The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, September 30, 2003
Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Jerome, doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Zechariah 8:20-23
Psalm 87:1-7
Luke 9:51-56

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the Lord
in Jerusalem." (Luke 9:51-56)

The focus of today's readings is God's loving omnipresence. He is not, as some believe, watching to catch us in sin. In reality He is a Love that is ever near so that we may reach out to Him once we realize that there is a void in our lives that no other person nor thing in this world can ever fill. The flesh is not our enemy in our struggles to live a life pleasing to God. The enemy is our not realizing or refusing to accept that this physical body is actually a sacred vessel created by Him, as St. Paul tells us, to be the "temple of the Holy Spirit." We are called and can manifest to the love and truth of God, and so participate in His very virtues.

Today's Gospel reveals that as yet Christ's Apostles did not fully apprehend these truths and so thought to destroy the Samaritan town that had rejected Christ. Always God comes to us offering everlasting life, never death; His providence provides us every opportunity to accept this gift. But He requires faithful prayer, our earnest seeking for Him and receiving a knowledge of God in the depths of our souls; coming to know Him, we can then surrender our wills to the One we now see as desiring only our good. God never forces Himself upon us; we always retain our freedom of choice.

Jeremiah's prophecy concerning Jerusalem is not limited by geography but refers to a body of people who are living as visible examples of God's presence on this earth. This should be a "wake up call" to a Church that purports to be the body of Christ; though today she deems herself rich in "good works," she has suffered many lapses in her faithfulness to God's truth and love. Healing can take place if we humbly come before God to pray that His Sanctifying Spirit will reveal the true state of our souls to us and if we sincerely repent and yield our wills totally to Him.

Holy Spirit of God,
make the fire of love and truth cleanse our hearts
of every impurity,
that we may reflect only Your goodness and holiness.
Amen.

- Marie Bocko, ocds (mlbocko at borg dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, September 29, 2003
Twenty-sixth week Ordinary Time
Saints Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, archangels

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Psalm 138:1-5
John 1:47-51

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today, in our gospel reading, we once again visit the story of the good Samaritan - a story we should visit quite often.

It is interesting that Jesus used a Samaritan in this story considering the relationship between Jews and Samaritans at that time. Frankly, they were not too friendly. The Jews considered Samaritans an unclean race and would not have much to do with them. Samaritans didn't have much good to say about their neighbors either.

Which is exactly what makes the story so interesting!

Who is our neighbor? One you'd least expect. For a Jew 2000 years ago it was an "unclean" Samaritan. For St. Paul it was "unclean" gentiles. For St. Francis it was an "unclean" leper. For St. Maximillian Kolbe it was "unclean" Jews.

For us in the 20th century it is "unclean" people of all kinds: whites, blacks, rich, poor, young, old, the aids infected, immigrants, unborn children, the dying, the unbeliever and on and on. As the Samaritan helped the "unclean" Jew, we too are to help the "unclean" of our age. If we show them compassion we are truly their neighbor and will inherit everlasting life.

- Don Claunch, sfo

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, September 28, 2003
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Numbers 11:25-29
Psalm 19:8,10,12-14
James 5:1-6
Mark 9:38-43,45,47-48

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to
enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be
thrown into Gehenna."

Most of us are very foolish indeed! We believe in illusion most of the
time, not reality. Most of our desires, our aspirations come from a
false sense of self. We think that if we have x or achieve y, then we
will be happy. Tomorrow being better than today is an illusion we
chase day in day out, not recognising that the source of all joy, all
happiness is already with us now -- Emmanuel: God with us.

When we chase the illusion of ourselves rather than being grounded in
the truth of our intimate relationship with Jesus, we risk our very
souls. When we feed the illusion, it's a poor investment. All we are
left with is illusion, no real life. When we feed the truth, its
effects bring a life full of meaning, joy and fulfillment. So if our
desires of the senses are leading us to build our lives more on
illusion than truth, then we know it's time to step back, to
disassociate from our desires so that we can reconnect again with the
source of all life, Jesus.

O Holy Spirit,
give us eyes that see
and ears that hear the truth
to which all of us are called to bear witness.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

- Cliodhna Doyle (clia at cliadoyle dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, September 27, 2003
Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Vincent de Paul

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Zechariah 2:5-9,14-15a
Jeremiah 31:10-13
Luke 9:43b-45

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

As we read today's scripture, let us imagine that we're walking with Jesus and the disciples on a journey through Galilee. Up until now Jesus has been performing miracles and teaching the crowds. Jesus and His disciples have stopped to rest and pray, and He speaks to them saying "Pay close attention to what I tell you: The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of men." (Lk.9:44) They didn't understand that this was the second prediction of the Passion; they were afraid to ask. They remained clueless about the meaning of these words.

