampita-souvenir he condenses his program: “O Lord, that I be a valuable tool
in your hands for the salvation of the world.” Since then his life has been a
continuous commitment: collaborator of various parishes, chaplain of the
Roosevelt orphanage, parish priest in Godrano, a village ravaged by a fierce
battle between Mafia families, where Don Pino can bring reconciliation and
peace by practicing the power of forgiveness, addressing himself especially to the
wives, the mothers, to the children. (…)
He is interested in the social problems of the most marginalized districts of the
city. He follows closely the proceedings of Vatican II and spreads quickly its
documents among the faithful, with special regard to the renewal of liturgy, the
role of the laity, the values of ecumenism and of the local churches. His desire
was always that of embodying the message of Jesus Christ in the territory.
In 1990, he was entrusted with the parish of St. Gaetano, within the Brancaccio
quarter where he himself was born. That area was then controlled by the Mafia.
(…) A few months after taking over in the parish of St. Gaetano, Don Pino opened
the Our Father center entrusted to the Sisters of the Poor, whose primary
purpose is that of human promotion and evangelization … When going against
the tide, Don Pino was aware that he was being required the sacrifice of his life
to follow Christ. (…)
The Mafia decided to eliminate him. And in 1993, on the day of his 56th birthday,
he was murdered with a bullet in his nape … His pastoral work was the only
motive for the killing. For this, many voices were raised to seek the recognition of
martyrdom and, five years after his assassination, Cardinal Salvatore De Giorgi
established the ecclesiastical Court to start the investigation that ended in 2001,
and the dossier is now under review by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
in the Vatican.
Here is the motivation of the crime in the written judgment of the Court of
Assises: “The figure of a priest emerges who worked tirelessly in the territory, out
of the shade of the bell-tower … The work of Don Puglisi became a snare and a
thorn on the side of the emerging criminal group that dominated the area,
because it was an element of subversion in the context of the conservative,
oppressive Mafia order which had been imposed in the area, against which the
priest appeared to be one of the most tenacious and brave opponents. All projects
and initiatives started by the priest, which have been reported in detail by his
collaborators and people close to him, crown the figure of an austere and
rigorous religious man, not a contemplative one but fully inserted in the social
field, immersed in the difficult neighborhood reality, lucid and disenchanted but
not bitter and disillusioned, defeated or weakened by threats, intimidations and
open conflicts with the men of the local Mafia establishment. Don Puglisi had
chosen not only to “reconstruct” the spiritual and religious sentiments of his
faithful, but also siding, concretely, without veils of ambiguity and complicit
silence, on the part of the weak and marginalized.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. In death-dealing situations, do I put my trust in Jesus and cling to his words, “Do not
be afraid; just have faith”?
2. Do we resolve to follow Jesus Christ, “the leader and perfecter of faith” even at the
cost of sacrifice?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
O Jesus, we trust in you.
You exhort us, “Do not be afraid; just have faith”.
Strong is your love and great is your power.
In death-dealing situations we turn to you for help.
In our affliction, we stretch out our hand to touch you,
believing that in you we will be healed.
You break the power of death.
You are our life and resurrection.
We give you thanks and praise, now and forever.
Amen.
***
Loving Father,
your Son Jesus endured the cross
for the sake of the eternal joy that lay before him.
By virtue of his glorious passion,
let us be strengthened in our struggle against sin
and the structuralized evil in today’s society.
Be with us that we may resist the power of evil and sin
even to the point of shedding blood.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“Do not be afraid; just have faith.” (Mk 5:36) // “Persevere in running the race
… keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus” (Heb 12:2)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for those who are in death-dealing situations that they may courageously
trust in God. By your acts of charity to the sick and the dying, allow Christ’s power over
death to shine. // By your personal commitment to live out the principles of justice and
peace at home, in the neighborhood and in the local Church and by opposing
structuralized evil in the society, let the faith of Christ flourish in the land.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
WEDNESDAY: FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Was Rejected by His Own … He Makes
Us Share in His Filial Suffering”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 12:4-7, 11-15 // Mk 6:1-6
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 6:1-6): “A prophet is not without honor except in his native
place.”
The following story narrated by Anthony de Mello in his book, The Song of the
Bird, illustrates poignantly the irony contained in today’s Gospel reading (Mk 6:1-6).
Nasruddin earned his living selling eggs. Someone came to his shop one day and
said, “Guess what I have in my hand.” “Give me a clue,” said Nasruddin. “I
shall give you several: It has the shape of an egg, the size of an egg. It looks like
an egg, tastes like an egg, and smells like an egg. Inside it is yellow and white. It
is liquid before it is cooked, becomes thick when heated. It was, moreover, laid by
a hen.” “Aha! I know!” said Nasruddin. “It is some sort of cake!”
It is ironic. The expert misses the obvious. And it was also with irony that the
neighbors of Jesus of Nazareth missed the obvious. They thought they knew every detail
about him. In purporting to have complete knowledge of his personal data, they ended up
showing their ignorance. Their knowledge of “the carpenter, the son of Mary” was
superficial. Their prejudice prevented them from believing and responding to the Christ,
the Son of God.
In today’s reading (Mk 6:1-6), we come face to face with the mystery of a
resisting and unbelieving heart. Mark’s narrative illustrates the human possibility and
reality of closing one’s heart and mind to the Prophet of truth and Savior of the world. It
is ironic that the saving Lord, who would be the object of Peter’s faith declaration: “You
are the Christ.” (Mk 8:30) and the centurion’s climactic confession at the foot of the
cross: “Truly this man was the Son of God.” (Mk 15:39), was not welcomed by the
neighbors of Jesus. According to Mark, “they took offense at him”. They were prejudiced
by the utter ordinariness of his background. Disappointment and rejection are part and
parcel of the mission of Jesus, as well as of his disciples and the Church.
B. First Reading (Heb 12:4-7, 11-15): “The Lord disciplines those he loves.”
Today’s first reading (Heb 12:4-7, 11-15) underlines that suffering is part of
God’s saving plan because it conforms us more closely to his Divine Son who suffered
for our sake. The trials to be endured by the Christian disciples are a divine discipline that
leads to maturity and grace. Because the suffering disciples share in the saving sacrifice
of Jesus Christ, they too share in his son-ship. They would surely reap the peaceful
reward of a righteous life. Hence, they are exhorted to keep walking on the right path
with renewed strength. They must guard against turning back from the grace of God.
They must keep the integrity of the Christian community through a peaceful and holy
life. They must avoid harming the community through apostasy or infidelity.
The life of Saint Paul Miki and his companions is a beautiful example of total
participation in the passion of Christ and their configuration into the Divine Son through
suffering (cf. Patricia Mitchell, “A Samurai’s Noble Death: The Witness of St. Paul
Miki” in The WORD Among Us, February 1-March 8, 2011, p. 59-64).
Paul Miki saw sparkling Nagasaki harbor coming into view. The six-hundredmile trek from the Japanese capital of Kyoto through the cold and snow was
nearly over. It had taken almost one month. Along the road, villagers jeered at
him and the others who had been sentenced to die for their Christian beliefs.
“Fools”, the shouted, “Renounce your faith.” Miki, who loved to preach, urged
the people to believe in Jesus, the Savior who died for their sins. Not all were
insulting the prisoners, however. Fellow believers encouraged and prayed for
them, giving them the strength and courage to continue on.
Miki thought how odd it was that he was to die before his ordination as a priest.
Now thirty-three years old, he has been a Jesuit brother in training for eleven
years. His eloquent and fervent preaching has led to many conversions. Yet he
would never celebrate Mass; never raise the consecrated Host in his own hands.
Flourishing Faith: His thoughts often turned to his family. Miki had been born
and raised near Kyoto in comfortable surroundings, the son of a brave samurai. A
fellow Jesuit, Francis Xavier, had come to Japan forty-eight years earlier, in
1549, and his message of a loving God had won over hundreds of thousands of
Japanese. Miki’s parents converted in 1568, when Paul was four. They nurtured
his faith and sent him to Jesuit schools; he never doubted his vocation to the
priesthood.
The seeds planted by Xavier flourished, but only when it suited the reigning ruler.
The military leader Oda Nobunaga allowed the missionaries to preach because
he wanted to challenge the power of the Buddhist monks and he was interested in
foreign trade. But the next ruler, Toyotumi Hideyoshi, became nervous as more
and more Japanese turned to Christ. Christianity was a religion of foreigners,
very different from Buddhism or the native Shintoism, which enshrined numerous
minor gods. Japan feared conquest by the West. So Hideyoshi worried: What if
these foreign missionaries came not to bring their God but their soldiers?
Blessed Are the Persecuted: In the fall of 1596, a Spanish ship crashed into the
coast of Japan. While Japanese officials confiscated its cargo, an arrogant
remark by the ship’s captain was interpreted to mean that missionaries intended
to help Spain conquer Japan. Hideyoshi quickly ordered the arrest of several
priests and laymen who had come from the Spanish Philippines to evangelize. He
was convinced that a public bloodbath would put an end to this religion of the
West. Although a native, Miki was among those who would serve as Hideyoshi’s
warning.
On the day after Christmas in 1596, police came to the Jesuit residence in Osaka,
and took Miki and two other novices. In prison, they were joined by six
Franciscans and fifteen members of the Franciscan third order. A week later, the
prisoners were led into the Kyoto public square, where the sentence was
pronounced: death by crucifixion. Miki’s heart soared. What an honor to imitate
his Lord! Each man then stood by Hideyoshi’s samurai as a portion of his left ear
was cut off. It was Miki’s turn, and searing pain shot through his head – the first
blood to be spilled for Christ. Then the forced march to Nagasaki began.
The Road to the Cross: Under a feudal lord, Nagasaki had become a Christian
town, with Jesuits running schools, churches, and homes for the poor. As the
caravan entered, thousands of Christians lined the streets. For the twenty-six
prisoners (two more had been added to the group), it was like coming home! If
Hideyoshi had intended the crucifixion to scare people away from Christianity,
his plan was having the opposite effect. On the morning of February 5, Miki and
the others were led up Nishizaka Hill. One side of the road, where common
criminals were executed was covered with human remains; the other was covered
with new, green wheat. The government official in charge of the executions had
decided to give the martyrs a more decent killing field, and the wheat would be a
carpet for their crosses.
Lying on the ground were twenty-six crosses, each one tailor-made for one of the
martyrs. Seeing them, the prisoners began singing the Te Deum, the church’s
traditional hymn of thanksgiving. Three youngsters in the group – thirteen-yearolds Thomas Kozaki and Anthony Deynan, and twelve-year-old Louis Ibaraki –
raced ahead to find the crosses that fit their small frames. One by one, on their
knees, the martyrs embraced their crosses – their way to perfection.
Soldiers tied them on with metal bands and ropes. Then the crosses were lifted
and slid into holes in the ground – twenty-six stretching in a row from the bay to
the road. The martyrs raised their eyes to heaven and sang, “Praise the Lord, ye
children of the Lord.” The Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus of the Mass echoed down the
hill. One of the prisoners chanted, “Jesus, Mary. Jesus, Mary”. The crowds of
Christians joined in. Then, one by one, the martyrs were given a chance to
renounce Christ in exchange for their lives. Each one loudly answered, “No”.
Song of a Samurai: Planted in front of Miki’s cross was the death sentence
Hideyoshi had pronounced: “As these men came from the Philippines under the
guise of ambassadors, and chose to stay in Kyoto preaching the Christian law
which I have severely forbidden all these years, I come to decree that they be put
to death, together with the Japanese who had accepted that law.”
Fastened to his cross, Paul Miki gave his defense and final address in the form of
a samurai farewell song: “I did not come from the Philippines. I am Japanese by
birth, and a brother of the Society of Jesus. I have committed no crime. The only
reason I am condemned to die is that I have taught the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ. I am happy to die for such a cause and accept death as a great gift from
my Lord. At this critical time, when you can rest assured that I will not try to
deceive you, I want to stress and make it unmistakably clear that man can find no
way to salvation other than the Christian way. The Christian law commands that
we forgive our enemies and those who have wronged us. I must therefore say here
that I forgive Hideyoshi and all who took part in my death. I do not hate
Hideyoshi, I would rather have him and all the Japanese become Christians.”
The guards listened, spellbound. Miki had shown he could remain a faithful
Japanese, adhere to the samurai code of honor, and still give glory to Christ.
Looking to heaven, he said, “Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Come to
meet me, you saints of God.” While embracing his culture and showing his
warrior’s courage, he had gone beyond the samurai need to save face and avenge
personal wrongs. By preaching love of enemies as his farewell, Paul Miki showed
himself a faithful samurai of the greatest Lord of all.
The Legacy of Resurrection Hill: Two samurai guards stood at the foot of each
of the crosses at either end of the line of prisoners. In one moment, each soldier
plunged his steel-tipped bamboo spear into the victim’s breast, crossing over each
other’s spear in the process. A guttural yell, a sudden thrust, the gush of blood.
And it was over. When the gruesome deed was done, the Christians in the crowd
pressed toward the crosses, soaking pieces of cloth in the martyrs’ blood and
tearing their clothing for relics. Only with difficulty did the guards manage to
keep them away.
A month later, a Jesuit missionary in Nagasaki wrote his superior that, even in
death, the martyrs were still bearing witness to Christ: “These deaths have been a
special gift of divine Providence to this church. Up to now our persecutor had not
gone to the extreme of shedding Christian blood. Our teaching therefore had been
mostly theoretical, without the corroborating evidence of dying for our faith. But
now, seeing by experience these remarkable deaths and most extraordinary
deaths, it is beyond belief how much our new Christians have been strengthened,
how much encouragement they have received to do the same themselves.”
Today, some four hundred years after their deaths, the twenty-six martyrs of
Nagasaki continue to inspire people. They are canonized saints now, and the
place is a pilgrimage destination, with a church, museum, and bronze monument.
Pope John Paul II visited the site in 1981 and named it “Resurrection Hill”.
On the eve of his execution, thirteen-year-old Thomas Kozaki, who was to die
with his father, wrote a farewell letter to his mother. Full of simple yet steadfast
faith, the power of this letter, like the power of the cross, has not diminished over
the years: “Dear Mother: Dad and I are going to heaven. There we shall wait for
you. Do not be discouraged even if all the priests are killed. Bear all sorrow for
our Lord and do not forget you are now on the true road to heaven. You must not
put my smaller brothers in pagan families. Educate them yourself. These are the
dying wishes of father and son. Goodbye, Mother dear. Goodbye.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. How deep is our faith in Jesus? Is it deep enough to allow him to be effective in our
midst? Did we ever close our heart to his saving presence and inspiration?
2. Do we believe in the positive and spiritual dimension of human suffering? How do we
respond to the trials and difficulties we meet in our daily life?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
your co-citizens were scandalized by your humble “roots”.
Your neighbors were prejudiced because you were “merely” a carpenter,
and they knew you “simply” as the son of Mary.
You were not able to perform mighty deeds in Nazareth
for their lack of faith.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, help us to have true faith in you.
You are the true prophet who speaks the word of life.
We welcome you in our hearts.
Speak, Lord, for your servants are listening.
***
God our Father,
we thank you for letting us share
in your Son’s redemptive sacrifice.
We believe in the grace of human suffering.
By partaking in the passion of Christ,
we are configured into him as the Servant-Son.
Help us to endure our trials as formative “discipline”
and guide us by your almighty hand.
We love and trust you, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“He was amazed at their lack of faith.” (Mk 6:6) // “Endure your trials as
‘discipline’. God treats you as his sons.” (Heb 12:7)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for all missionaries that they may carry out their mandate with absolute trust
in God and apostolic zeal. Be a missionary to a person close to you and in need of the
healing power of the Gospel. // By your acts of charity and kindness, strengthen the faith
of those who are in great need and difficulty.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
THURSDAY: FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Summons and Sends Out the Twelve …
He Is the Mediator of the New Covenant”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 12:18-29, 21-24 // Mk 6:7-13
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 6:7-13): “Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send
them out.”
The Burnham couple, Martin and Gracia, who were serving in the Philippines as
missionaries, were captured by the dreaded Abu Sayyaf, a terrorist group in Southern
Philippines whose primary activities were kidnapping and extortion. Gracia survived 14
months of terror in the jungle. On June 7, 2002, Martin died and Gracia was wounded in
the shootout that resulted from the rescue attempt made by the Philippine Army. Gracia’s
testimony revealed that Martin had been a missionary through and through. Thousands of
people – including senators and ambassadors - attended Martin’s funeral at Wichita,
Kansas. Gracia remarked: “They admired him most, perhaps, for what he stood for, what
we all try to stand for. Nothing complicated. Just a simple, whole-hearted goodness. His
death had not been in vain. He showed me what strength was. Faith. Faith in yourself, in
those you love, and in God to be present in every moment of your life.” The missionary,
Martin Burnham, is a modern-day example of a disciple sent by Jesus, one who had kept
faith in him and had shown the world that faith is the inner strength to conquer evil.
Today’s Gospel reading (Mk 6:7-13) is about the Lord who sends and the mission
of the disciples he sent. The origin of the missionary vocation is Jesus who prepares the
apostles for this important moment. It is Jesus who calls them personally; it is he who
selects the Twelve to be his companions. He sends them out to preach with the power to
cast out devils. Tutored by Jesus and present with him as he heals many from sickness
and evil, the Twelve are sent out with tremendous power bestowed upon them. The
apostles respond to the sending with alacrity. The evangelist Mark narrates: “So they
went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they
anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them” (verses 12-13). In the mission of
the apostles, Mark underlines the potency of the Gospel, the power of action against the
reign of evil. The task of those sent by Jesus is to bring the healing balm of forgiveness to
those wounded by sin and to denounce evil, openly confronting it by appealing to the
power of Christ.
B. First Reading (Heb 12:18-29, 21-24): “You have approached Mount Zion and the
city of the living God.”
Today’s first reading (Heb 12:18-19, 21-24) underlines what the Lord God has
done for us through the outpouring of the blood of Jesus Christ, “the mediator of the new
covenant”. The assembly of the redeemed is able to approach Mount Zion, “the city of
the living God” through the life-giving sacrifice of Jesus. The author of the letter to the
Hebrews contrasts the gloomy and fearful aspects of the old covenant to the new
covenant wrought by the sacrificial “blood of Christ”, which is far superior to the “blood
of Abel”. The blood of Abel cried out for vengeance, while that of Jesus brings
forgiveness and access to God. The joyful gathering of the redeemed and the thousands
of angels in heaven is already possessed in an anticipatory way by the Christian disciples
in pilgrimage to heaven.
The spiritual stance of a “pilgrim” Church that journeys toward Mount Zion and
to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, can be gleaned from the following
words of Archbishop Van Thuan (cf. Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, Testimony of
Hope, Boston: Pauline Books and Media, 2000, p. 38-39).
I dream of a Church that is on a journey, the People of God who, behind the
Pope, carry the cross, enter the temple of God and, in prayer and song, encounter
the Risen Christ, our one hope, and Mary, and all the saints.
I dream of a Church that carries in its heart the fire of the Holy Spirit – and
where the Spirit is, there is freedom; there is sincere dialogue with the world and
especially with the young, with the poor, and with the marginalized; and there is
discernment of the signs of the times. The social doctrine of the Church, the
instrument of evangelization, guides us in the discernment amid today’s social
changes.
I dream of a Church that is a concrete witness of hope and of love, as personified
by the Pope who embraces all: Orthodox, Anglican, Calvinist, Lutheran … in the
grace of Jesus Christ, in the love of the Father, and in the communion of the Spirit
lived in prayer and humility.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. As Christian disciples today, are we as trusting in God as Jesus called his Twelve to
be? What is the specific apostolic mission entrusted to us by Christ today? Do we believe
in the Gospel – its power of action against the forces of evil?
2. Do we value the saving work of Jesus Christ, the mediator of the new covenant? What
is our personal attitude as a member of the Church in pilgrimage to the heavenly
Jerusalem?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you have called us personally to yourself
and given us the Gospel
with its power to overcome the forces of evil.
Give us the grace to proclaim repentance
and to heal the sick with the power of your love.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
O loving Father,
we are a pilgrim Church
that experiences in anticipation
the festal gathering in the heavenly Jerusalem.
As we journey toward the eternal joy of Mount Zion
where God reigns,
let our faith be strengthened by Jesus,
the mediator of the new covenant,
who poured out his blood for our salvation.
We love and serve you, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out.” (Mk 6:7) // “Jesus,
the mediator of a new covenant.” (Heb 12:24)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for all missionaries that they may carry out their mandate with absolute trust
in God and apostolic zeal. Be a missionary to a person close to you and in need of the
healing power of the Gospel. // Resolve to participate actively, consciously and fruitfully
in the Eucharist, which is a foretaste of the heavenly liturgy.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
FRIDAY: FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is a Victim for Truth and Justice” …
He Is the Same Yesterday, Today and Forever”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 13:1-8 // Mk 6:14-29
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 6:14-29): “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised
up.”
The death of John the Baptist narrated in today’s Gospel reading (Mk 6:14-29)
foretells Jesus’ own death. Herodias is vengeful because John has confronted her illicit
husband, Herod, with the unsettling truth: “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s
wife”. Determined to put John to death and resorting to devious ways, Herodias instigates
her daughter to ask for his head. The revenge is made possible by feckless Herod who
tries to impress others during his birthday party. Though fascinated by John, whom he
knows as righteous and holy, his braggadocio gets the better of him. He is deeply
distressed. But because of the senseless oath he has made to the girl in front of the guests,
he has to give her John’s head on a platter. Herod dispatches an executioner to behead the
prophet. Herod’s birthday party thus becomes a bloody orgy. Evoking the death and
burial of Jesus, the disciples of John come and take the body and lay it in a tomb.
The martyrdom of John the Baptist, which points to the ultimate witnessing of
Jesus, invites us to share deeply in the paschal sacrifice of our Savior. Like John the
Baptist, we too are called to manifest to the world the passion and death of Jesus, the
victim par excellence for truth and justice. The following article circulated through the
internet illustrates the need to continue our life witness for truth and justice, in the spirit
of John the Baptist and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Phillip Andrew A. Pestano graduated from Ateneo de Manila High School in
1989, entered the Philippine Military Academy, and became an Ensign in the
Philippine Navy in 1993. He was assigned as cargo master on a Navy ship. He
discovered that the cargo being loaded onto his vessel included logs that were cut
down illegally, were carried to the ship illegally, and were destined to be sold
illegally. Then there were 50 sacks of flour, which were not flour, but shabu –
worth billions. Literally, billions. And there were military weapons which were
destined for sale to the Abu Sayyaf.
He felt that he could not approve this cargo. Superior officers came to him and
said: “Please! Be reasonable! This is big business. It involves many important
people. Approve this cargo.” But Philip could not, in conscience, sign the
approval.
Then his parents received two phone calls, saying: “Get your son off that ship!
He is going to be killed!” When Phillip was given leave at home, his family
begged him not to go back. Their efforts at persuasion continued until his last
night at home, when Phillip was already in bed. His father came to him and said:
“Please, son, resign your commission. Give up your military career. Don’t go
back. We want you alive. If you go back to the ship, it will be the end of you!” But
Phillip said to his father: “Kawawa ang bayan!” (“I pity our people!”) And he
went back to the ship. The scheduled trip was very brief – from Cavite to Roxas
Boulevard – it usually took only 45 minutes. But on September 27, 1995, it took
one hour and a half. When the ship arrived at Roxas Boulevard, Ensign Pestano
was dead.
The body was in his stateroom, with a pistol, and a letter saying that he was
committing suicide. The family realized at once that the letter was forged. They
tried desperately for justice, carrying the case right up to the Senate. The
Senatorial Investigation Committee examined all the evidence carefully. Then
they issued an official statement, saying among other things: Ensign Phillip
Pestano did not commit suicide. He was murdered. He was shot through the head,
somewhere outside his stateroom, and the body was carried to his room and
placed on the bed. The crime was committed by more than one person. In spite of
these findings by the Senate, the family could not get justice. The case is still
recorded by the Navy as suicide. (…)
Phillip Pestano died at the age of 24. He was scheduled to be married in January
of 1996, four months after he was murdered. He was a martyr. A martyr is one
who dies for the faith or for a Christian virtue. Phillip died for a Christian virtue
– justice. It is not likely that he will ever be canonized, but he takes his place
among the “unknown saints”.
B. First Reading (Heb 13:1-8): “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and
forever.”
After giving an insight into divine worship, the author of the letter to the
Hebrews, in today’s first reading (Heb 13:1-8), deals with practical matters of Christian
living. The behavior of a Christian is intimately connected with the priestly sacrifice of
Christ, from which it flows and derives its strength. Practical Christian conduct is not an
indifferent issue for it is a vital expression of one’s faith. Hence, the author gives serious
instructions on mutual love, hospitality, concern for prisoners and the needy, fidelity in
marriage, and trust in divine providence. There is a spiritual motivation for Christian
conduct. With regard to material needs, he tells them to be free from the love of money
and to trust that God will be their helper and that he will never abandon them. In view of
preserving the integrity of the Christian community, he encourages them to remember
their former leaders and learn from their examples of faith. They have passed away, but
their lives will continue to give them insight into the invisible realm of God. The author
then declares: “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.” This means that Jesus
Christ will be their immutable faith support: yesterday, today and forever.
The immutable support of Christ for his disciples lives on in the here and now as
the following missioner’s tale illustrates (cf. Leo Shea in Maryknoll, April 2009, p. 7).
When I went to northern China to teach English at a university, I was told I had to
respect the government’s rules: I could not work as a missioner, could not offer
Mass in public, nor serve in a parish or preach. On Sundays, I went to Mass with
the people in the cathedral in Qingdao (which, incidentally, was packed for the
two Masses). I resolved that if asked, I would answer truthfully, but not once was
I asked what I did before I came to China.
I enjoyed the fellowship of the professors and students whom I invited to come to
my apartment once a week, to share a meal. We never discussed religion, but
simply enjoyed a wonderful rapport and camaraderie. Therefore, when I was
leaving, I was greatly surprised to receive the gift of a beautiful painting of the
Last Supper. My work as a missioner was solely my witness to them by my
presence. I never preached a word, and yet they knew all along.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do I fight for truth and justice in the spirit of John the Baptist and our Lord Jesus
Christ?
2. Do we conduct our daily life upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, our immutable faith
support yesterday, today and forever?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
your cousin John the Baptist fully participated
in your mission of justice and truth.
Give us the courage to fight for the cause of justice and right.
Make us limpid and credible prophets of truth.
We trust in you, O loving Jesus!
We adore and serve you as our only Lord, now and forever.
Amen.
***
Loving Father,
our participation in Christ’s priestly sacrifice
needs to be expressed in mutual love
and concern for one another.
Help us to be hospitable,
to assist the prisoners,
to comfort the suffering,
to uphold the sanctity of marriage,
to be faithful and chaste.
Teach us to trust in your providence
and never to idolize money and material riches.
Show us how to value
the good examples of our leaders.
Above all, help us to conduct every aspect of our life
under the guidance of Jesus Christ,
our immutable faith support:
yesterday, today and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
week. Please memorize it.
“It is John whom I beheaded.” (Mk 6:16) // “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,
today, and forever.” (Heb 13:8)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Study the “Catholic Social Teaching in the Public Square” and promote the
principle of the right to life and the dignity of the human person in any way and in every
way you can. // Manifest your faith in word and deed and let your conduct in daily life be
modeled upon Christ, our eternal support.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
SATURDAY: FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Shepherds the Flock …Through Him We
Carry Out God’s Will”
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 13:15-17, 20-21 // Mk 6:30-34
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 6:30-34): “They were like sheep without a shepherd.”
In 1995 I traveled about eight hours by bus to the rural town of San Antonio (in
Zambales Province in the Philippines) to conduct a session on liturgical music for a
parish group. San Antonio is situated at the foot of Mount Pinatubo. The volcano that was
dormant for about five hundred years erupted violently on July 16, 1991. The devastated
San Antonio was still full of sand and volcanic debris when I saw it. I heard vivid stories
about the townsfolk’s terrible plight during the eruption. They scrambled in all directions
to save their lives. They did not know where to go and were like sheep without a
shepherd. My heart was moved for what they went through. In a mysterious way, I was
participating in the compassion of Christ Master-Shepherd: “He took pity on them
because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mk 6:34).
The focus of today’s Gospel reading (Mk 6:30-34) is the Lord Jesus who
shepherds. He shepherds the weary disciples returning from their missionary ministry,
reporting to him what they had done and taught. Above all, he shepherds the large crowd
of needy people hungering for the bread of his life-giving Word. Indeed, Jesus is the
fulfillment of the prophetic promise reported in Jer 23:1-6 about God himself being the
shepherd to his people.
Mark’s narrative describes the tender and loving response of Jesus to the pathetic
plight of the pursuing crowd: “He began to teach them many things” (Mk 6:34). Indeed,
the primary pastoral action and care of Jesus is to teach, that is, to nourish the hungry
souls with the bread of the Word of God. The teaching ministry, which is a nourishing
ministry, is the first and foremost task of Jesus Shepherd. He nourishes the crowd with
the bread of the Word. He nourishes them with the saving message of God’s love.
B. First Reading (Heb 13:15-17, 20-21): “May the God of peace, who brought up from
the dead the great shepherd, furnish you with all that is good.”
