The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, October 31, 2004
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Wisdom 11:22--12:2
Psalm 145:1-2,8-11,13-14
2 Thessalonians 1:11--2:2
Luke 19:1-10

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today's Gospel like last Sunday's, involves a story about a tax collector. It's interesting to look at both tax collectors and see how they are similar and how, at least according to the Gospels, they differ. Both make it clear that they are sinners and humbly acknowledge that they recognize the truth of their condition and need for forgiveness.

In today's Gospel, Zacchaeus the tax collector, says that when he wrongly charged someone, he recompensed that person many times over and then gives part of his earnings to the poor--unlike the tax collector in last week's gospel who doesn't refer to anything good he might do, but simply beats his breast and says he is a sinner.

While Jesus was quick to chastise the bragging Pharisee in last week's Gospel, today's tax collector who cites what he does to make reparation for his sins, is not viewed by Jesus as a bragger, but is instead praised by Him.

Perhaps the lesson of these Gospel messages is that Jesus does not disdain those who are sinners and are considered by others to be sinners and that He doesn't reprimand those who speak of their authentic efforts to act justly and with charity, but can't abide with pridefulness even in good works.

May we learn from this that humility is an all-important prerequisite attitude that undergirds our actions and behavior. It is, after all, the truth about who we are before the Face of God.

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, October 30, 2004
Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Philippians 1:18-26
Psalm 42:2-3,5
Luke 14:1,7-11

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Take the lowest place"

The esteem of our beloved Lord. . . .

When we see ourselves as we truly are and acknowledge our place and state of self, we may recognize with awe how much our Lord deeply loves us. It is a love beyond all telling, an "I have loved you first" revealing that continues as we become more open to His presence in our lives. We may be tempted to mistake the ecstasy of His love for us with the truth of what He transforms in us. He lovingly takes us as we are and re-forms us into His 'beauty-full' beloved. It is not that we make ourselves desirable to Him. Rather He desires us first and in His desiring, a pure and perfect love elicits forth from us. We desire to correspond with His image of us. He remakes us in His image and likeness, just as spouses begin to resemble one another.

This feast of love He prepares for all souls; each His beloved. We see that each is re-formed in His image and likeness. Each loves Him with full heart, mind and soul. Each desires, responds and exults in Him, in His love. Each has a very special place with Him.

We do not presume to "deserve" what He bestows and gives freely and perfectly. We see ourselves and our limits and failings to love as He loves us, and we long for Him to again come and draw us to Himself. The place of honor is with Him, in Him, through Him and it is His to bestow, to 'be-love' us to Himself.

O Lord,
draw and hold us closer to you than breath is to life.

- Mary Williams
(wlmsconsul at pdq dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, October 29, 2004
Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Philippians 1:1-11
Psalm 111:1-6
Luke l4:1-6

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

St. Paul really loved the Philippians. He saw them as partners with doing the works of justice. Paul is really down the principles of a buzzword today in the church: collaboration. God is the source of justice, and it is the Holy Spirit who inspires and enables Christians to reach out to black and white, Christian and Jew and Moslem, in mutual respect, in efforts to seek Truth, and to live the Charity, both of which are the pillars of Justice.

Today, let us examine ourselves to see how we can improve our collaboration with Church teaching, Church leadership, and parish programs and ministries, as well as being more alert for opportunities right in our own families and in our own neighborhoods. We are all united in the bonds of grace--let us strive to live the reality of those bonds in freedom and trust.

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, October 28, 2004
Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Sts. Simon and Jude, apostles

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 2:19-22
Psalm 19:2-5
Luke 6:12-16

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Simon, who was called a zealot. . ."

Jesus did nothing without praying. So before He chose His apostles, He retired for a period of time to speak with His Father. Once He had done so, He came down from the mountain and named the twelve.

Among them were the two in honor of whom we celebrate this day. We know relatively little about them, but one key line here is the description of Simon. Simon was a zealot--the word has come down to us to mean one whose enthusiasm is just short of insanity (and perhaps not all that short of it.) At the time, Zealots were a religious party that believed that the coming of the Messiah would bring about an earthly kingdom with a great prince. They opposed the occupation of the Holy Land, and it doesn't seem unlikely that they resorted to some of the tactics one finds in opposition to perceived oppression today.

