Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 11-08-09, Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 11-08-09 | New American Bible

[Salvation]

November 8, 2009

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Responsorial Psalm Reading 2 Gospel

Reading 1
1 Kgs 17:10-16

In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath.
As he arrived at the entrance of the city,
a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,
"Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink."
She left to get it, and he called out after her,
"Please bring along a bit of bread."
She answered, "As the LORD, your God, lives,
I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar
and a little oil in my jug.
Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,
to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;
when we have eaten it, we shall die."
Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid.
Go and do as you propose.
But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, says,
'The jar of flour shall not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'"
She left and did as Elijah had said.
She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well;
the jar of flour did not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
Alleluia.
The LORD keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or: Alleluia.

Reading II
Heb 9:24-28

Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,
a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,
that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,
as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary
with blood that is not his own;
if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly
from the foundation of the world.
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
to take away sin by his sacrifice.
Just as it is appointed that human beings die once,
and after this the judgment, so also Christ,
offered once to take away the sins of many,
will appear a second time, not to take away sin
but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Gospel
Mk 12:38-44 or 12:41-44

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds,
"Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext
recite lengthy prayers.
They will receive a very severe condemnation."

He sat down opposite the treasury
and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
"Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood."

or

Jesus sat down opposite the treasury
and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
"Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood."

[Salvation]

For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

[Salvation]

Alleluia Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Alleluia Ping List.

[Salvation]

Vatican Aide: Priest Vocations Up in 20 Countries (England and Wales among them)
The Experience of ‘The Call’ (Discerning a Call to the Priesthood or Religious Life)

Priesthood Sunday - October 25, 2009
Health Care Council Letter to Priests, "A Priest at the Bedside of a Sick Person Represents Christ"
A Vocation to Be a Priest?
Do You Appreciate Your Priest? (with a touch of humor)
In India, Holy Orders

A priest’s chalice
Christ for Us: The Year for Priests [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
On Mary, Mother of Priests
Bishop Olmsted on the Devil and John Vianney
Catholic Caucus: Prayer for Our Priests (Year of the Priest)

Benedict reflects on Mary and the priesthood [Catholic Caucus]
The Priesthood — A Priceless Gift
Forming Those Who Form Priests: The Gift of Purity of Heart
Spiritual Mothers of Priests: Your Questions [Year of the Priest]
Eucharistic Season in the Year of the Priesthood

Pope's Address at Audience With New Archbishops: "Carry Deeply in Your Hearts Your Priests"
No Matter What, He Always "Acts Like a Priest" [Ecumenical]
On Priestly Identity
What Can I Do For the Year of the Priest?
The Rosary for the Year of the Priest [Catholic Caucus]

Pope Notes His Goal for Year for Priests
On the Year for Priests
WHY A YEAR FOR PRIESTS?
Curé d'Ars: Model Priest [Year of the Priest]
ZENIT Launches Column on Priesthood

[Justin] Cardinal Rigali on the Year for Priests
Church Being Given Chance to Rediscover Priesthood [Year of the Priest]
Celebrating the Year of the Priesthood
St. John Vianney's Pastoral Plan
LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI PROCLAIMING A YEAR FOR PRIESTS [Catholic Caucus]

Year of the Priest Letter (Media immediately scrutinize its contents for controversy)
Year of the Priest [Catholic Caucus]
The Year for Priests [Catholic Caucus]
Year of the Priest Begins Friday
U.S. bishops launch website for Year for Priests

[Salvation]

 

Jesus. High Priest

 

The Year of the Priest

We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.

Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.

Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.

Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.

Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.

Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.

O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.

Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests

[Salvation]

(Dear Lord, we pray that our nation will recover; have mercy on us.)

Pray a Rosary each day for our nation.

1.  Sign of the Cross:  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

2.  The Apostles Creed:  I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

3.  The Lord's Prayer:  OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

4. (3) Hail Mary:  HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)

5. Glory Be:  GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.

Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer.  Repeat the process with each mystery.

End with the Hail Holy Queen:

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Final step -- The Sign of the Cross

 

The Mysteries of the Rosary

By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.

The Glorious Mysteries
(Wednesdays and Sundays)
1.The Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-18, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29) [Spiritual fruit - Faith]
2. The Ascension (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-11) [Spiritual fruit - Christian Hope]
3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1-13) [Spiritual fruit - Gifts of the Holy Spirit]
4. The Assumption [Spiritual fruit - To Jesus through Mary]
5. The Coronation [Spiritual fruit - Grace of Final Perseverance]

[Salvation]

~ PRAYER ~

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
 Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we  humbly pray,
 and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
 by the power of God,
 Cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
 Amen
+

[Salvation]

Prayer Campaign Started to Convert Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians to Pro-Life

[Catholic Caucus] One Million Rosaries

[Salvation]

November Devotion: The Holy Souls in Purgatory

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. As a reminder of our duty to pray for the suffering faithful in Purgatory, the Church has dedicated the month of November to the Holy Souls. The Holy Souls are those who have died in the state of grace but who are not yet free from all punishment due to their unforgiven venial sins and all other sins already forgiven for which satisfaction is still to be made. They are certain of entering Heaven, but first they must suffer in Purgatory. The Holy Souls cannot help themselves because for them the night has come, when no man can work (John 9:4). It is our great privilege of brotherhood that we can shorten their time of separation from God by our prayers, good works, and, especially, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

INVOCATION Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY My Jesus, by the sorrows Thou didst suffer in Thine agony in the Garden, in Thy scourging and crowning with thorns, in the way to Calvary, in Thy crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; do Thou deliver them from the dire torments they endure; call them and admit them to Thy most sweet embrace in paradise. Our Father, Hail Mary, Eternal rest, etc.