In order for us to know what the cost of our own discipleship is worth, if we're serious about following Jesus and know what the Word of God says, then we must be responsive to God's word. Sacrifices are required for all discipleship; so too, must we continue to rely on persevering prayer. We will then, with God's grace, know what our Lord's plan is for our journey of life.

Praise be to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
for the gift of wisdom
that we might fully understand Jesus words:
"See I am coming to dwell among you, says the Lord." (Zec 2:14)

- Deacon Bill Powers (uujpow at aol dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, September 26, 2003
Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Cosmas and Damian, martyrs

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Haggai 1:15--2:9
Psalm 43:1-4
Luke 9:18-23

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Holy Scripture repeatedly tells us that though there are times of great trouble and sorrow, there will one day be a time of peace - of prosperity, of no more tears or pain.

For the most part we believe these words, but when we come face to face with the many troubles that some have to endure, while others seem to skate through life with hardly a care, we often become perplexed and question why some suffer more than others and some, seemingly, not at all. What are we to make of the mystery of human suffering and the apparent inequity of it all?

For people of faith the only answer lies in contemplation of the Cross of Christ. If ever there was inequity, if ever there was injustice, it was that the Lord of Life should descend from heaven and forsake everything to save us. With that thought in mind, is it any wonder that when you see people of great faith suffer, they do it with incomprehensible holy resolution and submission to the will of God? Like Christ, they consent to God's will even unto death. But Why? ...Why?

Is it because they know the rest of the story? And what is the rest of the story with regard to human suffering in union with the suffering Christ? You know the answer to that. It's resurrection!

Yes, resurrection!

Dearest Lord,
Bless those who suffer in union with thee.
Give them vision to see through their tears and fears,
the promise of heaven.
Amen

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds (drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, September 25, 2003
Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Vincent dePaul

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Zechariah 2:5-9,14-15
Jeremiah 31:10-13
Luke 9:43-45

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's readings, the prophet Haggai is confronted with a discouraged and confused people who have been paralyzed into inactivity. Haggai hounds these Israelites, recently returned from exile to get them to work and rebuild the temple. Finally, they listen, and do as the Lord has commanded them. They are a good example of what moralists call a "sluggish conscience."

How sensitive and open are our consciences? How fortunate are those who really listen to the Sunday sermon and do something about the truths they hear explained? The apostle Paul, exhorts us to be doers of the word, not hearers only.

In the Gospel, we are presented with another sluggish conscience--Herod Antipas has sinned by marrying his sister-in-law, having divorced his wife without cause. He is a curiosity-monger, looking for entertainment more than responsible rule. He has buried his conscience long ago. He doesn't want to hear unpleasant truths, but only those that will justify his evil.

Unless we are truly sincere in our quest for wisdom and holiness, we, too, will end up using religion as a diversion, an entertainment, without any power to help us grow in faith.

O God, give us the grace of sincerity, humility, and a heart that listens to every word that falls from Your mouth. Amen

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore (smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, September 24, 2003
Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ezra 9:5-9
Tobit 13:2-4,6-8
Luke 9:1-6

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"My God, I am too ashamed and confounded to raise my face to you"

Sometimes we all feel this way. And sometimes the way we feel is well deserved. Each of us does less than what we can, and some of us are particularly clever at doing more than our fair share of mischief.

But when we acknowledge our failures and turn with humble pleading to God, we'll find that the contrite heart is a grateful heart. We will be able to see all the wonderful signs of God in our lives. We will be able to see how lately we were blessed by His love. "He left a remnant" and "He brightens our eyes."

Let our eyes become bright with contrition, let them shine with gratitude. When the world looks at us, let them see the joy of salvation and the delight of having our heart's desire. Let everyone who sees us rejoice in God, even if they don't presently know His name. Let them come to know Him intimately and completely. Let them use us to come to know the God who saves us.

- JuandelaCruz (sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Pio of Pietralcina

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ezra 6:7-8,12,14-20
Psalm 122:1-5
Luke 8:19-21

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God
and act on it. (Luke 8:21)

Today's readings are an interesting mix of Old and New Testament Scripture. In the book of Ezra and the Psalm, we read of the Israelites' jubilation upon their return from exile to their promised land and the holy city of Jerusalem. God allowed His people to be exiled as a consequence of their infidelities toward Him. Indeed, in every age, those who willfully turn away from Him, God "leaves to their own devices" in hopes they will realize that apart from Him they are defenseless and so learn to abide in their Creator and His Law.