In today’s first reading (Heb 13:15-17, 20-21), the author of the letter to the
Hebrews exhorts them to offer a sacrifice of praise to God through Jesus while at the
same time underlining the importance of the sacrifice of good works and service to
others. The vertical dimension of divine worship and the horizontal dimension of human
solidarity intersect. Moreover, within the community, solidarity cannot be effective
without obedience to leaders commissioned by God to watch over the welfare of the
members. The author then concludes with a prayer invoking divine grace upon them: that
the God of peace provide them with every good thing they need in order to accomplish
his saving will. Above all, he prays that God’s will be done upon them through the
mediation of Christ, to whom eternal glory is due.
The following article in Taste of Home magazine (cf. February-March 2009 issue,
p. 67) about a 12-year-old’s fundraising effort to help poor African children, is very
inspiring. It gives us a glimpse of what Christians can do in today’s world to be pleasing
to God.
A video shown at church inspired Miranda Walters to make a difference. She saw
the faces of children dying from malaria thousands of miles from her Cedar Falls,
Iowa home and knew she couldn’t ignore them. A $10 mosquito net dramatically
reduces the risk African children face of contracting malaria, an often-fatal
infectious disease transmitted through mosquito bites. So Miranda, 12, gave
herself a goal: raise $100, enough to buy 10 nets for the nonprofit organization
Nothing But Nets. “After seeing the video, I told my grandma I wanted to do
something to help them”, Miranda says. “She suggested a bake sale. So we talked
to people at church, made posters and baked some things.”
She and her grandmother, Jill Rechkemmer, also of Cedar Falls, made CaramelPecan Cheesecake Pie and Caramel-Pecan Apple Pie, both from Taste of Home.
They also invited others from the congregation to help with the baking. “At first I
worried we wouldn’t get enough baked goods”, says Grandma Jill. “But there
were so many!” The bake sale raised $640, enough to buy 64 nets.
Miranda encourages other kids to think about raising money for a cause. “It’s
possible no matter how busy you are”, she says. “It feels good to do something to
make a difference.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. How do we respond to the plight of those who are weary and heavily burdened? Do we
respond to them with the heart of the Shepherd?
2. Do we believe that God will give us the grace to do what is pleasing to him? Do we
trust that Jesus Christ is with us to help us carry out the will of God?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
we respond to your invitation,
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile”.
You shepherd us and our cup overflows with joy.
Give us your Shepherd’s heart that together with you,
we may alleviate the pain of the weary and heavily burdened.
We thank you, our Master-Shepherd
and follow you all the days of our life.
You are our loving Lord, now and forever.
Amen.
***
All-powerful Father,
you are the God of peace.
we offer you a sacrifice of praise in Jesus Christ
and the sacrifice of good works carried out in his name.
Grant us the grace we need to do your will.
Let your compassionate will be done upon us
through Jesus, your Son.
To him be glory and praise,
forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a
shepherd.” (Mk 6:34) // “May God carry out in you what is pleasing to him through
Jesus Christ.” (Heb 13:21)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
With the compassionate heart of the Shepherd, welcome those who are “like
sheep without a shepherd” and share with them the bread of God’s Word. // When the
duties and challenges of daily life become difficult to handle or carry out, ask God for the
grace to do everything according to his will and with Jesus.
*** Text of Week 4 in Ordinary Time ends here. ***
A Lectio Divina Approach to the Weekday Liturgy: Cycle I
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (n. 41)
ORDINARY SEASON: WEEK 5
MONDAY: FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is God’s Healing and Creative Word”
BIBLE READINGS
Gn 1:1-19 // Mk 6:53-56
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 6:53-56): “As many touched it were healed.”
(Gospel Reflection by Fr. Steve Coffey, OSB, San Luis Obispo, CA-USA)
Today’s Gospel story (Mk 6:53-56) follows upon the weekday lectionary’s
omission of St. Mark’s narratives of Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand and walking on
the water. The story of the feeding is most probably omitted because on Saturday we will
hear the similar story of the feeding of the four thousand. However, there is a big
difference in these two feeding stories. The feeding of the five thousand takes place on
the Western shore of the Sea of Galilee, that is, in Jewish territory, while the second
feeding takes place on the opposite side in Gentile territory. This section of Mark’s
Gospel beginning with the Jewish feeding and culminating in the Gentile feeding forms a
typical Markan “sandwich,” and is often referred to as the “Bread Section.” So this week
we feed on the bread of God’s Word while contemplating the words and actions of Jesus,
the Bread of Life.
Today’s story of the healings at Gennesaret, on the northwestern shore of the Sea
of Galilee, is intimately connected to the story of the feeding of the five thousand. The
bounty first exhibited in the feeding is now exhibited in the lavish gift of healing that
takes place not only at Gennesaret, but in whatever “villages or towns or countryside he
entered.” Gennesaret, and its environs, is totally unlike Nazareth, where lack of faith
caused major interference in the healing process. Nazareth’s stance is even unlike the
faith of the hemorrhaging woman who reaches for the tassel of Jesus’ cloak. Here in
Gennesaret “as many as touched it were healed.” In the story of the healings at
Gennesaret, the Lord of the new covenant enters into the place of his activity, the activity
of unbounded mercy which affords rest to the multitude.
B. First Reading (Gn 1:1-19): “God spoke and it was done.”
The Old Testament Reading (Gn 1:1-19) presents the visible world as originating
from the all-powerful creative word of God. The Genesis account enthralls us with the
miracle of creation totally under God’s guiding hand. It affirms the divine sovereignty
and the goodness of the created world. God’s personal will, expressed in his word,
produces light which overcomes the dark chaos and the watery abyss. Light is an element
of the created world. God names the light “day” and the darkness “night” because God
has authority over them. God creates the sky which separates the waters above the
heavens from the waters below in a continuing creative act that prepares a hospitable and
habitable place for human beings, the masterpiece of creation. God puts limits on the
expanse of water so that earth can appear and produce vegetation that is capable of
growth. The fruitfulness of the earth comes from God and is an expression of his creative
power. God likewise creates the sun, the moon and the stars to separate day from night, to
give light to the earth and to indicate when the day, the month and the year begin.
The sense of sublime wisdom and harmony that permeates creation is awesome.
Indeed, we can perceive the power of God in creation and his presence in the daily events
of life. The following story, circulated on the Internet, suggests this.
You Can See God: I sat at my desk staring at the letter for a long time. It was
written by a friend of mine who was going through some difficult times. It listed
problem after problem and seemed full of despair. It ended with these words: "I
would like to have faith, but I have always had a problem in believing in what I
can’t see. You can’t see God, you know!”
After awhile I still hadn't thought of how to answer my friend's letter and help
him. Hoping a walk would help, I put a leash on one of my dogs and headed out
the back door. The warm, golden sunshine of spring warmed my face as soon as I
stepped off the porch. A fresh breeze carried the scent of a thousand budding
trees on it. A butterfly danced above a patch of dandelions floating from flower to
flower. Robins were flying back and forth to the maple tree in my backyard
carrying fresh grass and twigs to reline their nests. Across the road my new
neighbor's children were playing in her backyard with a big ball. It was such a
delight seeing her toddler chasing after it with such joy. I felt a nuzzle against my
leg and looked down to see my dog cuddling in for a hug. I smiled and scratched
his head while the laughter of the children and the sound of crickets in the woods
blended together to create a unique and beautiful music. I started to walk back
inside and saw my own son grinning at me from the window. Most of the world
could only see his mental handicaps, but when I looked at him then his eyes
sparkled with a divine light. I waved to him and laughed when his older sister
snuck up behind him and wrapped him in a loving hug.
When I got back inside, I knew what to write. I went to my friend's letter and
wrote of everything I had just seen, smelled, heard, and felt in those brief
moments outside. Then I finished by writing this: “I think we all can see God. We
just need to know where to look.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we have faith in the healing power of Jesus? Do we reach out to him to touch him
and be healed?
2. Are we sensitive to the manifestation of God’s power and wisdom in creation and to
his abiding presence in our life?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
we thank you for your unbounded mercy
and the healing power you bring to us.
We lay before you the sickness of our heart,
the misery of our people
and the fragmentation of today’s society.
We beg you to allow us to touch you
– even just the tassel of your cloak –
knowing that we will be healed.
You bring us wholeness, joy and comfort.
Let us enter into the place of rest and quiet
where your loving comfort reigns forever and ever.
Amen.
***
O God,
you are our almighty Father
and maker of all things visible and invisible.
How marvelous is your creation!
How powerful the Word you spoke
to bring it about!
Teach us to perceive your presence in creation
and to respond to your compassionate presence
in our daily life.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“As many as touched it were healed.” (Mk 6:56) // “God created the heavens and
the earth.” (Gn 1:1)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray that the sick may find strength and healing in the Lord. Like the caring
people of Gennesaret, and by your ministry on their behalf, bring the sick closer to Jesus,
the ultimate healing. // Contribute to the integration of creation by following the
ecological principles: reduce, reuse and recycle.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
TUESDAY: FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Means to Communion … All Things
Were Created Through Him”
BIBLE READINGS
Gn 1:20-2:4a // Mk 7:1-13
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 7:1-13): “You disregard God’s commandment but cling to
human tradition.”
(Gospel Reflection by Fr. Steve Coffey, OSB, San Luis Obispo, CA-USA)
The connection between today’s Gospel story (Mk 7:1-13) and yesterday’s (Mk
6:53-56) may not be immediately apparent until we view it in the context of Mark’s
whole “Bread” section on which we are feasting this week. The geographic movement
from one shore to another represents more than a sail across the lake. It represents
Gentile inclusion in the Eucharistic feast. Today’s Gospel addresses what, in Jewish
tradition, represents an obstacle to this communion at the table.
Thus today we see Jesus embarking on a mission that has this unity in Eucharistic
communion in mind. The Pharisees and scribes in this story represent those who would
be opposed to eating with Gentiles based on what Jesus clearly categorizes as “human
tradition.” The scribes and the Pharisees here “nullify the word of God in favor of
tradition.” They do this specifically here in their neglect of parents by declaring
something has been set aside for God. What has ultimately been set aside, however, is
the very word of God which calls Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians into
communion at the table of the Lord. So the prophet Isaiah’s maxim is invoked against
them: “In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.”
B. First Reading (Gn 1:20-2:4a): “Let us make man in our own image, after our
likeness.”
In today’s Old Testament reading (Gn 1:20-2:4a) we continue to contemplate the
divine work of creation. The order and harmony in the created universe reveal the
wisdom of God and are in accord with his majestic will. God’s creative plan unfolds
awesomely and with a special focus toward the creation of humanity (adam). Created in
the image and likeness of God, the human being is the high point of creation. As God is
ruler of the entire creation, so the human being, as God’s representative, is given care and
dominion over the earth. This is indeed a very exalted view of humanity. Moreover, God
created human beings as male and female. The distinction of the sexes is of divine origin
and therefore good. The full meaning of mankind (adam) is realized only when there is a
man and a woman. As male and female, they are blessed by God with procreative power
and are enjoined to multiply and be fruitful.
When the visible world is completed and crowned with the human masterpiece,
God beholds it and appraises it as very good. On the seventh day (sabbath), with number
“7” signifying wholeness and completion, God is described by the author of the Book of
Genesis as taking a “rest”. With this anthropomorphism, the author asserts that nothing is
lacking in divine creation. It is complete and adequate for the creatures in it, especially
humankind. God, who sustains the whole universe, blesses and consecrates the Sabbath, a
sacred time to deepen personally and as a community our special relationship with our
Creator God.
Humanity consists of the male and the female, and in their sexuality they
marvelously participate in the creative power of God. The birth of a child is a miracle of
creation and an experience of the power and love of God. The beautiful story that follows
gives an insight into this (cf. Tony Collins, “The Face of God” in Chicken Soup for the
Soul: Stories of Faith, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, Cos Cob: CSS, 2008, p.
200-201).
In my years, I have seen the vastness of the Grand Canyon, the splendor of the
Alps, the purple mountains’ majesty of the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and the
seeming endlessness of the Pacific Ocean. Yet, nothing I have seen, or ever expect
to see, compares with what I once witnessed in a dark-paneled, antiseptic birthing
room. Then and there, the power and the love of God enveloped me.
I was on the last night of my clinical rotation as a nursing student on the labor
and delivery floor, and I had yet to see a birth. When my children were born,
fathers were relegated to the labor waiting room. Now, at 7:00 P.M. on my last
student shift, my nursing instructor suggested I check into labor room four to see
if I could watch the birth. With some trepidation, I knocked on the door, stuck in
my head, and asked the young couple if I could possibly observe the birth of their
baby. They gave me permission. I thanked them and found myself a spot in the
room that kept me out of the way but still give me a good view of the birth. Then I
stood with my hands behind my back, studiously looking around the room at the
preparations being made by the nurses.
The young mother, covered with blue sterile drapes, lay in the most
uncomfortable and exposed position imaginable and was sweating profusely.
Every minute or so, she would grimace, groan and push with all her might. Her
husband stood beside her, coaching her breathing and lovingly holding her hand.
One nurse dabbed her forehead with a cool washcloth, while another encouraged
her to rest when she could. The doctor worked on a low stool to ease the birth as
best he could. I stood apart, proud of my unemotional, clinical detachment.
The nurse assisting the doctor said, “Here she comes!” I looked and was amazed
at what I saw: the top of a head covered with black hair began to appear. I
instantly lost the ability to call this wondrous occurrence something as medical as
“crowning”. Then the doctor began gently but firmly to turn the shoulders of the
new life and pull. Transfixed to my spot, I am sure my mouth was agape. The
doctor continued to turn and pull; the mother pushed; the husband encouraged;
and an event that took nine long months of preparation was over in just a few
seconds. At the sight of the infant’s beautiful face, I felt such wonder that I truly
believe angels sing at such times.
My professionalism and clinical detachment had deserted me, replaced with a
warmth that surrounded me. At a loss for words – congratulations seemed such
an empty and trite thing to say to these two blessed people at that moment – I
nonetheless offered my congratulations anyway. After leaving the room I walked
around the corner into a deserted hallway and allowed my tears to flow.
That night some of my fellow students, all of whom were women and many of them
mothers, asked me about the birth. Each time, I welled up again with tears and
choked out that it was the most beautiful experience I ever had. They would hug
me or pat my shoulder, and with a gleam in their eyes say, “I know”. Days passed
before I could speak of the birth in any medical light. Even now, as I review that
night, I continue to be in awe.
I have seen many sights in my life. Before my life is over, I will see many more.
But none can ever compare to the night I saw the love, hope and beauty of God in
the face of a newborn child.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Are we guilty of disregarding God’s commandments but clinging to human tradition?
2. Do we thank God for the marvels of creation? Do we appreciate the sacredness and
the power of human sexuality to promote the creative plan of God?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
O Jesus, Divine Master,
you are the way, the truth and the life.
Forgive us for the times we have disregarded God’s commands
in order to cling to mere human traditions.
You are the teacher of communion and true tradition.
You revealed to us the Father’s saving plan
that includes all peoples and cultures,
all nations and creation.
Help us to overcome our prejudices and misconceptions
that we may share fully in the infinite expanse
of your Father’s all-inclusive love.
We love you, adore you and serve you,
now and forever. Amen.
***
Loving Father,
we thank you for the marvels of creation.
We bless you for creating the human being
in your image and likeness
and as male and female.
Teach us to behold
the beauty and sacredness of human sexuality
and the creative power you share with us
to bring forth “new life”.
Let us be careful and responsible stewards
of your creation.
Help us to value the “Sabbath”
as a means to deepen our relationship with you.
We love and adore you, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” (Mk 7:8) // “God
created man in his image: in the divine image he created him; male and female he
created them.” (Gn 1:27)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray that we may overcome our unhealthy parochialism and vicious legalism. By
your acts of justice and charity, promote unity in diversity and the Church’s true tradition
of universal love. // In any way you can, promote the right and the dignity of the human
person to life, especially the defenseless and the unborn.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
WEDNESDAY: FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Teaches with Wisdom … He Teaches
Obedience to God’s Decrees”
BIBLE READINGS
Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17 // Mk 7:14-23
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 7:14-23): “What comes out of the man that is what defiles
him.”
(Gospel Reflection by Fr. Steve Coffey, OSB, San Luis Obispo, CA-USA)
Today’s Gospel passage (Mk 7:14-23) concludes yesterday’s discussion between
Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees concerning “the tradition of the elders” and concludes
with his characteristically Markan private conversation with his disciples. Whereas Jesus
half expects the scribes and Pharisees not to “get it,” he hopes his disciples will. But
such is not the case as he exasperatingly remarks: “Are even you likewise without
understanding?” And the attentive reader at once realizes that s/he is being personally
addressed. We are all responsible for promoting communion and “not getting it” is no
excuse, especially for a disciple of any century.
And what is it that scribe, Pharisee, and even disciple fail to comprehend? It’s not
about the ritual purity of eating and digestion. As a matter of fact, it’s not about ritual
purity at all. The major obstacle to communion is nothing external, but it’s a matter of
the heart. “From their hearts come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery,
greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils
come from within and they defile.” These are obstacles to Eucharistic communion that
cut both ways. It’s not simply Jewish purity vs. Gentile impurity; it’s about the interior
impurity of both that makes such communion impossible.
B. First Reading (Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17): “The Lord God planted a garden in Eden and
placed there the man whom he had formed.”
Today’s First Reading (Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17) depicts the creation of humanity (adam
in Hebrew) and humanity’s relationship with the earth/ground (adamah in Hebrew). The
earth is barren for there is no water and no man to till it. The “chaos” of barrenness is
overcome by God’s creative act. The Lord God, who made the universe, takes some soil
from the ground and forms man out of it – breathing life-giving breath into his nostrils to
make him live. Indeed, God is the source of life. The Lord God then creates the wellwatered garden in Eden (Hebrew word for “pleasure”) in which mankind will dwell.
The Garden of Eden is a symbol of God’s blessings. The garden has many trees,
but two are mentioned: the “tree of life” and the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The “tree of life” is a symbol of immortality. As long as man has access to the “tree of
life” his life is not threatened. Once expelled from the Garden of Eden, he can no longer
access the tree, and humanity is subjected to death. God’s command not to eat from the
“tree of the knowledge of the good and evil” underlines that man’s happiness is
consequent upon his remaining subject to God. Obedience to divine decrees means LIFE
and disobedience to God means ALIENATION from the source of life. Indeed, man’s
enjoyment of the Garden is a gift of God and that delight depends on his intimate
relationship with God.
The following is a modern day example of how to live obediently according to
God’s life-giving decrees (cf. Ashley Wiersma in Daily Guideposts 2014, p. 303).
My husband and I had been counting the days until the debut of a new TV drama
that promised great things. The producer was world renowned. The lead female
was immensely likable. The premise intrigued us both. And so, with sky-high
expectations, we set our DVR to record the program and were childishly giddy the
night we actually got to pile into bed, a giant bowl of popcorn between us, and hit
Play.
The first half hour had us hooked. But then came episode two. Within fifteen
minutes, I knew my husband and I weren’t longing for this particular path. As the
characters’ stories unfolded, so did vast amounts of selfishness, scheming and
smut. “No”, I screamed at the TV, “The teasers looked so good!”
My husband laughed as he flipped channels to find something else, and a verse
I’d known since I was a kid eased its way through: “Whatever is true, noble,
right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy, think about such things.”
Avoiding a not-so-pure TV show is admittedly a very small step in what is the vast
universe of God-honoring activity in this life. But it was a small step toward the
God I adore.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we endeavor to achieve integrity and purity of heart? Do we yearn for true holiness
that leads to communion with our brothers and sisters?
2. Do we believe that obedience to divine decrees means “life” and do we endeavor to be
obedient to God’s ways?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
teach us integrity of heart and interior purity.
Cleanse us from evil thoughts and wicked desires.
The awful things that ferment within us
make us “unclean” and incite us to do evil.
Loving Lord,
teach us true wisdom that we may reject the wickedness
that draws us away from you and to disobey our gracious God.
We trust in your forgiveness and bounteous mercy.
You are our kind Savior, now and forever.
Amen.
***
Loving Father,
you have wonderfully made us.
You have blessed us with abundant blessings.
Your life-giving decrees
manifest your care and compassion for us.
Let us be nourished by the “tree of life”
and delight in the beauty of the Garden of Eden.
Do not let us be enticed by the “tree of good and evil”.
Teach us the way of obedience
and humble submission to your life-giving will.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“What comes out of the man that is what defiles him.” (Mk 7:20) // “The Lord
God formed man out of the clay of the ground …” (Gn 2:7)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Make the examination of the heart a regular practice to enable you to detest what
is contrary to the will of God and pursue his saving will.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
THURSDAY: FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Bread of Life for All … He
Teaches the Sanctity of Marriage”
BIBLE READINGS
Gn 2:18-25 // Mk 7:24-30
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 7:24-30): “The dogs under the table eat the children’s
scraps.”
(Gospel Reflection by Fr. Steve Coffey, OSB, San Luis Obispo, CA-USA)
In today’s Gospel story (Mk 7:24-30), Jesus, Wisdom incarnate, recognizes the
wisdom of a Gentile woman. This latter woman is not the Queen of Tyre, but a simple
mother with a very sick daughter who recognizes something different about this Jewish
man who has crossed boundaries and set foot in her Syrophoenician city on the
Mediterranean coast. So different that she falls at his feet in an act of worship. She
clearly understands worship in a way the scribes and Pharisees of yesterday could not.
His more-than-meets-the-eye rebuff to her request is not couched in delicate
language. He refers to the Jewish community as children who have first access to the
food. And that food is not to be thrown to Gentile pups. But what a comeback! She
addresses him with the full-force of the Jewish divine title LORD. And then she drops
the bomb: “Even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” How wise a
saying! How unlike the scribes and Pharisees, who set up roadblocks to sharing the bread
of life at one table. She found her daughter “lying in bed and the demon gone.” Really
both demons were gone: the demon of sickness and the demon of division and
separation. The same bread feeds both children and pups. And it is Jesus himself.
Jesus’ crossing of boundaries led him to a mission of inclusion that brought those
who were excluded to the table. The desire of the woman resulted not only in the answer
to her own prayer but contributed to the clearer revelation of the mystery of union in
Christ.
B. First Reading (Gn 2:18-25): “The Lord God brought her to Adam ans the two of
them became one flesh.”
In September 2006 Tomas and Lourdes Banaga celebrated their 50th wedding
anniversary in our convent. This remarkable couple regularly comes to our Fresno chapel
for the weekday Mass. Tomas, with his splendid voice, has greatly helped us in our music
ministry. Lourdes, a staunch “prayer warrior” and a devoted adorer of the Blessed
Sacrament, has collaborated wonderfully in our Eucharistic apostolate. Tomas became
seriously ill in December 2005 and fell into coma. Lourdes ardently prayed for his
healing through the intercession of Blesses James Alberione. Lourdes made a vow that if
Tomas recovered, they would enter the Holy Family Institute, founded by Blessed
Alberione. On the third day of his coma, Tomas woke up and was restored to health.
Tomas and Lourdes made good their promise. On the golden anniversary of their
marriage, they were admitted to the Novitiate in the Holy Family Institute, which seeks to
promote the holiness of married life.
The Old Testament reading (Tobit 8:4b-8) used at the Eucharistic Celebration of
the renewal of their marriage vows was intensely appropriate. Tomas and Lourdes felt
that the following prayer made by Tobit and Sarah on their wedding night was their very
own:
Blessed are you, O God of our fathers; praised be your name forever and ever.
Let the heavens and all your creation praise you forever. You made Adam and
you gave him his wife Eve to be his help and support; and from these two the
human race descended. You said, “it is not good for the man to be alone; let us
make him a partner like himself.” Now, Lord, you know that I take this wife of
mine not because of lust, but for a noble purpose. Call down your mercy on me
and on her, and allow us to live together to a happy old age.
Today’s First Reading (Gen 2:18-24) contains the Yahwist account of the creation
of man and woman in the Book of Genesis and offers a foundation for the theology of
marriage as a sacrament of unity. This narrative underlines the vocation to human
intimacy and communion of man and woman and reinforces the equality and dignity of
both of them as perfectly matched partners. The biblical scholar Lawrence Boadt
comments: “Being alone is not good for humans. God creates animals and allows man to
name them and thereby enter into a living relationship with them, which includes
stewardship over them. But none is fit for him. He needs a true partner, and to get one
God initiates yet another act of creation. By putting the man into a deep sleep God
assures the same autonomy to woman as to man – she depends directly on God for her
being. The actual story may derive from an old folk tale that plays on the rib and the
nearness to the heart. The heart is the source of both intellect and will in ancient thought
and so God makes Eve as fully human as Adam. The description also plays on the
attraction of love, which draws men and women to each other from the heart. The fitting
identity of the two human creatures is made complete by the little poem in v. 23 – they
are the same because he is ’ish and she is ’ishah, a pun in Hebrew that is like saying man
and wo-man in English.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we make an effort to share the healing power of Jesus, the bread of life for all?
2. How does the Yahwist account of the creation of man and woman in the Book of
Genesis help us appreciate the dignity and equality of the man-woman relationship and
the nobility of human sexuality? What are some of our concrete experiences of the beauty
and holiness of Christian marriage?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Jesus Lord,
you are the bread of life
to be shared with all peoples of the earth.
You are the divine power that drives away the demon of sickness
and the demon of division and separation.
Help us to overcome the ugly forces of alienation.
Let us be united with you as you cross boundaries of division
in your mission to include all peoples at the table of life.
Your power is awesome
and we love and adore you, now and forever.
Amen.
***
(Adapted from the Nuptial Blessing)
Father,
by your power you have made everything out of nothing.
In the beginning you created the universe
and made man in your own likeness.
You gave man the constant help of woman
so that man and woman should no longer be two, but one flesh,
and you teach us that what you have united may never be divided. (…)
Father,
keep them always true to your commandments.
Keep them faithful in marriage
and let them be examples of Christian life. (…)
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“The dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” (Mk 7:28) // “That is why a
man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one
flesh.” (Gen 2:24)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for the unity of Christians and all the peoples of the earth. Let your acts of
justice and peace surmount artificial barriers and be totally inclusive.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
FRIDAY: FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Heals the Deaf-Mute … He Teaches the
Way of Obedience”
BIBLE READINGS
Gn 3:1-8 // Mk 7:31-37
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 7:31-37): “He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
(Gospel Reflection by Fr. Steve Coffey, OSB, San Luis Obispo, CA-USA)
In this week’s Gospel stories, Jesus, the boundary crosser, is on the road.
Yesterday he was in Gentile Tyre on the Mediterranean. Today he is on the Eastern
Gentile shore of the Sea of Galilee in the Decapolis, the heart of Gentile territory. He
encounters a Gentile deaf-mute who begs him “to lay his hand on him,” the same hand
that was laid on so many of the sick in Jewish Gennesaret. Pope Benedict XVI, in a
homily on Christian Unity, took advantage of the fuller sense of this passage. He said:
“Is not being deaf and mute, that is, being unable either to listen or speak, a sign of a lack
of communion and a symptom of division?”
Just as Jesus removed obstacles to unity on the Jewish side of the lake, today’s
Gospel (Mk 7:31-37) has him removing more obstacles on the Gentile side. He “put his
finger into the man’s ears, and, spitting, touched his tongue.” As God created the first
human so tactilely in the second chapter of Genesis, so Jesus is recreating this Gentile,
endowing him once again with the organs of speech and hearing, the organs of
communion that overcome division and disunity. The action culminates in typical
Markan fashion: “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute
speak.” And not just in Gentile Galilee.
B. First Reading (Gn 3:1-8): “You will be like gods, knowing what is good and what is
evil.”
Today’s Old Testament reading (Gn 3:1-8) depicts the fall of humanity. The
Tempter is the “serpent”, the most cunning creature. In Hebrew, “cunning” (arum) forms
a word play with “naked” (arummim). The wordplay underlines that the primeval man
and woman become aware of their “nakedness” because of the cunning of the serpent.
The Genesis account of the Fall tells us that the presence of evil in the world is due to
humanity’s decision to oppose God’s command. By following the wiles of the Tempter,
humanity indeed does “become like God” in the sense that it now makes decisions as to
what is best for itself. But its decisions lack the breadth and width of God’s wisdom. The
core of “sin” is the attempt to replace God as the determiner of what is best for humanity.
By their rebellion, humanity oversteps the limits imposed by God and appropriates “the
knowledge of good and evil”. But created man’s decisions are bereft of the wisdom and
vision of the Creator. The immediate consequence of “sin” is the consciousness of
“nakedness” – the sad and humiliating realization of one’s broken relationship with God.
Sin thus leads to alienation!
Just like the primeval man and woman, modern humanity is tempted to eat the
fruit of the “tree of knowledge of good and evil”. The following article is insightful (cf.
“What’s after Brittany?” by Editorial in Our Sunday Visitor, November 16, 2014, p. 23).
Britanny Maynard, the beautiful 29-year-old woman diagnosed with terminal
brain cancer, took her own life Nov. 1 to avoid the suffering that likely would
come with the debilitating progression of her disease. She leaves behind parents,
a husband of two years and dreams of a life that didn’t go as planned. Her story
indeed is tragic, and most of us will never be able to fully comprehend the
emotional and physical pain that she endured.
We do know, however, that Maynard spent the last month of her life as an
advocate for the “death with dignity” movement and as a spokeswoman for the
right-to-die organization Compassion and Choices. Her advocacy launched a
national debate on physician-assisted suicide, the likes of which hadn’t been seen
since Jack Kevorkian in the 1990s. She became the new face of personal freedom
– hailed for making a difficult decision that worked for her.