FOR ALL THE DECEASED By Thy resurrection from the dead, O Christ, death no longer hath dominion over those who die in holiness. So, we beseech Thee, give rest to Thy servants in Thy sanctuary and in Abraham's bosom. Grant it to those, who from Adam until now have adored Thee with purity, to our fathers and brothers, to our kinsmen and friends, to all men who have lived by faith and passed on their road to Thee, by a thousand ways, and in all conditions, and make them worthy of the heavenly kingdom. Byzantine Liturgy

DE PROFUNDIS The psalmist is crying out here from the depression that grips him because of his sense of sin. He tells God that no man could be forgiven should strict justice be demanded; but, since God is forgiving and merciful, the psalmist (Israel) will hope for redemption from iniquities. We, who know the mercy of God far better than the g Israelites, may pray this psalm with even greater trust in God. The Church uses this psalm in the liturgy as her official prayer for the souls in Purgatory. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my, voice! Let Your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication: If You, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? But with You is forgiveness, that You may be revered. I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in His word. My soul waits for the Lord more than sentinels wait for the dawn. More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the Lord, For with the Lord is kindness and with Him is plenteous redemption; And He will redeem Israel from all their iniquities. Psalm 130

THE MISERERE This psalm is a marvelous act of contrition, confession, and supplication by a repentant sinner. It was composed by David after his sin with Bethsabee. In reparation David promises to lead others back to God by telling them of the ways of divine justice. Instead of offering God an external sacrifice which he knows He will not accept, he offers instead the sacrifice of a contrite and humble heart, a sacrifice that will always be most pleasing in the eyes of God. Have mercy on me, 0 God, in Your goodness; in the greatness of Your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: "Against You only have I sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight"-- That You may be justified in Your sentence, vindicated when You condemn. Indeed, in guilt was I born, and in sin my mother conceived me; Behold, You are pleased with sincerity of heart, and in my inmost being You teach me wisdom. Cleanse me of sin with hyssop, that I may be purified; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness; the bones You have crushed shall rejoice. Turn away Your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt. A clean heart create for me, 0 God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from Your presence, and Your holy spirit take not from me. Give me back the joy of Your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall return to You. Free me from blood guilt, 0 God, my saving God; then my tongue shall revel in Your justice. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim Your praise. For You are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a holocaust, You would not accept it. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, 0 God, You will not spurn. Be bountiful, O Lord, to Sion in Your kindness by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem; Then shall You be pleased with due sacrifices, burnt offerings and holocausts; then shall they offer up bullocks on Your altar. Psalm 50

FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY O Lord, who art ever merciful and bounteous with Thy gifts, look down upon the suffering souls in purgatory. Remember not their offenses and negligences, but be mindful of Thy loving mercy, which is from all eternity. Cleanse them of their sins and fulfill their ardent desires that they may be made worthy to behold Thee face to face in Thy glory. May they soon be united with Thee and hear those blessed words which will call them to their heavenly home: "Come, blessed of My Father, take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

 

 Repeat these prayers every seven days during the month of November for the Poor Souls in Purgatory

SUNDAY

O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech You by the Precious Blood, which Your divine Son Jesus shed in the Garden, deliver the souls in purgatory, and especially that one which is the most forsaken of all, and bring it into Your glory, where it may praise and bless You for ever.    Amen.

Say here:  one Our Father and one Hail Mary

CONCLUDING PRAYERS

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May they rest in peace.    Amen.

Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us.   As we renew our faith in Your Son, whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.    Amen.

 

MONDAY

O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech You by the Precious Blood, which Your divine Son Jesus shed in His cruel scourging, deliver the souls in purgatory, and among them all, especially that soul which is nearest to its entrance into Your glory, that it may soon begin to praise You and bless You for ever.    Amen.

Say here:  one Our Father and one Hail Mary

CONCLUDING PRAYERS

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May they rest in peace.    Amen.

Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us.   As we renew our faith in Your Son, whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.    Amen.

 

TUESDAY

O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech You by the Precious Blood of Your divine Son Jesus that was shed in His bitter crowning with thorns, deliver the souls in purgatory, and among them all, particularly that soul which is in the greatest need of our prayers, in order that it may not long be delayed in praising You in Your glory and blessing You for ever.    Amen.

Say here:  one Our Father and one Hail Mary

CONCLUDING PRAYERS

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May they rest in peace.    Amen.

Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us.   As we renew our faith in Your Son, whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.    Amen.

 

WEDNESDAY

O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech You by the Precious Blood of Your divine Son Jesus that was shed in the streets of Jerusalem while He carried on His sacred shoulders the heavy burden of the Cross, deliver the souls in purgatory and especially that one which is richest in merits in Your sight, so that, having soon attained the high place in glory to which it is destined, it may praise You triumphantly and bless You for ever.    Amen

Say here:  one Our Father and one Hail Mary

CONCLUDING PRAYERS

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May they rest in peace.    Amen.

Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us.   As we renew our faith in Your Son, whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.    Amen.

 

THURSDAY

O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech You by the Precious Body and Blood of Your divine Son Jesus, which He Himself on the night before His Passion gave as meat and drink to His beloved Apostles and bequeathed to His Holy Church to be the perpetual Sacrifice and life-giving nourishment of His faithful people, deliver the souls in purgatory, but most of all, that soul which was most devoted to this Mystery of infinite love, in order that it may praise You therefore, together with Your divine Son and the Holy Spirit in Your glory for ever.    Amen.

Say here:  one Our Father and one Hail Mary

CONCLUDING PRAYERS

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May they rest in peace.    Amen.

Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us.   As we renew our faith in Your Son, whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.    Amen.

 

FRIDAY

O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech You by the Precious Blood which Jesus Your divine Son did shed this day upon the tree of the Cross, especially from His sacred Hands and Feet, deliver the souls in purgatory, and particularly that soul for whom I am most bound to pray, in order that I may not be the cause which hinders You from admitting it quickly to the possession of Your glory where it may praise You and bless You for evermore.    Amen

Say here:  one Our Father and one Hail Mary

CONCLUDING PRAYERS

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May they rest in peace.    Amen.

Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us.   As we renew our faith in Your Son, whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.    Amen.

 

 

 

SATURDAY

O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech You by the Precious Blood which gushed forth from the sacred Side of Your divine Son Jesus in the presence and to the great sorrow of His most holy Mother, deliver the souls in purgatory and among them all especially that soul which has been most devout to this noble Lady, that it may come quickly into Your glory, there to praise You in her, and her in You through all the ages.    Amen.

Say here:  one Our Father and one Hail Mary

CONCLUDING PRAYERS

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May they rest in peace.    Amen.

Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us.   As we renew our faith in Your Son, whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.    Amen.

 

To Trace All Souls Day (Protestants vs Catholics)

November 2 -- All Souls Day
On November: All Souls and the "Permanent Things"
"From the Pastor" ALL SAINTS & ALL SOULS
Praying for the Dead [All Souls Day] (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)
To Trace All Souls Day [Ecumenical]

All Souls Day [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
The Roots of All Souls Day
The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
During Month of Souls, Recall Mystic, St. Gertrude the Great
All Saints and All Souls

All Saints, All Souls and the Four Last Things
The Feast of All Saints - What are the origins of All Saints Day and All Souls Day?
All Saints and All Souls
All Souls Day and final destinations
Ideas for Sanctifying Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day

[Salvation]

Holy Father's Prayer Intentions For November 2009

General: That all the men and women in the world, especially those who have responsibilities in the field of politics and economics, may never fail in their commitment to safeguard creation.

Mission: That believers in the different religions, through the testimony of their lives and fraternal dialogue, may clearly demonstrate that the name of God is a bearer of peace.

[Salvation]

From: 1 Kings 17:10-16

Miracle of the flour and the oil

---

[10] So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city,
behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Bring
me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” [11] And as she was going to bring
it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” [12] And
she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal
in a jar, and a little oil in a cruse; and now, I am gathering a couple of stocks, that
I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” [13]
And Elijah said to her, “Fear not; go and do as you have said; but first make me a
little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make for yourself and your sun.
[14] For thus says the Lord the God of Israel, ‘The jar of meal shall not be spent,
and the cruse of oil shall not fail, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the
earth.’” [15] And she went and did as Elijah said; and she, and he, and her house-
hold ate for many days. [16] The jar of meal was not spent, neither did the cruse
of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord which he spoke by Elijah.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

17:8-16. Zarephath was 15 km. (9 miles) to the south of Sidon, the area where
Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, came from (cf. 16:31). There, Elijah was certainly outside
the jurisdiction of King Ahab who was persecuting him (cf. 1 Kings 18:10), but it
is interesting that it was a poor widow at death’s door whom God chose to give
the prophet nourishment. Jesus uses the fact that it was a widow and a foreigner
who was chosen, to show that God gives his gifts to whomever he pleases, not
to those who think they have a right to them (cf. Lk 4:25-26).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

[Salvation]

From: Hebrews 9:15, 24-28

The Rites of the Old Covenant Prefigure Those of the New

---

[24] For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of the
true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our be-
half. [25] Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the Holy
Place yearly with blood not his own; [26] for then he would have had to suffer re-
peatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for
all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. [27] And just
as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment, [28] so
Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second
time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

23-28. In these verses the sacred writer adds some additional considerations to
the main line of his argument. His thought centers on linking the sanctuary, the
sacrifices which were offered in the Old Testament sanctuary, and the sacrifice
of the New Covenant. It was “necessary” for Christ to shed his blood so that
men might” receive the promised eternal inheritance” (9:15), that is, forgiveness
of their sins (cf. 9:14). This shedding of blood is also necessary for the “purifica-
tion” of the heavenly things (9:23). The sacrifices of the Mosaic liturgy purified the
things of the old sanctuary and, in some way, pointed to forgiveness of sins (9:9,
10). The sacrifice of Christ, on the other hand, really does blot out sin and opens
for us the way to heaven itself, giving us entry into that new sanctuary (7:25; 9:
12). But the parallel is not a perfect one, for the old sacrifices were multiple and
were constantly repeated in petition of forgiveness (9:25). The sacrifice of Christ,
on the contrary, is a unique sacrifice, because it is eternally effective (7:27; 9:
12). Moreover, whereas the high priest offered a sacrifice not with his own blood
but with the blood of animals, Christ offered his own blood in sacrifice. Therefore,
Christ has offered himself “once” (7:28; 9:12, 26, 28) in the same sort of way as
every man has to die only once and then undergoes judgment. Furthermore,
through his sacrifice Christ has passed through the heavens once and for all and
will not return to earth to renew his sacrifice. He will not return until the end of
time, when he will come in glory.

Two truths interweave here a number of times. The first is that Christ entered for-
ever not into a temple made by man but into heaven itself (9:24; 7:26; 8:1). The
second is that Christ also enables us to enter into glory; that is, his sacrifice and
his entry into heaven enable man to attain his last end.

27-28. These verses look at three basic truths of Christian belief about the last
things—1) the immutable decree of death; 2) the fact that there is a judgment im-
mediately after death; 3) the second coming of Christ, in glory.

“Not to deal with sin”: this phrase means that the second coming of Christ or Pa-
rousia, will not be for the purpose of redeeming men from sin but rather to bring
salvation, that is, glory, to those who placed their hope in him. Christ will come
into the world for a second time, but not as Redeemer, for his sacrifice has alrea-
dy eliminated sin once for all; rather, he will come as Judge of all. His coming “is
appointed”: it is as necessary as death and judgment. These three truths are
closely interconnected.

Although man is mortal, “a spiritual element survives and subsists after death, an
element endowed with consciousness and will, so that the ‘human self’ subsists.
To designate this element, the Church uses the word ‘soul’, the accepted term in
the usage of Scripture and Tradition” (SCDF, “Letter on Certain Questions Con-
cerning Eschatology”, 17 May 1979).