Why should this detail matter? It is important because Jesus shows, by choosing this man, that ideology is also not a dividing line. God's Kingdom takes in everyone. And if one is ready to be part of God's Kingdom, it transform one into a servant of God. Liberals, conservatives, facists, revolutionaries, Marxists, totalitarians, monarchists, you name the breed, Jesus is there to save. He made Simon one of his intimate twelve as a sign to us that mere political screed did not stand in the way of the advance of the Kingdom. Jesus showed us through the selection of this great apostle that all are welcome and no one is beyond the reach of God's saving love.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 6:1-9
Psalm 145:10-14
Luke 13:22-30

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Away from me, you evil-doers." (Luke 13:27)

Our Gospel reading deals with the central issue of our Christian faith. God sent Christ into this world to deliver us from sin, reconcile us with the Father to save us from spiritual death, eternal separation from His divine Presence. Today's religious writers and speakers often create the impression that God blinks away sins and opens heaven's portals wide to all who die. Surely, God's mercy is ever present, takes into consideration all the circumstances of our lives in His judgment of us. However, looking at the world through clear eyes shows man's seemingly infinite capacity for mindless cruelty, often most severely exercised against those who express the only means we have of achieving peace and justice in this world, through our following Christ's teachings. Recall His horrific torture and death.

Jesus' telling us to choose the narrow door does not mean that God's way is small and restrictive. He means that for entrance into His kingdom, we are to make ourselves little, become humble, realizing that if we sincerely desire to live in a world pervaded by truth, love, justice and peace, we are to follow in Christ's footsteps. Jesus, the infinite, all powerful God made Himself small, human, so He could live out in His human flesh a life of self-giving and sacrifice for our sakes. We are invited to emulate Him who in His human flesh lived intimately and in perfect obedience to His Father. Love and truth, justice and peace stem from humility, from our recognition that there exists a far greater and wiser mind and heart than our own and agree to faithfully follow in His ways.

O Blessed Spirit,
continue pouring Your living water upon our hearts,
that this power of Your love
will fill them to overflowing
and so be shared with the world.
Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 5:21-33
Psalm 128:1-5
Luke 13:18-21

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

What is the Kingdom of Heaven like?

Jesus tells us it's like the mustard seed, that once planted grows into a huge bush, or the small bit of yeast that combines to make a big batch of bread -- deceptively simple analogies!

If we take Jesus' words literally we could say that the Kingdom of Heaven is the vital ingredient for making something whole and good. While it's the means to an end it is also an end in itself.

As we grow in spiritual awareness, we understand that appreciating the time we have right now and focusing on the present moment through the active prayer of our daily lives, helps us to live Heaven -- bring eternity into the here and now. As we become messengers of love, peace, and forgiveness, we invite others to build up this Kingdom of Love, leading humanity to its ultimate goal of union with God.

- Cliodhna Doyle
(clia at cliadoyle dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, October 25, 2004
Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from Today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 4:32-5:8
Psalm 1:1-4,6
Luke 13:10-17

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today's First Reading from St. Paul to the Ephesians tells us very explicitly how we must avoid sins of the flesh. Paul reminds us that we have been forgiven. We are no longer darkness, but now, thanks be to God, we are light in the Lord. Holiness forbids that we yield to our fallen nature. Instead, we must incline ourselves to God our Creator.

There will always be this tension between good and evil, the part of us that is fallen and that which is redeemed. Let us gain consolation and strength from the sure knowledge that Christ desires us to be holy and has done and will continue to do all that is required for us to resist the temptations of the Evil one.

Remember the image of the crippled woman in today's Holy Gospel? Just as she was healed by the merciful hand of Jesus, so shall we. Not even the indignation of the others' healing on the Sabbath deterred Jesus. So will nothing stand in the way of Jesus' healing power if only we go to Him, beg Him for His help and resolve not to sin again.

- Donna Nelson, ocds

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, October 24, 2004
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Sirach 35:12-14,16-18
Psalm 34:2-3,17-19,23
2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
Luke 18:9-14

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Some of Jesus' parables seem generic and speak of faults that are rooted to some extent in all of us, while others like today's parable, might at first glance seem directed only to certain people. In actuality however, even these speak to the tendencies that all of us share because of our broken human nature.

Today's Gospel story about the Pharisee and the tax collector illustrates something very important for us. In it the Pharisee thinks he does everything correctly, while the tax collector knows the true state of his soul and hardly dares to raise his eyes to heaven for forgiveness. The point is that the Pharisee is not sinful because of his practices, because we are told that he seems to do a lot of good things. It is instead, his bad attitude and the contempt he has for those he thinks don't measure up to him.

How like the Pharisee are we, who in the first stages of religious fervor went to great lengths to root out sinfulness in our lives only to become prey for the devil to tempt us into becoming self-satisfied about our reformed behaviors and full of contempt for the behavior and actions of others?

The good news is that Jesus knows our human nature, our weaknesses, our foibles and has a remedy for them. It requires however that we stay close to Him, His Word, His Church so that we remain sensitive enough to discover even our subtle transgressions and take action to correct them.

"...no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in Him" (Psalm 34:23)

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, October 23, 2004
Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
St. John of Capistrano, priest, religious

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 4:7-16
Psalm 122:1-5
Luke 13:1-9

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Sir, leave it for this year also. . . ."

The plea of mercy in the parable our Lord tells, is the indicator to hearers that we live in the reign of mercy -- but only for a time. We must reply to His proposal to share the eternal covenantal union of love that will bear good fruit and sustain Life.