The truth, though, is that there is a better way: the way of the Church and the way
of the cross. For a different perspective, we need look no further than Philip
Johnson, a seminarian with the Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, who also is
terminally ill. Johnson, who candidly admits his own struggles, wrote to
Maynard: “Suffering is not worthless, and our lives are not our own to take. As
humans we are relational – we relate to one another and the action of one person
affects others. Sadly, the concept of redemptive suffering – that human suffering
united to the suffering of Jesus on the Cross for our salvation can benefit others –
has often been ignored or lost in modern times. (…)
Euthanasia is well on its way to becoming another feather in the cap of the
secular humanist who believes human reason, not God, is the basis of morality
and decision-making.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Are we spiritually deaf by refusing to listen to the Word of God? Are we spiritually
mute by refraining from proclaiming the Word of God?
2. Are there instances when we yearn to eat of the fruit of the “tree of knowledge of good
and evil” and appropriate the role of God as determiner of morality?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
O loving God,
open the ears of our hearts to listen to the Word of God.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will proclaim your praise.
***
Loving God,
you have created us for yourself
and have destined us to be united with you in Paradise.
But our hearts are rebellious.
We have made decisions that are death-dealing
and contrary to your compassionate plan.
Forgive our disobedience.
Lead us by your grace to the beauty of the heavenly Eden.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” (Mk 7:31-37) // “You will be like
gods who know what is good and what is evil.” (Gn 3:5)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray that people may understand the importance and necessity of Lectio Divina.
Introduce your friends and loved ones to this beautiful life-giving practice of the Church.
// Be aware of the modern man’s claim to “personal freedom” that negates the wisdom of
God and his commands. Pray that God’s reign may prevail.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
SATURDAY: FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Fed Them and They Were Satisfied …
He Bore the Burden of Humanity’s Sin”
BIBLE READINGS
Gn 3:9-24 // Mk 8:1-10
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 8:1-10): “They ate and were satisfied.”
(Gospel Reflection by Fr. Steve Coffey, OSB, San Luis Obispo, CA-USA)
There in the very same Gentile district where Jesus healed the deaf-mute, in
today’s Gospel (Mk 8:1-10) we have a quasi-replay of the feeding story on the Jewish
side of the Sea of Galilee. There is a striking similarity of details: “a great crowd
without anything to eat”; the compassionate heart of Jesus “moved with pity”; the lack of
compassion and even understanding on the part of the disciples who witnessed and
participated in the previous feeding. Of capital importance is the repetition of the
fourfold Eucharistic action: “Taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and
gave them to his disciples to distribute.”
However, there are subtle differences in the two stories. In the first they picked
up “twelve wicker baskets full of fragments,” while in the second “they picked up the
fragments left over – seven baskets.” Why twelve baskets in the first story? It is
precisely to evoke the Jewish image of the twelve tribes of Israel. And similarly the
seven baskets on the Gentile side evoke the universal number of the Gentile nations. And
notice Gentiles did not insist on wicker baskets as did the Jewish community. However,
despite these differences in both stories, “they ate and were satisfied.”
How favored we are in being recipients of the Eucharistic gift, the real gift that
keeps on giving. In a sense, all of this week’s reflections were Eucharistic. Eucharist is
the gathering of the Body of Christ in rich diversity. At Eucharist with ears wide open,
we listen and feast at the table of the Word. In the Liturgy of the Eucharist we take,
bless, break and distribute bread that has been transformed by the Spirit into the Body of
Christ. And like the crowd in today’s Gospel, we are dismissed to go and announce the
reconciling Gospel of the Lord.
B. First Reading (Gn 3:9-24): “God banished him from the garden of Eden to till the
ground.”
Today’s Old Testament reading (Gn 3:9-24) deals with the negative consequence
of humanity’s disobedience. The personal intimacy that Adam and Eve enjoy with God
Creator has been disrupted. They cannot face God because of shame. When God
confronts them, they excuse themselves and the blame goes around. The punishments that
follow are expressed in poetic form: serpent crawling on the ground … pain in childbirth
… burdensome tilling of the land … expulsion from the Garden of Eden … loss of access
to the “tree of life”. The punishment is for the snake as well as for the woman and the
man. It is complete and inclusive. Sin has introduced death, and humanity must live with
both the power of sin over them and the specter of death. The Genesis story does not end
on a negative note. Adam named his wife “Eve” because she will become the mother of
all the living. In spite of sin and its dire effects, life will go on. The Lord God makes
garments from animal skins for Adam and Eve and he clothes them. God’s care for
humanity does not cease because of sin. The love of God is unfailing in spite of
mankind’s sin and it is through God’s initiative that the personal relationship disrupted by
sin is to be restored.
The following article gives an idea of the death-dealing effects brought by human
sin of appropriating the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (cf. “Dutch Experts
Were Terribly Wrong about Patient-Killing” in Alive! October 2014, p. 16).
A Dutch ethics professor who once supported euthanasia had had a dramatic
change of heart and now warns that if patient-killing by doctors is legalized in
any country it cannot be controlled. What led him to change his view on the issue,
however, was not moral principle or respect for the sacredness of life, but legal,
medical and social developments in Holland. “I used to be a supporter of
legalization. But now with 12 years experience, I take a different view”, said
Professor Theo Boer in an interview. (…)
In 2001 the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize both
euthanasia (patient-killing) and doctor-assisted suicide. (…) Beginning in 2008,
the number of these deaths began to increase by 15% annually, year after year,
and by 2012 it stood at 4,188 for the year. He expects it to reach close to 6,000
for 2014.
“Euthanasia is on the way to becoming a ‘default’ mode of dying for cancer
patients”, he said. But other developments were also disturbing. The Dutch Right
to Die Society founded a network of traveling killer doctors who have already put
down hundreds of people. And the Society is still not happy. “They will not rest
until a lethal pill is made available to anyone over 70 years who wishes to die”,
said Boer.
Again, there has been a shift in the kind of person who is being terminated. Few
people with psychiatric illnesses or dementia appeared in the early reports. But
these numbers are now rising sharply. Increasingly death is being seen as a cure
for loneliness or sadness. “Cases have been reported in which a large part of the
‘suffering’ of those given euthanasia or assisted suicide consisted in being aged,
lonely or bereaved”, said the professor. (…) “Once the genie is out of the bottle,
it is not likely to ever go back in again.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Are we truly grateful for the gift of the Eucharist? Do we share it with a hungry world
that yearns for the bread of the Word … the life-giving bread?
2. What does it mean to sin against God and to be alienated from him? Do we believe that
God’s love for us continues in spite of our disobedience and sin?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you are the “Eucharist” – the bread of the Word
… the life-giving bread … the real gift that keeps on giving.
We thank you for the multiplication of the loaves
and for being bread broken and shared for the life of the world.
You are the Eucharistic gift that builds the Church,
so radiant in beauty and rich in diversity.
Help us to celebrate your paschal sacrifice
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
At the Eucharistic feasting,
we partake of the bread of compassion
and the wine of messianic joy,
which make us fully satisfied and deeply grateful.
Lead us into the eternal banquet of your kingdom
where you live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
Loving God, our Creator,
humanity has turned away from you
and appropriated the forbidden fruits
of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”.
Please forgive us for our presumption
and for disobeying your life-giving commands.
Clothe us with your mercy and kindness.
We promise to obey you
and honor the glory of your name.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“They ate and were satisfied.” (Mk 8:8) // “For the man and his wife the Lord
God made leather-garments, with which he clothed them.” (Gn 3:21)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for the peoples of the world that their various hungers may be satisfied. By
your acts of compassion to the hungry poor, let the miracle of the multiplication of the
loaves come alive again. // Be aware of the Catholic social teaching in the public square
and do what is possible to share it with the people around you.
*** Text of Week 5 in Ordinary Time ends here. ***
A Lectio Divina Approach to the Weekday Liturgy: Cycle I
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (n. 42)
ORDINARY SEASON: WEEK 6
MONDAY: SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Refused to Give Them a Sign … He Was
a Victim for Our Sins”
BIBLE READINGS
Gn 4:1-15, 25 // Mk 8:11-13
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 8:11-13): “Why does this generation seek a sign?”
Today’s reading (Mk 8:11-13) is about the Pharisees who are asking Jesus “a sign
from heaven” to prove that he is the Messiah. Their demand for a spectacular public
display is ill-motivated. They want to discredit Jesus who, for them, is a fraud. Their
hearts are warped with unbelief and their demand for a “sign” manifests their willful
blindness. Indeed, according to a 16th century proverb, “There are none so blind as those
who won’t see.” The compassionate works of Jesus on behalf of the sick and suffering, of
the hungry poor and dejected, do not touch their hearts. They do not perceive them as
messianic signs. The miracles of healing and nourishment could not force them to love
Jesus, who sighs from the depths of his heart. A heavenly sign for the unbelieving – no
matter how spectacular - would be an exercise in futility. Of what use is it to have signs if
the heart is blind? Hence, Jesus leaves them, gets into the boat, and sails off to the other
shore.
The pathetic scenario of the unbelieving and unseeing Pharisees invites us to take
the opposite stance. Jesus himself is the ultimate “sign” of the Father’s redeeming love
for us. We need to open the eyes of our heart to see, love and serve Jesus. We need to be
sensitive and receptive to the beautiful miracles that God continues to work in our daily
life.
The following story gives us a glimpse into what perceiving “a sign from heaven”
entails (cf. Anthony De Mello, Taking Flight: A Book Of Story Meditations, New York:
Image Books/Doubleday, 1990, p. 52-53).
A prisoner lived in solitary confinement for years. He saw and spoke to no one
and his meals were served through an opening in the wall. One day an ant came
into his cell. The man contemplated it in fascination as it crawled around the
room. He held it in the palm of his hand the better to observe it, gave it a grain or
two, and kept it under his tin cup at night. One day it suddenly struck him that it
had taken him ten long years of solitary confinement to open his eyes to the
loveliness of an ant.
B. First Reading (Gn 4:1-15, 25): “Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.”
In the Old Testament reading (Gn 4:1-15, 25), the story of Cain and Abel depicts
humanity’s further alienation from God. Although full of anachronisms, the story
powerfully communicates the religious message about the destructive effects of sin and
the reality of a merciful caring God. Cain’s horrible crime confirms man’s “fallen” status.
The rebellion against God continues in the assault of an innocent brother. The story of the
murder of Abel illustrates the continuing degradation of sinful humanity. Cain is worse
than the first sinners who simply shift the blame. When God interrogates him about
Abel’s whereabouts, Cain lies and makes an insolent, sarcastic reply, “Am I my brother’s
keeper?” Cain’s evil deed cannot be ignored. The blood of his murdered brother cries out
for justice. Cain is punished for his crime. Alienated from God and cursed to be a
homeless wanderer, he is vulnerable to violent attacks. But the story underlines that God
continues to be merciful to Cain, who dreads being subjected to the very same crime he
himself committed. The Lord puts a mark on Cain to warn anyone who meets him not to
kill him. Today’s Genesis reading ends on a hopeful note. Adam and his wife have
another son to replace Abel. She calls him Seth. From Seth will spring forth a line that
will lead to Abraham, the man of faith.
Fratricide and violence against another continues to be perpetrated by sinful
humanity. The following is a modern day example (cf. Mike McGarvin, Papa Mike,
Fresno: Poverello House, 2003, p. 81).
The streets were cruel in Fresno. In Chinatown, as in Tenderloin, life was cheap,
and often things didn’t make sense. One African-American man, Mr. Brown, was
one of the kindest, gentlest people I’d ever known. He was always reading the
Bible, and when I’d ask him what was the “good word” he’d quote me some
scripture. I could be wrong, but I don’t think he was an alcoholic or addict, just
poor. For no apparent reason, one day some kids threw rocks at him, hitting him
and killing him. The senselessness of it saddened me deeply.
Another man was called “Grasshopper”. He was an old Hispanic fieldworker, an
alcoholic but a really personable guy. If I said “Hello” to him, he’d always
respond, “Hello myself!”
One day Grasshopper was waiting to get on an old bus to go to the fields. When
the bus pulled up, some younger Mexicans pushed by him and stomped on his
foot. They broke his ankle, so he couldn’t get on the bus to work, and someone
else got his spot. It was survival of the fittest.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Am I slow to read the “sign” of God’s love because of blindness of heart? How do I try
to open the eyes of my heart to the “sign”?
2. Do I reject being my “brother’s keeper”? Do I ever inflict violence on anyone? Am I
willing to take responsibility for any crime I have committed against my “brother”?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
we are filled with wonderful signs of the Father’s love:
the beautiful sunrise and the gorgeous sunset,
the blooming of spring flowers,
the diligence of a lovely ant,
the compassionate hands
of those who care for the poor and helpless …
Above all, we are filled with praise and thanksgiving for you
– the ultimate sign of God’s compassion.
You are the radical sign of the divine redeeming love.
Grant that we may truly rejoice in you,
now and forever.
Amen.
***
We beg your mercy, Lord God,
for the crime we have inflicted against our brother Abel,
the poor and defenseless
… the Abel of all times.
Forgive us for refusing to be “our brother’s keeper”.
Let your merciful love come upon us
and teach us to walk in your ways.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“Why does this generation seek a sign?” (Mk 8:12) // “Am I my brother’s
keeper?” (Gn 4:9)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Make an effort to read the various signs of God’s love that surround us every day
and be grateful for them. By your acts of kindness and compassion, strive to be a living
sign of God’s caring love for the poor and needy in today’s society. Strive to be your
brother’s keeper.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
TUESDAY: SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: Even His Disciples Did Not Understand …
He Grieves for the Hardness of Our Hearts”
BIBLE READINGS
Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5 // Mk 8:14-21
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 8:14-21): “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the
Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”
The Gospel (Mk 8:14-21) tells us that after his encounter with the unbelieving
Pharisees who demand from him a heavenly sign to prove his messianic credentials, the
unscathed Jesus gets into the boat and sails with his disciples to the other side of the lake.
In their hurry, the disciples have forgotten to bring bread except for one loaf. When Jesus
starts to talk to them about the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod, they
immediately conclude that it is because they did not have enough bread. Having just
witnessed two miracles of the loaves in which Jesus has fed thousands in the hungry
crowds, their discussion about not having enough bread is senseless and unwarranted.
Their concern for material food reveals their obtuseness and lack of insight. They have
not seen nor understood any more than the declared enemies of Jesus.
The barrage of eight questions that Jesus directs to his disciples is meant to rip
through their blinded hearts. He is patiently teaching them to fight off the hidden
corruption of self-righteousness, power and worldliness that is infecting the Pharisees and
the Herodians. Jesus is warning them about the corrosive messianic expectations of the
Pharisees and the inimical political motivations of the Herodians. Their corrupting
influence is as forceful as the yeast that leavens the bread. The Divine Master is thus
helping his disciples to overcome their hardness of heart and obduracy of mind. He is
teaching them to recognize him as the one loaf that matters. Jesus Christ is evoking their
faith, for he is the true Messiah – the one sent by God to feed them with the Bread of
Life.
The following story can give us an idea of our own obtuseness and lack of insight,
like the disciples who were in the boat with Jesus (cf. Anthony De Mello, Taking Flight:
A Book Of Story Meditations, New York: Image Books/Doubleday, 1990, p. 180). We
have unseeing eyes and unhearing ears. We are not able to recognize or understand the
daily “miracle of life”.
The great Gensha once invited a court official to tea. After the customary
greetings, the official said, “I do not wish to squander this opportunity of
spending some time in the presence of so great a Master. Tell me. What does it
mean when they say that in spite of our having it in our daily life we do not see
it?”
Gensha offered the man a piece of cake. Then he served him his tea. After eating
and drinking, the official, thinking that the Master had not heard his first
sentence, repeated the question. “Yes, of course”, said the Master. “This is what
it means: that we do not see it, even though we have it in our daily life.”
B. First Reading (Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10): “I will wipe out from the earth the men whom
I have created.”
The Old Testament reading (Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10) stresses the ever growing
estrangement of man from God and underlines the cosmic dimension of sin. The Lord
sees how wicked everyone on earth is and how evil their thoughts are. Sin pervades the
hearts of all people and only Noah remains faithful. God’s heart is wounded such that the
bond of intimacy and patient forbearance shown them could no longer be sustained. The
entire order in creation has been undone by human sin so that the earth has to return to
the watery chaos from which the Creator God has called it forth. The Lord God decrees a
catastrophic flood because of man’s sin. His purpose is not total destruction, but through
Noah, to build it anew. In his preparations for the flood, Noah must also save every
species of animal. Only after carefully preparing for the preservation of Noah and his
family does God destroy the old order. The catastrophic flood is God’s judgment upon
humanity, but this judgment is counterpoised by his compassionate will to save.
Noah’s response to the divine saving will is awesome. He builds the ark and, upon
the Lord’s command, enters it that he may be saved. In a funny vein, the following story
illustrates our failure to perceive God’s saving will and enter into the “ark of salvation”
(cf. Anthony De Mello, Taking Flight: A Book Of Story Meditations, New York: Image
Books/Doubleday, 1990, p. 97).
A priest was sitting at his desk by the window composing a sermon on providence
when he heard something that sounded like an explosion. Soon he saw people
running to and fro in a panic and discovered that the dam had burst, the river was
flooding, and the people were being evacuated.
The priest saw the water begin to rise in the street below. He had difficulty
suppressing his own rising sense of panic, but he said to himself, “Here I am
preparing a sermon on providence and I am being given an occasion to practice
what I preach. I shall not flee with the rest. I shall stay right here and trust in the
providence of God to save me.”
By the time the water reached his window, a boat full of people came by. “Jump
in, Father”, they shouted. “Ah no, my children”, said Father confidently. “I trust
in the providence of God to save me.”
Father did climb to the roof, however, and when the water got up there another
boatload of people went by, urging Father to join them. Again he refused.
This time he climbed to the top of the belfry. When the water came to his knee, an
officer in a motorboat was sent to rescue him. “No thank you, officer”, said
Father, with calm smile. “I trust in God, you see. He will never let me down.”
When Father drowned and went to heaven, the first thing he did was complain to
God. “I trusted you! Why did you do nothing to save me?”
“Well”, said God. “I did send three boats, you know.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Are we so preoccupied with daily cares that we are unable to see and recognize the
ongoing miracle of life that comes from God? Do we have faith in Jesus as the one loaf
that matters – the Bread of eternal Life?
2. Do we realize the cosmic dimension of sin? What do we do to be instruments of God’s
salvation in today’s sinful situation?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
O Jesus Lord, forgive us!
At times we are obtuse and insensitive.
Our eyes are not able to see,
our ears are not able to hear,
our hearts are not able to feel,
and our minds are not able to understand
the greatness of your love for us.
But you are the Divine Master and the Bread of life.
You are the one loaf that matters
– the life-giving Bread that satisfies the hungers of our heart.
Give us the light of your wisdom
and the love of the Holy Spirit
so that we may live only for you.
Help us share the bread of the Word
with a hungry world that longs for God.
Save us from the leaven of corruption.
Let us live our lives
as “bread blessed, broken and shared” for others.
You are the font of blessing
and we adore and bless you, now and forever.
Amen.
***
O Creator God,
our sin is self destruction.
Save us from the flood waters of evil and death.
Lead us into the ark of salvation
and make of us a new creation.
You are the source of life.
We give you glory and praise, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“Do you still not understand?” (Mk 8:21) // “His heart was grieved.” (Gn 6:6)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray that Christian disciples may have better insight into the compassionate ways
and plan of God. Make it a daily exercise to recognize and thank God for the beauty and
bounty of the “miracle of life” that daily surrounds us. // Let us make the daily
examination of the heart and ask God pardon for our sins and offenses.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
WEDNESDAY: SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Makes the Blind See … He Incarnates
the Mercy of God” ***
BIBLE READINGS
Gn 8:6-13, 20-22 // Mk 8:22-26
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 8:22-26): “His sight was restored and he could see
everything distinctly.”
The healing of the blind man in Bethsaida occurs by stages. Jesus takes him by
the hand and leads him outside the village. Jesus uses spittle and lays his hands on him.
The blind recovers his sight partially. He tells Jesus that he can see people who looking
like trees and walking. At the second laying of hands, the blind man is able to see clearly.
The healed man of Bethsaida is a symbol of all the disciples of Jesus, then and now, in
need of his healing touch.
The gradual restoration of the man’s vision is similar to the gradual recognition of
Jesus’ messiah-ship by his disciples. The healing “by stages” symbolizes the progressive
healing of their spiritual blindness. The Twelve who followed Jesus have “seen” him
without really seeing him. They need to undergo a conversion process that would enable
them to overcome their blindness of heart and “see everything clearly”. Like the blind
man of Bethsaida, Jesus would lead them by the hand. They would have a glimpse of
Christ’s paschal destiny and grow progressively in faith.
The following story of the healing of a young man who became blind through an
automobile accident gives us an idea of the wonderful experience of the blind man of
Bethsaida healed by Jesus (cf. Joyce Stranger, “A Walk in the Dark” in Reader’s Digest
Condensed Books, vol. 4, New York: 1988, p. 568-569).
It was strange to lie in a hospital bed again, aware of pain, his eyes bandaged. It
brought back memories he would as soon have forgotten. They had operated on
only one eye. There would be a second operation later. (…)
The days went by. Steve did not want the bandages removed. Better to hope than
to know. He lay in a darkened room, shaking, when they finally unwrapped his
eyes. “Open them”, the doctor said. He dared not. And then he forced himself to
find out the truth. From the operated eye he glimpsed an edge of light at the
window, a glint from a glass on the bedside table, the shape of a face above him.
“I can see”, he whispered. The bandages were rewrapped. Steve lay, his heart
pounding. Suppose it was only temporary? Suppose it lasted only a few hours?
But fate was kind, and each day revealed more of the world he had lost. He had to
be careful. Bright lights hurt, and using his eyes even for ten minutes was a strain.
But in those minutes he absorbed every impression he could get: the faces of the
people about him, and such colors everywhere! The curtains in his room were
yellow and blue. There were roses in a vase by his bed. They removed the
bandages at night, and he lay like a child, staring at the shape of his hand, at the
pattern on his pajamas. (…)
And then came the day when the curtains were pulled back, and he stood near the
window looking out at a riot of colors dizzying his senses: bright flowers and
trees, women in gay dresses, yellow against green against blue. He couldn’t bear
it and had to draw the curtains again and reduce the light. Shaking, he sat in a
chair, staring at the closed curtains, unable to believe his luck.
They brought him dark glasses, and with them he braved the world. He
discovered that he had lost his sense of space; nothing seemed to be in the right
place; distance had begun to play tricks on him. Steps were steeper and shallower
than he thought; tables farther away. Perspective had vanished. He was terrified
at the speed with which people walked toward him, sure they would bump into
him.
At night, in his darkened room, he stood at the window and stared out at the trees
bending in the wind, at the cloud banks lined with light. Light. Starlight. He was
too fascinated to sleep, seeing the bright pinpoints of distant suns, the slender
moon. The miracles continued. He walked in the garden, watching birds dart
about the grass, seeing a cat slink out of the bushes, seeing it newly for the first
time, an amazing creature. Sunlight bronzed its tortoiseshell fur. He wanted to sit
and look forever.
He rediscovered shadows. He had been so used to them he rarely noticed them,
but now he watched his own shadow as it stretched in front of him or suddenly
dwarfed itself. But how could people live among such incredible sights and not
notice them?
B. First Reading (Gn 8:6-13, 20-22): “Noah saw that the surface of the ground was
drying up.”
Today’s Old Testament account (Gn 8:6-13, 20-22) underlines the mercy of God
and Noah’s experience of salvation through the flood. God “remembers” Noah and all the
animals, wild and tame, that are with him in the ark; he causes a wind to blow and the
water starts to go down (cf. Gn 8:1). Noah sends out birds to determine if the waters have
receded so that they could disembark. The image of the dove returning with a plucked-off
olive leaf in its bill is a “sign” of God’s gift of peace upon mankind. The saving initiative
is totally God’s. The appearing of the ground and the growth of vegetation indicate that
the birth of a new epoch begins – a new creation rises! The “remembering” of God is
intimately linked with his merciful love. Noah responds to the divine saving initiative by
offering a pleasing “sacrifice” to God. Reconciliation with humanity is thus brought
about in the primeval level. Though man’s inclination to sin may persist, God’s merciful
saving plan guides the course of human history. The orderly phase in creation is an
indication of God’s benevolence. The rhythm of the days and seasons emphasizes God’s
desire to renew life in creation and to reconcile with humanity.
The personal account of Sr. Mary Adelle Arboleda, PDDM, gives insight into
Noah’s experience of being saved through flood waters.
The Most Trying and Purifying Moment of My Life: It was June 21, 2008 when
typhoon Frank hit the town of Kalibo, Aklan. You cannot imagine how this
typhoon left our town devastated!
We experienced strong rain and winds on the morning of June 21, 2008. We were
monitoring on our radio the weather conditions and there was no alarming
announcement. Noontime – the rain stopped and the winds died down. Calmness
enveloped the whole place and seemingly the typhoon left. And yet I was getting a
strange feeling that it was not over.
At three o’clock in the afternoon, a neighbor told us that Aklan River had
overflowed. From our past experience, the flood never entered the town. But
before four o’clock in the afternoon, to our surprise – here came the water
rushing from our backyard and rising so fast. I immediately planned to transfer
my mom, who was blind, to a neighbor’s house that is higher than ours. My mom
was made a seat on a small table that served as a raft for her transfer. The
improvised raft was steered by my nephews and neighbor. My sister-in-law
accompanied my mom.
Our house was bungalow style and lower. Soon, inside the house, the water
reached up to my neck. Even though I wanted to salvage things, it was not
possible. The water was getting deeper. We struggled to climb to the roof. From
there we could see many things being carried away by the flood. I think everybody
in the town was caught by surprise. Seeing precious furniture being carried away
by the flood, I could not help but say to myself, “The Lord gives and the Lord
takes it away.”
For me that was a moment of grace. God allowed me to have that experience so
that my faith and trust in him would grow. As I sat there on the roof top, soaked in
the rain, hungry and feeling abandoned, I thought of my mother in another house.
Even if she was sheltered, she must be feeling hungry. I agonized all the more and
asked why this happened.
It was getting dark: no light … no food … wet and cold. I could hear a neighbor
shouting for help and also the church bell ringing. And yet all of us were helpless.
Communication black out! We prayed as we have never prayed before. That
eased a bit our pain. I used to see on TV people trapped on the roof by the flood.
And here I was experiencing the very same thing … not on TV … but a personal
reality!
At four o’clock in the morning, we slowly went down from the roof. I tried to look
for some dry clothes to change – none! Everything wet! When we saw that the
curtain was nearly dry, we took them to cover ourselves. We heard that water was
all over the town. Even our cathedral was flooded. It seems each of us had a
“share”. Our neighbor who was lucky to have a third floor gave us some dry
clothes to put on and also some food.
Our feeling was of gratitude to God for we were all alive even though we were
under the mercy of others. It was a humbling experience, But I would say
everything has turned into a blessing.
The support of the Congregation was overwhelming. Prayers, financial and
material support were not wanting. We stayed in our neighbor’s house for 20
days – until we had cleaned and disinfected our own house. I put a mark where
the water reached – it was six feet! And I also put the date. The mud inside the
house was 8 inches.
A lot of things happened then. Words were not sufficient to capture and express
them. It was a real experience of the loving care of God manifested in many ways.
Trials may come – difficulties – whatever. It no longer matters. Only God, doing
his will day by day, is all that matters. Deo Gratias!
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do I experience spiritual blindness? Do I allow Jesus to lead me, touch me and enable
me to see with the eyes of faith?
2. Do I trust in the benevolence of God that is mightier than the “floodwaters” of sin? Do
I accept God’s gift of peace and reconciliation that calls us from self-destructive ways?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
lay your healing hands upon me.
Let me see with the eyes of faith.
You are my God
and you alone I will love and serve.
Let all peoples praise you and glorify you,
now and forever.
Amen.
***
Lord God,
we thank you for saving Noah and his family
through the floodwaters of death.
Through the sacrament of baptism,
let us be saved from the powers of sin and death.
Help us to walk into the dawning light of the new creation.
We adore and praise you, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“His sight was restored.” (Mk 8:25) // “Never again will I doom the earth
because of man …” (Gn 8:21)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Make an effort to help the blind and the handicapped in your community. // See in
what ways you can promote the integrity of God’s beloved creation.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
THURSDAY: SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Suffering Messiah … He Is the
Rainbow of Reconciliation”
BIBLE READINGS
Gn 9:1-13 // Mk 8:27-33
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 8:27-33): “You are the Christ. The Son of Man must suffer
much.”
In the Gospel (Mk 8:27-33) we hear that to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that
I am?” Peter answers correctly, “You are the Messiah”. But Peter immediately reveals
that his notion of the “Messiah” is as faulty and corrosive as those of the Pharisees.
Influenced by popular expectation, he expects Jesus to be a religious-political savior
replete with worldly power. The false notion of messiah-ship needs to be rectified. The
Divine Master, who healed the blind man of Bethsaida “by stages”, manifests his
continuing effort to heal the spiritual blindness of the disciples, especially Peter. He tries
to enlighten them on the true meaning of Messiah. He gives them insight that the
“Messiah” is the Son of Man who must suffer greatly and be rejected and killed, and rise
after three days. Indeed, authentic messiah-ship and discipleship involve powerlessness
and suffering rather than worldly power and might.
One of the most beautiful stories I have ever read is “To Live Again” by Harold
Koenig, M.D. (cf. “To Live Again” in Guideposts, September 2006, p. 20-24). The
psychiatrist, Dr. Koenig, who is the coordinator of the Center for Spirituality, Theology
and Health at Duke University in North Carolina, suffers from a crippling disease that
racks him with pain. Here is an inspiring account of how he has coped with pain and
suffering.