Man, then, is made up of a spiritual and immortal soul and a corruptible body.
However, when God originally endowed man with supernatural grace, he gave him
additional gifts, the so-called “preternatural” gifts, which included bodily immorta-
lity. Adam’s disobedience resulted in the loss of his friendship with God and the
loss of this preternatural gift. From that point onwards death is “the wages of sin”
(Rom 6:23), and it is to this divine decision that the text refers when it says that
it “is appointed for men to die” (cf. Gen 3:19, 23; Rom 5:12). The Church has re-
peatedly stressed that death is apunishment; cf., for example, Pius VI, “Aucto-
rem Fidei”, prop. 1, 7: “in our present state (death) is inflicted as a just punish-
ment for sin”; immortality was an “unmerited gift and not a natural condition”.
Verses 27-28 are an implicit exhortation to watchfulness (cf. also 1 Cor 7:29;
Sir 14:12; and “Lumen Gentium”, 48).

Immediately after death everyone will be judged on the conduct of his life. All
“are to give an account of their lives; those who have done good deeds will go in-
to eternal life; those who have done evil will go into everlasting fire” (”Athanasian
Creed”). This is something which reason with the help of God’s Word can disco-
ver, because people with a correct moral sense realize that good deserves to be
rewarded and evil punished, and that it is impossible for this to occur completely
in this life. It is difficult to say whether Hebrews 9:27 is referring to the “particular
judgment”, which happens immediately after death, or to the general judgment,
which will take place on the last day. Both interpretations can be supported, for
the judgment the verse refers to is connected, on the one hand, with death, and
on the other with the second coming of Christ. In any event, it is clear that what
is meant is a “personal” judgment, a trial at which each individual will be judged
by Christ (cf. 2 Cor 5:10; Rom 14:10). The existence of a general judgment does
not conflict with the certainty that there is a particular judgment, for the Church,
in line with Sacred Scripture, although it awaits the glorious revealing of our Lord
Jesus Christ on the last day, sees that event as distinct from and separate in
time from the judgment which every individual will undergo immediately after
death (cf. “Letter on Eschatology, op. cit.”).

The idea of death and judgment, however, should not only inspire fear; it should
also lead us to hope in Christ, for our Lord will come a second time to show him-
self a merciful judge to “those who are eagerly waiting for him”.

Christians, therefore, combine their joyful hope in the establishment of the King-
dom of God, which they wholeheartedly desire, with a desire to make the best
possible use of the time allotted to them in this life. “This urgent solicitude of the
Church, the Spouse of Christ, for the needs of men—for their joys and hopes, their
griefs and labors—is nothing other than her intense desire to share them in full, in
order to illuminate men with the light of Christ and to gather together and unite all
in him who alone is the Savior of each one of them. This solicitude must never be
taken to mean that the Church conforms herself to the things of this world, or that
her longing for the coming of her Lord and his eternal reign grows cold” (Paul VI,
“Creed of the People of God”.

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

[Salvation]

From: Mark 12:38-44

Jesus Censures the Scribes

---

[38] And in His (Jesus’) teaching He said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to
go about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places [39] and the
best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, [40] who devour
widow’s houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the
greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Mite

---

[41] And He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting
money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. [42] And a poor
widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny. [43] And He
called His disciples to Him, and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor wi-
dow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. [44] For
they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in
everything she had, her whole living.”

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

38-40. Our Lord reproves disordered desire for human honors: “We should notice
that salutations in the marketplace are not forbidden, nor people taking the best
seats if that befits their position; rather, the faithful are warned to avoid, as they
would evil men, those who set too much store by such honors” (St. Bede, “In
Marci Evangelium Expositio, in loc.”). See also notes on Matthew 23:2-3, 5, 11
and 14.

41-44. Our Lord uses this little event to teach us the importance of things which
apparently are insignificant. He puts it somewhat paradoxically; the poor widow
has contributed more than all the rich. In God’s sight the value of such an action
lies more in upright intention and generosity of spirit than in the quantity one
gives. “Didn’t you see the light in Jesus’ eyes as the poor widow left her little
alms in the temple? Give Him what you can: the merit is not in whether it is big
or small, but in the intention with which you give it” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”,
829).

By the same token, our actions are pleasing to God even if they are not as perfect
as we would like. St. Francis de Sales comments: “Now as among the treasures
of the temple, the poor widow’s mite was much esteemed, so the least little good
works, even though performed somewhat coldly and not according to the whole
extent of the charity which is in us, are agreeable to God, and esteemed by Him;
so that though of themselves they cannot cause and increase in the existing love
[...] yet Divine Providence, counting on them and, out of His goodness, valuing
them, forthwith rewards them with increase in charity for the present, and assigns
to them a greater Heavenly glory for the future” (St. Francis de Sales, “Treatise
on the Love of God”, Book 3, Chapter 2).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

[Salvation]

Scripture readings taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd

Mass Readings

First reading

1 Kings 17:10-16 ©

Elijah the Prophet went off to Sidon. And when he reached the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks; addressing her he said, ‘Please bring me a little water in a vessel for me to drink.’ She was setting off to bring it when he called after her. ‘Please’ he said ‘bring me a scrap of bread in your hand.’ ‘As the Lord your God lives,’ she replied ‘I have no baked bread, but only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug; I am just gathering a stick or two to go and prepare this for myself and my son to eat, and then we shall die.’ But Elijah said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, go and do as you have said; but first make a little scone of it for me and bring it to me, and then make some for yourself and for your son. For thus the Lord speaks, the God of Israel: “Jar of meal shall not be spent, jug of oil shall not be emptied, before the day when the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth.”’ The woman went and did as Elijah told her and they ate the food, she, himself and her son. The jar of meal was not spent nor the jug of oil emptied, just as the Lord had foretold through Elijah.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 145:6-10

Second reading

Hebrews 9:24-28 ©

It is not as though Christ had entered a man-made sanctuary which was only modelled on the real one; but it was heaven itself, so that he could appear in the actual presence of God on our behalf. And he does not have to offer himself again and again, like the high priest going into the sanctuary year after year with the blood that is not his own, or else he would have had to suffer over and over again since the world began. Instead of that, he has made his appearance once and for all, now at the end of the last age, to do away with sin by sacrificing himself. Since men only die once, and after that comes judgement, so Christ, too, offers himself only once to take the faults of many on himself, and when he appears a second time, it will not be to deal with sin but to reward with salvation those who are waiting for him.