Our covenantal union with the Lord bears the good fruit of souls united in God. We are truly created, sustained and brought to full perfection in union with, in, and through Him who is Life. Remaining in Him, we become co-creators and co-redeemers bringing souls to Life in Him.

The Lord is clearly patient and clearly expectant. His union with us must, by its divine creative nature, be fruitful and multiply. This happens only when we give ourselves freely and completely in love to our beloved Lord to bear the full fruits He desires - souls filled with Life.

When we behave as the fruitless fig tree, we deny His Life that truly and lovingly desires to unite with us to create and sustain Life. Our lack of generous unity becomes the contraception that prevents our conceiving new Life through, with and in Him. We must remain in union with Him for this holy union to bear good fruit. We refuse His union when we sin and thus divorce ourselves from our beloved Lord, precipitating the death of our own souls and denying life to those souls entrusted to us for Life.

O Jesus,
meek and humble of heart,
make our hearts like unto Thine.
Amen

- Mary Williams
(wlmsconsul at pdq dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, October 22, 2004
Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 4:l-6
Psalm 24:l-6
Luke l2:54-59

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Stress" fills our vocabulary, our thoughts, our lives. In response we develop "self-help groups to deal with our cares and problems. Though we may find temporary comfort in sharing concerns with those in similar situations, our restlessness and lack of peace never leave us.

A dispassionate look at society reveals much selfishness, blindness and lovelessness. To avoid looking too deeply into our hearts, we fill every moment with activity, noise, "getting and spending". Still the unease and emptiness remain, for our once "Christian" nation has denied human sin and its need for Christ's forgiveness and redemption.

God in His loving kindness gives us many indications of our inner illness by permitting us to suffer the effects of sin through a host of problems: wars, famines, disease, poverty, homelessness, crime, immorality, family dissolution. Yet at the same time God cares for us, blesses us and pours out His grace upon us, knowing that there are those in every generation who will listen, obey and be saved.

"When the wind blows from the south, you say it is going to be hot--and so it is...If you can interpret the portents of the earth and sky, why can you not interpret the present time?" (Lk. 12:55-56)

Lord God, impress on us that the signs of our time point to disaster. May we, by Your grace, learn to follow the way, abide always in Your truth and so gain eternal life. Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, October 21, 2004
Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 3:14-21
Psalm 33:1-2,4-5,11-12,18-19
Luke 12:49-53

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"I have come to set the world on fire. . . " (Luke 12:49)

And how I wish it were already blazing!

Jesus came with a radical new message of God's love, and because of the hardness of human hearts, this message threatens to tear apart the fabric of human society.

Can you imagine for a moment the people who are responsible for arbitrary bombings around the world giving up their hatred? So long as hate has a home in the human heart, the message of love brought by Jesus will be despised.

The world is still not ready for His revolutionary message. But the message does not wait. The word Jesus spoke two thousand years ago has rolled through the ages and changed each time individually. It has changed time in the person of the great and small Saints--Francis, Dominic, Teresa, Therese, Katherine Drexel, and others, who throughout time have taken Jesus at His word and lived out His revolutionary love.

While the world is not yet flaming, we have a choice. We can flame with Jesus's love and message and bring it to the world, or we can remain cool and indifferent. Jesus's flame grows one piece of kindling, one person, one flame at a time. It is our choice, to burn or to remain indifferent.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Paul of the Cross, priest

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 3:2-12
Isaiah 12:2-6
Luke 12:39-48

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"More will be asked of a man to whom more has been entrusted." (Luke 12:48)

Popular opinion believes the seeking of material comfort as the primary goal of life. Fulfilling the "American Dream" does provide a sense of satisfaction, personal accomplishment, but often at a great price. Physically and psychologically, preoccupation with "getting" and "spending," trying to constantly elevate or maintain one's standard of living, can also cause great stress. More harmful is expending all of our energies in fulfilling our "wants," leaving no time for thought of God. In our "dream state" of self-sufficiency, we become spiritually anesthetized, not realizing that all the things we enjoy are made possible by the talents with which God has gifted us, the many doors of opportunity He has opened. In consequence, we feel little need to put our energies into promoting His love, truth, justice and peace.

St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians reviews God's plan of salvation, calling us to draw near to God, speaking to Him as freely as a child would to a loving Father, giving thanks to Him for His blessing of a new life in Christ. Christ expresses it more strongly by saying that the relationship between man and God should be like that of a servant toward a loving Master.

We pray that God touching human lives will turn us away from sin and self-indulgence and enkindle in us His fire of love and truth and the desire to share these gifts with others.