I had been diagnosed with psoriatic inflammatory arthritis. My immune system
was attacking my tendons and joints. Any part of my body I used repetitively –
legs, knees, ankles, hands, shoulders, back – could become inflamed. The disease
could be progressive. There was no cure. Part of me was relieved to have a
diagnosis – no more mystery pain. But then I saw the fear in Charmin’s eyes. I
knew she was already mourning our walks together, our hiking vacations. I
looked at Jordan. What kind of father will I be? Will we play baseball together?
Can we even roughhouse? That night, I lay in bed, unable to sleep. My back was
throbbing. But it wasn’t just the pain keeping me awake. Why? I asked, cycling
through thoughts of patients, research, all that I felt God had called me to do. Is
all this work for nothing? Is it all going to get swallowed up in some disease?
What am I supposed to do?
The bedroom was dark, the pain relentless. Finally, I got up and limped to the
sofa in the living room. I lay on it and found the soft cushions eased the ache.
Thank you, God, I prayed. And then it hit me. It was such a simple movement,
from bed to sofa. God didn’t snap his fingers and make the pain go away. He
didn’t promise to cure me. But he did show me how to adapt, how to live instead
of giving up. Maybe that’s what I’m supposed to do, learn to follow God with the
pain – and then help others do the same. Lord, that sounds hard. But if you’re
with me, I’ll try.
God showed Dr. Koenig how to live with pain and how to help others cope with
it. In embracing the mystery of suffering and in trusting the divine saving will, he was
able to experience that God works through our weakness and our strength. Indeed, Dr.
Koenig is a sterling example of how a disciple could participate fully and intimately in
the paschal destiny of Jesus Christ, the suffering Messiah. Suffering is integral to
Christian faith. And to follow Jesus involves redemptive sacrifice.
B. First Reading (Gn 9:1-13): “I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the
covenant between me and the earth.”
In its February 2006 issue, Guideposts magazine continues its inspiring report on
the heroes of super-hurricane Katrina – ordinary people who did extraordinary things (cf.
p. 54-60). Among the heroes mentioned is Bob Ford, from Brandon, Mississippi (just
outside Jackson, and about 200 miles north of New Orleans and the site of the worst of
the devastation). He is a caterer with plenty of leftovers the night Katrina hit. Guideposts
senior editor, Stephen Berg narrates (cf. p. 60):
In the face of the storm, hardly anyone showed up to the gospel concert he’d
cooked for. So Bob and his wife, Jocelyn, took turkey legs and corn on the cob to
a shelter in Jackson that was housing 1,200 evacuees. All those people made an
impression on Bob. “I told myself, ‘I’m in this for the long haul’.” Bob, his wife,
their two teenagers and an employee returned the next day. They kept cooking
even after the power went out. When provisions ran low, Bob found a reporter so
he could get on the local TV news to ask for help. Dozens volunteered. Standard
fare from relief organizations was doughnuts and drink boxes. The Ford crew got
up every day at 5:00 A.M. to make eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns and, of
course, grits for crowds as large as 1,700. “A hot meal is important to folks in
distress,” Bob believes.
Bob himself was not untouched by Katrina. His house was smacked by a tree.
Still, it didn’t stop him from setting up a wedding feast for a couple who had
planned to get married in New Orleans. “We have to focus on what God wants us
to do,” says Bob.
Bob and the other laudable heroes of the Katrina aftermath, with their
compassionate acts of mercy, have sketched anew across the horizon of human history
the beautiful rainbow of God’s benevolent will to bring forth life in the midst of
destruction. The rainbow of God’s covenant love is made present, here and now, through
the loving works of people who make the reality of neighborly love and compassion
triumph over death-dealing situations. Indeed, the life-giving power that manifested itself
through the flood and destruction wrought by hurricane Katrina evokes the divine miracle
of life and the covenant love that reigned over the cosmic flood at the time of Noah, as
narrated in the Book of Genesis (cf. chapters 5-9).
Today’s Old Testament reading (Gn 9:1-13) speaks of God’s covenant with Noah
when the latter was delivered from the flood. The basic content of this inchoative
covenant is God’s merciful permission to continue the history of humankind. This
covenant comes after a period when sin has become universal. It is therefore a covenant
of mercy and forgiveness and underlines the divine goodness that is greater than human
sins.
God’s primeval covenant with Noah includes a sign of his intent to bring forth life
and to continue to care for the earth and its inhabitants - the bow hanging in the sky. The
ancient pagans believed in a divine bow used to inflict punishment on man. However,
hanging upon the clouds unused and in a peaceable way, the spectacle of the grandiose
bow arching majestically in the sky signifies divine appeasement and reconciliation.
Arched over the immense horizon, the beautiful rainbow with its iridescent colors
becomes a powerful symbol of God holding himself back from destroying his work. The
fascinating and consoling sign of the rainbow manifests the Father’s benevolent plan of
reconciliation with his beloved creation. The rainbow in the sky is a fitting covenant
symbol, a promise of unconditional love, a sign of acceptance and care. The appearance
of the rainbow suggests the association of covenant with water. The beautiful rainbow
evokes the reality of Christian baptism, which is a supreme covenant with God.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we believe that suffering is an integral element of Christian faith? Do we wish to
participate more fully in the paschal destiny of Christ, the suffering Messiah, as he
redeems mankind and rebuilds the world?
2. Do we treasure the “rainbow” of reconciliation that God hangs upon the horizon of
human history through the death and rising of his Son Jesus Christ? Do we point to others
– especially to those who are hopeless – that the “rainbow” of divine benevolence is out
there in the sky?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Jesus Lord,
you are the suffering Messiah.
Help us to see the true worth
of a messiah-ship based on powerlessness and suffering.
Loving Jesus,
guide us to walk in your ways.
Inflame our hearts with love for you.
Filled with your blessings,
help us to serve you without distinction.
Help us to love inclusively.
We sing your kindness and glory.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
Loving Father,
we thank you for the beautiful “rainbow” of reconciliation
that you display in the horizon of human history
through the paschal mystery of your Son Jesus Christ.
Let us not be oblivious to this sign of covenant love
but celebrate this gift in our life.
You are full of mercy and compassion.
We give you glory and praise, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly.” (Mk 8:31) // “I set my bow in the clouds to
serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” (Gn 9:13)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray that Christian disciples may have deep insight into the beauty and nobility of
Christ as the suffering Messiah. // By your kind words and deeds enable the people
around you to perceive the many signs of God’s love and beauty in our daily life.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
FRIDAY: SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Invites Us to Take Up Our Cross … He
Reverses the Babel Effect” ***
BIBLE READINGS
Gn 11:1-9 // Mk 8:34-9:1
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 8:34-9:1): “Those who lose their lives for my sake and that of
the Gospel will save them.”
In the Gospel (Mk 8:34-9:1) we hear that after prophesying his paschal destiny on
the Cross, Jesus delineates the meaning of the discipleship of the cross: “Whoever wishes
to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever
wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Mk
8:34-35). Jesus thus connects the fate of his disciples with his own. Christian discipleship
involves a share in his paschal sacrifice on the cross. Only in letting go of self and in
letting God realize his mysterious, saving plan in us, can we achieve true life and
happiness.
Indeed, taking up one’s cross is a badge of discipleship. The great humanitarian
and peace-worker, Chiara Lubich, underlines the vital role of the cross in Christian
discipleship: “The cross is the necessary instrument whereby the divine penetrates into
what is human, and humanity participates more fully in God’s life, entering into the
kingdom of heaven already here on this earth. But we really have to take up our cross.
We must get up in the morning expecting it, and knowing that only by means of it can we
receive those gifts, which this world does not have – peace and joy, knowledge of the
things of heaven, which are unknown to most people.”
The following account of the Japanese martyrs of Ikitsuki illustrates how they
took up the cross and fully participated in the paschal destiny of Christ (cf. Full Sail with
the Wind of Grace, ed. “Martyrs” Editorial Committee, Nagasaki: Don Bosco Sha, 2008,
p. 44-46).
Genka’s daughter Maria was married to the son of Kondo Kisan, the
commissioner of Tachiura (Hirado City, Nagasaki Prefecture). Kondo was a
devout Buddhist. He tried to convert his daughter-in-law and make her give up
her faith. Maria always responded with the same words. “I was baptized by my
father and have always walked the way of God that was taught to me. I cannot
give up my faith.” “If you do not renounce your faith we cannot keep you in our
household. Think well and choose either my son or your faith!”
Kondo oppressed Maria with these harsh words. After two years of struggling
with the situation, Maria told her husband of her decision, and returned to her
father Genka.
Shigenobu was furious with Genka who not only disobeyed his orders and
continued to practice his faith, but also worked as a Christian leader. Shigenobu
ordered the execution of Genka together with his wife Ursula and their oldest son
John Mataichi.
Genka was handed over to the commissioner of Yamada (Hirado City, Nagasaki
Prefecture), Inoue Umanojo to be executed on the 14th of November 1609. To
Umanojo, Genka was a friend for whom he had great respect. Genka told him of
his only wish. “Lord Inoue, could you do me a favor and perform my execution at
the Kurusu (cruz = cross ) Trail?” “Why the Kurusu Trail?” “Once a cross stood
there, and my parents and friends are buried there, too.”
Umanojo nodded and they started to walk toward the Kurusu Trail. When they
arrived at the spot, Genka said to Umanojo, “Lord Inoue, it was my heart’s desire
to offer my life here. None of this is your fault. Please be at peace.”
Genka knelt down, raised his tied hands toward heaven and silently bowed his
head. Umanojo, choking down his tears, performed the execution with one stroke
of his sword so that Genka would not suffer too much. Genka’s wife Ursula and
their son John Mataichi were also beheaded about the same time at a place
nearby. Gaspar Nishi Genka and his wife Ursula were both 54 years old. Their
eldest son John Mataichi was 24 years old. Their remains were buried at the
Kurusu Trail. The Christians secretly planted a pine tree on the spot.
In 1992, the Christians of Ikitsuki built a large cross on the Kurusu Trail. It is to
remind them of the importance of faith strengthened in the family, a precious
heritage of Gaspar Nishi Genka.
B. First Reading (Gn 11:1-9): “Let us go down and there confuse their language.”
My first language is “Bicol”. Visitors from Manila who speak Tagalog (the basis
of Pilipino, the Philippine national language) are amused to hear repeatedly within the
Bicol Mass the words “daga” and “asin”. In Bicol, “daga” means “earth” and “asin”
means “and”. In Tagalog, however, “daga” means “rat” and “asin” means “salt”. The
Tagalog strangers wonder how come there are so many “rats” and so much “salt” within
the Mass celebrated by the Bicolanos. More confusion comes up when the non-Tagalog
speaking Bicolano goes to Manila. Fish in Bicol is “sira”, but the word “sira” in
Tagalog means “spoiled” or “rotten”. The Tagalog speaking vendors are very unhappy
and resentful when the Bicolano customers refer to the fish commodity as “sira”. They
protest: “How dare you! The fish are very fresh. They are not “sira” and definitely not
rotten!”
The story of Babel presented in today’s Old Testament reading (Gn 11:1-9) gives
insight into the confusion of languages. Originally narrated to explain the origin of the
diversity of languages and nations, the story of Babel has been used by the sacred authors
to depict the alienation of human society from God, and of groups of men from one
another. The story, which concludes the Genesis account of creation and the early history
of human race, reinforces the reality of human opposition to God. The evil tendency in
individuals before the Flood now becomes a collective energy of sin that controls and
perverts human aspirations. Their evil desire is to “make a name” for themselves on their
own initiative, oblivious of God. They rebel against God. Their presumption ends in
disaster. Their effort to build the great city Babel - “Babel” sounds like the Hebrew word
for “mixed up” - and the imposing tower results in their language being confused and of
them being scattered all over the world in disarray. Their feeble knowledge of God
deteriorates even more and results in myriads of false beliefs and the worship of idols of
every sort. Against the background of the story of Babel, the sacred authors would depict
the figure of Abraham, the father of faith.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. How do we actualize, in our daily lives, the discipleship of the cross? How do we
translate into concrete reality the Christian challenge: “Whoever wishes to come after me
must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me”?
2. What are the various presumptions in our times that replicate those in the story of
Babel? What are our own presumptions?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Loving Father,
we thank you for Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant.
He calls us to deny ourselves,
take up our cross
and follow him on the road that leads to eternal life.
Give us the grace to be true Christian disciples.
May our living “faith” be manifested daily
in concrete works of charity.
In Jesus’ name,
bless us with faithful discipleship, now and forever.
Amen.
***
O merciful God,
just and true are your ways.
Forgive our disastrous efforts
to build a world alienated from you.
Let your Son Jesus Christ
and by the power of the Holy Spirit, his Easter gift,
reverse the Babel effect of chaos and confusion.
Grant us the gift of harmony
and total submission to your benevolent will.
We give you glory and praise, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
week. Please memorize it.
“Whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it.” (Mk
8:35) // “It was called Babel.” (Gn 11:9)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
When your faith is challenged in today’s secularized world and when you are
persecuted for your Christian faith, ask God for the grace to manifest the power of
faithful discipleship. // Learn how to dialogue peacefully in conflict-filled situations.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
SATURDAY: SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is Transfigured in Glory … He Is the
Absolute Model of Faith” ***
BIBLE READINGS
Heb 11:1-7 // Mk 9:2-13
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 9:2-13): “Jesus was transfigured before them.”
One of my few prized possessions is a picture of the faces of students enrolled at
Maryhill School of Theology, to enable the professors to memorize their names more
easily. This particular picture contains the faces of the seminarians who participated in
the course, “The Word of God in the Liturgy” which I taught in 1993. This “souvenir” is
particularly meaningful for it includes the youthful face of my celebrity student, Fr.
Rhoel Gallardo, a young Claretian missionary who worked in the thickly Muslim
populated and rebel infested island of Basilan, in the southern Philippines. The Abu
Sayaf rebels, notorious for their lawlessness and ferocity, kidnapped him, together with
some female catechists, for ransom a few years ago. Fr. Gallardo was subjected to
various forms of torture. His toenails were pulled out and he was commanded to rape his
catechists, which he refused to do. He was humiliated for his heroic fidelity to prayer.
Finally, as the Aba Sayaf rebels were retreating when the government forces attacked, he
was shot in the head and died as a true pastor and martyr for the faith. I would show this
“souvenir” to new students and, pointing to Fr. Gallardo’s image, proudly proclaim,
“This is my beloved student!”
In today’s Gospel (Mk 9:2-13), we hear a similar acknowledgment in the
authoritative voice coming from the cloud. It is the voice of the heavenly Father making
the divine affirmation, “This is my beloved Son …” This affirmation echoes the
acknowledgment the Father made at the baptism in the Jordan: “You are my beloved Son,
with you I am well pleased” (cf. Mk 1:9-11). In the transfiguration of Jesus, we get a
glimpse of the glorious fulfillment of Christ’s paschal journey and the magnificent
destiny of his covenantal fidelity to be at the complete service of God’s saving will.
Indeed, the words from the cloud, “This is my beloved Son,” received their full meaning
from Jesus’ willingness to be sacrificed and from the willingness of the Father “not to
spare his own Son” (cf. Rom 8:32).
Indeed, Jesus, the beloved Son, is the primordial sacrament. He is the sacrament
of the Father’s covenant fidelity to save us. He is the presence of the Father’s tremendous
love for us. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, our Savior, his most
precious One (cf. Jn 3:16). Indeed, God did not deny his own Son that we may be saved.
The sacrificial aspect of the Father’s love and the beloved Son’s submission is the cause
of our salvation. This is such an astounding reality that, with St. Paul, we can exclaim: “If
God is for us, who can be against us?”
B. First Reading (Heb 11:1-7): “By faith we understand that the universe was ordered
by the word of God.”
The First Reading (Heb 11:1-7) presents a cloud of witnesses to faith. The Old
Testament models of faith would culminate in the example of Jesus, the new and supreme
model of faith. The author first defines faith as “the reality of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen”. He continues to give insight into this beautiful reality and
asserts that by faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God and
that the visible came into being through the invisible. The author describes the faith of
Abel whose sacrifice of gifts is pleasing to God; the faith of Enoch who was taken up to
God; the faith of Noah who obeyed God and followed his warnings about things in the
future that he could not see. Above all, the author depicts the wonderful response of faith
of Abraham to God’s call.
Indeed, faith is our response to God. “By faith, Abraham obeyed when God called
him” (v. 8). He put absolute trust in the word of God and the divine promise to make out
of him a great nation. Harold Buetow comments: “Abraham’s faith was not according to
the principle of most people, who cautious and comfort-loving, put safety first, his faith
went into the unknown, where it could not see the end of the path. Abraham did
everything God wanted of him – and, sure enough, ultimately his wife conceived and his
son Isaac was born. Then, when God asked him to leave the comforts of his hometown
Ur in the Chaldean mountains for what came to be known as the Promised Land and
endure all the problems of a stranger in a foreign land, he did it – even though he was not
sure where God was leading him. God, to test him even further, some years later asked
him to give his young son Isaac as a living sacrifice. Despite his hope that through Isaac
he would have descendants, he prepared to do as God asked. It was only at the last
moment that God prevented him from going through with his sacrifice. We, like
Abraham, should let go and let God!”
The following testimony by Harold Hostetler about the faith of Jacob Hochstetler,
his Swiss Amish ancestor, is inspiring (cf. Daily Guideposts 2010, p. 243).
What struck me most about Jacob was his faith. His family had fled Switzerland
and come to America in the early eighteenth century because of religious
persecution. Like the rest of the Amish, he took the commands of God literally –
he wouldn’t kill other human beings, even in war. During the French and Indian
War he refused even to defend himself when Indians attacked his Pennsylvania
home; he was wounded and lost his wife, a son and a daughter. As he and his two
remaining sons were captured and about to be taken to separate villages, his
parting advice was “Do not forget the Lord’s Prayer.” Jacob and his sons
survived the war … I’ve read of so many Hostetlers down through the years who
have gone into the ministry or otherwise heeded God’s call. What a legacy!
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we believe that Jesus, revealed in his transfigured glory, is the primordial
sacrament of God’s love and his covenant fidelity to save us? Do we allow ourselves to
be transformed by this wonderful gift? How do we contribute to the healing and
transformation of our wounded society today?
2. How do we live and share our Christian faith?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Loving and merciful Father,
you have made us your sons and daughters
in your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
He is the primordial sacrament of your covenantal love for us.
Transform us; transfigure us; Christify us.
Hear our humble supplications
and grant us the grace we need
in order to face the challenges
of being your own beloved children
in today’s world that needs healing.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
Lord Jesus,
you are the absolute model of faith.
Help us to walk by faith and to live by faith.
Grant that we may truly treasure the gift of faith
we have received from you
and from the cloud of faith witnesses then and now.
With this legacy of faith,
grant that we may embrace the future with hope.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“He was transfigured before them.” (Mk 9:2) // “Faith is the realization of what
is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Do something for the youth, especially the most rejected, that they may
experience the transforming love of God through his Son Jesus Christ. // Be thankful to
God for the gift of faith and endeavor to put that faith into practice.
*** Text of Week 6 in Ordinary Time ends here. ***
A Lectio Divina Approach to the Weekday Liturgy: Cycle I
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (n. 43)
ORDINARY SEASON: WEEK 7
MONDAY: SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Calls Us to Faith … He Is Wisdom
Incarnate”
BIBLE READINGS
Sir 1:1-10 // Mk 9:14-29
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 9:14-29): “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
The transfiguration story, which precedes today’s Gospel episode (Mk 9:14-29),
is a figure of the future risen glory of Jesus. In the same way, the story of the disciples
trying to heal an epileptic boy and dealing with argumentative scribes is a figure of the
challenges the future Church would experience in attempting to do his works. The effort
of the disciples to drive out the evil spirit from the boy is futile. The scribes must have
outclassed them in discussion as well. The disciples feel powerless. But the Divine
Master shows them what it means to keep faith: “Everything is possible to one who has
faith.” The boy’s father, stirred by an inchoative faith, declares: “I do believe; help my
unbelief.” Jesus thus exorcises the evil spirit and the boy is healed. The miracle healing
of the boy underlines Jesus’ messianic power. It is also a powerful lesson and an urgent
invitation to his disciples to trust in him. Prayer is a sign of faith. By faith the disciples
are empowered to carry out Christ’s saving work, through time and space.
The following story gives insight into the faith of a holy man and the marvels that
God accomplishes through him (cf. Anthony De Mello, Taking Flight: A Book of Story
Meditations, New York: Image Books/Doubleday, 1990, p. 110-111).
There once lived a man so godly that even the angels rejoiced at the sight of him.
But, in spite of his great holiness, he had no notion that he was holy. He just went
about his humble tasks, diffusing goodness the way flowers unselfconsciously
diffuse their fragrance and streetlights their glow. His holiness lay in this – that
he forgot each person’s past and looked at them as they were now, and he looked
beyond each person’s appearance to the very center of their being, where they
were innocent and blameless and too ignorant to know what they were doing.
Thus he loved and forgave everyone he met – and he saw nothing extraordinary in
this, for it was the result of his way at looking at people.
One day an angel said to him, “I have been sent to you by God. Ask for anything
you wish and it will be given to you. Would you wish to have the gift of healing?”
“No”, said the man. “I’d rather God did the healing himself.” “Would you want
to bring sinners back to the path of righteousness?” “No”, he said, “it is not for
me to touch human hearts. That is the work of angels.” “Would you like to be
such a model of virtue that people will be drawn to imitate you?” “No”, said the
saint, “for that would make me the center of attention.” “What then do you wish
for?” asked the angel. “The grace of God”, was the man’s reply. “Having that, I
have all I desire.”
“No, you must ask for some miracle”, said the angel, “or one will be forced on
you.” “Well, then I shall ask for this: let good be done through me without my
being aware of it.”
So it was decreed that the holy man’s shadow would be endowed with healing
properties whenever it fell behind him. So everywhere his shadow fell – provided
he had his back to it – the sick were healed, the land became fertile, fountains
sprang to life, and the color returned to the faces of those who were weighed
down by life’s sorrow.
But the saint knew nothing of this because the attention of people was so centered
on the shadow that they forgot about the man. And so his wish that good be done
through him and that he be forgotten was abundantly filled.
B. First Reading (Sir 1:1-10): “Before all things else wisdom was created.”
In the next two weeks, the first reading of the weekday liturgy is taken from the
Book of Sirach (“The Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach”). Known also as Ecclesiasticus, it
was written in Hebrew by “Jesus, son of Eleazar, son of Sirach” (shortened to Ben Sira)
and translated into Greek by his grandson. Ben Sira presents an abundant vision of divine
action in the world and perceives within the natural world an almost endless array of
God’s revelations. Ben Sira sees both Sacred Scripture and the natural world as sources
of God’s revelation.
Today’s reading (Sir 1:1-10) invites us to contemplate God as the source of
wisdom. All wisdom comes from the Lord and she is with him forever. The Lord God has
filled creation with wisdom and she can thus be perceived in the universe. God gives
some measure of wisdom to everyone, but she is poured out on those who love him. The
author, Ben Sira, is ecstatic as he ponders the ineffable qualities of wisdom: “Who can
count raindrops or the sand along the shore? Who can count the days of eternity? How
high is the sky? How wide is the earth? How deep is the ocean? How profound is
wisdom?” Since wisdom is from God and brought forth through the Holy Spirit, she is
infinitely valuable and profound. The hymn to divine wisdom in the Book of Sirach is a
good background for a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ, the Word incarnate and the
wisdom of God.
The beautiful reflection of Ben Sira invites us to have a contemplative regard for
creation and to perceive in nature the wisdom of God’s plan. The following story gives an
insight into this (cf. J.T. Garrett, “Good Medicine” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories
of Faith, ed. Jack Canfield, et. al., Cos Cob: CSS, 2008, p. 349-351).
As a young boy, I fondly remember my grandfather. He was tall in physical size,
but he was also larger than life itself, in my eyes. As a Cherokee Indian, he loved
to tell the old stories that had been passed down from generation to generation in
the tribe, located in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. His zest for
life and his love of nature was passed on to me through the experience there in the
mountains of western North Carolina.
On a warm spring day when I was a young boy, my grandfather and I were sitting
on a large rock on the edge of the Oconaluftee River in Cherokee. I was looking
into a small puddle of water that was caught in an etched indentation of a rock.
The large rocks were worn away by water action, and we would sometimes fish
on the rocks and watch the fish travel downstream between the rocks. This
particular day, I was more interested in the small minnows moving around in the
puddle of water that seemed to be caught in the rocks. I must have stared
endlessly at the minnows wondering how they would get back to the larger body
of water and their parents for safety. After all, I had my grandfather to protect
me. Who would protect them from the warm sun and from being eaten by animals,
or other fish? Wow, I thought, I was glad I was not fish.
My grandfather would glance around every few minutes to see what I was doing.
He saw me looking at the small fish and asked, “What do you see when you look
into the water?” Always wanting to please my grandfather to show him how
smart I really was, I looked quickly downstream and said, “I see the little fish
swimming around, but they have no place to go.”
“Are you afraid for them, or yourself?” My grandfather would often ask two
questions at once. “The sun is hot, and I am afraid they will get too hot in the
shallow water. Besides, what if they don’t get back to their parents in the river?”
He softly spoke, “Well, maybe they are all right in this special pool of water. They
might get out into the large river and a larger fish might come by and eat them for
dinner.”
“Grandfather, what will they eat to stay alive? What if they stay there and grow
too big for a little pool of water?” I guess I must have learned to ask two
questions, as well, from my grandfather. “Grandson”, he said, “you do not worry
because Nature will take care of them. Whatever happens is all part of a greater
plan of life. It is the Great One’s plan.”
I am sure I must have looked perplexed by this statement, but I didn’t really know
what to ask. Even at that young age, I knew he would be quiet to allow me to
respond, then he would share more with me.
“What do you see when you look into the water?” asked my grandfather. I would
look closely to see the water rushing quickly downstream. My eyes would catch a
glimpse of the fish, flies touching the water, the water beetles moving quickly
down the river, a piece of wood floating with the movement of the water, and the
beautiful green plants. I must have explained all these things to him. There was a
long pause. Then he said, “What else do you see? Look deeply into the water.”
I looked as hard as I could, then he said, “What else do you see? Look deeply into
the water.” I looked as hard as I could, then he said, “Now look at the surface of
the water.” My eyes began to water as I stared, wanting my grandfather to be
proud of my ability to see everything he saw. “Ah, I see my reflection”, I proudly
responded. He quietly said, “That’s good.” A smile came across my face.
“What you see is your whole life ahead of you. Know that the Great One has a
plan for you, as well as the little fish in the puddle of water. Sometimes we don’t
understand why things happen the way they do, but there is a plan.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do I trust God and put faith in him that he will give me strength to do his saving work?
2. What is our response to the divine wisdom revealed and at work in the universe? Are
we grateful for the beauty and wisdom that enfold us day by day? Do we open our hearts
to the gift of wisdom that comes from God through the Holy Spirit?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
the epileptic boy’s father confessed his faith
and begged you to increase his little faith.
You healed the boy in response to his prayer of faith.
We, your disciples,
are called to bring your healing power to a wounded world.
Strengthen our feeble faith
and enlighten us with true wisdom.
You are our saving Lord, now and forever.
Amen.
***
(Cf. Alternative Opening Prayer of Monday Mass, 7th Week in Ordinary Time)
Almighty God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
faith in your word is the way to wisdom,
and to ponder your divine plan is to grow in the truth.
Open our eyes to your deeds,
our ears to the sound of your call,
so that our every act may increase our sharing
in the life you have offered us.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
week. Please memorize it.
“I do believe; help my unbelief.” (Mk 9:24) //“All wisdom comes from the
Lord.” (Sir 1:1)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Offer a simple prayer of faith in Jesus. Accompany your daily prayer of faith with
an act of mercy and good deeds. // Today be particularly attentive to the beauty and
wisdom that surround us every day. Be thankful to God for his gift of wisdom and let this
guide us in our choices in life.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
TUESDAY: SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Calls Us to a Humble Service … He
Teaches Us the Wisdom of Suffering”
BIBLE READINGS
Sir 2:1-11 // Mk 9:30-37
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 9:30-37): “The Son of Man is to be handed over. Whoever
wishes to be first shall be last of all.”
We hear in the Gospel (Mk 9:30-37) that after healing the epileptic boy, Jesus
with his disciples leaves the place and goes on through Galilee. He speaks again about his
passion, death and resurrection, but his disciples do not understand. Though afraid to ask
what he means, they do not have any qualms about arguing who among them is the
greatest. At a house in Capernaum, Jesus tries to enlighten their hearts. To help them
overcome their wicked ambition, Jesus puts in their midst a child, symbol of poverty and
powerlessness. Jesus teaches his disciples that greatness consists in service and in caring
for the weak and vulnerable. To be first is to serve. Jesus is the ultimate servant. By his
passion and death on the cross, he offers himself totally at the service of the Father’s
saving will. By his life-giving sacrifice, the Servant Messiah embraces infinitely all the
“children of God”, especially the poor and vulnerable. A moral test of a society is how
we treat the weakest among us. In our preferential option for the poor and in our care for
the weak, we truly embrace God’s children. Like Jesus Christ, we become the “servant of
all”.
The following story, circulated through the Internet, is very touching. It illustrates
a compassionate stance on behalf of the needy.
I was walking in a Walmart store, when I saw a cashier hand this little boy some
money back. The boy couldn’t have been more than 5 or 6 years old. The cashier
said, “I’m sorry, but you don’t have enough money for this doll.” Then the little
boy turned to the old woman next to him, “Granny, are you sure I don’t have
enough money to buy this doll?” “No, my dear.” Then she asked him to stay there
for just five minutes while she went to look around. She left quickly. The little boy
was still holding the doll in his hand.
