The Catholic Calendar for Friday, November 5, 2004
Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Philippians 3:1-17--4:1
Psalm 122:1-5
Luke 18:1-8

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

It may seem proud and presumptuous of Paul to urge the Philippians to imitate him as he himself imitates Christ. Yet, his theology is without reproach. Genesis tells us that we are made in the "image" of God. The word for "image" is equivalent here to "icon." We are to become "icons" of Christ, effective enough for others to see our Savior mirrored in us perfectly. Indeed, more than "mirrored," for we are to radiate the very presence and power of grace.

How can we possibly do this? Only through letting go of all in us that is alien to Christ. Like the unjust steward in today's Gospel, we're to "make friends" of those who can help us later when we're in need. November, the month of the holy souls, is a good time to make friends with them through our prayers and penance, so that, in turn, they may speak for us before God's throne when we are in their place in purgatory. In this life or in the next, we pray to be full "icons" of Christ.

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

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posted by joachim at 4:32 AM