O Redeemer Lord,
help us to renounce our selfish "declaration of independence" from God;
teach us to serve one another,
with the same generosity as You served Your Father.
Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
St. John de Brebeuf and St. Isaac Jogues, priests, martyrs,
and their companions, martyrs

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 2:12-22
Psalm 9-14
Luke 12:35-38

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Not all of us are called by God to be martyrs, but as we see in the readings for today on the memorial of these great martyrs, all of us are asked to be ready immediately when God knocks. There is no room in Christian spirituality for procrastination about the state of our souls. We never know when that 'knock' may come.The rewards are great however for keeping ourselves in this state of readiness.

The gospel states that the Master himself will gird himself and wait on us. This sounds almost unbelievable, but Christ did this for us once already when He washed the feet of the apostles at the Last Supper and then offered His very Body on the table of the Cross. Christ continues to do this for all time through the person of His priests. As we participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we are responding to the daily 'knock' of Christ and He girds Himself and waits on us, providing His very Body and Blood for our food. We, in turn, are to become other Christs, girding ourselves and waiting on our brothers and sisters. We have the example of these martyrs who gave their all for the Kingdom.

Saints John de Brebeuf, Isaac and companions, pray for us!

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, October 18, 2004
Monday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Feast of St. Luke, evangelist

Scripture from Today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Timothy 4:9-17
Psalm 145:10-13,17-18
Luke 10:1-9

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today we commemorate St. Luke the Evangelist. The scripture from today's Liturgy leaves us with some very good thoughts about spreading the Good News given us by Jesus, the Christ, through the Holy Spirit.

The first reading today is actually part of a letter from the imprisoned St. Paul to his friend Timothy. If the life of Paul and all the saints are any example, we'll learn that the life of an evangelist is a tough one, pushing every human need to the limits of deprivation for the glory of God.

Paul was asking St. Luke to join him. We aren't told if it was because Luke was in need of medical attention or spiritual advice and friendship. Maybe it was all of the above. And perhaps this was good example set before us all: that we should be spiritually and physically supportive of one another in our evangelization of the Word of God.

We can also learn some basics for evangelists in today's Gospel: travel light (have no attachment to worldly stuff); be peaceful and share the peace of the Lord with those whom we meet; shun restlessness, live simply, allow the people of God to share their bounty; cure the sick and proclaim the Good News: "The reign of God is at hand." (see Luke 10:1-9)

- Joachim

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, October 17, 2004
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Exodus 17:8-13
Psalm 121:1-8
2 Timothy 3:14--4:2
Luke 18:1-8

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today's Gospel illustrates the contrast between those who fail to recognize their sinfulness and those who see their faults and shortcomings with painful clarity. The story shows us the state not only of their souls, but their attitudes which spill over into their behavior. It is interesting to notice that the one portrayed as the sinner felt justified and pretty self-satisfied, while the one forgiven and contrite--the one depicted as saved--as feeling miserable.

Among other things, isn't this parable meant to show us that feeling good about ourselves is not necessarily an accurate indicator of the state of our soul and our relationship to God? Surely we can be deceived by our emotions and fail altogether to make correct judgments.

What then are we to do? How will we know if we are pleasing God and doing what He desires? The best way is to ask Him. Yes, ask Him to provide us with His light so that we might see and judge things correctly.

If we stay close to the Lord in prayer, He will not fail to give us all that is required to know and do His will.


Speak, Lord, your servant is listening; (1 Sm 3:9)

You have the words of everlasting life. (Jn 6:69)

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, October 16, 2004
Saturday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Hedwig, religious
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, virgin

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 1:15-23
Psalm 8:2-7
Luke 12:8-12

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Speaking in the Spirit of Truth


Our Lord asks us to acknowledge Him before others. He reminds us not to worry about being politically correct with synagogues, rulers or authorities. We trust the Holy Spirit to teach us at each moment what we are to say.



We hear St. Paul pray that the faithful be given a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know God; that the eyes of our hearts be enlightened with hope in what God accomplishes in Jesus surpassing all authority, power and dominion.



These words of our Lord and the prayer of St. Paul direct and encourage us in unpopular challenges. Are we speaking in the Spirit of Truth in our synagogues to the faithful when what we know He teaches contradicts with what they will to hear? Does what seems politically comfortable stand as the Spirit of Truth? Speaking less than what He is teaching us fails to give voice to His Holy Spirit and thus denies this Spirit of Truth. Failing to speak and denying Him disassociates us, making us unrecognizable to Him who cannot recognize what we willfully separate. Our actions or inactions proclaim or deny Him. The saying that "evil triumphs when good fails to act" is very true for each of us who fail to speak to parishioners, coworkers, families and neighbors what is true and holy and good in the Spirit of Truth. We must not fear their response if we share in true charity desiring souls united in the Spirit of Truth eternally with God.



Denying Him is thus willingly removing ourselves from Him who will not recognize one who does not identify with Him.