Finally, I walked toward him and asked him who he wished to give his doll to.
“It’s the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much for Christmas. She
was sure that Santa Claus would bring it to her.” I replied to him that maybe
Santa Claus would bring it to her after all, and not to worry. But he replied to me
sadly, “No, Santa Claus can’t bring it to her where she is now. I have to give the
doll to my Mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.” His
eyes were so sad while saying this, “My sister has gone to be with God. Daddy
says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could
take the doll with her to give it to my sister.”
My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said, “I told Daddy to
tell Mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come back from the mall.”
Then he showed me a very nice photo of himself. He was laughing. He then told
me, “I want Mommy to take my picture with her so she won’t forget me. I love my
Mommy and I wish she didn’t have to leave me, but Daddy says that she has to go
to be with my little sister.”
Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly. I quickly reached for
my wallet and said to the boy, “Suppose we check again, just in case you do have
enough money for the doll!” “OK” he said, “I hope I do have enough.” I added
some of my money without him seeing and we started to count it. There was
enough for the doll and even some spare money. The little boy said, “Thank you
God for giving me enough money!” Then he looked at me and said, “I asked last
night before I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this
doll, so that Mommy could give it to my sister. He heard me! I also wanted to
have enough money to buy a white rose for my Mommy, but I didn’t dare to ask
God for too much. But he gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose. My
Mommy loves white roses.”
A few minutes later, the old lady returned and I left with my basket. I finished my
shopping in a totally different state of mind from when I started. I couldn’t get the
little boy out of my mind. Then I remembered a local newspaper article two days
ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who hit a car occupied by a young
woman and a little girl. The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in
a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the lifesustaining machine, because the young woman would not be able to recover from
the coma. Was this the family of the little boy?
Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the newspaper that the
young woman had passed away. I couldn’t stop myself as I bought a bunch of
white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young woman
was for people to see and make last wishes before her burial. She was there, in
her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little
boy and the doll placed over her chest. I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my
life had been changed forever. The love that the little boy had for his mother and
his sister is still to this day, hard to imagine, and in a fraction of a second, a
drunk driver had taken all this away from him.
B. First Reading (Sir 2:1-11): “Prepare yourself for trials.”
The reading (Sir 2:1-11) challenges the servant of the Lord to be prepared for
trials. It underlines that all affliction is under the Lord’s control and directed by his
providence. The suffering of the just is not a punishment, but a discipline to strengthen
one’s faith. Just as impurities can be removed even from gold, so the just one can be
purified and one’s true value is thereby seen. As a result of Ben Sera’s reflection and
study of the “generations long past”, he concludes that the basis of our hope and
faithfulness is God’s mercy and compassion. Many years after Ben Sira, Jesus of
Nazareth shows what it means to be schooled in the wisdom of God. In his passion and
death, Jesus is imbued with wisdom as he fulfills his mission as the Suffering Servant of
Yahweh. Jesus is deeply aware that God’s servants, though tried by adversity and crushed
by misfortunes, triumph in the end.
Here is a modern example of God’s faithful one who persevered to the end (cf.
Lives of Saints – The Irish Martyrs: Blessed Dermot O’Hurley in Alive!, April 2013,
p.15).
Dermot O’Hurley realized that if he did not give himself up his former host,
Thomas Fleming of Slane Castle, would lose his lands and possibly his life. The
Archbishop surrendered to Queen Elizabeth’s agents and was taken to Dublin.
Once interrogation began it became clear he would be shown little mercy. Yet he
had nothing to confess: he was simply a bishop who came to attend to the
spiritual needs of his flock. But he was seen as an agent of the Pope who had
come to Ireland to join forces with the rebel Earl of Desmond. If he would not tell
them the truth they would torture him until he did.
And torture him they did. But he could not tell them what they wanted to hear.
Eventually, and in desperation, they wrote to the master interrogator in London.
Dublin Castle asked that Hurley be taken to London where he could be tried
without the danger of provoking outrage and rebellion by the local population.
Sir Thomas Walshingham, however, was at that time busily plotting the
ensnarement which would lead eventually to the judicial murder of Mary Queen
of Scots. He had enough on his hands and insisted that the interrogation continue
in Dublin. It did.
This time the torturers resorted to the excruciating measure of soaking
O’Hurley’s boots in oil and salt and roasting his feet in fire. The Archbishop still
protested his innocence, crying out repeatedly, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy
on me.” Eventually it was decided that he would be tried secretly under martial
law, sentenced to death, and secretly executed.
On 19 June, 1584, the order was signed for his execution. Early next morning he
was brought outside Dublin city walls to a place near what is now St. Stephen’s
Green. But the execution was not as secret as the persecutors had hoped. A group
of merchants leaving the city came by the spot where the execution was being
prepared. They had no idea who the victim was at first but he was able to speak to
them.
“Be it known to you, good Christians”, he said, “that I am a priest anointed and
also a bishop, although unworthy of such sacred dignities. No cause could they
find against me that might in the least degree deserve the pains of death, but
merely for my function of priesthood, wherein they proceeded against me in all
points cruelly contrary to their own laws. I ask you, dear Christian brethren, to
manifest that to the world and also to bear witness at the day of judgment of my
innocent death, which I endure for my function and profession of the holy
Catholic faith.”
A short time later he died a martyr’s death by hanging. Word of the execution
spread but there was no rioting. His remains were taken down by Catholics and
buried in the grounds of the nearby St. Kevin’s Church in Camden Row. His
grave remained a place of pilgrimage for many years.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Are our hearts blinded with ambition and are we unable to be the “servant of all”? Do
we endeavor to welcome the needy and vulnerable “children of God” in our midst?
2. In times of trial and adversity do we put our trust in the merciful and compassionate
God who is our saving help?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
O Jesus,
you are the ultimate servant and the “servant of all”
by your life-giving sacrifice on the cross.
Help us to be “first” by our serving love.
Give us the grace to welcome the poor, the needy, the vulnerable …
all the children of God.
Teach us to overcome the demands of evil passions.
Draw us close to our loving God,
who lives and reigns, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
(Cf. Blessed James Alberione’s “Act of Surrender to the Will of God”)
My God,
I do not know what will happen to me today.
I only know that nothing will happen to me
that was not foreseen by you
and directed to my greater good from all eternity.
This is enough for me.
I adore your eternal and unfathomable designs.
I submit to them with all my heart for love of you.
I offer the sacrifice of my whole being to you
and join my sacrifice to that of Jesus,
my divine Savior.
In his name and by his infinite merits,
I ask you for patience in my sufferings and perfect submission,
so that everything you want or permit to happen
will result in your greater glory and my sanctification.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of
all.” (Mk 9:35) //“My son, when you come to serve the Lord … prepare yourself for
trials.” (Sir 2:1)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
In your acts of charity, enable the people around you to feel the love of Christ, the
“servant of all”. // In a secularized society whose values are increasingly hostile to the
divine will, let the trials and “persecutions” you will experience be fully united with the
redemptive sufferings of Christ.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
WEDNESDAY: SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Teaches Us to Be Open to Others … He
Loves Those Who Seek Wisdom”
BIBLE READINGS
Sir 4:11-19 // Mk 9:38-40
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 9:38-40): “Whoever is not against us is for us.”
The following charming story, “Jesus at the Football Match”, from Anthony De
Mello’s book, The Song of the Bird (New York: Doubleday Image Books, 1984), p.147,
helps me to understand today’s Gospel reading (Mk 9:38-40) in a humorous vein.
Jesus Christ said he had never been to a football match. So we took him to one,
my friends and I. It was a ferocious battle between the Protestant Punchers and
the Catholic Crusaders. The Crusaders scored first. Jesus cheered wildly and
threw his hat high up in the air. Then the Punchers scored. And Jesus cheered
wildly and threw his hat high up in the air. This seemed to puzzle the man behind
us. He tapped Jesus on the shoulder and asked: “Which side are you rooting for,
my good man?” “Me?” replied Jesus, visibly excited by the game. “Oh, I’m not
rooting for either side. I’m just enjoying the game.”
Indeed, Jesus is not in the habit of taking sides. He is concerned with the good of
people and not with trifling issues of party membership or political color. In light of the
above story, we can understand why Jesus roots for anyone who does good in terms of
service to God’s anawim - “the little ones” - even if that person does not belong to the
inner circle of disciples. In today’s Gospel reading, he recognizes the good work done by
“someone driving out demons in his name”. He tries to correct the clique tendency and
the petty exclusivity of his disciples. As the Divine Master, he teaches his disciples to be
tolerant and open to others of good will. They are not to consider those not in their
company as less favored.
B. First Reading (Sir 4:11-19): “Those who love her the Lord loves.”
The reading (Sir 4:11-19) underlines the benefits of wisdom as well as the trials
that are associated with it. The author Ben Sira underlines the fruits of wisdom in an
effort to inspire his readers to walk on its path. In the first part of today’s Old Testament
reading, Ben Sira personifies wisdom as a “mother” who instructs her children in the
ways of life. The blessings of wisdom include help and instruction, honor and dignity,
life and joy, and glory and protection from God. The way of wisdom, however, involves
trial and discipline. The secrets of wisdom are revealed through purifying struggle. A
period of testing is necessary before one can enjoy its fruits. To follow the path of
wisdom is to relish its benefits; to abandon it is self-destruction. Underlying the rewards
of wisdom is the conviction that its servants are the servants of the Holy One. The Lord
God loves the faithful those who love wisdom.
The following story illustrates the experience of a person who allows self to be
guided in the path of wisdom and the ways of love (cf. Robert Baldwin, “Mother Teresa,
the Wino and Me” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories of Faith, ed. Jack Canfield, et.
al., Cos Cob: CSS, 2008, p. 228-229).
I will never forget the day I met Mother Teresa. More than that, I will never forget
what she taught me about loving other people, especially the poor. She wasn’t
nearly as famous in the late seventies as she is now, but she already had hundreds
of thousands of admirers around the world. I was the editor of a Catholic
newspaper in Rhode Island, and when I heard she would be speaking in Boston, I
decided to go.
I arrived at the auditorium to get a good seat, but I discovered that I’d already
been granted a seat in the press section. As I waited for the lecture to begin, I
passed the time by chatting with another reporter, who turned out to be, like
Mother Teresa, a native of Albania. As we were talking, a priest walked over and
said to my companion, “Mother Teresa would be happy to meet you right now.”
With uncharacteristic boldness, I rose to my feet and tagged along. So did a
handful of other reporters. We were ushered into a room where a little old lady
wrapped in a blue-and-white sari was chatting with the Cardinal Humberto
Medeiros, then Archbishop of Boston. I couldn’t believe how tiny she was. But
what I remember most is her smiling, wrinkled face and the way she bowed to me,
as if I were royalty, when I was introduced. She greeted everyone that way. I
thought that if Jesus Christ walked into the room, she would greet him in exactly
the same manner. The way she did it conveyed a message that said, “You are
holy.”
But meeting her wasn’t as memorable as what she taught me about loving people.
Until that day, I had always thought of charity as simply being nice to people. For
Mother Teresa it was much more. During her talk, she told us how she and the
members of her order, the Missionaries of Charity, seek to recognize Christ in the
poorest of the poor. She told a story of how one of the sisters had spent an entire
day bathing the wounds of a dying beggar who was brought to them from the
streets of Calcutta. Mother Teresa’s voice dropped to a whisper as she told the
hushed auditorium that, in reality, the nun had been bathing the wounds of Jesus.
She insisted that Christ tests the love of his followers by hiding in grotesque
disguises to see if we can still see him.
A few nights later, I was leaving my office after dark when a drunk accosted me.
He was dirty and ragged and smelled bad. “Did the bus leave yet?” he asked. The
only bus that ever stopped on that corner was a van that carried street people to a
soup kitchen. “You’ve missed it”, I told him. Then I thought about Mother Teresa.
I didn’t exactly buy the idea that this old bum was God in disguise, but I could see
a person in front of me who needed a meal. The soup kitchen wasn’t very far out
of my way.
“C’mon, I’ll drive you”, I said, hoping that he wouldn’t throw up in the car. He
looked surprised, delighted and a little stunned. He studied me with bleary eyes.
His next words floated to me on the smell of cheap wine and they seemed to
confirm everything Mother Teresa taught me. “Say”, he said, “you must know
me.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we exclude “non-members” from the ministry and echo the intolerance of the
immature disciples of Jesus: “Teacher, we tried to prevent him because he does not
follow us”? Do we believe wholeheartedly in Jesus’ declaration: “There is no one who
performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me … For
whoever is not against us is for us”?
2. Are we willing to undergo trials so as to experience the fruits and rewards of true
wisdom?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
at times, our hearts are intolerant.
We try to lay exclusive claim to the Reign of God
you have graciously shared with us.
Help us to realize that the Kingdom
is meant for all people of good will in every time and culture.
Teach us, O Divine Master,
to be receptive to grace
and to humbly submit to the divine plan.
Grant that in our endeavors,
we may always say: “If the Lord wills it …”.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
God of mercy,
your gift of wisdom brings joy and knowledge,
abundant blessing and true perception.
Wisdom’s servants are your servants
and those who love her you truly love.
Allow us to be taught by her
and to follow her lead in every aspect of our life.
Then we shall be blessed and secure in your love.
We praise and glorify you,
now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“For whoever is not against us is for us.” (Mk 9:40) //“Those who love wisdom
the Lord loves.” (Sir 4:14)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for the success of the ecumenical movement in the Church and the laudable
endeavor of inter-religious dialogue. See what tangible contribution you can make in this
regard. // Let the spirit of wisdom guide your moral discernment and choices.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
THURSDAY: SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Calls Us to a Radical Discipleship … He
Counsels Against Presumption”
BIBLE READINGS
Sir 5:1-8 // Mk 9:41-50
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 9:41-50): “It is better for you to enter into life with one hand,
than with two hands to go into Gehenna.”
Today’s Gospel (Mk 9:41-50) continues to underline the challenges of Christian
discipleship. Jesus warns against the evil of causing scandal to others by using the harsh
imagery of the unquenchable fires of Gehenna. Harold Buetow remarks: “The figure of
Gehenna is a symbol of hell derived from the garbage dump in the dried-up Valley of the
Hinnon River below the southwest wall of the city. It had an evil history. Once the site of
child-sacrifices to the god Moloch, in the time of Jesus it was the city dump, and its
smoldering fires and billowing acrid smoke consuming the smelly garbage were a symbol
of the punishment of the damned.”
To avoid the hell of Gehenna, the disciples must take care not to give bad
example to anyone. Jesus asserts: “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better
for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the
unquenchable fire”. Jesus’ remarkable saying is not meant to be taken literally. Physical
mutilation does not always work against temptation. What Jesus underlines is the
absolute importance of entering the kingdom of God and the exigent demand is entails.
Anything that jeopardizes participation in the heavenly kingdom must be expunged from
our lives.
Indeed, the Christian disciples need to be purified in their innermost motives.
They need to be “salted with fire” and experience the purifying fire of trials by which the
faithful become pleasing sacrifices to God and at peace with one another. They need to
expunge the evils of ambition, intolerance and scandal from their midst. In place of these,
they have to make a tough choice for primacy in service, for tolerance and openness to
others of good will, and for integrity in their dealing with God’s “little ones”. Those who
respond to the radical demands of Christian discipleship with zest and gusto become the
salt of the earth. As the good salt of the earth, they continue to inspire people with the
liveliness of the Gospel spirit and lead them to yearn for God’s kingdom.
The following testimony is an example of today’s laudable efforts to help the
“little ones” experience the blessings of God’s kingdom and to overcome the obstacles in
their lives (cf. Sister Mary Rose McGeady, Sometimes God has a Kid’s Face, Covenant
House USA, 2010, p. 82-84).
Freddy had been born seventeen years ago in one of those small old mill towns in
the Northeast, the kind of town where industry and hope left town and never
looked back at what was left behind. Unable to find work, unable to cope, his
parents both took to drinking as a way to escape their sorrow. Sometimes when
the drink wasn’t enough to ease their pain, they took their frustrations out on
Freddy. Many nights, Freddy found himself hiding in his house, in closets and
under beds, trying to escape a beating that had, by that point, become an almost
weekly ritual.
Afraid and desperate to please his parents, Freddy began drinking with them, in
order to show he was on their side. Soon, well before he had become a teenager,
he found himself hooked on alcohol, unable to pry himself loose from the grip it
had on him.
“It’s in my blood, Sister”, he said to us that first day. “I was born an addict …
there’s nothing you can do to help me.”
One day, when the beatings got to be too much, he fled to the streets to find a
peace he had never known. Instead, he found what all kids find – the aloneness,
hunger, fatigue and darkness of an unforgiving world on the street. He was
sixteen years old. For one full year, Freddy struggled to find some kind of
existence on the streets. He slept in alleys, and ate out of garbage cans. He drank
to forget how scared and alone he was – and he began experimenting with drugs,
hoping they would somehow help him escape his pain. He died a little, day by
day.
Then he found Covenant House. I’m not sure exactly how it’s going to turn out for
him. I’m hoping – I guess some would say against hope – that it’s not too late for
him to believe, that it’s not too late for him to finally overcome an addiction that
has an ironclad grip on every ounce of his body. I do know that as long as he is
alive, I have hope that we can turn his life around … “I want you to know
something, Freddy”, I said. “I still think you are going to make it”, I said. “Just
give us a chance”, I said. I could tell by the look of his eyes that he hoped I was
right. “I’d like to try”, he said. I reached out and hugged him. “Thank you. God”,
I whispered to myself.
B. First Reading (Sir 5:1-8): “Delay not your conversion to the Lord.”
The reading (Sir 5:1-8) inveighs against false security and presumption. Ben Sira
does not condemn riches as such, but points out the inherent danger of self-reliance and
false security, which indicate a lack of wisdom. He warns against the pride and the sense
of power earthly wealth begets. Wealth has no real power and significance in the ultimate
issues of life. Indeed, presumptuous attitudes toward God must be avoided. These include
denying God’s power over oneself, presuming God’s forbearance and mercy, and putting
off repentance. Ben Sira asserts: “Don’t think that you can sin and get away with it …
Don’t be so certain of the Lord’s forgiveness that you go on committing one sin after
another.” He also urges: “Come back to the Lord quickly. Don’t think you can keep
putting it off.” For one who refuses the grace of conversion, there is no escape from the
“day of wrath”, which is the day of encounter with the Lord’s justice.
The following story depicts the beautiful ministry of Fr. Thomas Byles as an
instrument of conversion for the doomed in the sinking Titanic (cf. “He Refused a
Lifeboat” in Alive! April 2013, p. 3).
On 14 April 1912, at 11:40 pm, the Titanic struck an iceberg and a few hours
later it sank, with the loss of 1,502 lives. Among those on board was Thomas
Byles, a priest from England. Though almost forgotten now, Fr. Byles was wellremembered by some of the survivors of the tragedy.
Born in Leeds in 1870, the son of a Congregationalist minister, he studied
theology in Oxford University, intending to become an Anglican vicar. In 1892,
however, his younger brother William became a Catholic. Deeply affected by this,
he followed him into the Church on the feast of Corpus Christi two years later. He
took his examinations in theology as a Catholic – probably the first student to do
so at Oxford since the Reformation.
Having acted as tutor to a German prince, he returned to Yorkshire in 1895 and
began to study for the priesthood. But his health failed and he had to leave. Three
years later, in 1899, he entered the Beda College in Rome and was ordained a
priest in 1902. He served in several parishes until appointed to St. Helen’s, a
small rural parish in Ongar, Essex. From there the priest, aged 42, left to board
the Titanic at Southampton, a 2nd-class passenger to New York. He was going to
officiate at his brother William’s wedding in Brooklyn. His ticket cost 13 pounds.
On 14 April, the Sunday after Easter, Fr. Byles celebrated Mass for the 2nd and
3rd class passengers, most of them Irish emigrants. He was on deck, praying the
Divine Office, when the boat hit the iceberg, but thought, like most of the
passengers, that there was no danger. When the scale of the tragedy became
evident he went to help the poorest passengers from steerage onto the boat deck.
He also assisted women and children into the lifeboats.
His brother William, shortly after meeting some of the survivors, wrote that Fr.
Thomas had “moved about among the crowd from group to group giving
absolution (without confessions) and starting all the Catholics on the rosary.
“One girl said the sailors wanted to put him into the lifeboat, but he refused, and
went on with his work.”
The New York Evening World reported how survivors told that the priest had
been foremost in “keeping the religious aspect of the terrible occasion to the
fore”, by leading the recitation of the rosary as he guided passengers to the
lifeboats. The journalist, having described how some of the first-class passengers
played cards, continued: “The poor Irish boys and girls from the steerage were
more profitably occupied. They were down on their knees and praying.”
A German priest was with him. According to the report, Fr. Byles urged people to
prepare to meet God and about 100 people of all religions knelt round him on the
boat deck praying the rosary. As the last lifeboat left from the sinking ship, those
on board could hear Fr. Byles’ voice, together with the responses of those
kneeling around him.
William Byles and his bride, Katherine Russell, celebrated a quiet wedding,
changing into mourning clothes afterwards
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we make a fundamental choice for the Kingdom of God, and are we ready to
renounce all that impedes from total participation in it? Do we endeavor to help the “little
ones” to experience the blessings of the heavenly Kingdom?
2. Do we rely on false security, and are we guilty of presumption? Do we think that we
can sin and get away with it? Do we turn to God and avail ourselves of the grace of
conversion?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATI
Lord Jesus,
help us to heed your warning
not to cause the “little ones” to sin,
but rather to promote their dignity and integrity.
Teach us to respond to the cry of the poor
and aid them in their needs.
Let us respond to the call of radical discipleship.
We love you and we trust in you, O Divine Master,
for in drawing us close to you
we are purified and “salted with fire”
and become the good “salt of the earth”.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
Loving Father and compassionate God,
forgive us for relying on false security
and for our presumptuous attitudes
that goad us to sin again and again.
Give us light and show us the way.
Let the radiance of your wisdom
reveal our folly and the danger of impenitent death.
Let us no longer delay our conversion.
Deliver us from all evil.
Grant us the mercy of your forgiveness
for we now turn to you with humble and contrite hearts.
You are truly a loving and forgiving God.
We give you honor, glory and praise,
now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into
Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.” (Mk 9:47) // “Delay not your conversion to the
Lord.” (Sir 5:7)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Make a personal inventory and see what things/resources/assets you can
renounce/share with the “little ones” and the needy poor. // Make a sincere examination
of the heart and see what areas in your life need to be brought to God for healing and
forgiveness.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
FRIDAY: SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Teaches Us the Sanctity of Marriage …
He Is Our True Friend”
BIBLE READINGS
Sir 6:5-17 // Mk 10:1-12
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 10:1-12): “What God has joined together, no human being
must separate.”
This true story of enduring love happened some years ago in the Philippines. The
parents of our friend, Fr. Allan Lastimosa, went to visit him at his parish in Metro
Manila. They had a beautiful time together, especially when they celebrated his mom’s
birthday. Soon it was time for his parents to sail for their Cebu island hometown. Fr.
Allan brought his parents and a nephew to the pier in Manila and sent them off. As they
were about to sail, his dad commented, “The weather doesn’t look good!” But there
seemed to be no cause for alarm. And so the ship set off for a day’s journey to Cebu. That
was the last time Fr. Allan would see his mom and dad. They were among the fatalities
when the boat was caught offshore by a typhoon and capsized. The nephew survived to
tell a beautiful story of sacrificial love and nuptial fidelity. Fr. Allan’s dad, who was
physically able and could have saved himself, refused to leave his sickly and fragile wife
behind. Death perfected their marriage covenant. Indeed, their love for each other is a
paradigm of the irrevocable unity of “what God has joined together”.
Today’s Gospel reading (Mk 10:1-12) continues to delineate the radical demands
of Christian discipleship. Jesus’ teaching on marriage is a further challenge to those who
wish to follow him. At the core of his message is the challenge to spouses to live in
faithful union until death. In the divine plan, the married couple constitutes “one flesh”
and their covenantal relationship is enduring. He asserts radically that what God has
joined together, no human being must separate. Jesus thus enunciates the ideal of
indissoluble marriage in the context of the divine plan and the Reign of God that he has
come to establish. Though cognizant of the painful issue of marital failure and divorce,
the Church continues, then and now, to uphold the lofty ideal of the sacredness of the
marriage covenant. In a world where marriage is a convenience, Christian couples are
called to witness to the sacred character of the bond of matrimony. God proposes this
ideal of marriage to weak human beings, but he places his trust in men and women
created in his image and strengthened by his grace.
B. First Reading (Sir 6:5-17): “Faithful friends are beyond price.”
The reading (Sir 6:5-17) is one of the loveliest and the most extensive treatment
of friendship in the Bible. The author Ben Sira gives practical advice about making
friends and warns against “fair-weather” friends. His precious insights are a result of
wisdom’s inspiration and many years of personal experience. One way of gaining friends
is through polite and kind speech. But they need to be treated with caution, for false
friends betray and quickly fall away in times of trouble, distress and misfortune. True
friends are selfless and constant. They have something in common – they are Godfearers. They are present particularly in times of need. Even though they may not be able
to provide words or solutions to the problems, they are there to stand by you. Indeed, true
friends make us secure and they are life-giving. Indeed, faithful friends are beyond price.
The ideal of true friendship is fully embodied in Jesus Christ, the one who laid down his
life for his friends.
The following story gives us insight into what true friendship means (cf. Bryan
Aubrey, “We Are All Jews Now” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories of Faith, ed. Jack
Canfield, et. al., Cos Cob: CSS, 2008, p. 145-146).
Viewed from high on the Rimrock cliffs that run along the northern edge of
Billings, Montana, the city presents an attractive sight, a thriving metropolis
nestling within the great open spaces of the American West. Citizens of Billings
say it’s a good, civilized place to live. They pride themselves on the quality of
their schools and their strong family values.
So it came as a shock to many, when in November 1995, a series of hate crimes
took place against minority groups in the city. Whoever was responsible for these
acts must have thought that their victims would be easy targets. Billings is
predominantly white. Native Americans, African Americans and Jews make up
only a small percentage of the population. But there are just enough of them to
frighten or to harass – or so the haters must have thought.
They mounted a series of nasty attacks. Graves were overturned in a Jewish
cemetery. Offensive words and swastikas were scrawled on the house of a Native
American woman. People worshipping at a black church were intimidated. A
brick was heaved through the window of a Jewish child who displayed a menorah
there.
But the white supremacists, or whoever they were, had reckoned without the
citizens of Billings, who had an answer for them – and it wasn’t what the hatemongers were expecting. An alliance quickly emerged, spearheaded by churches,
labor unions, the media, and hundreds of local citizens.
The results were dramatic. Attendance at the black church rose steadily. People
of many different ethnic backgrounds and faiths began to attend services there.
Their message was clear: “We may be all different, but we are one also. Threaten
any of us and you threaten us all.”
A similar spirit propelled volunteers to come together and repaint the house of
Dawn Fast Horse, the Native American woman. This happened at amazing speed.
Dawn had awoken one morning to see that her house had been defaced. By the
evening, after two hundred people showed up to help, the house had been
repainted.
When it came to the incident of the brick being thrown through the window of the
Jewish child, an interfaith group quickly had a creative idea. They recalled the
example of the Danes during World War II. When the Nazis tried to round up
Danish Jews into concentration camps for subsequent extermination, the Danish
people worked quickly, within a two-week period, to transport almost every
Danish Jew to safety in Sweden until the end of the war.
So the people in Billings organized, and a campaign began. Everyone pitched in,
including the local newspaper, which printed a Hanukkah page, including a fullcolor representation of a menorah. Thousands of Billings residents cut the paper
menorah out and displayed it in their windows. By late December, driving around
Billings was a remarkable experience. Nearly ten thousand people were
displaying those paper menorahs in their windows, and the menorahs remained in
place throughout the eight days of Hanukkah. It was a brilliant answer to the
hate-mongers. A town that had a few Jews was saying with one collective voice,
“We are all Jews now.”
The story of what happened in Billings quickly spread, inspiring a national
movement called “Not in Our Town”. That Jewish child who had so innocently
displayed her menorah in the window helped set in motion a chain of events that
affirmed all over America the liberating principle of unity in diversity.
Not for nothing does a menorah have many candles flickering on a single stand.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we believe in Jesus’ radical affirmation: “What God has joined together, no human
being must separate”? How do we promote the sanctity and integrity of family and
married life?
2. In our relationships with “friends”, do we allow the spirit of wisdom to guide us and to
help us discern whether it is true and uplifting? Do we value the gift of true friendship
and do we cultivate it and invest ourselves in it?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Almighty and eternal God,
you have made the unbreakable bond of marriage
a sign of your Son’s union with the Church as his spouse.
Look with favor on all married couples
whom you have united.
Let them grow in love for each other
and may they resolve to be
of one heart, one mind, one soul.
In their needs, be near to them
and in their struggles, assist them with your saving power.
Loving Father,
we pray for the Church, the Bride of Christ,
that she may trust in your mercy and compassion
and work for the coming of your kingdom in “patient endurance”.
We give you glory and praise,
now and forever.
Amen.
***
Father,
we thank you for Jesus, our true friend.
He laid down his life for us
to show the depth of his love for us.
Our friend Jesus loved us to the end.
Help us to be faithful friends
and to be always there
for those in need and in distress.
You are merciful and compassionate.
