Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17 / Luke 10:17-24
In their book Finding God, Louis Savary and Thomas O'Connor tell the story of a young man who had a remarkable experience of God. He knelt down and prayed for the first time in over 20 years. In the course of the prayer, he surrendered himself to God, totally. As he did, he suspected that God would make his life hard and painful. But the opposite happened.
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According to Christian tradition, every one of us has a guardian angel who accompanies us from the moment we’re born until the moment of our death, and stays at our side at every moment of our life. The idea of a spirit, of a supernatural entity that follows and supervises every human being, was already present in other religions and in Greek philosophy.
St Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897) was a French Catholic who became a Carmelite nun at an early age. She died in obscurity at the age of 24. However, after her death, her autobiography – Story of a Soul was published and became a best-seller around the world. Her books explained her spiritual path of love and selflessness, and she became one of only three females to be considered a doctor of the Catholic Church.
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Job 9:1-13, 14-16 / Luke 9:57-62
Job speaks about God: God is beyond our
comprehension.
The God who emerges from the Book
of Job is a God beyond human comprehension.
Story Starters: From Fr. Tony Kadavil’s Collection
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St. MICHAEL, GABRIEL, RAPHAEL, Tuesday September 29
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 or Apocalypse 12:7-12a / John 1:47-51
Daniel describes a vision: Myriads upon myriads attended him.
The Bible mentions angels often, beginning with the
Book of Genesis and ending with the Book of Revelation. Tradition teaches
that angels are a part of God's unseen creation. We allude to them
in the Creed at Mass when we say, "We believe in one God . . . maker
. . . of all that is seen and unseen." We refer to them at the start
of Mass when we pray on certain occasions, "I ask blessed Mary, ever
virgin, all the angels and saints, and you my brothers and sisters to pray for
me to the lard our God." We also refer to them in the Preface,
saying, "We join the angels and all the saints in proclaiming your
glory."
****
In the Bible, angels appear often.
Angels are messengers from God and they even act to carry out
God's will, be it protecting people, announcing to them a message or working
out a miracle. As much as angels appear often
in the Bible, only three are named - Michael, Gabriel and Raphael - and they
are given the title "archangels".
Michael in the Hebrew language means "Who is like unto God?"
or "Who is equal to God?" St. Michael has been depicted from earliest
Christian times as a commander, who holds in his right hand a spear with which
he attacks Satan, and in his left hand a green palm branch to signify God's
victory over evil. The Archangel Michael is especially considered to be the
Guardian of the Orthodox Faith and a fighter against heresies. Gabriel means "Man of God" or
"Might of God." He is the herald of the mysteries of God, especially
the Incarnation of God and all other mysteries related to it. He is depicted as
holding a lantern in one hand and in the other hand, a mirror of green jasper.
The mirror signifies the wisdom of God as a hidden mystery. Raphael means "God's healing" or
"God the Healer" (Tobit 3:17, 12:15). Raphael is depicted leading Tobit
with his right hand, and holding a physician's alabaster jar in his left
hand. Each of these archangels performs
a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael
guides and heals. Through these archangels
and also through the ministry of angels in general, God continues to be present
to us to protect us, to guide us and heal us and to communicate with us. We thank God for sending His love through
these angels and archangels and may we continue to be pray to the archangels
Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael to help and guide us through the journey of
life.
Angel is the name of their office, not of their nature. It
means messenger of God. All these names end with “el” meaning God. If you seek
the name of their nature, it’s “spirit”. What they are, “spirit” and what they
do, “angel” or messenger. We experience in our life, the power or might of God
as St. Michael or the healing of God as St. Raphael and the presence of God as
St. Gabriel. Even for Moslems the Quran was revealed to prophet Muhammed by the
angel Jibrīl, known as Gabriel in English
****
We know that God loves us, that he protects us and guides us
to our destiny. In the Bible, angels are presented as God’s messengers to
people, to help us to carry out God’s plans. The archangel Michael is mentioned
in the last book of the Bible as the angel who leads the fight against the
power of evil and who wants God’s work and Christ to overcome all evil. Gabriel
is the messenger of the Annunciation; Raphael is the angel companion and healer
in the Book of Tobias. Angels, then, are the sign of God’s guiding love and
concern for us. We may not forget today also the many people who help and guide
us in many ways by their love and care. They too, are, so to speak, God’s
angels to us.
****
Do we have a sense of joining the angels in praise in the Preface of the
Mass? “Thousands were ministering to him, myriads upon myriads
attended him."
****
The disciples did not understand what Jesus said or meant. But they were afraid to ask him about it. That was disappointing. If there was someone who could help them understand, it was Jesus himself. Why were they afraid to ask him what he meant? Had they asked him, they would have been better informed and better prepared for his suffering. They would not have immediately engaged in silly behavior like they did. (Luke goes on to say that an argument broke out among them as to who was the greatest.) Do you have doubts when you stand before God in prayer? Do you find it difficult to understand what God is communicating to you? If you do, ask Him! To whom else shall we go? For, God has the words of eternal life (Jn 6:68). Hasn’t Jesus said that if we asked, the Father would gladly give us the Holy Spirit (Lk 11:13) who makes everything intelligible to us? (Jn 16:13-15). In our confusions and concerns, let us confidently walk up to God and ask Him.