Gospel

Mark 12:38-44 ©

In his teaching Jesus said, ‘Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes, to be greeted obsequiously in the market squares, to take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets; these are the men who swallow the property of widows, while making a show of lengthy prayers. The more severe will be the sentence they receive.’   He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury, and many of the rich put in a great deal. A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘I tell you solemnly, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; for they have all put in money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.’

Alternative gospel

Mark 12:41-44 ©

Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury, and many of the rich put in a great deal. A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘I tell you solemnly, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; for they have all put in money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.’

[Salvation]

Zenit -- Two Mighty and Courageous Widows

Two Mighty and Courageous Widows

Biblical Reflection for 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time B

By Father Thomas Rosica, CSBTORONTO, NOV. 4, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Today's Old Testament reading from 1 Kings 17:10-16 and the Gospel story from Mark 12:38-44 present us with two remarkable widows who challenge us by their conviction, generosity and faith.

They force us to reexamine our understanding of the poor and poverty, and look at our own ways of being generous with others.

I would like to offer some reflections on the stories of these two biblical figures and then apply their example to our own lives, through the lenses of Pope Benedict XVI's recent encyclical letter "Caritas in Veritate."

Elijah's faith

Whenever I read stories from the Elijah and Elisha cycle in the first and second books of Kings, I always say a prayer of thanksgiving for one of my professors from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Jesuit Father Stephen Pisano, who taught the best course I had in the Old Testament: "The Man of God in the Books of Kings." God knows how many times I have gone back to those notes and appreciated anew the stories of Elijah and his disciple Elisha, and their efforts to make God's Word known and loved in the land of Israel!

In I Kings 17:8-16, God's continues to test the Prophet Elijah. While today's lectionary reading begins with Verse 10, it is important to go back to Verse 8 to understand the full meaning of the text. In Verse 8 we read: "The word of the Lord came to him, saying... ."

Elijah did not set out until he received the message from God. It is essential for us to be in communication with God through listening to God's Word before setting out on mission.

Elijah is then told to go to Zarephath (v. 9), which is part of Sidon. Verse nine contains three commands: "arise," "go," and "stay." The prophet will be tested with each of these commands through faith, trust, obedience, availability and commitment. When Elijah is told to "arise," it is not only a physical movement but a spiritual one. For Elijah, following the Lord obediently is the result of his own spiritual reawakening.

The second command -- "go to Zarephath" -- carries with it the idea of a journey, including risks, hardships and dangers. Elijah is sent to a specific place, Zarephath, which means "a smelting place, a place of testing."

Furthermore, Zarephath was in the land of Sidon, which belonged to the wicked Jezebel. Elijah is hardly being sent to a vacation destination for rest and relaxation!

The third command -- "stay there" -- was a great challenge to his commitment, trust and vision as a man of God who was simply seeking to serve the Lord. Elijah's provision would come from a poor, destitute, depressed widow facing starvation in the pagan nation of the Sidonians who represented the forces clearly in opposition to the God of Israel.

Elijah encounters his benefactress, not living in a large house and sharing her excess with itinerant prophets, but rather at the gate of the city, collecting a few sticks since she had no fuel at home to cook even a meager meal.

The God who commanded the ravens and who provided for Elijah in the desert (I Kings 17:1-7), was the same God who had commanded the widow and would provide for the prophet through her. At Zarephath, the poor woman listened to Elijah's instruction and it was just as he had promised according to the Word of the Lord. She saw the power of God: The widow, her son, and Elijah were all sustained.

What lessons can we learn from this passage?

Because of a poor woman's generosity and goodness, and Elijah's faithfulness, God strengthened the prophet's faith, renewed his capacity for ministry, using him to comfort the widow and her son at the same time. The Lord God will provide for us, beyond outward appearances of weakness, failure and fear. God always does far more than we can ever ask for or imagine.

Just a mite

In today's well-known Gospel story (Mark 12:38-44), Jesus praises the poor widow's offering, and makes it clear that the standard measurement for assessing gifts is not how much we give to the works of God or how much we put in the collection basket, but how much we have left for ourselves. Those who give out of their abundance still have abundance left.

Is Jesus exalting this woman because she emptied her bank account for the temple? Is Jesus romanticizing and idealizing the poor? I have yet to meet people who dream of growing up destitute, poor, hungry and homeless. I don't know anyone who delights in living from one government social assistance check to the next, nor people who enjoy rummaging through garbage bins and are proud that they cannot afford to pay for electric and water bills for their inadequate and even dangerous housing situations during cold Canadian winters.

The woman in today's provocative Gospel story was poor because she was a widow. She was completely dependent on her male relatives for her livelihood. To be widowed meant not only losing a spouse, but more tragically, losing the one on whom you were totally dependent. Widows were forced to live off of the generosity of other male relatives and anyone in the community who might provide for one's needs.

The two coins in the woman's hand were most likely all she had. When one has so little, a penny or two isn't going to move that person from complete social assistance to employment. With the coins or without them, the widow was still a dependent person. She had no status in life. She was totally dependent on the grace of God, yet she was indeed rich in God's mercy.