We adore and praise you, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“What God has joined together, no human being must separate.” (Mk 10:9) //“A
faithful friend is beyond price.” (Sir 6:15)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for all married couples, offering special petitions for those who are having
marital problems. // Manifest your gratitude and esteem for a “true friend” and manifest
your love and concern for a friend who is in need.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
SATURDAY: SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Welcomes the Children … We Are in His
Image”
BIBLE READINGS
Sir 17:1-15 // Mk 10:13-16
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 10:13-16): “Whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like
a child will not enter it.”
Today’s Gospel episode of Jesus blessing the children (Mk 10:13-16) follows
Jesus’ teaching about the sacredness of marriage. This is significant in that to accept the
Lord’s teaching on marriage requires the openness of children and a sense of dependence
on God’s strength matching the child’s sense of dependence on the parents. Only a
childlike trust will enable the Christian disciples to live up to the demands of the day-today relationships they have in the family and elsewhere. Jesus shows compassion and
concern for the children who are being prevented from coming to him. Reacting with
righteous indignation, he orders them to let the children come to him and holds the little
ones as models for those who receive the kingdom of God. It is only to those who are
receptive as children that the kingdom of God belongs. Those who are childlike have a
central place in the community of faith.
The following story illustrates the sensitivity and receptivity of a “child” to the
works of God’s kingdom (cf. Taste of Home, February-March 2009, p. 67). A 12-yearold’s fundraising effort to help poor African children gives us a glimpse of what
Christians can do in today’s world to be pleasing to God.
A video shown at church inspired Miranda Walters to make a difference. She saw
the faces of children dying from malaria thousands of miles from her Cedar Falls,
Iowa home and knew she couldn’t ignore them. A $10 mosquito net dramatically
reduces the risk African children face of contracting malaria, an often-fatal
infectious disease transmitted through mosquito bites. So Miranda, 12, gave
herself a goal: raise $100, enough to buy 10 nets for the nonprofit organization
Nothing But Nets. “After seeing the video, I told my grandma I wanted to do
something to help them”, Miranda says. “She suggested a bake sale. So we talked
to people at church, made posters and baked some things.”
She and her grandmother, Jill Rechkemmer, also of Cedar Falls, made CaramelPecan Cheesecake Pie and Caramel-Pecan Apple Pie, both from Taste of Home.
They also invited others from the congregation to help with the baking. “At first I
worried we wouldn’t get enough baked goods”, says Grandma Jill. “But there
were so many!” The bake sale raised $640, enough to buy 64 nets.
Miranda encourages other kids to think about raising money for a cause. “It’s
possible no matter how busy you are”, she says. “It feels good to do something to
make a difference.”
B. First Reading (Sir 17:1-15): “In His own image the Lord made them.”
In the reading (Sir 17:1-15), we contemplate God’s wisdom in creation and his
concern for human beings who are made in the divine likeness. Human beings have
dominion over the earth, and are gifted with the power of the senses. God fills them with
knowledge and understanding. He shows them the difference between good and evil. He
gives them insight to let them see the marvels of his creation and they have the ability to
respond in praise of the Creator. He also chooses Israel as his covenant people and
entrusts them with the Law as a source of life. He warns against unrighteousness and
teaches each person how to treat others. He is all-knowing. God forbids us to do evil
against him and toward fellow creatures.
The following article is an example of people who opt to respect the right to life
of human beings made in the image and likeness of God (cf. “To That Baby You Are Still
a Whole Person” in Alive! April 2013, p. 9).
Which of these two human beings was conceived in rape?
The ultrasound images of two babies look routine, but it is the caption which
catches people’s attention. In the first week after the picture appeared on
Facebook it was shared 4,774 times and received 4,344 likes and 526 comments.
Among the comments were a number from women who became pregnant who had
been raped, or had been conceived through rape.
Yas wrote: “To be honest my daughter is the result of rape, but to me I look at her
as a gift from God.”
Anna, 31, told how she was raped when she was 13. “The beautiful baby girl that
God gave me from that has helped me to heal more than anything else on this
planet could have”, she wrote. “To that baby you are still a whole person. You
are not broken or damaged. You are still everything! My baby girl is 17 now, and
she is absolutely amazing! I cannot imagine life without her.”
Nora reported that her best friend was the “child of rape” and she is the “neatest
person I know, very caring and funny.”
Brittany told how her friend who was raped decided to keep the child, and now
has a “beautiful 16-year-old daughter named Hope.”
Yoana’s friend was raped at the age of 14. “She was heartbroken, scared and
pregnant”, wrote Yoana. “She never thought about abortion. She said, ‘a baby
had the right to live’. Even though it was hard, she had family and friends to
support her. She took therapy classes. She became herself again after the child
was born. Now her baby is 10 years of age. She has no hard feelings, nor does she
wish that she had never had her daughter. She loves her.”
A woman named Nicole was glad that someone convinced her mother to think of
her as a gift, not merely as a product of the ordeal. “I want to just take a minute
and tell you my story”, she wrote. “I was the result of a rape, and because
someone talked my biological mom into not aborting, I am alive and I now have a
little bundle of joy of my own. And just so you know, if my daughter ever got
raped, I would tell her that that baby is a miracle …”
Julie Makimaa, who was conceived in rape and now works to defend the right to
life of unborn children, commented: “It doesn’t matter how I began. What matters
is who I will become.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we have a childlike dependence in our relationship with God and are we animated
by a sense of trust in our pursuit of the kingdom of God?
2. Do we perceive that we are truly a marvel of creation and a miracle of God’s love? Do
we thank God for the gift of life and of our being?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Dear Jesus,
you wanted the children to come to you.
We come to you with childlike dependence
and total trust in you.
Let us enter the heavenly kingdom
and give us the grace to share in the healing ministry
and the prayer of faith of the Church.
We love and serve you, now and forever.
Amen.
***
Almighty Father,
we thank you for creating us.
We are truly marvelous
for we are made in your own image.
We are lovable and sacred.
We praise you for the wonders of creation
and your compassionate care for us.
Above all, teach us to avoid evil
and to make a fundamental option for you,
our absolute good.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
week. Please memorize it.
“Let the children come to me … the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
(Mk 10:14) //“God from the earth created man, and in his own image he made him.” (Sir
17:1)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
With childlike dependence, ask God for the grace you need to serve him in the
sick and suffering and in caring for the “little ones”. // Do what you can to promote the
right to life and the dignity of the human person.
*** Text of Week 7 in Ordinary Time ends here. ***
A Lectio Divina Approach to the Weekday Liturgy: Cycle I
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (n. 44)
ORDINARY SEASON: WEEK 8
MONDAY: EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Calls Us to a Radical Discipleship … He
Invites Us to Turn to God”
BIBLE READINGS
Sir 17:20-24 // Mk 10:17-27
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 10:17-27): “Go, sell what you have, and give it to the poor.”
A wise and holy hermit finds a precious stone beside the brook. He brings it with
him to his little cottage. One of his disciples sees the precious discovery and begins to
covet it. The hermit notices that the young disciple is looking dismal and miserable day
by day. “What is it?” he asks the young man. “It is the stone,” the disciple replies. “I want
to have it. I will never have peace and happiness until it is mine.” The good master
remarks serenely, “But, of course, you can have it.” The disciple takes the stone. The next
morning he is back. “What is it?” the hermit asks. The disciple holds up the precious
stone and says, “I want the wisdom that made you renounce this precious stone so
unselfishly.”
The disciple’s “awakening” consists in discovering the need for wisdom, which
gives a perceptive insight into human life. Wisdom directs our quest toward eternal life,
the only goal worth striving for. The truly wise person is able to discern the
unsurpassable value of God and chooses him above all. The full meaning of wisdom can
be gleaned in the light of Jesus Christ, the divine Wisdom personified. Against this
backdrop, the Gospel story of the rich man in pursuit of eternal life (Mk 10:17-27)
acquires a deeper perspective. The man has responded to the demands of the
commandments. For one who lives under the Old Covenant, such a response would have
been sufficient. And, indeed, Jesus looks at him and loves him. But Jesus, the absolute
treasure and font of all good, goes further. The incarnate Wisdom offers a greater
challenge and demands a fuller response.
The challenge is Christian discipleship, which involves renunciation of false
security. Jesus is the true wealth besides which everything pales in comparison. To
follow Jesus is to make a radical choice for the absolute good. Jesus invites the rich man
to make a fundamental choice. The enormity of the challenge is expressed in the Semitic
hyperbole of a camel passing through the eye of a needle. It is a choice of a loving and
discerning heart made possible by divine grace: “with God all things are possible” (Mk
10:27). This radical choice for the “treasure of all treasures” is addressed to us all.
B. First Reading (Sir 17:20-24): “Turn again to the Most High and learn the
judgments of God.”
The First Reading (Sir 17:20-24) is exquisitely beautiful. It is an
acknowledgement of the reality of sin and the possibility of repentance. By the grace of
God, an evil person has a chance to change his self-destructive ways. The fundamental
reason for repentance is the mercy of God. How great is the Lord’s merciful forgiveness
to those who turn to him! It is therefore exigent to come to the Lord and leave sin behind.
It is good to be alive in his grace. Those who are alive can give thanks to the Lord, but
the dead have no way to give him thanks and praise. The words of Ben Sira that we hear
in today’s reading are resounded in the words of Jesus who, in his public ministry, calls
people to turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel of salvation.
The following story is a dramatic illustration of repentance based on God’s
merciful forgiveness (cf. Bernie Siegel, “Forgiven” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories
of Faith, Cos Cob: CSS, 2008, p. 4-5)
The real power of healing is not about curing diseases. This was revealed to me
by a male nurse who spent a lot of time with a woman in a nursing home who
hadn’t been able to walk for six years. Edward lifted her in and out of her chair
or into the bed, depending on her schedule. She always wanted to talk about God
and forgiveness. Because Edward had had a near-death experience, he felt
comfortable doing this.
One night it was so late that Edward slipped out without being the one to put her
to bed. He was heading for his car in the parking lot when he heard her call,
“Edward!” He snuck back inside and into her room. “Are you sure God forgives
us for everything?” she asked. “Yes. I’m sure, from my own experience”, he said.
You know the gospel song that tells us, ‘He knows every lie that you and I have
told, and though it makes him very sad to see the way we live, he’ll always say I
forgive‘.”
She sighed. “When I was a young woman, I stole my parents’ silver and gold and
sold it so I would have enough to get married. I’ve never told anyone and no one
found out. Will God forgive me?” “Yes”, Edward assured her. “God will forgive
you. Good night.”
When Edward returned to work the next morning, he was told to see the
administrator who asked what he had told the woman the night before. “As
usual”, Edward explained, “we talked about God and forgiveness. Why?” “At
3:00 A.M. the woman came out of her room and, with no help, walked the entire
length of the nursing home, put her Bible and teeth on the nurse’s desk and said,
‘I don’t need these anymore.’ Then she turned and walked back to her room, laid
down and died.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we yearn for the gift of wisdom? Do we beg the Lord to give us this precious gift?
How do we respond to Christ’s radical challenge of discipleship? Do we trust in Christ’s
exhortation: “With God all things are possible” (Mk 10:30)?
2. Do we trust that the mercy and forgiveness of the Lord is great for those who return to
him?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you are the “treasure of treasures” and the absolute good.
Fill us with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit
that we may choose your incredible beauty and value.
By the power of the same Spirit,
help us to affirm our fundamental choice for you
in every moment of life.
Teach us to live fully our discipleship.
Give us the grace to inspire the people to pursue you,
the incomparable good.
We love you and honor you, now and forever.
Amen.
***
Almighty God,
you call us to turn away from sin,
to return to you
and experience your love.
Great is your mercy!
Your forgiveness abounds
for those who return to you.
Grant that we may be faithful to you
and grateful for your saving love.
Teach us to be instruments of your loving compassion
and channels of your mercy and grace.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor … then, come, follow me.” (Mk
10:21) // “How great is the mercy of the Lord, his forgiveness of those who return to
him!” (Sir 17:24)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for the gift of wisdom that will enable you to make a fundamental choice for
Christ and follow him all the way. Take stock of your material possessions. Make a
radical decision to share your material resources with the needy and to give to the poor. //
Be thankful to God for his forgiving love. By your words and actions, inspire the erring
to tread the path of return to the Lord.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
TUESDAY: EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Promises Eternal Life … He Is the True
Worship”
BIBLE READINGS
Sir 35:1-12 // Mk 10:28-31
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 10:28-31): “You will receive as much persecution in this
present age and eternal life in the age to come.”
The Gospel (Mk 10:28-31) tells us that the rich man who encounters Jesus on the
road of discipleship goes away sad. He is a dramatic illustration that selfish attachment
makes participation in the Reign of God impossible. The rich man is not able to renounce
his possessions for the sake of eternal life. To rely on false security, or one’s ability to
obtain eternal life, is like a camel trying to enter the eye of a needle. It cannot happen!
But God can free us from enchantments and delusions. Through Jesus, he offers us the
grace to renounce a false security or even a “relative good” so as to make a fundamental
option for him, the absolute good - the source of all good, including eternal life.
Peter intuits the divine grace at work in the first disciples of Jesus. He asserts:
“We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus assures them and the Christian
disciples through all times of the “hundredfold reward”. The “hundredfold reward” is
already present in the present age, though its joy is overshadowed by the cross and
threatened by the world’s persecution. Eventually those who leave “houses and brothers
and sisters and mothers and children and lands” for the sake of Jesus will experience in
the final age the full reward - eternal life in the bosom of God.
The following thoughts of Mother Teresa of Calcutta give insight into radical
discipleship and the Christian disciple’s hundredfold reward (cf. Mother Teresa: Her
Essential Wisdom, ed. Carol Kelly- Gangi, New York: Barnes and Noble, 2006, p. 2-7).
I knew that God wanted something for me. I was only twelve years old, living with
my parents in Skopje, Yugoslavia (now Macedonia), when I first sensed the desire
to be a nun. At that time there were some very good priests who helped boys and
girls follow their vocation, according to God’s will. It was then I realized that my
call was to the poor.
***
I remember when I was leaving home fifty years ago – my mother was dead set
against me leaving home and becoming a sister. In the end, when she realized that
this was what God wanted from her and from me, she said something very
strange: “Put your hand in his hand and walk all alone with him.” This is exactly
our way of life. We may be surrounded by many people, yet our vocation is really
ours alone with Jesus.
***
I did my novitiate in Darjeeling and took the vows with the Loreto Sisters. For
twenty years, I was at work in education in St. Mary’s High School, which was
mostly for middle class children. I loved teaching, and in Loreto I was the
happiest nun in the world.
***
In 1948, twenty years after I came to India, I actually decided upon this close
contact with the poorest of the poor. It was for me a special vocation to give all to
belong to Jesus. I felt that God wanted from me something more. He wanted me to
be poor with the poor and to love him in the distressing disguise of the poorest of
the poor. I had the blessing of obedience.
***
I was traveling by train to Darjeeling when I heard the voice of God. I was sure it
was God’s voice. I was certain he was calling me. The message was clear. I must
leave the convent to help the poor by living among them. Thus was a command,
something to be done, something definite. The call was something between God
and me. What matters is that God calls each of us in a different way. In those
difficult, dramatic days I was certain that this was God’s doing and not mine and
I am still certain. And it was the work of God. I knew that the world would benefit
from it.
***
To leave Loreto was my greatest sacrifice, the most difficult thing I have ever
done. It was much more difficult than to leave my family and country to enter
religious life. Loreto meant everything to me. In Loreto I had received my
spiritual training. I had become a religious there. I had given myself to Jesus in
the Institute. I liked the work, teaching the girls.
***
On my first trip along the streets of Calcutta after leaving the Sisters of Loreto, a
priest came up to me. He asked me to give a contribution to a collection for the
Catholic press. I had left with five rupees, and I had given four of them to the
poor. I hesitated, then gave the priest the one that remained. That afternoon, the
same priest came to me and brought an envelope. He told me that a man had
given him the envelope because he had heard about my projects and wanted to
help me. There were fifty rupees in the envelope. I had the feeling, at that moment,
that God had begun to bless the work and would never abandon me.
***
One by one, from 1949 on, my former students began to arrive. They wanted to
give everything to God, right away. With what joy they put away their colorful
saris in order to put on our poor cotton one. They came because they knew that it
would be hard. When a young woman of high caste comes and puts herself at the
service of the poor, she is the protagonist of a revolution. It is the greatest, the
most difficult revolution – the revolution of love.
***
One of the most demanding things for me is traveling with all the publicity
everywhere I go. I have said to Jesus if I don’t go to Heaven for anything else, I
will be going to Heaven for all the traveling and publicity, because it has purified
me and sanctified me and made me truly ready for Heaven.
B. First Reading (Sir 35:1-12): “To keep the law is a great oblation.”
The First Reading (Sir 35:1-12) underlines the meaning of worship. True worship
of God is both internal and external. The author, Ben Sira, who is positively disposed
towards and is ever enthusiastic for temple worship, insists that religious practices should
be accompanied and animated by a concern for justice and the sacrifice of one’s being.
Religious practices without internal dispositions are a mockery. Hence, keeping the Law,
kind acts, care for the poor, and rejecting evil are part of true worship rendered to God.
Yet good deeds and interior dispositions need to be fully expressed in external worship.
One must participate in the religious festival and one must be true and generous in his
“offering” at the temple. We should be cheerful with every gift we make and must be
generous in paying our tithes. The Lord God can never be outdone in generosity. He
always repays and will do it many times over.
The following profile of a young priest shows us that his priestly consecration is
an offering that is pleasing to God (cf. Fr. Jan Kusyk, “Being a Priest Has Been a Dream
Come True” in Columbia, April 2013, p. 34).
Father Jan Kusyk, Archdiocese of Kingston, Ontario: When my mother was six
weeks pregnant, a doctor informed my parents that there were complications and
recommended abortion. Thanks to the intercession of St. Joseph and the courage
of my parents, I was born healthy. Three years later, Blessed John Paul II blessed
me during one of his audiences at St. Peter’s Square.
Growing up Polish-Canadian, faith was a natural part of my family life, which
included regular Sunday Mass, meals at home with parish priests, and devotion to
Our Lady of Czestochowa.
My vocation to the priesthood came as an epiphany when I was 13. After
secondary school, unable to shake the call, I decided to take a leap of faith and
apply to seminary.
Since my ordination two years ago, I can honestly say that being a priest has been
a dream come true. My greatest privilege and joy is to celebrate the sacraments,
and I thank my brother Knights of Columbus for their prayers and support
throughout my entire formation. Relying entirely on Our Lord Jesus Christ, I look
forward to working for the salvation of souls and the glory of God.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Have we left everything in order to follow Jesus? Are we experiencing the hundredfold
reward?
2. Do we realize what true worship of God means? Do we endeavor to offer God an
integral worship that involves interior disposition and external manifestation? Do we
worship God in spirit and in truth?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
O loving Jesus,
you are the absolute good.
To follow you
is to be blessed with the hundredfold reward
and attain the exquisite gift of eternal life.
Give us the grace to renounce false security.
Grant us the wisdom to sacrifice a relative good
and to pursue zealously the eternal good.
Teach us to give up everything to follow you
and the divine saving will.
We adore and serve you.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
My God,
you deserve the worship
of our mind, our heart, and our will.
Let the sacrifice of our being
be a pleasing offering to you.
Teach us to worship you joyfully
through the liturgy and sacraments.
Let us be generous in the gift of ourselves
and help us to realize
that you love and reward bountifully a cheerful giver.
May we render you a fitting sacrifice
of praise and thanksgiving, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“We have given up everything and followed you.” (Mk 10:28) //“To keep the law
is a great oblation.” (Sir 35:1)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Humbly express your discipleship in the various renunciations and sacrifices that
you carry out in daily life in union with Jesus Savior. // Let your life of daily service and
personal dedication be a pleasing offering to the Lord. Be a sign of joyful giving to the
Lord. Participate meaningfully, actively, conscientiously, and fruitfully in the Church’s
liturgy.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
WEDNESDAY: EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Came to Serve … He Intercedes for Us”
BIBLE READINGS
Sir 36:1, 4-5a, 10-17 // Mk 10:32-45
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 10:32-45): “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem and the
Son of Man will be handed over.”
The Gospel (Mk 10:32-45) tells us that Jesus Christ, the beloved Son-Servant of
God, came to serve – his greatest act of servitude was his paschal journey to Jerusalem
and his life-offering on the cross. To be a Christian is to be a servant like him. To imitate
Christ is to reject such a non-Gospel stance as “lording it over others”, and to refuse to
play the world’s power game. The criterion of Christian discipleship is mutual service for
the good of others. The path to glory is to serve the needs of others. The Church is a
community of loving disciples who take to heart the words of Jesus: “Whoever wishes to
be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be
the slave of all.”
In the following account, Mother Teresa of Calcutta gives us beautiful examples
of Christian service (cf. Amazing Grace for the Catholic Heart, ed. Jeff Cavins, et. al.,
West Chester: Ascension Press, 2004, p. 232-233).
One evening we went out and we picked up four people from the street. And one
of them was in a most terrible condition. I told the Sisters: “You take care of the
other three; I will take care of the one who looks worse.” So I did for her all that
my love can do. I put her in bed, and there was a beautiful smile on her face. She
took hold of my hand, and she said one thing only: “Thank you.” Then she died.
Then there was the man we picked up from the drain, half-eaten by worms. And
after we had brought him to the home, he only said, “I have lived like an animal
in the street, but am going to die as an angel, loved and cared for.” Then, after
we had removed all the worms from his body, all he said – with a big smile – was:
“Sister, I am going home to God.”
B. First Reading (Sir 36:4-5a, 10-17): “The nations will know that there is no God but
you.”
The First Reading (Sir 36:1, 4-5a, 10-17) is a powerful prayer of supplication for
Israel, God’s chosen people. It is an appeal to God’s mercy for an afflicted and repentant
nation. In the first part of the prayer, God is implored to intervene against godless nations
so that it may be known that there is no God but the God of Israel. God is besought to
“give new signs and work new wonders”. The second part of the prayer is an appeal for
the ingathering of all Israel and God’s blessings on the Jerusalem temple. The plea to fill
the temple with divine glory evokes the mournful period when the glory of God departed
from the temple (cf. Ezekiel 11:23). If the glory returns, the prophecies will be fulfilled
and the prophets be proved true. The basis of this prayer of supplication is reiterated
towards the end: “For you are ever gracious to your people; and lead us in the way of
justice.” Indeed, God’s positive response to this prayer will enable everyone to recognize
the God of Israel as the eternal God.
In his life and ministry, our Lord Jesus worked so that the glory of God might
shine upon earth. As his disciples, we need to work and live our life so that God may be
known by all nations. The following is an example of a Christian disciple who promotes
the glory and justice of God upon earth (cf. Fr. Ignatius Harding, OGM, “To Become
Instruments of Peace, We Need to Work for Justice” in The Anthonian, Winter 20122013, p. 8-9).
As a Franciscan friar of Holy Name Province, I was ordained to the priesthood in
mid-January 1972, just two weeks after Pope Paul VI published his annual
January 1st World Day of Peace message. Addressed to world leaders and all
people of goodwill, religious or not, his powerful message rings even louder and
truer today. “If you want peace”, the Holy Father declared, “work for justice.”
(…)
At the very end of his message, the Holy Father asked all Catholics to bring to the
world “a message of hope through a brotherhood which is truly lived and through
an honest and persevering effort for greater, true justice.”
I took the Pope’s words to heart in my first assignment in Bolivia, a land-locked
country in the heart of South America. As one of the three friars in Sorata, a rural
parish north of La Paz, we had to cover a huge territory with seven small towns
and 248 indigenous Aymara villages, or, more exactly, small clusters of adobe
homes. Most of the Aymara parishioners were impoverished, subsistence farmers,
eking out a living for their families on small plots of ground with a few crops and
animals.
As Franciscans, working with a “preferential option for the poor”, a
contemporary expression by Latin American bishops to express the mission of
Jesus (Luke 4:18-19), we reached out to everyone. To raise awareness of their
dignity as people of God, we started with a parish mission team, which made
rounds of the parish, calling the people together in what you might call oldfashioned revival meetings. Our aim in Sorata was to eventually form basic
Christian communities, in which trained lay catechists (some 300 of whom were
trained in the parish formation center we built) would lead small groups of
parishioners to meet regularly to discuss the Bible in view of the conditions in
which they lived. Then, in the light of God’s Word, to plan what they needed to do
by working together to change those conditions for the better.
After seven years in Sorata and two more pastoral assignments, I joined other
friars in an initiative to promote the Franciscan spirit of prayer and service with
the rural poor. In Angostura, 15 miles from Cochabamba, we lived a simple
lifestyle – we did our own cooking, cleaning, and gardening – with an open door
for anyone who wanted to come and live with us to experience the spirit of St.
Francis of Assisi. (Later, we counted in one year, 2400 Bolivian men and women
and young people who spent from one day to three or four weeks praying and
working with us.) We spent the first half of the day in prayer and manual labor
and the other half in spiritual direction with visitors, or in walking to serve the
impoverished in the neighborhoods around us.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. How do I emulate Christ’s example of serving love? Do I believe that in service is true
greatness?
2. Do we allow the glorious and compassionate God to give new signs and work new
wonders through us?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
O Jesus, the Father’s beloved Son-Servant,
you became a slave on the cross.
You did not come to be served, but to serve
and to give your life as a ransom for many.
You teach us the way of serving love.
By your public ministry and paschal sacrifice,
you show us how to serve fully
the saving will of God.
Help us to reject the world’s power game
and not to seek false prestige.
Let us imitate you in serving the needs of others,
especially the weak and vulnerable in today’s society.
We love you, Jesus Savior,
and glorify you, now and forever.
Amen.
***
God of mercy,
you are ever gracious.
You lead us on the path of justice and peace.
Give new signs and work new wonders
so that all nations may recognize the glory of your name.
Make us instruments of your justice and peace.
Reward those who hope in you.
We give you glory and praise, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.” (Mk 10:45) // “Give
new signs and work new wonders.” (Sir 36:5a)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Let the service that you carry out on behalf of others be joyful and replete with
love and self-giving. // By your service to the impoverished and the victims of injustice,
let them experience that God is giving new signs and working new wonders in our midst.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
THURSDAY: EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Makes the Blind See … He Glorifies
God”
BIBLE READINGS
Sir 42:15-25 // Mk 10:46-52
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 10:46-52): “Master, I want to see.”
I met Philip, a ten-year old boy suffering from a malignant brain tumor, at our
convent in Cebu Island in the Philippines, in 1977. The malady caused Philip to become
blind and his growth was stunted. He had the body of a six-year old, but his face was
radiant and beautiful. He was quite good at playing the organ and the guitar. After
listening with joy to his improvised concerto, I accompanied Philip to the refectory,
located on the second floor of our convent. I held his hand as we went up the flight of
steep stairs. When we reached the top, he asked me, “How many steps are there in these
stairs?” I had to confess with embarrassment that I never counted them. Philip gamely
told me how many steps there were. The Sisters offered Philip fruit juice and cookies,
and the usual children’s treats. He gently refused explaining that he had a diet. Philip
knew that he would not live very long, but there was no hint of fear or regret in him. His
sightless eyes seemed to have more capacity for seeing than our own. The lovable Philip
could see beyond and was full of trust in the loving God who would soon bring him to
heaven. As I bid him goodbye, I was praying deep in my heart, “Lord, help me to see the
way Philip sees!” The blind little boy who made me realize that I needed “to see” and
inspired me to pray for spiritual sight died a few years later. I know for certain that Philip
is in heaven, “seeing” God face to face.
The need for true spiritual sight is the subject of today’s Gospel (Mk 10:46-51).
The reading begins with an interesting geographical reference and a touch of local color:
“As Jesus was leaving Jericho, with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a
blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging” (v. 46). The main road to
Jerusalem runs right through Jericho, which is 15 miles northeast of Jerusalem and 5
miles west of the Jordan River. The messianic journey of Jesus that began in Caesarea
Philippi (Mk 8:27-30) is reaching its destination: Jerusalem. The departure of Jesus and
his disciples, together with a large crowd, from Jericho evokes the movement of a large
group of pilgrims on the way to Jerusalem for the Passover. The crowd that is moving
towards Jerusalem, the place of sacrifice, does not, however, comprehend the meaning of
Jesus’ paschal destiny. The disciples and the crowd are figuratively “blind” with regards
to the destiny of this remarkable man who had declared: “The Son of Man did not come
to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45). Indeed,
it is more convenient to see him as a wonderful miracle worker, a powerful political ruler
and a generous breadbasket king. In comparison to the blind beggar Bartimaeus, they
seem lucky for they could see with their physical eyes. But there is a deeper reality than
physical sight.
Mark portrays Bartimaeus as sitting by the roadside begging. With undaunted
hope, the blind beggar resolutely cries out his invocation, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity
on me” (Mk 10:47). Ignoring the rebuke of the many unsympathetic people who try to
silence him, he keeps calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me” (Mk
10:48). Bartimaeus’ use of the expression “Son of David” is the first public application of
that messianic title to Jesus. The title “Son of David” designates Jesus as the heir of the
promise made to David through Nathan (cf. II Sam 7:12-16). The biblical scholar Philip
Van Linden remarks: “The title Bartimaeus gives Jesus, ‘Son of David,’ indicates that he,
a blind beggar, actually sees who Jesus is more clearly than the disciples and crowd who
have been with him all along!”
Today’s Gospel ends with a joyful note of healing and a decisive movement of
discipleship. Having received his sight, he follows Jesus on the way of discipleship.