- Mary Williams
(wlmsconsul at pdq dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, October 15, 2004
Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Teresa of Jesus, virgin, doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 1:11-14
Psalm 33:1-2,4-5,12-13
Luke 12:1-7

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Living the truth makes terrible demands on the Christian. It's almost impossible to avoid some type or other of "hypocrisy" -- that fudging of our real feelings and convictions, for fear of alienating or offending others whom we may consider "weaker" in the faith. And yet, Jesus exhorts us to avoid any kind of hypocrisy, for the day will come when all duplicity will be exposed.

St. Teresa of Avila was a "socialite" religious who first reformed her own faith, then reformed her own entire Carmelite community. She was a gifted woman of great courage who paid the price for her truthfulness by being rejected, humiliated by superiors, and mentally and emotionally crucified for the intensity of her vision. Now, she is venerated as a Doctor of the Church, and one of the greatest of guides to the spiritual life.

We must ask ourselves, whether religious or lay, seniors in the spiritual journey, or novices at the threshold, to what extent we have squandered the riches of grace God has bestowed on so lavishly to this point in our lives. If I were truly on fire with love, and committed to the daily discipline required, what good I might have accomplished as a bold and truthful apostle of Christ in that the portion of God's vineyard in which I live and work.

Time is of the essence. Let me resolve today on the feast of St. Teresa, to imitate her courage, and live the Gospel of Love without fear of offending either my superiors or my peers.

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, October 14, 2004
Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Callistus I, pope, martyr

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 1:1-10
Psalm 98:1-6
Luke 11:47-54

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world,

Blessed be God,

Blessed be his mighty works.

Blessed be God in his Blessings and in His person.

By some great mystery, He chose us to be brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ before the world began. He knew us and loved us into being and into a family with Him. We can still refuse to accept our adoption. We can be rebellious and difficult children. Nevertheless, He chose us and continues to choose us no matter how we battle against Him.

We are adopted Children of God become as fleshly children of God through the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ shed for us. Washed white in that blood, we become heirs of the King and we partake of all that He is. Through being children, we have some stake in becoming like Him in all things. We have as our example our brother, teacher, and savior Jesus Christ. Through our election we have as our guide the Holy Spirit of God. And bringing all together in the one Godhead, we have the Father who loves us with a tenderness far beyond that of any earthly Father and who wills all good for us.

Thank you Lord, for your blessing.

Thank you Lord, for your election.

Thank you Lord, for the family you have gathered to yourself through your Son, Jesus Christ.

Thank you Lord, my Father.

Amen!

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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©1986-2004 The Way, The Truth, The Life

The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Galatians 5:18-25
Psalm 1:1-4,6
Luke 11:42-46

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Woe to you! You are like hidden tombs over which we walk unawares. (Luke 11:44)

Christ, in today's gospel, contrasts outward appearances with the inward person, saying that beneath the carefully adorned exteriors of His day's religious leaders lie corpses, those spiritually dead. This severe indictment relates to St. Paul's statement that believers in Christ are no longer bound to the Israelites' law which had become a list of mere outward practices while excluding the very basis of God's law: love. The law Christians are to obey is shown by Jesus who is the personification of God's love and truth; theirs is to be a new life of living in obedience to Christ's Spirit, reflecting the goodness and glory of God.

Psalm 1 likens the keepers of God's law to trees planted near and nourished by streams; they flourish and bear much good fruit to feed a hungry world. This implies that those untouched by God's living waters, the useless, will perish, be blown away like chaff in the wind. This illustrates the reason for Christ berating the Pharisees, the very ones who, with perfect knowledge and integrity, should have made God known to His children.

Although the primary responsibility for making God known to His people falls upon the religious professionals, we who are literate and educated are not exempt from blame if we follow false leaders. As expressed in last week's reflection, those whose hearts sincerely seek God in prayer, will be guarded from error by His Spirit. Herein lies the reason for today's dissent within our Church, seeking "self" rather than fulfilling Love's demands.

Blessed Spirit,
speak steadfastly to our hardened minds and hearts;
teach us to discern what is truly of You.
Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Galatians 5:1-6
Psalm 119:41,43-45,47-48
Luke 11:37-41

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

They say perception is reality ...and often it can be -- when we make efforts to create a certain appearance to the outside world. We can do such a good job that we become what we were pretending to be! This works in the material world but with our spiritual side it's a bit more difficult! While on the outside we can 'appear' to be leading an exemplary life -- our inner desires, motivations, resentments could be creating a different, hidden version of ourselves which is more the 'reality' of our true nature.

In today's Gospel Jesus reminds us to look inside first and foremost and not be so concerned with the externalities. When we examine our hearts and minds and identify blockages to love and healing, only then are we free to invite Jesus to come and fill the darkness with His light. Our Faith calls us to leave the darkness behind and to live and be reflectors of eternal light.

So today let us ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit to help us to open our spiritual eyes so that we can see what dark areas within ourselves need the healing power of Jesus.