Jesus never condemns the rich but simply says that they will find it difficult to enter the kingdom. What matters is not how much money is stored in bank accounts or kept in stocks and bonds, but rather for what that money is destined.

Will the money be used to assist others, to make the world a better place? Will be it used to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide for the homeless and destitute poor? Will it be used to build a culture of life? Do our lives revolve around the money or are we dependant on God who truly makes us rich? Do we behave as owners or live as stewards?

The widow tossed her only signs of independence into the collection basket, but she maintained her complete dependence on God and neighbor. Her example of faith is grounded in the love of God: her love for God and God's love for her. She was a steward and not an owner of her meager possessions. This poor widow teaches us that dependence, far from being oppressive and depressive, can really lead to a life lived in deep joy and profound gratitude.

Charity in truth

Four brief sections from Benedict XVI's recent encyclical letter "Caritas in Veritate" merit our careful reflection and meditation this week.

1. "The search for love and truth is purified and liberated by Jesus Christ from the impoverishment that our humanity brings to it, and he reveals to us in all its fullness the initiative of love and the plan for true life that God has prepared for us. In Christ, charity in truth becomes the Face of his Person, a vocation for us to love our brothers and sisters in the truth of his plan. Indeed, he himself is the Truth (cf. John 14:6)."

23. "The mere fact of emerging from economic backwardness, though positive in itself, does not resolve the complex issues of human advancement, neither for the countries that are spearheading such progress, nor for those that are already economically developed, nor even for those that are still poor, which can suffer not just through old forms of exploitation, but also from the negative consequences of a growth that is marked by irregularities and imbalances."

42. "For a long time it was thought that poor peoples should remain at a fixed stage of development, and should be content to receive assistance from the philanthropy of developed peoples. Paul VI strongly opposed this mentality in 'Populorum Progressio.'

"Today the material resources available for rescuing these peoples from poverty are potentially greater than before, but they have ended up largely in the hands of people from developed countries, who have benefited more from the liberalization that has occurred in the mobility of capital and labor. The world-wide diffusion of forms of prosperity should not therefore be held up by projects that are self-centered, protectionist or at the service of private interests."

75. "While the poor of the world continue knocking on the doors of the rich, the world of affluence runs the risk of no longer hearing those knocks, on account of a conscience that can no longer distinguish what is human. God reveals man to himself; reason and faith work hand in hand to demonstrate to us what is good, provided we want to see it; the natural law, in which creative Reason shines forth, reveals our greatness, but also our wretchedness insofar as we fail to recognize the call to moral truth."

[The readings for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time are 1 Kings 17:10-16; Hebrews 9:24-28; and Mark 12:38-44 or 12:41-44]

* * *

Basilian Father Thomas Rosica, chief executive officer of the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation and Television Network in Canada, is a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

[Salvation]

Give ’Til It Hurts

Give ’Til It Hurts

November 7th, 2009 by Fr. Jerome Magat

This week’s Gospel narrative paints one of the most moving and heartwarming scenes in all of Scripture: the story of the widow’s mite. The story provides us with key insights into what God expects of us in terms of our generosity. While much of the attention in the story focuses upon the small amount given by this woman, it is often forgotten that it was actually a widow who made the contribution. Widows and orphans were afforded special protections among the Jews. They were considered to be among the most vulnerable in society since they had little to no means of income. These protections were even codified in the Law of Moses.

When the widow made her contribution, it was a very heroic act because her donation was truly sacrificial. For our Lord, the amount of the gift itself matters less than the actual cost to the donor. The real value in giving is not the actual gift itself but the sacrifice it imposes on the giver. True sacrificial giving hurts. It is difficult for most people to reduce personal spending so as to contribute to the needs and the works of the Church. In our own time, we even see an increase in the unwillingness to give to the Church unless there is a quid pro quo arrangement involved.

The widow’s contribution was two mites — worth barely a penny. Jesus places greater weight on her gift because while others contributed more in actual monetary value, it cost the widow everything she had. There is a certain type of recklessness in sacrificial giving. The widow might have decided to keep one of the two mites for herself. Instead, she didn’t hold back. This type of total self-giving is a challenge for every person, no matter what vocation they are called to live. It is often assumed that priests and religious need not be generous with their limited incomes because they have already given their lives. Yet, even priests and religious are expected to give generously to the works of the Church. A newly ordained priest on the day of his ordination asked an elderly priest for some sagely advice, just minutes after the ordination Mass was complete. The elderly priest said to the newly minted priest, “Father, you just gave your entire life to Christ. Don’t spend the rest of it trying to earn it back.”

Finally, we do well to ponder the fact that the person Jesus chose to give us as a pattern of generosity was a person who made an almost valueless contribution to the temple, insofar as actual monetary value goes. This should remind us that whenever we think that we have very little to give to God, He can do plenty with almost nothing, as long as we are willing to give it all away. When true sacrificial giving takes place, Jesus is never outdone in generosity.

 

Fr. Magat is parochial vicar of St. William of York Parish in Stafford, VA.

(This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.)

[Salvation]

The Road to Emmaus

Thirty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

By Brian Pizzalato *

  

First Reading – 1 Kgs. 17:10-16

Responsorial Psalm – Ps. 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

Second Reading – Heb. 9:24-28

Gospel Reading – Mk. 12:38-44

In this Sunday’s readings we have two stories of two widows. God has a special concern for widows, as the Responsorial Psalm tells us: “…the widow he sustains” (146:9). Another psalm refers to God as the “protector of widows” (68:5).

The common theme between the Old Testament reading from 1 Kings, and the Gospel reading from Mark, is that the widows involved have very little to give. The widow of 1 Kings is hesitant at first to give Elijah the little flour and oil that she and her son have. Elijah tells her to “not be afraid” (17:13). He is encouraging her to trust in the goodness and protection of God in the midst of poverty, sorrow and trial. She was afraid that once she and her son had eaten the little they did have that they would die. However, Elijah declares to her definitively, “The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry…” (17:14).