Bartimaeus serves as an example of a person with “sight” and such a person follows
Jesus into his passion. His response to Jesus’ command, “Go your way” is to embrace
the way of the Divine Master, a way that leads from Jericho to Jerusalem, and ultimately
– the way of the Cross. His response challenges the community of Christian believers
today.
B. First Reading (Sir 42:15-25): “The glory of the Lord fills all his works.”
Today’s First Reading (Sir 42: 15-25) is a hymn to the wisdom of God revealed in
creation. Through the word of God his works come into being. The glory of the Lord fills
all creation, but not even the holy angels can fully describe all his mighty deeds and
marvels. How beautiful are all his works! Great is his wisdom! From the beauty and order
in creation, we can deduce that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and eternal. God’s
creatures differ, one from another, and complement each other. Each in turn is good.
Could anyone ever see enough of God’s splendor?
In Jesus Christ all things were made. In him who is the wisdom of God, we are
able to perceive the glory of God in creation and our interconnectedness. The following
article gives us a remarkable insight about how closely linked we are as part of God’s
creation (cf. Elizabeth Sherill, “Connectedness” in Daily Guideposts 2010, p. 234).
From the beach this afternoon I spotted a majestic schooner far offshore, tall
white sails tilting in the wind. I watched it through binoculars till it was out of
sight, bound, no doubt, for Newport.
Newport is nearby, at least by water. By land it’s a long, slow, twisting route
following the coast. And watching that schooner skimming straight to its
destination, I suddenly saw the ocean not as a place where roads end, but as the
open highway that first connected the earth’s far-flung people. Long before
reliable roads were built, the sea and the rivers flowing into it were the principal
route for conquest, trade, settlement.
Three months earlier I’d also stood on a beach watching boats at sea. The sea
was the Gulf of Thailand, and the graceful women walking past spoke a language
I didn’t know. We give names to particular stretches of water – South Pacific,
Indian Ocean, North Atlantic – but, of course, it’s all one ocean, one great
waterway circling the earth.
It’s twilight now, and I’ve walked down to the point to watch the setting sun lay a
golden trail across the water. Maybe, I think, one of those Thai women is
watching this sun rise over the ocean this very moment. Maybe she, like me, is
murmuring a prayer to the Creator of land and sea.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we recognize and identify the blindness within us that needs to be healed? Do we
turn to Jesus and say, “Master, I want to see” (Mk 10:51)? In our experience of blindness
and hopelessness, do we have the courage and the faith to cry out with Bartimaeus:
“Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me” (Mk 10:47)? When Jesus sees us by the wayside
and calls us to himself, what is our response? Do we throw aside the cloak of our old
habits, get up, and run to meet him? Do we follow him on the way?
2. Do we allow ourselves to be touched by the glory of God’s creation? Do we thank and
praise for the marvels of his creation and the wisdom that brought it forth into being?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
we are blind.
We are blinded by the visible,
which prevents us from grasping the invisible.
We have closed our eyes to our paschal destiny.
We turn to you for inner healing.
Master, we want to see!
Jesus, Son of David, have pity on us!
We love and adore you, now and forever.
Amen.
***
Loving God,
you are all-knowing.
Great is your power and your wisdom!
How beautiful are your works!
Your glory fills all creation.
Help us to perceive our interconnectedness
as part of your beloved creation.
Make us wise and careful stewards of your creation.
We give you thanks and praise
in Jesus, the eternal Word,
through whom all things were made.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“Master, I want to see.” (Mk 10:51) //“The glory of the Lord fills all his
works.” (Sir 42:16)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray in thanksgiving for the many good people who endeavor to relieve the
painful and difficult situations of the vision-impaired. Offer some help to various
institutions for the blind. // Promote the integration of God’s beloved creation by
following the ecological principle: Reduce-Reuse-Recycle.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
FRIDAY: EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Calls Us to True Piety … He Belongs to
the Covenant People”
BIBLE READINGS
Sir 44:1, 9-13 // Mk 11:11-26
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 11:11-26): “My house will be called a house of prayer for all
peoples. Have faith in God.”
In today’s Gospel (Mk 11:11-26), the story of Jesus cleansing the Jerusalem
temple is sandwiched between the strange story of him cursing the fig tree. As he leaves
Bethany to return to the Jerusalem temple he gets hungry. He goes over to a fig tree. It is
covered with leaves but no fruit because it is “out of season”. Jesus curses the fruitless
tree. Early in the morning of the following day it is withered. Against the backdrop of
Jesus driving the buyers and sellers from the temple area because they have turned what
was meant to be “a house of prayer for all peoples” into a “den of thieves”, the withered
fig tree symbolizes the barrenness, irrelevance and condemnation of Jewish temple piety.
The corruption of temple worship has provoked Jesus’ prophetic ministry and his
pronouncement of divine condemnation. The fig tree symbolizes Israel. The cursing of
the fig tree and its withering dramatizes God’s judgment against Israel’s perverted temple
worship: unfruitful and “out of sync” with the signs of the time - the radical newness of
the Reign of God that Jesus brings. The Divine Master then completes the lesson of the
withered fig tree by challenging his disciples to a more efficacious prayer-worship that is
based on “faith in God” and total surrender to his saving will and forgiving love.
The following story is a modern day example of a piety that is as irrelevant and
unfruitful as the cursed fig tree (cf. Anthony de Mello, The Song of the Bird, New York:
Image Books, 1984, p. 64).
October 1917: The Russian Revolution is born. Human history takes a new
direction.
The story goes that that very month the Russian Church was assembled in
council. A passionate debate was in progress about the color of the surplice to
be used in liturgical functions. Some insisted vehemently that it has to be white.
Others, with equal vehemence, that it had to be purple.
Coming to grips with revolution is more of a bother than organizing a liturgy. I’d
rather say my prayers than get involved in neighborhood disputes.
B. First Reading (Sir 44:1, 9-11): “Our ancestors were merciful and their name will
live for generations.”
The Old Testament reading (Sir 44:1, 9-13) continues to underline that God’s
glory is manifested in Israel’s history and that the “godly men” or men of hesed (piety
and compassion) reveals the divine wisdom and glory. The illustrious ancestors of
glorious past live on through their good works and good name. Their righteous deeds will
not be forgotten. Their descendants continue to keep the covenant because of what their
ancestors did. Indeed, the godly persons deserve immortality while the fate of the wicked
is oblivion.
The life of Saint Macrina gives insight into the glorious destiny of the godly. She
is the matriarch of one of the Church’s most blessed families. Here is an interesting
article on this illustrious matriarch whose progeny includes Saint Basil the Great and
Saint Gregory of Nyssa (cf. Our Sunday Visitor Special Supplement, “Saints for the
Family”, p. 10-12).
Saint Macrina was the grandmother of Saint Basil the Great, his brothers Saint
Gregory of Nyssa and Saint Peter of Sebaste, and their sister Saint Macrina the
Younger. Macrina raised all of her grandchildren (she had 10) and took special
care to give them a sound religious education. Her care paid off: Basil became a
monk and wrote a monastic rule that is still followed by monks in the East.
Gregory became bishop of Nyssa and then archbishop of Sebaste. Peter preceded
his brother as archbishop of Sebaste. All three brothers were champions of the
Catholic faith against Arianism, a heresy that was raging across the Christian
world at the time. And Macrina the Younger became abbess of a small community
of nuns near the Black Sea.
Saint Macrina had been converted by Saint Gregory Taumaturgus (the name
means “wonder-worker”), a renowned preacher. It was said that when he was
made a bishop of Caesarea, there were only 17 Christians in his diocese, but
when he died there were only 17 pagans in his diocese he had not managed to
convert.
In 303, Emperor Diocletian began his empire-wide persecution of Christians. It
would be the last Roman persecution of the Church and it would prove to be the
most ferocious. Thousands of Christians were killed, among them some of the
most revered martyrs of the early Church, including Saint Agnes, Saint Sebastian
and Saint Januarius, known to Italians as San Gennaro. As was true of so many
Christians, Macrina and her husband went into hiding. They fled to a remote spot
in a vast forest along the shores of the Black Sea, where they remained for seven
years. It was a terrible time for the couple. In addition to the constant fear that
they would be discovered and dragged off to a horrible death, they often had
difficulty foraging for food. Several times Macrina and her husband nearly
starved to death.
Only in 311 did they feel safe enough to leave their refuge and return to
civilization. Soon thereafter, Macrina’s husband died, and she filled her days
raising and educating her grandchildren.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Is our faith relationship with God manifested in true prayer and fruitful acts of charity?
Do we seek to live the spirit of piety and strive for full surrender to the divine saving
will?
2. Do we believe that the life of the godly is blessed by God and is destined for
immortality?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Jesus Divine Master,
you taught us the meaning of prayer and true worship
upon the cross of salvation.
Let our life be focused
on the radical newness of the Reign of God.
Help us work for justice and peace
and promote the advent of his kingdom on earth.
Make our prayer an expression of faith in God
and submission to his saving will.
Do not allow us to degenerate
into a barren and cursed fig tree,
but rather transform us into a vigorous tree
with abundant fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Let us witness the power of prayer in today’s world.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
Loving Father,
help us to live a life of mercy and compassion.
Let our righteous deeds glorify you.
Help us to live forever in your love.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
week. Please memorize it.
“Have faith in God.” (Mk 11:22) // “Their glory will never be blotted out.” (Sir
44:13)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Endeavor to live the true meaning of prayer and worship in today’s world. By
little acts of charity to the people around you, especially to the poor and vulnerable, let
your life be pleasing to God and fruitful. // Endeavor to keep the integrity of your name
and let your good deeds live on in the Lord.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
SATURDAY: EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Has Messianic Authority … He Is the
Wisdom of God Incarnate”
BIBLE READINGS
Sir 51:12cd-20 // Mk 11:27-33
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 11:27-33): “By what authority are you doing these things?”
The chief priests and scribes are seeking a way to kill Jesus after his drastic
cleansing of the temple and on account of his subversive actions and words. Now they are
joined by the elders in challenging Jesus by what authority he is doing these things. Jesus
counters with a question about John’s authority to baptize. For fear of the crowd, the
opponents of Jesus refuse to make a statement about the source of John the Baptist’s
authority. What began as a threat to Jesus’ authority ends in the exposure of how little
authority and courage his antagonists really have. What was meant to subvert and
humiliate Jesus turns into a manifestation of the authoritative wisdom of the Divine
Master.
The messianic authority of Jesus continues in the “one, holy catholic and
apostolic Church”. In the face of moral-social-political issues that convulse and challenge
the faithful today, it is good to assert the authoritative Church teaching. The following are
the Seven Key Themes of the Catholic Social Teaching in the Public Square (cf. USCCB,
The Challenge of Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship, November 2007).
1. The Right to Life and the Dignity of the Human Person: Human life is
sacred. Direct attacks on innocent human beings are never morally acceptable.
Within our society, life is under direct attack from abortion, euthanasia, human
cloning, and destruction of human embryos for research. These intrinsic evils
must always be opposed. This teaching also compels us Catholics to oppose
genocide, torture, unjust war and the use of the death penalty, as well as to
pursue peace and help overcome poverty, racism and other conditions that
demean human life.
2. Call to Family, Community and Participation: The family, based on marriage
between a man and a woman, is the fundamental unit of society. This sanctuary
for the creation and nurturing of children must not be redefined, undermined or
neglected. Supporting families should be a priority for economic and social
policies. How our society is organized - in economics and politics, in law and
public policy – affects the well-being of individuals and of society. Every person
and association has a right and a duty to participate in shaping society to
promote the well-being of individuals and the common good.
3. Rights and Responsibilities: Every human person has a right to life, the
fundamental right that makes all other rights possible. Each of us has a right to
religious freedom, which enables us to live and act in accord with our God-given
dignity, as well as a right to have access to those things required for human
decency – food and shelter, education and employment, healthcare and housing.
Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities – to one another, to
our families, and to a larger society.
4. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable: While the common good embraces all,
those who are in greatest need deserve preferential concern. A moral test for
society is how we treat the weakest among us – the unborn, those dealing with
disabilities or terminal illness, the poor and marginalized.
5. Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers: the economy must serve the
people, not the other way around. Economic justice calls for decent work at fair,
living wages, opportunities for legal status for immigrant workers, and the
opportunity for all people to work together for the common good through their
work, ownership, enterprise, investment, participation in unions and other forms
of economic activity.
6. Solidarity: We form one human family; whatever our national, racial, ethnic,
economic and ideological differences. Our Catholic commitment to solidarity
requires that we pursue justice, eliminate racism, end human trafficking, protect
human rights, seek peace, and avoid the use of force except as a necessary last
resort.
7. Caring for God’s Creation: Caring for the earth is a duty of our Catholic faith.
We all are called to be careful stewards of God’s creation and to ensure a safe
and hospitable environment for vulnerable human beings now and in the future.
B. First Reading (Sir 51:12cd-20): “Give me wisdom and I will give you glory.”
Today’s Old Testament reading (Sir 51:12cd-20) is taken from the concluding
part of the Book of Sirach. The passage we hear today tells of Ben Sira’s quest for
wisdom. He boldly prays for wisdom at the temple and is rewarded with great
knowledge. Greatly delighting in her, Ben Sira keeps himself free from sin that he may
always have her. He therefore follows directly in her path and guidance. He has profited
much from wisdom and he thus renders her grateful praise. Ben Sira has grown so much
in wisdom since he has found her. He is resolved never to let go of her. Ben Sira’s
yearning and love for wisdom should inspire us to commit ourselves totally to Christ, the
Wisdom of God incarnate.
The following testimony gives us an idea how the spirit of wisdom is at work in
our life (cf. Fay Angus in Daily Guideposts 2010, p. 229).
Rose Kennedy has given us a legacy of faith and courage, and I frequently find
myself inspired by the strength she showed throughout her life. I was desperately
trying to hold together the raw and ragged edges of a hurt that wouldn’t knit
together and heal. My thoughts were jumbled by grief and tears and became the
only language I could speak. Then came a lifeline from something Mrs. Kennedy
once said: “It’s not the tears that make the pain more bearable, it’s
determination!” Determination. That one word gave me stamina, resolve and
resilience.
As a young girl, during the contemplative moments of a Lenten retreat, Mrs.
Kennedy thought of the joys and sorrows, difficulties and grief that inevitably
come into all our lives. Whatever happened, she determined, “I will hold my soul
forever free!” She refused to let her faith be bound by circumstances; instead, she
placed unshakable trust in the goodness of God, which encircled her with an aura
of peace.
Keeping in motion gave her emotional ventilation. Daily she plunged into the icecold waters of Cape Cod for a swim, and then went for a walk, praying and
making up her mind that she is not going to be defeated by the tragedy of losing
three sons. Senator Edward Kennedy said of her, “Mother believes that if there
are rays of sunshine in a stormy sky, focus on the light, not the darkness.”
Each year on this day, Rose Kennedy’s birthday, I pause to give thanks for the
strength she has given me.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we fully accept the messianic authority of Jesus? Do we promote the truth that
Jesus the Divine Master teaches and incarnates in today’s world?
2. Do we yearn for wisdom and endeavor to be filled with it? Do we pray to God to give
us wisdom that we may walk on a level path and give him glory and praise?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
O Jesus Divine Master,
we adore as the Word incarnate sent by the Father
to instruct us in the life giving truth.
You live on in the Church.
Grant us the grace to embrace your authoritative wisdom
that enables us to embrace moral principles,
care for the needs of the weak,
defend the culture of life,
and pursue the common good.
We humbly submit to your messianic authority
for you are the One Sent by God
and anointed by the Holy Spirit for our salvation.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
Almighty God,
we thank and praise you
for the gift of Wisdom incarnate, Jesus Christ.
Let us follow the Divine Master all the way
and help us to be resolutely committed to him.
He guides us on the path that leads to life.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“By what authority are you doing these things?” (Mk 11:28) //“I became
resolutely devoted to wisdom – the good I persistently strove for.” (Sir 51:19)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Make an effort to understand the personal implication for you of the Catholic
Teaching in the Public Square and to put it into practice. // Pray to the Lord that we may
be imbued with the Holy Spirit’s gift of wisdom to enable us to live fully our Christian
discipleship. Today be attentive to, and grateful for, the signs of divine wisdom that
enfold our daily life.
*** Text of Week 8 in Ordinary Time ends here. ***
A Lectio Divina Approach to the Weekday Liturgy: Cycle I
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (n. 45)
ORDINARY SEASON: WEEK 9
MONDAY: NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Beloved Son Finally Sent … He Is
the Path of Righteousness”
BIBLE READINGS
Tb 1:3; 2:1a-8 // Mk 12:1-12
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 12:1-12): “They seized the beloved son, killed him, and threw
him out of the vineyard.”
Today’s Gospel (Mk 12:1-12) presents the drama of man’s wickedness and God’s
faithful and patient love. A “parable of contention”, it is directed against the smugness,
vanity and self-seeking of the religious leaders of Israel. They have failed in their mission
as stewards. They have persecuted and even killed those whom the Lord sent them. As a
last resort, God sent not only his servants the prophets, but his own Son. But the wicked
tenants seized his “beloved son” and put him to death, throwing his body “out of the
vineyard”. The “beloved son” finally sent is Jesus, put to death outside the walls of
Jerusalem. Cardinal Jean Danielou remarks: “God’s patience has been strained to its
farthest limit in this tragedy of Christ, the Lord of the vineyard’s son, rejected by the
tenants, crucified, treated by his own people as a stranger and an outcast. But from the
lowest depths arises a sudden hope. He will let out the vineyard to other vinedressers,
who will pay him his due when the season comes.” In this parable of the wicked tenants,
we see God’s first covenant with his Chosen People Israel being transferred to all peoples
of faith. As a result of the sacrificial death of the Son, peoples of all nations become
tenants-producers in God’s vineyard.
We are called to be a productive part of the Lord’s vineyard. As workers in his
harvest, we need to be responsible, dutiful and faithful. We need to overcome human
tendencies to mediocrity, indifference and sloth in our service of God’s kingdom. The
following story by Papa Mike McGarvin (cf. Poverello News, November 2011, p. 1-2)
gives insight into some of the foibles and counterproductive attitudes that we need to
overcome in our daily life.
Several years ago, just before Thanksgiving, someone donated a turkey to us that
was over fifty pounds. It was an absolute monster, the biggest gobbler I’d ever
seen. I figured that meat from that bird would take care of several families on
Thanksgiving Day. We made a big deal about it; we thanked the donor, of course,
but we also mentioned the turkey to some of the news outlets that make their way
down here on the holidays, and at least one station took some footage and showed
the prize turkey on the air.
We were curious to discover just how much meat this big boy would provide, so it
was with great anticipation that it was prepared and placed in the oven. Later
that day, I went to our chef to ask how it came out. He looked at me and sighed.
“Well … the boys burned it.” “Whaddaya mean they burned it?” I asked stunned
in disbelief. “They just … burned it up. Nothing salvageable. I guess they weren’t
paying attention.”
This wasn’t the first time that our drug program cooks had done something like
this. I remember one time when lettuce prices were sky-high, and we received
several crates of lettuce as a donation. I was elated, because it meant plenty for
salads and hamburger trimmings at a time we couldn’t afford to buy this produce
item. Our program cook at the time was a man who claimed to be a professional
chef. I walked through the kitchen, and saw him happily washing the lettuce – in
scalding water. By the time I caught him, he had washed over three-quarters of
the supply, rendering it wilted and useless.
B. First Reading (Tb 1:3; 2:1a-8): “Tobit walked on the paths of truth and
righteousness.”
This week’s Old Testament reading is taken from the Book of Tobit, originally
written in Hebrew or Aramaic. It is a religious story that tells of miraculous help to God’s
faithful people and teaches Jewish piety and morality. The author depicts the faithfulness
of Tobit, a Jewish exile in Nineveh. He is an honest man who tries to do what is right in
the sight of God. He is marked with virtues, foremost of which is charity. Tobit is a
model of the exiled Israel who expresses his faith by serving the needs of others. He
feeds the hungry, clothes the naked and buries the dead, a charitable act that once put him
to flight and in danger of death during the time of King Sennacherib. Returning to
Nineveh during the time of King Esarhaddon, Tobit is not daunted. He continues to
exercise his charitable works.
Today’s reading (Tb 1:3; 2:1a-8) tells us that on a Pentecost festival Tobit sends
out his son Tobiah to find a poor kinsman with whom he could share a fine dinner. The
son finds, instead, a murdered man in the market place. Tobit springs to his feet, leaves
his dinner untouched and retrieves the dead body so that he might bury him after sunset.
The neighbors mock his folly. He has been hunted down once for burying the dead and
now he is doing it all over again. Tobit is a sterling example of how to be imbued with
charity as a principle of daily life, and not merely as an occasional diversion. He is
likewise a figure of Jesus Christ, the faithful one, who walks on the path of truth and
righteousness. Tobit’s selfless compassion also inspires us to commit ourselves to
corporal works of mercy for the needy.
The reverence for the dead that the Jewish faithful Tobit showed can be verified
in other cultures. Here is an example in the Japanese culture (cf. Arthur Gordon, Memoirs
of a Geisha, New York: Vintage Contemporaries, 1997, p. 102-104).
And then Auntie interrupted my thoughts. “Chiyo, I’m going to read you
something from a man named Tanaka Ichiro”, she said in a voice that was
strangely heavy and slow. I don’t think I breathed at all while she spread the
paper out on the table.
Dear Chiyo:
Two seasons have passed since you left Yoroido, and soon the trees will give
birth to new generation of blossoms. Flowers that grow where old ones withered
serve to remind us that death will one day come to us all.
As one who was once an orphaned child himself, this humble person is sorry to
inform you of the terrible burden you must bear. Six weeks after you left for
your new life in Kyoto, the suffering of your honored mother came to its end,
and only a few weeks afterward your honored father departed this world as
well. This humble person is deeply sorry for your loss and hopes you will rest
assured that the remains of both your honored parents are enshrined in the
village cemetery. Services were conducted for them at the Hoko-ji Temple in
Senzuru, and in addition the women in Yoroido have chanted sutras. This
humble person feels confident that both your honored parents have found their
places in paradise. (…)
Most sincerely yours,
Tanaka Ichiro
Long before Auntie had finished reading this letter, the tears had begun to flow
out of me just like water from a pot that boils over. (…) When I was finally able to
speak, I asked Auntie if she would set up the tablets someplace where I wouldn’t
see them, and pray on my behalf – for it would give me too much pain to do it. But
she refused, and told me I should be ashamed even to consider turning my back
on my own ancestors. She helped me set the tablets up on a shelf near the base of
the stairwell, where I could pray before them every morning. “Never forget them,
“Chiyo-chan”, she said. “They’re all that’s left of your childhood.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. How do we carry out our task as “tenant farmers” in God’s vineyard? Do we try to
overcome counterproductive tendencies and attitudes such as irresponsibility,
indifference, incompetence, sloth, etc.?
2. Like Tobit and Jesus Christ, do we endeavor to walk in the paths of truth and
righteousness, and do we show our fidelity to God by our compassionate acts of charity
to the needy?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you call us to be the new “tenant farmers”
in the Lord’s vineyard.
Give us the grace
to work with personal dedication and loving responsibility
so as to produce a rich spiritual harvest.
Bless all our toils and labors
for the coming of God’s kingdom.
We love and serve you, now and forever.
Amen.
***
Almighty God,
we thank you for your faithful and merciful love.
Let us be imbued by your own mercy and faithfulness.
Help us to share our table with the hungry,
to defend the oppressed,
to give tithes generously,
to assist the poor,
and to bury the dead and show them due respect.
You care for us and guide us in your ways.
Help us radiate your saving love to all.
We adore and serve you.
We give you glory and praise, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“He had one other to send, a beloved son.” (Mk 12:6) //“I, Tobit, have walked all
the days of my life on the paths of truth and righteousness.” (Tb 1:3)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Today carry out your daily tasks with a greater spirit of love and personal
dedication and with deeper awareness that we are called to be fruitful “tenant farmers” in
the Lord’s vineyard. // When you attend a funeral service, be deeply aware that you are
carrying out a corporal work of mercy.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
TUESDAY: NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Calls us Repay to Caesar What Belongs
to Caesar and to God What Belongs to God … He Is the Light
of Our Eyes”
BIBLE READINGS
Tb 2:9-14 // Mk 12:13-17
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 12:13-17): “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to
God what belongs to God.”
Today’s Gospel (Mk 12:13-17) presents an insidious trap concocted by some
Pharisees and Herodians against Jesus. Recognizing their hypocrisy and evil intent, Jesus
eludes the trap by asking them to bring him a denarius. When they hand him the Roman
coin, he asks them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They reply “Caesar’s”. Jesus
then confounds them with a masterly retort: “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and
to God what belongs to God”.
The great preacher, Fulton Sheen, comments on today’s Gospel episode: “Our
Lord took no sides, because the basic question was not God or Caesar, but God and
Caesar. That coin used in their daily marketing showed they were no longer independent
from a political point of view. In that lower sphere of life, the debt to the government
should be discharged … Once again he was saying that his kingdom was not of this
world; that submission to him is not inconsistent with submission to secular powers; that
political freedom is not the only freedom. To the Pharisees who hated Caesar came the
command: Give unto Caesar; to the Herodians who had forgotten God in their love of
Caesar came the basic principle: Give unto God. Had the people rendered to God his due,
they would not now be in their present state of having to render too much to Caesar. He
had come primarily to restore the rights of God. As he told them before, if they sought
first the kingdom of God and his justice, all these things such as political freedom would
be added unto them.”
Today we are reminded of our primary duty to render to God his rights as well as
our obligation to render our due to the civil society. Jesus challenges us to be observant in
paying our debts to God and to fulfill our duties to one another and to a larger society. I
am a Filipino citizen, but because of the particular work that I do – spiritual ministry – I
am not a wage earner. I do not pay income tax since I practically do not have any income.
But I know the importance of paying taxes to the Philippine government. Taxes are
needed to fund its community services and public works. Hence, I contribute my “little”
to the civil society by paying my resident’s tax, travel tax, etc. not grudgingly but
joyfully, and above all, by conducting myself in a manner that befits a citizen of our
beloved nation.
B. First Reading (Tb 2:9-14): “I was deprived of eyesight.”
The reading (Tb 2:9-14) portrays Tobit as a very unfortunate victim of an
accident. On the very night he performs a corporal work of mercy for the dead,
misfortune comes to him. Droppings from birds nesting above settle on his uncovered
eyes while he is resting in the courtyard and would cause him later on to be totally blind.
It seems incomprehensible how God could allow a charitable man like him, who feeds
the hungry and buries the dead, to suffer senselessly. Tobit’s reward for righteousness
seems to be suffering rather than blessing. His affliction is exacerbated by his
scrupulosity. He wrongfully accuses his wife Anna of stealing the young goat that was
given to her by her customers as a bonus. His wife’s retort cuts deep into the heart of the
matter: “Your true character is finally showing itself!” In the heat of anger, Anna calls
into question her husband’s charitable deeds and virtuous acts. Tobit is deeply chastised
and heart-broken and would pray to God for death.
Tobit’s affliction will turn eventually into an occasion for blessing. In the life of
Tobit, of Jesus Christ and his disciples, good could spring forth from suffering. This can
be gleaned from the following testimony (cf. Julie Evans, “Out of the Dark” in Saturday
Evening Post, Sep/Oct 2012, p. 24-26).
Virginia Jacko was going blind. She knew it, but not everyone else did. Since the
mid-1990s, her vision had been steadily deteriorating. Though capable of seeing
people and objects in front of her, she might not recognize a person standing at
her side. Finally, in 1998, then in her 50s, Virginia was diagnosed with retinitis
pigmentosa, an irreversible disease affecting about 1 in 4,000 people in the
United States. The disease attacks the cells controlling the night vision, eventually
leading to blindness. (…)
She needed to learn to live as a blind person if she was going to succeed in a
sighted person’s world. (…) One of her three children, Julie, urged her to check
out the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Virginia and Bob
owned a condominium in Miami, so she would have a place to stay. Once there,
Virginia immersed herself in the world of the blind, honing skills she once took
for granted, such as baking oatmeal cookies and sewing buttons on clothes. She
soaked up everything she could learn about computer programs for the blind,
including programs that convert text to speech. After a three-month program,
Virginia felt a renewed sense of confidence. “I learned that a blind person can do
anything a sighted person does. They just have to learn to do things differently”,
she says.
At the end of her medical leave, Virginia was at a crossroads. She could return to
her job at Purdue and continue to advise the president and provost on financial
affairs. Or she could continue her efforts to regain mobility by enrolling in a onemonth, 24/7 intensive training program with a guide dog. She chose the latter.
By then, not only was Virginia completely blind but for the first time in her life,
she was stepping into the future without a clear career path. Yet she was at peace
with her decision. “I had changed. Walking out the doors of Miami Lighthouse as
a graduate of the program, I realized that my passion was helping the blind”, she
says.
Virginia’s husband Bob spent three months with her in Miami while she
completed the program but, as a tenured professor, he had to return to Purdue for
the new school year. Virginia would stay in Miami with her new guide dog
Tracker, immersing herself in work at the Miami Lighthouse. She began as a
volunteer, but such was her financial experience – and drive – that she soon
became treasurer and a member of the board. (…)
In early 2005, the president and CEO of Miami Lighthouse left unexpectedly for
personal reasons. The chairman asked Virginia to serve as president and CEO on
an interim basis until a permanent replacement could be found. Following a
nationwide search, the board selected Virginia, making her the first blind
president and CEO in Miami Lighthouse’s 81-year-history. Virginia wasted no
time in growing the organization. (…)
Virginia’s disability has never slowed her down. “Virginia is such a determined
person. Having a deep faith, supportive family, and positive, can-do attitude are
at the core of her success”, says Doug Eadie, co-author of Virginia’s
autobiography, The Blind Visionary.
