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)

posted by joachim at 4:03 AM