*****
Tuesday September 29 St. MICHAEL, GABRIEL, RAPHAEL
Penitential Rite:
-You sent us St. Michael to guard us and protect us from
dangers. When we fail to protect the vulnerable and safeguard their rights
-You sent us St. Raphael to heal and comfort us in our
afflictions. When we failed to comfort and heal the wounded and neglected
-You sent St. Gabriel as a presence and companion of your love. When we neglected to be present and attentive to the needs of others
Opening Prayer Lord our God, you are our providence. We are sure that you want to guide us to you, that you want to save us, that you love each of us personally, as we are, and that you do everything you can do to make yourself known to us. Whatever way you come to us and whoever your messengers are, may we recognize you and accept you and love you in them. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer over the Gifts God our Father, you have sent here among us your greatest messenger of your good news and of your own life, your Son Jesus Christ. Accept in this offering our thanks for all your angels and messengers you send us to heal us from our illnesses of body, mind and spirit and who speak to us words of love, hope and peace. Thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion God our Father, on account of Jesus Christ your Son give us enough trust in you to rely on you in all the events of life. Make us welcome your angels and messengers , in sickness, in our weakness, in our groping and hesitations. Make us, in turn, to our brothers and sisters helpers and messengers of your goodness and love. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Sept 28 Monday (St. Wenceslaus)
(https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-wenceslaus/), Martyr, St. Lawrence Ruiz and Companions, Martyrs) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-lorenzo-ruiz-and-companions/ : Lk 9:46-50: 46 And an argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But when Jesus perceived the thought of their hearts, he took a child and put him by his side, 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me; for he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” 49 John answered, “Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him; for he that is not against you is for you.” USCCB video reflections: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/index.cfm
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Job 1:6-22 / Luke 9:46-50
Suffering comes to Job: Job remained faithful to God.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 / Luke 9:18-22
Ecclesiastes talks about time: Everything happens at the time God chooses.
Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 / Luke 9:7-9
Ecclesiastes talks about human nature: There is nothing new
in the whole world.
****
The Book of Ecclesiastes, sometimes called Qoheleth, is part
of the Wisdom literature. Its theme is captured in the first verse: everything
is vanity—exhaled and empty air. Everything seems to be pointless as life moves
in cycles. Tomorrow will be the same as yesterday. Everything is already
decided. Nothing we can do can give it any other meaning. If there is meaning
to this vast endless cycle of events, it remains hidden to us. Why was
Ecclesiastes so pessimistic? One reason may be the times in which it was
composed. The great creative period of Israel's history was over. The Jewish
people had lost the sense of God speaking to them through the events of
history. Here, in exile, God's voice was silent. Ecclesiastes makes no
reference to covenant, exodus or deliverance. History had lost its power as
revelation. The people turned to the world of nature to see something of God.
There, they discovered only the great cosmic cycles of the seasons, years and
days. Although we might not share Ecclesiastes' pessimism, it is a lesson in
humility for us in that we cannot, in this life, comprehend the full
significance of all that occurs in our lives.
****
Do we tend to get pessimistic and down on life because
everything seems to be getting worse? Do we tend to think that things are
getting out of hand and God is no longer in confrol of the universe?
****
In the New Testament, especially Luke's Gospel, we have a
different atmosphere from Ecclesiastes. In the New Testament, events are loaded
with meaning. God speaks through natural history, world history, Church history
and our personal history. We are in an atmosphere that is decidedly
noncyclical. In today's Gospel reading, Herod looks for the meaning of Jesus.
The Gospel writers saw meaning packed into every event and gesture of the
Lord's earthly life. Here, in Jesus, God is on the offensive. In this era, we
are moving rapidly from promise to fulfilment much as did the Israelites in the
exodus. In the period of the Church, we have sacraments and signs of the Lord's
inviting and driving presence. We can indeed see God in the world of nature as
did Ecclesiastes. We can also see the Lord speaking to us and calling us forward
as a Church, as a parish/community and as individuals.
****
The news travelled far and fast. Herod heard of it. This
exercise certainly made an impression. He heard about the miracles. This excited
him. He was eager to witness some. Luke does not tell us about Herod's bad
conscience. Herod rightly feels there is a connection between John and Jesus.
With all the rumours that were going around, he did not know what to make of
it. The effect on people is different. Some believe that Elijah has come again.
Others think that a Prophet has risen. Others again think that John has risen
from the dead. Herod's conscience stirs. It Will never leave him. Men can
silence their conscience. When they do not listen to it, it keeps quiet. They
cannot destroy their bad conscience. Herod asks the right question. Who is
this? Jesus will put the same question to his apostles very shortly. He was
anxious to see him. He did not have to wait long. Jesus was on the point of' setting
out to Jerusalem. He will See him there (Luke 23.8212). He was delighted to see
Jesus.
****
It is said that seeing is believing. Generally speaking that
may be true, especially when we have heard about something and then finally get
to see it for ourselves with our own eyes.