Unfortunately the Israelites failed to see that keeping God's Law entailed more than offering up sacrifices and obeying stringent but empty rules. God's Law is an expression of His love; it defines what should be the disposition of people's hearts, first toward Him and as a result toward their fellow humans. He alone is both the Essence and the Source of love, and unless, through earnest prayer, we establish a bond with Him, we can never form lasting, harmonious relationships with others. The world's present state attests to our separation from Him.

Jesus in today's Gospel is not rejecting His family; He uses their visit as a means of illustrating that He is the Son of God and those who are truly related to Him are those who accept God into their hearts as their Father, and like Christ, are loving and respectful children who listen to His voice and obey Him. Jesus personifies God's Love, makes it visible to the world; and we, His brothers and sisters by adoption, as Christians, share in His mission of making God visible to our family and neighbors. Through personal resolve aided by God's grace we can help humanity to see that He created us all to be members of one human family under His loving Fatherhood.

Blessed Father,
You give us life
and enable us to live it to the fullest.
Gentle our errant spirits,
that we may reflect to others
the Image of Your Word, Jesus Christ. Amen.

- Marie Bocko, ocds (mlbocko at borg dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, September 22, 2003
Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ezra 1:1-6
Psalm 126:1-6
Luke 8:16-18

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

I have always found it surprising that so many arguments over faith and works erupt among the faithful. We are saved by faith alone, but St. James says that faith without works is dead. For me, there is no argument since Jesus spoke directly to this in today's gospel.

Nobody lights a lamp and hides it so its light does not shine. Likewise, nobody receives salvation and the wonderful gift of faith only to hide it so it is never seen. Those who have received salvation and faith -light, if you will- let the light shine through their works of love, charity, compassion and freedom.

You, my friends, have received this wonderful, never fading light of faith and salvation. Is your light placed in the open for all to see, or is it hidden away in secret?

There is no question, faith and works go together. You have received the light: now you must display it so that it shines on all others. Hidden, it will only fade and benefit no one. Not even the person to whom it was given.

- Don Claunch

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, September 21, 2003
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Wisdom 2:12,17-20
Psalm 54:3-4,5,6-8
James 3:16--4:3
Mark 9:30-37

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Even Christ had communication problems! He spoke often of His impending death. We hear it again in the gospel of today. Christ tries to inform His disciples so His death will not be such a shock. He wanted them to understand about His resurrection. After all, this was His main purpose in coming to earth. They were to be the main ones initially at least, to carry on His message. Instead of asking Christ all about it, they became afraid and asked no questions of Him. How alone Christ must have felt. To make matters even worse the disciples were arguing among themselves about rank, who was the greatest. How familiar this sounds in a world that so highly values rank.

Instead of becoming angry, and going off by Himself in a state of frustration, Christ uses the occasion to teach the disciples about their role of service to others. The beautiful scene is depicted when Christ takes a child aside and teaches that whoever receives a child in His name receives Him, and whoever receives Him receives the Father. Christ teaches us that we build our 'spiritual resumes' not by the activities that lead to building our 'earthly resumes', but rather by a life of service to others, especially for those considered the least in the kingdom by our earthly standards.

Holy Mary, who so gently carried the Christ child in your arms, help
us to reach out to those who most need your Son. Amen.

- Joan of Jesus, ocds (jmurphy at utica dot edu)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, September 20, 2003
Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Sts. Andrew Kim Taegon and Paul Hasang & companions, martyrs

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Timothy 6:13-16
Psalm 100:2-5
Luke 8:4-15

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Quite often Jesus used Parables to teach His followers; so too does this parable apply to us today. The lesson is simple: how to live your life, in Christ.

Whether you have a small backyard garden, or you're a farmer with many acres to tend, you know that to have a bountiful harvest, it takes many hours preparing the soil, planting the seed, praying for sun and rain. Much patience and endurance is needed.

What must we do to insure that we will have a banquet in heaven some day? Persevere in your faith! You have all the tools and fertilizer necessary to have good results: Mass, the Word of God, the sacraments, and many devotional prayers that will lead you to a bountiful harvest. Be wary of the temptations that are all around you; pray daily for protection and for the grace of the Holy Spirit to allow you to discern your footpath to heaven.

Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth and the Life!

- Deacon Bill Powers (uujpow at aol dot com)

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