The widow then begins to trust in the Lord and she gives to Elijah the little she had, and as a result, “She was able to eat for a year, and he [Elijah] and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry…” (17:15-16).

Then we come to the reading from the Gospel of Mark. In the beginning of the passage Jesus condemns the scribes for their hypocritical pretentions. They love to be honored and be in places of honor. They are proud of their observance of the Torah, but, as Jesus says elsewhere they neglect the weightier matters of the law, namely, “justice and mercy and faith” (Matthew 23:23). They also, “devour the houses of widows…” (Mark 12:40a).

As George Martin notes in his book, Bringing the Gospel of Mark to Life, “Prophets denounced those who defrauded helpless people such as widows” (p. 334). For example, “I will draw near to you for judgment…against those who oppress…the widow and the orphan…” (Malachi 3:5). Jesus too confirms: “They will receive a very severe condemnation” (Mark 12:40b).

With this the scene is setup for a widow to enter the picture. Jesus observed many people putting money into the Temple treasury, with many rich people putting in much money. Then along comes a widow who puts two small coins, lepta, the smallest denomination of Jewish coin in circulation in the first century. Like the widow from the story in 1 Kings, she has very little to give. Dr. Mary Healy in her book, The Gospel of Mark, recognizes, “That the widow gave two suggests that she did not spare even what she could justifiably have kept for herself” (p. 253).

Jesus then calls the disciples to himself and gives them an astounding teaching. He says, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood” (Mark 12:44).

In the eyes of the world the widow’s donation is not even worth mentioning. It could hardly have made a dent in the cost to the maintenance and upkeep of the Temple. However, as Healy notes, “God measures the gifts given him on a basis totally different from human calculations. He looks at the inner motives of the heart” (p. 254).

The widow in Mark’s Gospel, like the widow in 1 Kings, gives all she has her whole livelihood. Martin says, “The Greek word translated livelihood is also the word for life: in giving her whole livelihood, this widow gave her life, entrusting herself to God” (p. 336).

Finally, as Healy sees clearly, “Such reckless generosity parallels the self-emptying generosity of God himself, who did not hold back from us even his beloved Son. She is an exemplar of ‘the poor’ who are blessed by God because their whole treasure is not in earthly possessions but in God” (p. 254).

[Salvation]

Sunday, November 8, 2009
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Psalm: Second Reading: Gospel:

1 Kings 17:10-16 Psalm 146:7-10 Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44 or 12:41-44 God does not require of us extraordinary things. -- The Cure of Ars

[Salvation]

The Angelus 

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: 
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. 

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen. 

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word. 

Hail Mary . . . 

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us. 

Hail Mary . . . 

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

Let us pray: 

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen. 

[Salvation]

[Salvation]

Office of Readings and Invitatory Psalm

Office of Readings

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

O God, come to my aid.

– O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen. Alleluia.

---

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 23 (24)

The Lord comes to his temple

Who will climb the mountain of the Lord? Who will stand in his holy place?

The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,

  the world and all who live in it.

He himself founded it upon the seas

  and set it firm over the waters.

Who will climb the mountain of the Lord?

  Who will stand in his holy place?

The one who is innocent of wrongdoing and pure of heart,

  who has not given himself to vanities or sworn falsely.

He will receive the blessing of the Lord

  and be justified by God his saviour.

This is the way of those who seek him,

  seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Gates, raise your heads. Stand up, eternal doors,

  and let the king of glory enter.

Who is the king of glory?

The Lord of might and power.

  The Lord, strong in battle.

Gates, raise your heads. Stand up, eternal doors,

  and let the king of glory enter.

Who is the king of glory?

The Lord of hosts

 – he is the king of glory.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

Who will climb the mountain of the Lord? Who will stand in his holy place?

---

Psalm 65 (66)

Hymn for a sacrifice of thanksgiving

Bless our God, you nations, praise him who brought us to life.

Cry out to God, all the earth,

  sing psalms to the glory of his name,

  give him all glory and praise.

Say to God, “How tremendous your works!

  Faced with the greatness of your power

  your enemies dwindle away.

Let all the earth worship you and sing your praises,

  sing psalms to your name.”

Come and see the works of God,

  be awed by what he has done for the children of men.

He turned the sea into dry land,

  and they crossed the waters on foot:

  therefore will we rejoice in him.

In his might he will rule for all time,

  his eyes keep watch on the nations:

  no rebellion will ever succeed.

Bless our God, you nations,

  and let the sound of your praises be heard.

Praise him who brought us to life,

  and saved us from stumbling.

For you have tested us, O Lord,

  you have tried us by fire, as silver is tried.

You led us into the trap,

  heaped tribulations upon us.

You set other men to rule over us –

  but we passed through fire and water,

  and you led us out to our rest.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

Bless our God, you nations, praise him who brought us to life.

---

Psalm 65 (66)

Listen, you who fear the Lord: hear what he has done for me.

I shall enter your house with burnt-offerings.

  I shall fulfil my vows to you,

the vows that I made with my lips,

  the vows that I uttered in my troubles.

I shall offer you rich burnt-offerings,

  the smoke of the flesh of rams;

  I shall offer you cattle and goats.

Draw near and listen, you who fear the Lord,

  and I will tell all that he has done for me.

I cried out aloud to him,

  and his praise was on my tongue.

If I looked upon sin in the depths of my heart,

  the Lord would not hear me –

but the Lord has listened,

  he has heard the cry of my appeal.

Blessed be God, who has not spurned my prayer,

  who has not kept his mercy from me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

Listen, you who fear the Lord: hear what he has done for me.

---

The word of God is a living and active thing.

– It is sharper than a double-edged sword.