Yet there may be other instances where seeing may not necessarily lead
to believing. In the gospel we heard that Herod was anxious to see Jesus; he
had this longing to see who this Jesus was that he heard about. But when Herod
finally got to see Jesus during His passion, he didn't think much about who he
was looking at. Perhaps the pathetic state of being condemned led Herod to
think that Jesus was just a shooting star that would fade off into the
darkness. Yet the 1st reading makes us reflect deeper on what we are seeing
around us. Images of the sun rising and
setting, the wind blowing, the waters of the river flowing into the sea are
telling us something about the reality of our lives. Yet it is not about how
much our eyes have seen or how much our ears have heard. It is a matter of how much our hearts are
filled - filled with mystery. In the Eucharist we see things like bread and
wine and we hear prayers. May our hearts also be filled with the mystery of
God's love.
****
"Two men looked through prison bars, the one saw mud,
the other stars." Oscar Wilde, "Reading Gaol"
Let us pray: Lord our God, you came to make all
things new through Jesus Christ, your Son. Let him question us and let us
question ourselves whether we give him in our lives the place he deserves. Make
him the meaning of all we are and do, for he is our risen Lord for ever.
Opening Story:
Sept 21 Monday (St. Mathew, Apostle and Evangelist) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-matthew/ : Mt 9:9-13: 9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 10 And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, `I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” USCCB video reflections: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/index.cfm
Proverbs 30:5-9 / Luke 9:1-6
Proverbs speaks about human needs: Let me be neither rich nor poor.
Proverbs 21:1-6. 10-13 / Luke 8:19-21
Proverbs talks about the poor: If you ignore them, you will be ignored.
John R. Coleman, former president of Haverford College, wanted to get a first-hand feel for the plight of New York City's homeless. So, he spent ten days on the streets without money or shelter. A diary of those ten days was published in the New Yorker magazine.
Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 / Matthew 9:9-13
There is one Lord over all: Preserve your unity.
John Howard Griffin dyed his skin black, shaved his head, and posed as a black man in the South in the pre-civil-rights days. One day he asked for a Catholic church. He was told that the nearest "colored Catholic church" was on Drysades Street.
"Seek the Lord while he is still to be found,Introduction by the Celebrant
call to him while he is still near," says the prophet.
God himself goes out to seek you,
says the message of today.
May the Lord find you and stay always with you.
R/ And also with you.
A. An Unbelievably Good God
1 Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-49 / Luke 8:4-15
Paul speaks about the dead: They will be raised to new life.
Fr. Walter Ciszek, a Jesuit priest, spent 23 years in Russian prisons and work camps. In his book He Leadeth Me, he tells how the second Wednesday after Easter is a very special day for Russian Christians. On that day they commemorate the dead.
1 Cor 15:12-20 / Luke 8:1-3
Paul talks about our resurrection: Christ has been raised.
24th Week, Thursday, Sept 17
1 Cor 15:1-11 / Luke 7:36-50
Paul talks about our roots: I passed on to you what I received.
1 Cor 12:31 - 13:13 / Luke 7:31-35
Paul talks about gifts: The greatest gift is love.
St. Theresa was a Carmelite nun in Lisieux, France. She died on September 30, 1897, at the age of 24. Among her writings was a passage in which she talks about her search for what special calling God had given to her to better serve the Church. She turned to Paul's letters and read that not everyone was called upon to be an apostle, a prophet, or a teacher. This left her more confused than ever. She continued reading Paul until she came to the words in today's reading: "Set your hearts, then, on the more important gifts. . The greatest of these is love." Then, she writes: "Nearly ecstatic with supreme joy in my soul, I proclaimed: 'O Jesus . . . At last I have found my calling: my calling is love.' "
Michel DeVerteuil
Sept 14 Monday (The Exaltation of the Holy Cross) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/-Exaltation-of-the-Holy-Cross : John 3:13-17: The Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross is one of twelve “Master feasts” celebrated in the Church to honor Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master.
Numbers 21:4-9; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17
Paul talks about the body of Christ: We are one body.
The Hollywood actor Martin Sheen was in India working in the movie Gandhi. One day some kids were hanging on the back of the taxi he was riding in. He says: "I looked out and saw their faces . . .they looked like old people, teeth gone, bugs in their hair. I suddenly knew what I had to do. We stopped the car and got them inside."
Today’s passage deals with the crucial issue of forgiveness, surely the most pressing of all our human problems, as individuals, as communities and as a human family. The future of humanity is in the hands of those who can forgive.
Jesus tells us today:Introduction b
Where two are three have come together in my name,
there I am among them.
We are here in his name
and so he is among us.
May he always stay with you.
R/ And also with you.
This passage is very different from those of the two previous Sundays. They were dramatic stories, marked by deep emotions and with deep implications for the characters involved. This is a little gem of a passage but with little drama, a very practical, common-sense teaching on that most common and most prosaic of community problems – conflict. It is deep wisdom teaching which continues to be valid for our time. Management has become a science today, and Jesus’ teaching stands up well as a model of how to “manage” conflict in any situation.