- Cliodhna Doyle
(clia at cliadoyle dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, October 11, 2004
Monday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from Today's Liturgy of the Word:
Galatians 4:22-24,26-27,31--5:1
Psalm 113:1-7
Luke 11:29-32

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

God's people have always been slaves. Slaves of Pharaoh. Slaves of the Chaldeans. Slaves of the Romans. But let's not forget that all of God's people have always been slave to the most terrible of masters: we have all been slaves to sin.

Sin, beginning with the original sin in the Garden of Eden, has enslaved all of us from nearly the beginning of creation. What a great gift God gave us in free will, only to watch us use it to place ourselves into slavery.

Oh, but our God is a loving God. He sent His Son to buy our freedom from the terrible slave master of sin. As a wonderful consequence we became slaves to Him who saved us - but what a wonderful slavery it is! As a slave of Christ we keep our free will, he does not punish us when we go astray, but welcomes us back with open arms. As a slave of Christ we receive eternal life, freely given, a gift of love.

Take a moment today and reflect on your life. Have you once again become a slave of sin? If so, ask God's forgiveness and guidance. He will lovingly put you back on the right track and welcome you back into His heavenly kingdom.

- Don Claunch, SFO

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, October 10, 2004
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Kings 5:14-17
Psalm 98:1-4
2 Timothy 2:8-13
Luke 17:11-19

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

As faithful and practicing Catholics we may find ourselves at times taking for granted the beautiful traditions and immense wealth of our Catholic faith and think all that it contains belongs to us by right and not as a gift.

Today's readings remind us that God offers Himself in all His immensity not just to us and the "chosen ones" of ages long past, but to everyone--in every age, in every time. Our recognition of this might help us to be less complacent about--and more grateful for--the faith we have embraced. It might tend to make us cherish and protect it, lest it wither and disappear.

Perhaps it is a lesson that we as Catholics are just now seeing with ever-greater frequency--that those of other denominations with great joy and unabashed enthusiastic commitment are the ones that are proclaiming with more "takers", the Good News of redemption.

Let us not be disheartened; but remember how dear we and all others are to the Lord. Let us never fail to be like the one Samaritan who came back to Jesus to praise and render thanksgiving. And what is it that you might give praise and thanksgiving for? Perhaps the often taken-for-granted fact that we have been blessed to be Catholic and to belong to the Church that is the treasury of the promises of Christ. Knowing this and believing this, may we then be more humble, more grateful, more empowered then ever, to be authentic and convincing witnesses for Christ.

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




The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, October 9, 2004
Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
St. Denis, bishop, martyr and companions, martyrs
St. John Leonardi, priest

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Galatians 3:22-29
Psalm 105:2-7
Luke 11:27-28

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Hear and Observe (see Luke 11:27-28)

Jesus replies to the acclamation, blessing the one whose womb and breasts brought forth His life and sustained Him; that what truly gives Life to Him is the soul that makes Him present in our Living.

Like Mary, we will to prayerfully conceive the Word, to pray, ponder and grow it, and give the Word viability until He is beheld first by us and then by others through us. It is He that becomes evident in our lives and He, that like Mary, we sustain by lovingly nurturing His Life into mature faith.

Quite like the transformation of a pregnant woman who grows new life in the emptiness that is intended for creation of life, we cooperate with our Lord to conceive and bear the new life that is known as "God with us" -- "Emmanuel."

Empty of self, we find He becomes more and more present, until quite noticeably He presents Himself in the monstrances of our lives.

To sustain "God with us" we must truly conform our lives to Him; we love Him, we bear all things for love of Him; and it becomes Christ who is seen. Yes, His life is nurtured by the milk of our perpetual observance of Him; but then, who would take the eyes of their prayerful communion, the shared affection that hastens one's will to conform to Him, their beloved? The attentive beloved hears and observes what the Love desires.

O Beloved Lord,
may we conceive,
nurture
and sustain You with us,
observing Your every desire.

Amen

- Mary Williams
(wlmsconsul at pdq dot net)




The Catholic Calendar for Friday, October 8, 2004
Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Galatians 3:7-14
Psalm 111:1
Luke 11:15-26

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's Gospel, we're indignant at the Pharisees for accusing Jesus of casting out demons by the power of a satanic god, Beelzebul. In the same way, we can be angry at those religions that tell us that, as Catholics, we're going to hell! Where does such thinking come from? Why does one religion see another religion as evil? Such accusations can come from ignorance and misunderstanding, but they can also come from envy, fear, or outright maliciousness. How do we respond to such attacks?

First, as Bishop Polycarp in the second century warned the Presbyters of the early church, one must never give way to anger. Why? Because that only distorts our thinking, and may even lead us to sinful thoughts and deeds against our accusers. Rather, as Jesus did, he cooly reasoned with his enemies, saying that a house divided against itself cannot stand for very long. By reasoning, he hoped to change their minds, and even their hearts.