“I am so blessed”, Virginia says today. Her blindness, she feels, was a gift that
allowed her to find a new mission and purpose in life. “We transform people’s
lives at Miami Lighthouse every day. I lost my vision and I found my passion.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do I render to God his rights as well as my duty of service to humanity? Am I
animated with love and zeal as I carry out my obligation to God and neighbors?
2. When we are totally grief-stricken, what is our attitude and course of action? Do we
rely on ourselves or do we allow God to achieve his compassionate plan in our life?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
O loving Jesus,
you came into the world to uphold the divine majesty
and to promote the total integrity of the human person.
Help us to be totally dedicated to God
and fully involved
in the pursuit of justice and peace in today’s world,
in giving preferential care for the weak and vulnerable,
and in promoting the good of individuals and the society.
Bless our endeavors
to “repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God”.
Make us channels of your peace and healing love.
We love you and serve you;
we glorify you and give you praise, now and forever.
Amen.
***
My God,
at times and many times, we are lost.
Our grief overwhelms us.
Please do not let us lose hope.
Give us light and show us the way.
Let our hurts be turned to good
and our pain into healing.
Let the heart of the just trust in the Lord
and grant salvation to your servants, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
(Mk 12:17) // “I was deprived of my eyesight.” (Tb 2:10)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Participate actively, consciously and fruitfully in the Sunday worship and be
honest and responsible in paying your dues to the State. // Help the blind to perceive
God’s beauty in the beloved creation and his goodness in every human person.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
WEDNESDAY: NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Calls Us to Faith in the Living God … He
Is Our Intercessor”
BIBLE READINGS
Tb 3:1-11a, 16-17a // Mk 12:18-27
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 12:18-27): “He is not God of the dead but of the living.”
This story is told by one of our Italian Sisters. Her father died of a massive stroke.
Her mom was crying heartily at the funeral. She tried to console her with the thought of
the final reunion in heaven. Her mom wailed: “But Jesus said in the Gospel that in the
next life we will be like angels … no more matrimony. In heaven, I will no longer be
your dad’s wife!” Of course, the widow’s fear of losing her husband in heaven is
unfounded. True love never ends and nuptial love is perfected in heaven.
Today’s Gospel passage (Mk 12:18-27) introduces us to the Sadducees, a group
of religious leaders who deny the existence of resurrected life. They are bent on engaging
Jesus in a reduced-to-absurdity argument against bodily resurrection. The Divine
Master’s first rebuttal to the scheming Sadducees also uses a reduced-to-absurdity tactic.
He argues that in the next existence, which has no place for death, the issue of marriage is
irrelevant. Jesus refutes the basic premise of the Sadducees that the life of the age to
come is a continuation of this life and therefore needs human propagation lest it die out.
The second rebuttal of Jesus is derived from the Torah. Since the Sadducees hold only to
the Law of Moses, Jesus utilizes it to bolster his argument about the resurrection. The
opponents of the resurrection have quoted the Torah to justify their case, but Jesus also
quotes the Torah (Ex 3:6) to prove that death does not end human existence. When God
says: “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” this implies
that the patriarchs are living.
The main object of human existence is to live for God and God’s glory. It is
through the resurrection of the Son of God that we are brought to true and eternal life.
Our belief in our resurrection is based on our faith in the resurrected Christ. Harold
Buetow remarks: “Christian belief in immortality is unique and special. The Gospel of
Jesus Christ is the Good News of fullness of life in this age, and of the resurrection in the
age to come … Someone has compared death to standing on the seashore. A ship spreads
her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the open sea. She fades on the
horizon, and someone says, ‘She’s gone.’ Just at the moment when someone says, ‘She’s
gone’, other voices who are watching her coming on another shore happily shout, ‘Here
she comes’. Or to use another metaphor, what the caterpillar calls ‘the end’, the butterfly
calls the ‘beginning’.”
B. First Reading (Tb 3:1-11a, 16-17a): “The prayer of these two petitioners was heard
in the glorious presence of Almighty God.”
The reading (Tb 3:1-11a, 16-17a) is a powerful assurance that God is in control
and he hears our prayer. The author presents us with parallel lives that are interconnected
in the divine plan. Both Tobit and Sarah, driven by despair, wish to die and be released
from suffering. With regards to Tobit, it seems ironic that the more he tries to live a good
and holy life, the more he suffers. He becomes blind through a bird droppings accident.
Moreover, his commitment to integrity leads to a quarrel with his wife, who
understandably reacts with a verbal attack. To Tobit’s contention that she stole the goat
that was given to her as a bonus, Anna counters by impeaching his moral integrity: “Now
I see what you are really like.” Tobit is deeply humiliated. Choking back tears he prays
that he would rather die than live in misery and face such cruel insults.
In the distant city of Ecbatana in Media, Sarah, the daughter of Tobit’s relative
Raguel, is likewise overwhelmed with tribulations. She is afflicted by a demon, who
desires her. Wanting her for himself, the demon keeps killing off her intended
bridegrooms. Asmodeus, which means “demon of wrath”, kills each of her seven
husbands before the marriage could be consummated. An abusive servant taunts her with
the accusation that it is she who kills them. She is so depressed that she intends to hang
herself. Sarah reconsiders, however, for the love of her father and instead raises her arms
to God in prayer.
Tobit and Sarah, both victims of senseless and cruel situations, turn to God in
prayer. Faith impels them to cast themselves upon God’s mercy and seek his saving will.
Tobit’s plea for oblivion is accompanied by the words: “Now treat me as you please.”
Sarah’s prayer for death is likewise accompanied with openness to divine grace: “But if it
is not your will to take my life, at least show mercy to me.” God hears their prayers and
sends his angel Raphael to help them. The name Raphael, which means “God heals”,
aptly describes the angel’s role to be the instrument of healing for these two faithful ones
who have opted to put their trust in God. Tobit will be able to see and Sarah will be
liberated from demonic oppression. She will be espoused to Tobit’s son, Tobiah.
The story of Tobit and Sarah illustrates that God vindicates our faith and that
suicide is a false solution to human misfortune. The experience of Tobit and Sarah has
great relevance for the “suicide crisis” in today’s world. The following article published
in an Irish Catholic newspaper gives insight into the modern society’s “self-destruction”
phenomenon (cf. “Flaws in Effort to Tackle Suicide Crisis” in Alive! May 2013, p.7).
Paul Kelly of Console notes some of the trends in society that contribute to the
terrible crisis of youth suicide. He points out the need for “sensitive criticism of
the act”, and warns against “unintentionally legitimizing” it. The national media
RTE in particular, have already done immense harm in this regard, pushing for
the acceptance of voluntary mercy killing and assisted suicide. This is part of
their wider, socially destructive, amoral agenda – the idea that each person is
simply an individual and should have maximum “autonomy” or freedom.
Mr. Kelly stresses the need to teach children and young people how to cope with
big disappointments in life. But how is this to be done?
We are talking here about suffering, how to cope with it and above all, how to
make sense of it. For Christians it is the issue of the Cross. Again, inability to
cope with failure may be an even bigger issue for adults – they often have less
hope for the future, indeed, less future.
Kelly is right to link this problem with the desire for happiness. He speaks of
“young people who cannot cope with the fact that they will not get what they
want.” But the issue of happiness goes much deeper than getting what we want or
being liked by others. This is the deepest yearning in every heart, yet our society
seems to be utterly incapable of dealing with it in a serious way. It’s like we’re
afraid of something.
Kelly briefly says that young people need to be told that suicide is “innately
wrong” and never the “correct solution” to their problems. Despite first
impressions, however, this appears to be simply a pragmatic rather than a moral
statement.
And here we come to the most serious and undermining flaw in attempts to tackle
the crisis – the refusal or inability to consider the religious and moral dimensions.
But, whether we like it or not, these are fundamental in dealing with the issue of
suicide. We need to face it.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. What is our concept of death and dying? Is this concept illumined by faith in the living
God, in whom all are alive?
2. Do the tribulations and trials of daily life overwhelm us? Do we ever despair and lose
hope? In our painful experiences do we trust in God and have recourse to his saving help?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Loving Father,
you are the God of the living, not of the dead.
In Jesus, your Son and our Savior,
we live and move.
We love you and your only begotten Son
for he is the way to eternal life.
We believe that death
is a door to infinite beauty and wondrous glory.
We proclaim in the great assembly
and in our life of service to the poor and needy
that you are indeed the font of life.
May the Risen Christ whom we celebrate in every Eucharist
bring about more and more
our daily resurrection and transformation.
In our work for justice and truth in today’s wounded world,
may we always give glory and praise to the triumph of life.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
***
God of mercy,
when trials and misfortunes overwhelm us,
be with us and help us to cling to you.
Strengthen us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Please join the sacrifice of our being
to that of Jesus, our infinite Savior,
that we may be touched by your healing hand
and experience your saving power.
Blessed are you, O Lord, merciful God.
And blessed is your holy and honorable name.
Blessed are you in all your works forever and ever!
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“He is not God of the dead but of the living.” (Mk 12:27) // “The prayer of these
two suppliants was heard in the glorious presence of Almighty God.” (Tb 3:16)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for widows/widowers who have lost their partners and are grieving for them.
Pray for the grace of a happy death and a deeper experience of trust in Jesus’ almighty
Father, the God of the living. Unite the struggles and challenges of your daily life into the
great Christian paschal mystery of dying that leads to eternal life. // By your word and
example, by your testimony of trust in divine mercy, enable the despairing to turn to God
in prayer and supplication. If it is possible, join a support group assisting the family
members and friends of suicide victims.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
THURSDAY: NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Calls Us to Love God and Neighbor … He
Is the Bridegroom of the Church”
BIBLE READINGS
Tb 6:10-11; 7:1bcde, 9-17; 8:4-9a // Mk 12:28-34
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 12:28-34): “There is no commandment greater than these.”
The social ills of our time that cry out for healing challenge us to incarnate the
love command presented in today’s Gospel reading: (Mk 12:28-34): “Love the Lord your
God with all your heart … Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus Christ’s assertion of
the primordial importance of the twofold love-command can be understood in the light of
the Old Testament reading (Dt 6:2-6), which underlines the obligation of the people of
Israel to love God wholeheartedly. But Jesus imbues the “love of God” command with a
new meaning by adding “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”, from the Book of
Leviticus (19:8).
Harold Buetow explains: “What is new is that Jesus went further: For him there’s
an extremely intimate bond between love of neighbor and love of God. In Christian
charity, people and God are not merely side by side; they are inseparably one. That idea
was new. Another facet of newness was that Jesus gave a completely new interpretation
of neighbor. In the time of Leviticus it meant Hebrews only. By the time of Jesus, it
included resident aliens as well. For Jesus, the word has the widest meaning possible: It
includes every member of the human race: He died for all of us. This was a much greater
depth and breadth than ever before imagined.”
The true meaning of love of God and neighbor is crystallized in the very life and
person of Jesus, especially in his self-gift and sacrificial love on the cross. Because God,
in his Son Jesus has loved us so much, we too are empowered to love. The commandment
to love God and neighbor flows from the love that the Lord has for us. In accepting God’s
love, it is possible to love God and neighbor in a wholehearted way.
The life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta exemplifies what love of God and neighbor
means in our world today (cf. Mother Teresa: Her Essential Wisdom, New York: Barnes
and Noble, 2006, p. 20-23). The following thoughts from her are very insightful.
Sometime back, a high government official said, “You are doing social work and
we also are doing the same. But we are doing it for something and you are doing
it for somebody.” To do our work, we have to be in love with God.
***
Charity begins today. Today somebody is suffering; today somebody is in the
street; today somebody is hungry. Our work is for today; yesterday has gone;
tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today to make Jesus known, loved,
served, fed, clothed, sheltered. Do not wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow we will not
have them if we do not feed them today.
***
I ask you one thing: do not tire of giving, but do not give your leftovers. Give until
it hurts, until you feel the pain.
***
The sisters care for forty-nine thousand lepers. They are among the most
unwanted, unloved, and neglected people. The other day one of our sisters was
washing a leper covered with sores. A Muslim holy man was present, standing
close to her. He said, “All these years I have believed that Jesus Christ is a
prophet. Today I believe that Jesus Christ is God since he has been able to give
such joy to this sister, so that she can do her work with so much love.
B. First Reading (Tb 6:10-11; 7bcde, 9-17; 8:4-9a): “Call down your mercy on me and
her and allow us to live together to a happy old age.”
The reading (Tb 6:10-11; 7:1bcde, 9-17; 8:4-9a) narrates the wedding of Tobit
and Sarah and the prayer of deliverance that the newlywed couple offers on the night of
their honeymoon. This prayer is preceded by a ritual of incense burning. Together with
the incense, and in accordance with the suggestion of the angel Raphael, Tobiah burns the
liver and the heart of the fish that they have caught during their journey to Media. The
intolerable stench drives the demon away to Egypt. That the demon flees to distant Egypt
implies total defeat for the jealous demon that has tormented the bride Sarah. The angel
Raphael, God’s minister of healing, immobilizes Asmodeus, the agent of death. Sarah’s
total deliverance occurs through prayer and ritual. Tobiah’s wedding prayer is not just to
invoke divine protection, but also to invoke God’s blessings upon him and his bride. The
newlyweds have entered into a nuptial and covenant love relationship with one another.
Tobiah’s prayer considers marriage as a gift of God. He also makes reference to Adam
and Eve who were created for each other as mutual help and support and from whom the
human race descended. Tobiah asks God that he and Sarah may be like them and may
live together to a happy old age and be blessed with children. Sarah joins Tobiah in the
“Amen” and the marriage is consummated. God looks kindly on their wedding prayer and
blesses them.
The marriage of Tobiah and Sarah is an image of the relationship between God
and his chosen people Israel and also prefigures the love relationship between Christ
Spouse and his Bride the Church. Indeed, in his life-giving sacrifice on the cross, Jesus
Christ shows us the meaning of nuptial love and covenant. The beauty and the joy of a
marriage blessed by God can be gleaned from the following stories (cf. Wilda Worth,
“The Honeymoon Cottage” in Country, February/March 2012, p. 50 // Cathy Myers,
“Plumber’s Helper” in Country, April/May 2010, p. 66).
During the housing shortage of World War II, two brothers in Muenster, Texas,
converted their backyard chicken coop into a rental home. Newlyweds rented the
little house, which became known as the Honeymoon Cottage, until they could
find and afford larger homes.
In January 1954, I moved into the Honeymoon Cottage with Gene after my
college graduation and our wedding. The cottage was the only furnished lodging
available, and the monthly rent was just $30 including utilities. (…)
I had a lot of time on my hands during our first months in the cottage, so I turned
my attention to creating a home. I learned to keep house, cook and garden. Using
the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, I experimented with recipes and
became a better-than-expected cook. Even when Gene complained that his clothes
were getting too tight, I tempted him with fresh-baked bread, pies and cakes, and
I secretly enjoyed watching him struggle with passing up dessert.
I planted a garden behind the house in spring. After stretching and straightening
the wire fence into an upright position to keep out neighborhood dogs and kids, I
dug, prepared the ground and planted tomatoes, bell peppers, beans, corn,
cucumbers, potatoes, squash and pumpkins. On hot afternoons, I spread a blanket
beside the garden to sunbathe, read and admire my growing garden.
As a first home, the Honeymoon Cottage was truly unique and original. And
though it’s no longer a rental, the cottage still stands as an unlikely tribute to the
hopes, dreams and determination of small-town America.
***
When my husband set out to repair a leak under our kitchen sink and asked me to
help, it promised to be an interesting experience. (…) “Did you find the leak?” I
finally asked. “’Bout got it finished now”, he said. “Dispose of the water while I
finish removing the broken drain line. Then we’ll put it all back together.” Great!
I was getting tired of holding the light, and it was almost time to cook supper.
“Will do”, I said, pleased to be useful. I propped the light up against the cabinet
and reached for the bucket. It was almost full, and I had to balance carefully to
keep from spilling it
My husband continued to work, pulling in air through his teeth to whistle a tune.
Imagine his surprise when he got a face full of water. Yes, I had poured the water
down the broken sink. “Oops, sorry.” I held my breath.
My husband laughed and shook his head as I handed him a towel. He wasn’t
angry or upset, or even surprised. He’s learned over the years to expect the
unexpected. And now he had a good story to share with family and friends for
years to come.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. What is our response to Jesus’ great command: “You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart … You shall love your neighbor as yourself”? How do we try to put
this twofold command into practice? Are we capable of wholehearted love and service? If
not, what do we do to improve our capacity for loving and giving?
2. Do we see marriage as a gift of God and a vital element in salvation history? What do
we do to promote the sanctity and integrity of marriage and family life in the world
today?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you loved the Lord your God with all your heart
and loved your neighbor as yourself.
In the Eucharist you are present to us
as the One who loved his own “to the end”.
O Divine Eucharist,
flame of Christ’s love that burns on the altar of the world,
make the Church comforted by you,
even more caring in wiping away the tears of suffering
and in sustaining the efforts of all who yearn for justice and peace.
Let your love triumph,
now and forever.
Amen.
***
God our Father,
you created man and woman
to love each other
in the bond of marriage.
Bless and strengthen husband and wife.
May their marriage become an increasingly more perfect sign
of the union between Christ and his Church.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart … You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.” (Mk 12:30-31) //“Allow us to live together to a happy old age.”
(Tb 8:7)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray that Jesus’ twofold love-command may truly impact and shape our daily
lives. Let the words of Jesus and his Eucharistic sacrifice challenge you to love and
embrace the poor and vulnerable in today’s fragmented and wounded world. // By word
and example, by catechesis and social action, promote the sanctity and integrity of
Christian marriage in today’s society.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
FRIDAY: NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Son of David and His Lord … He
Is Our Healing and Salvation”
BIBLE READINGS
Tb 11:5-17 // Mk 12:35-37
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 12:35-37): “How do the scribes claim that the Christ is the
son of David.”
We hear in the Gospel (Mk 12:35-37) that after being interrogated by his
opponents on such issues as paying taxes to Caesar, on the doctrine of the resurrection,
and on the greatest commandment, it is Jesus now who poses a question: how can the
Messiah be a son of David, if David himself acknowledges him as his Lord? No one in
the crowd answers. Jesus himself doesn’t answer his own question about in what sense
the Messiah could be David’s descendant. The purpose of raising the question is didactic.
Jesus wants to underline that the title “son of David”, with which he was acclaimed by
the welcoming crowd in his triumphant entry to Jerusalem, is not adequate to describe his
nature as Messiah. Christ Messiah, on account of his exalted, transcendent origin, is more
than just a “son of David”. Although a descendant of David, Jesus the Messiah is the Son
of God. His divine character surpasses the nobility and regality of his ancestor David. By
his paschal mystery of passion, death, and glorification, Jesus Savior proves that he is
indeed the son of David and wields lordship over David and all his ancestors. Indeed, the
glorified Jesus is Lord of the peoples of the earth and all creation.
I read a charming story about Pope John XXIII. After he became Pope, his
relatives from Bergamo came to have an audience with him. A bunch of rural, humble
folks, they were timid and overwhelmed to be received by the Supreme Pontiff. The
good, jolly old Pope extended his arms to the intimidated group and coaxed them
warmly, “Come; it is only me!” I fancy that King David is likewise overwhelmed by the
glory of his illustrious progeny, Jesus – son of Mary and Joseph. But on the day of
resurrection, the Risen Lord invites and assures his ancestor David, “Come; it is only
me!”
B. First Reading (Tb 11:5-17): “God himself scourged me and behold, I now see my
son Tobiah!”
The reading (Tb 11:5-17) is a joyful account of the homecoming of Tobit’s
beloved son Tobiah and the healing of the blind, long-suffering Tobit. Upon the
instructions of the angel Raphael, Tobiah smears the fish gall into the eyes of Tobit and
removes his father’s cataracts. Tobit’s joy is unbounded in seeing his son and embraces
him whom he calls “the light of my eyes”. The prayer of gratitude that comes forth from
Tobit’s lips manifests the extraordinary faith of this God-fearing man. He avows the
mysterious working of the God who has scourged him with affliction and who now grants
him mercy, grace and salvation. The bitter gall has provided the cure. But a deeper
healing occurs. Tobit’s “eyes of faith” have been opened through suffering and his
obedient stance to the divine saving will. God has turned his affliction into joy and Tobit
is filled with praise and thanksgiving. Together with the daughter-in-law Sarah who, like
Tobit, has experienced the torments of suffering and the joy of salvation, Tobit and his
family have cause for celebration.
Tobit’s experience of spiritual healing, that is, the healing of “the eyes of faith” –
which may or may not include physical healing – is replicated in the following personal
testimony (cf. Marilyn Morgan King in Daily Guideposts 2010, p. 93)
During a routine eye exam three years ago, Dr. Bode noted that my right eye had
the beginnings of macular degeneration. (…)
Now I have the beginning to this incurable disease. My left eye was still clear, but
the doctor said macular degeneration usually starts in one eye and then moves to
the other. The diagnosis meant that, if I lived long enough, I would eventually lose
the sight of both eyes. I will be blind! I could hardly let the thought in.
Then one evening an idea came to me during my silent prayer time: I couldn’t
know how much time I had left to see, but with God’s grace I could use my eyes to
gather and savor as much beauty as I could while I could. I couldn’t take a
camera with me into blindness, but I could “breathe in” images of beauty and
light to carry with me, if the path should become dark before I reached home.
“O Holy One, lead me into the path of beauty while I see, and I will trust Your
perfect vision to lead me safely home.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. Do we acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of David and his Lord and that he wields
lordship over us all?
2. Do we trust in the mysterious loving plan of God who could allow us to experience joy
and salvation through the rough road of affliction?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
by the Holy Spirit,
you are incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man.
You are a descendant of David.
The holy carpenter Joseph of Nazareth,
of the royal line of David,
is the foster father who cared for you.
We bless and thank you for being our Savior.
By the paschal events of your death and rising
and through the power of the Holy Spirit,
it has been revealed to us
that you are not simply the Messiah.
You are the “Son of God”
and not merely the “son of David”.
You are exalted above all.
You transcend the nature of a mere liberator.
You are God – our one Lord Jesus Christ!
We believe in you.
We submit to you our entire being
- our mind, heart and will.
We thank you for your gift of eternal life.
We love you and serve you, now and forever.
Amen.
***
Merciful Father,
you are infinite Wisdom and Love.
In trials and afflictions,
help us to see with “the eyes” of faith.
Let us experience the joy of your presence.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
week. Please memorize it.
“The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand.’” (Mk 12:36) // “It was he who
scourged me and it was he who had mercy on me. (Tb 11:15)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Meditate on the Nicene Creed and savor the beauty of the goodness of God who
sent his only Son into the world to redeem us. In your daily life, endeavor to mirror the
dignity and humility of the Son of God who became man to save us. // Relish the beauty
of creation around you and the beauty of life within you.
*** %%% *** %%% *** %%% ***
SATURDAY: NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Calls Us to a Total Self-Giving … The
Angels Minister to Him”
BIBLE READINGS
Tb 12:1, 5-15, 20 // Mk 12:38-44
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mk 12:38-44): “This poor widow has given more than all others.”
Today’s Gospel (Mk 12:38-44) is a lesson in wholehearted giving. Jesus contrasts
the sterling quality of an extremely generous widow with the greediness of scribes who
“devour the houses of widows”. Observing the devout act of the poor widow who puts
two small coins into the temple’s treasury, Jesus calls the disciples’ attention and teaches
them the difference between complete and incomplete giving. The rich honor God with a
portion of their wealth, but the poor woman gives from her very livelihood. As a
consequence of her self-emptying, she entrusts herself wholly to God. The widow’s
offering evokes the total gift that Jesus would make of himself on the cross. The Son of
God is the ultimate self-giving Lord. He offers his life “once and for all” in order to
redeem us. In union with him, our lives become capable of total self-giving. Together
with Jesus, the “poor one” (anawim), we become a gift to God.
The generous stance of the Gospel’s poor widow is replicated by the beggar in the
following story narrated by Mother Teresa (cf. Mother Teresa: Her Essential Wisdom,
New York: Barnes and Noble, 2006, p. 21).
A beggar one day came up to me and said, “Mother Teresa, everybody gives you
things for the poor. I also want to give you something. But today, I am only able
to get ten pence. I want to give that to you.” I said to myself. “If I take it he might
have to go to bed without eating. If I don’t take it, I will hurt him.” So I took it.
And I’ve never seen so much joy on anybody’s face who has given his money or
food, as I saw on that man’s face. He was happy that he too could give something.
This is the joy of loving.
B. First Reading (Tb 12:1, 5-15, 20): “So now praise God. Behold, I am about to
ascend to him who sent me.”
The reading (Tb 12:1, 5-15, 20) delineates the role of the angel Raphael in
carrying out God’s providential design in the life of Tobit, Tobiah and their kin. True to
their noble character, Tobit and Tobiah try to offer a generous compensation to Azarias
for having made possible the incredibly successful outcome of Tobiah’s journey to
Media. Azarias does not accept the offer, but responds with a divine revelation. He
reveals himself as the angel Raphael, “one of the seven angels who stand in the glorious
presence of the Lord, ready to serve him”. He is the one sent by God to guide and protect
them, to instruct and test them, and to mediate their prayers. He is the one who brought
the prayers of Tobit and Sarah into the divine presence. It is he who lifted up Tobit’s
generous deeds to God. It is he who tested and confirmed their faith. The angel Raphael,
whose name means “God heals”, has been sent by God to heal Tobit and to liberate Sarah
from demonic affliction. As a ministering angel, Raphael exhorts Tobit and Tobiah to
praise God and to give witness concerning God’s goodness to them. He also declares the
benefits of caring for the poor. He reiterates the need to do good and to avoid evil. His
mission accomplished, the angel Raphael ascends to the one who sent him and vanishes
from their sight.
Tobit, Tobiah and Sarah have experienced the awesome action of the angel
Raphael in their lives. With regards to Jesus Christ, the angels are at his bidding and
minister to his needs. Likewise for us, the angels continue to be agents of God’s saving
will. The following story gives us further insight (cf. James Pruitt, “The Voice of an
Angel” in Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul, ed. Jack Canfield, et. al. Deerfield Beach:
Health Communications, Inc., 1997, p. 377-374).
Among the U.S. Marines who fought against the Japanese in World War II was
21-year-old Corporal William Devers, who considered himself an agnostic. No
amount of arguing, Bible-quoting or coercion by his fellow Marines or chaplain
could sway him. During the company’s first major encounter with the Japanese, a
number of the unit were killed and the chaplain was wounded. In great pain, the
chaplain called to Devers, “My … left pocket … take it … please … Last night I
had a dream. In the dream an angel appeared and told me that I had to make you
take the Bible. Take it, son … please.” Devers shoved the Bible into his shirt
pocket to satisfy the wounded man.
Twenty minutes later, Corporal Devers’ squad stumbled right into a Japanese
patrol, and before he knew what had happened he was on the ground, his mind
fading into the darkness, certain he was dying. When he came to, he felt a ripple
of pain shoot through his chest, but there was no blood.
The bullet had torn into the Bible he carried in his pocket, ending its journey at
the book of Psalms, which read: “A thousand shall fall at thy side; and ten
thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the
MEDITATIO
1. How do we react to situations of vulnerability, insecurity and poverty? Do we take the
stance of the generous widow? Do we allow ourselves to be configured into the selfgiving Lord Jesus, the true Anawim – the ultimate Poor One of Yahweh?
2. Do we believe in the existence of angels and in God’s compassionate love in sending
them into our lives? Are we sensitive to the promptings of our guardian angel?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
O Lord Jesus,
you are the anawim - the poor one of Yahweh.
You praised the self-giving widow at the temple treasury.
Her self-gift anticipates your self-sacrifice
on the wood of the cross.
Fill our hearts with your love
so that we too may be a total gift offered to God
and for the good of others.
Your life in us is our greatest treasure.
We are happy and content to possess you
and to be possessed by you.
We love you and serve you, now and forever.
Amen.
***
(From the Prayers of the Pauline Family)
All you angels of the Lord,
you are called to pay noble homage,
give praise and incessantly bless the august Trinity,
to make reparation for our negligence.
You are true lovers of God and of souls,
and you continue to sing “Glory to God in the highest
and peace on earth to men of good will”.
We beseech you on behalf of humanity
that all may know the one true God,
his Son whom he sent,
and the Church, the pillar of truth.
Pray that the name of God may be held sacred,
the kingdom of Jesus Christ may come,
and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Extend your protection
over civil authorities, working people and those who suffer.
Obtain blessings and salvation
for all those who seek truth, justice and peace.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION
CONTEMPLATIO
OF
THE
WORD:
A
Pastoral
Tool
for
the
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the
day. Please memorize it.
“This poor widow put in more than all the others … She, from her poverty, has
contributed all she had.” (Mk 12:43) //“I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who enter
and serve before the Glory of the Lord.” (Tb 12:15)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray that the spirit of total giving may animate our life of Christian discipleship
and service. Pray also that the unjust structures that lead to destitution and greater abuse
of the poor and needy in today’s society may be rectified. Strive to offer the gifts you
have received from the Lord for good at the service of the community. // Be sensitive to
the presence of the angels in our life and allow yourself to be “touched by an angel”. By
your kindness and loving service to the poor and the needy, let them experience being
“touched by an angel”.
*** Text of Week 9 in Ordinary Time ends here. ***