How important it is for us to know our faith thoroughly, so thoroughly that we can calmly point out errors in others' thinking, while at the same time giving them sound doctrine that shows forth the light of God's truth.

Do you own a copy of the New Catechism of the Catholic Church? It is beautifully and forcefully written, citing Holy Scripture and the Fathers of the Church thousands of times, and unfolding the beautiful Catholic tradition. It is sound, authoritative, and complete. And, if you have access to the Internet, dip into the treasures of the Pope's recent documents on vital modern issues.(see: www.vatican.va) We have total and instant access to all information in these days. Let us inform our minds and hearts that we may respond well and in charity to those who would attack us.

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, October 7, 2004
Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Our Lady of the Rosary

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Galatians 3:1-5
Luke 1:69-75
Luke 11:5-13

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

I tell you. . . seek and you will find.

What a wonderful scripture to fall upon this day that we celebrate our Lady. What better way could we possibly have to seek Jesus than to ask His mother to point the way.

Like those celebrators at Jesus' first public miracle, we have run out of wine. We have run out of the wine of truth and human kindness. We have run out of the wine of patience and love. And we have no recourse. So we go to her with our problems and say, "What shall we do?" And she takes our cause to Jesus.

In the most Holy Rosary, we ask the blessed Mother for her favors, and she points to Jesus, showing us that any favor she has, she has from Him.

Seek Him in the mysteries of the most Holy Rosary. Every one of them is illuminated by His life--even those that seem to refer only to our Blessed Mother (the Glorious mysteries of the Assumption and the crowning of our Mary). Every prayer to her is incense in Heaven. And like any mother, she longs to do for us the things that will make our lives better.

Seek and ye shall find, knock and the door will be opened unto you. So when you next take up this holy devotion of the Church, remember that the words Jesus speaks do not return to Him fruitless. As you seek Him, you shall find Him. As you ask His Mother, she will direct you to Him by the straightest path. When we are lost, it is better to ask directions; when we don't think we can talk to Jesus, start by talking with His Mother, and she will gently urge you to speak with Him.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, October 6, 2004
Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
St. Bruno, priest
Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, virgin (USA)

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Galatians 2:1-2,7-14
Psalm 117:1-2
Luke 11:1-4

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Lord, teach us to pray... (Luke 11:1)

Jesus in today's Gospel gives the definitive answer to a question still being asked today by those seeking an easy formula for proper prayer. Thousands of authors have provided "methods" rather than stressing that the validity and power of prayer depends upon the motivation and purpose within a pray-er's heart and mind. Prayer is genuine and effective if it springs from a heart sincerely seeking God, one drawn by His love to living in His will, His Divine Word, Jesus Christ.

The key to doing this is in Christ's reference to God as our Father; all else proceeds from our wholehearted acceptance of this truth. God is the giver and sustainer of our lives. Hence, we, and all that comes from Him, Who is perfect Love, has been imbued with the potential for His goodness and perfection; but as our Father, He leaves our achievement of His virtues to our choices (free will) which may or may not be guided by His truth and love.

True prayer requires humility, our acceptance that of ourselves we can never consistently and purely shine forth our Father's goodness--His mercy, forgiveness, compassion, gentleness and generosity--every virtue that results in filling this world with His peace, love and justice. Prayer is actually our constant reaching out in need to God, asking Him to heal our sinfulness while learning to live with faith, hope and charity in His living Word revealed to us in Christ Jesus.

O Father, Lord of life,
make us sincere pray-ers,
that You may make, through us,
Your goodness and holiness known in this world.
Amen

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, October 5, 2004
Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Galatians I:13-24
Psalm 139:1b-3,13-14ab,14c-15
Luke 10:38-42

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Poor Martha.... in the gospel reading for today. She's trying to be the good hostess and prepare a nice meal for Christ and her sister.... and instead she gets 'criticized' or should we say reminded about priorities. The reading is not really about preparing a meal for our friends. It is about setting our priorities.

For many of us 24 hours in a day is just not enough.... or at least we think that it so. We might even deprive ourselves of sleep in order to pack more activities in our day. Others of us might be procrastinators, in that we know what we should be doing, but we put it off until it is too late.

Christ says of Mary, sitting at His feet, that she has chosen the better thing to do. We can only imagine the flow of their conversation. We too, can have that 'conversation with Christ' in our prayer life.

Where does prayer fit into our usual day? Could we find time to present ourselves to Christ? Is there a quiet place in the house, or could we make it so by turning off the T.V. or radio? How about turning off the car radio on the way to or from work. Pray aloud with a family member while doing simple chores such as the dishes at night.

Christ is always present to us.... just waiting for us to knock and let Him be a more prominent part of our life? Do we want to knock?

O Jesus,
help us remember that we have need of only one thing:
You!

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, October 4, 2004
Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
St. Francis of Assisi, religious

Scripture from Today's Liturgy of the Word:
Galatians 1:6-12
Psalm 111:1-2,7-10
Luke 10:25-37

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Hoping to justify myself I asked Him, "Lord, who is my neighbor?"

Jesus replied: "the woman in the next office that irritates you constantly, the young man who suffers from AIDS, the man next door with the barking dogs that keep you up all night, your teenage daughter who tests your limits daily, your former business partner who took more than his share out of the business, the old man begging for pocket change downtown, the young single mother who survives only on welfare, your old and sick uncle who wastes away in a nursing home bed without seeing a visitor in weeks...."

"But Lord," I interrupted, "I take care of the poor through my taxes and my parish gives some of my Sunday offering to them. Besides, I find some of these people to be repulsive and I don't have any extra time in my busy schedule to do anything more."

Jesus said, "The Samaritan wasn't too fond of the half-dead Jew he helped either. But remember my teaching: whenever you give water, food, shelter and clothing to the least of my brothers, you do it for me. Now go, ask forgiveness of the Father and treat all with compassion. Love your neighbor as yourself and God above all things and you will possess the kingdom that I have prepared for you for all eternity."

- Don and Laura Claunch

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, October 3, 2004
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4
Psalm 95:1-2,6-9
2 Timothy 1:6-8,13-14
Luke 17:5-10

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's gospel we hear the apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus responds by telling them the familiar story about the power of faith, the size of a mustard seed! He doesn't seem to tell them how to increase their faith or even reassure them that they even have any to begin with.

What are we to make of this?

Although there are no clear answers, I would venture to guess that the apostles began to consider at least what it really meant to have faith, and began to realize that faith wasn't something that you just get and talk about, but something (if you had it) required some sort of action or response.

This story can provide us with the opportunity to recognize that, unlike the apostles in today's gospel, we have the benefit of history which helps solidify our faith; namely, that we believe that Jesus is the incarnate divine Son of God and that He suffered, died and rose and all that He promised is therefore trustworthy -- the sum and substance of our faith -- greater, I would say, than the size of a mustard seed!

The obvious corollary then is to consider the power of the faith we possess and put it into action for our salvation and that of the world.

"If you had faith the size of a mustard seed you could ...."

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, October 2, 2004
Saturday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of the Guardian Angels

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Job 42:1-3,5-6,12-16
Psalm 119:66,71,75,91,125,130
Matthew 18:1-5,10

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Unless you become like little children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3)

A matter of the will seems to be the message Jesus teaches us here. "You will..." to not enter the Kingdom of heaven, reminds one that the choice to remain in the Kingdom of heaven is ours. The choice is to become like little children or to continue on a self-directed way.

Becoming child "like" before God requires that one "choose" to absolutely trust God in all things. That trust enables the "faith" that compels one to act at the beckoning of God before it is clear why, how or what the result will be. This faith that precedes understanding trusts that whatever God asks of us, we "will" do. We have come to know that He loves us so completely and perfectly that whatever He asks, be it easy, difficult, joyful or suffering, we trust that He does for good. This is the faith and trust that we see in the lives of the martyrs who so clearly demonstrate that God brings one through all to Himself. We know the outcome is perfect for all done in and through God.

Childlike trust allows us to find rest in Him in all things, knowing that whatever He asks, He accomplishes through us. We simply remain in Him and allow Him to act through us.

O Lord,
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done in the earth of our lives
as in the kingdom of our eternal souls.
Amen.

- Mary Williams
(wlmsconsul at pdq dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, October 1, 2004
Friday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Therese of Lisieux, religious, doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Job 38:1,12-21; 40:3-5
Psalm 139:1-3,7-10,13-14
Luke 10:13-16

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's first reading, Job asks for an interview with God. Finally, after several attempts, his request is granted from the great God of the Universe. It is remarkable that God gives his full attention to this miserable man on a dungheap! God's questions to Job reduce him to silence. After all, what other alternative is there if one is to remain a humble creature, respectful and controlled before the overwhelming power of the God of storms and wind? It is to Job's credit that he is silent. His humility saves him. He becomes like a little child.

Today's feast of the Little Flower, St. Therese of Lisieux, shows us a modern-day Job, a truly humble and patient sufferer whose childlike-faith has inspired millions. She, like Job, is one of the just, whose suffering seems all the more tragic because of her innocent love. And there is the core of the contrast between Therese and Job. While his journey to acceptance of the mystery of suffering is through reason and dialogue, Therese progresses to perfection through her great love for Jesus. It is her love which leads to acceptance, purifying her impetuous and headstrong nature through suffering. Her love grows through weakness, strengthening her soul. Love has created a masterpiece, a wise woman, powerful in virtue beyond description.

We honor both Job and Therese today, ironically called the saint of the Little Way. We beg her to shower on us a sweet-smelling rose that will help strengthen our resolve to accept our sufferings from pure love of Jesus.

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

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