---

Reading

Daniel 1:1-21 ©

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched on Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hands, with some of the furnishings of the Temple of God. He took them away to the land of Shinar, and stored the sacred vessels in the treasury of his own gods.   The king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to select from the Israelites a certain number of boys of either royal or noble descent; they had to be without any physical defect, of good appearance, trained in every kind of wisdom, well-informed, quick at learning, suitable for service in the palace of the king. Ashpenaz himself was to teach them the language and literature of the Chaldaeans. The king assigned them a daily allowance of food and wine from his own royal table. They were to receive an education lasting for three years, after which they were expected to be fit for the king’s society. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, who were Judaeans. The chief eunuch gave them other names, calling Daniel Belteshazzar, Hananiah Shadrach, Mishael Meshach, and Azariah Abednego. Daniel, who was most anxious not to defile himself with the food and wine from the royal table, begged the chief eunuch to spare him this defilement; and by the grace of God Daniel met goodwill and sympathy on the part of the chief eunuch. But he warned Daniel, ‘I am afraid of my lord the king: he has assigned you food and drink, and if he sees you looking thinner in the face than the other boys of your age, my head will be in danger with the king because of you.’ At this Daniel turned to the guard whom the chief eunuch had assigned to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He said, ‘Please allow your servants a ten days’ trial, during which we are given only vegetables to eat and water to drink. You can then compare our looks with those of the boys who eat the king’s food; go by what you see, and treat your servants accordingly.’ The man agreed to do what they asked and put them on ten days’ trial. When the ten days were over they looked and were in better health than any of the boys who had eaten their allowance from the royal table; so the guard withdrew their allowance of food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. And God favoured these four boys with knowledge and intelligence in everything connected with literature, and in wisdom; while Daniel had the gift of interpreting every kind of vision and dream. When the period stipulated by the king for the boys’ training was over, the chief eunuch presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king conversed with them, and among all the boys found none to equal Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. So they became members of the king’s court, and on whatever point of wisdom or information he might question them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

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Reading	A sermon of the second century
Christ wished to save everything that perishes
Brethren, we ought to regard Jesus Christ both as God and as the judge of the living and the dead, and we should not undervalue the fact of our salvation. If we think little of it, it means that we hope for little. Moreover, people who hear these things and think them of small importance commit sin, and we ourselves sin if we do not realise what we have been called from, who has called us, and to what place, and how much suffering Jesus Christ endured on our account.   How then shall we repay him? What fruit can we bear that would be worthy of what he has given us? For how many benefits are we not in his debt! He has enlightened our minds; he has called us sons as a father does; he saved us when we were about to perish. How then shall we praise him, how repay him for his gifts? In the weakness of our minds we worshipped stones and pieces of wood, gold and silver and bronze, things made by men, and our whole life was death. Darkness enfolded us, and nothing but gloom met our eyes. Then, by his will, we escaped from the cloud that enveloped us and recovered our sight. For he saw our many errors and the damnation that awaited us, and knowing that apart from him we had no hope of salvation, he pitied us, and in his mercy saved us. He called us when we were not his people and willed us to become his people.   Rejoice, O barren woman who never bore a child; break into shouts of joy, you who never knew a mother’s pangs; for the deserted wife shall have more children than she who has a husband. When he says: Rejoice, O barren woman who never bore a child, he is speaking of us, for our Church was barren until children were given her. When he says: Break into shouts of joy, you who never knew a mother’s pangs, he means that we should not grow weary like women in labour, but tirelessly and in all simplicity offer our prayers to God. He declares that the deserted wife shall have more children than she who has a husband, because faith has now made our people who seemed to have been deserted by God more numerous than those who were thought to possess him.   Another text says: I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners, for it is those who are on the point of perishing who must be saved. It is a great and wonderful work to uphold those who are falling, rather than those who already stand firm. Christ willed to save people who were in danger of losing their souls, and he has been the salvation of many. When we were rushing headlong on the way to perishing, he came and called us.

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Hymn

Te Deum

God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you! You, the Father, the eternal – all the earth venerates you. All the angels, all the heavens, every power – The cherubim, the seraphim – unceasingly, they cry: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts: heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!” The glorious choir of Apostles – The noble ranks of prophets – The shining army of martyrs – all praise you. Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you. – Father of immeasurable majesty, – True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship, – Holy Spirit, our Advocate. You, Christ: – You are the king of glory. – You are the Father’s eternal Son. – You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb. – You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you. – You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father. – You will come, so we believe, as our Judge. And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood. Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory. Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance. Rule them and lift them high for ever. Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever. Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us. Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you. In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame.

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Concluding Prayer

Almighty and ever-living God, remove the obstacles that stand in our way,

  so that unimpeded in body and soul

  we may freely devote ourselves to your service.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

  who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

  God for ever and ever.

Amen.

[Salvation]

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for: November 08, 2009
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: God of power and mercy, protect us from all harm. Give us freedom of spirit and health in mind and body to do your work on earth. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

RECIPES

• Green Beans
• Roast with Vegetables

  8th

Thirty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time Old Calendar: Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood (Mark 12:41-44)."

Don't forget to pray for the Poor Souls in Purgatory from November 1 to the 8th.

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Commentary
Our Lord's severe condemnation of those Scribes whose exaggerated opinion of their own importance made a mockery of the religion they professed to live, is a serious warning to all his followers not to look for the praise and esteem of their neighbors when doing their good works, but rather to hope for God's praise and esteem in the future world. In another context, he said to his followers: "Because of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven . . . when you give alms do not let your left hand know what your right is doing ... and your Father who sees in secret will reward you .. . when you pray go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father ... who sees in secret and will reward you" (Mt. 6: 1-6).

It is hardly necessary to say that our Lord is not referring to community prayers or services here. What he is condemning is the hypocrisy of the Scribes, who lengthened their garments and their prayers not in order to give glory to God but to earn the glory of their fellowmen for themselves. Pride was their predominant vice—the vice which caused the fall of angels and of man. It so governed their lives that even their best actions were vitiated by it. There is a strong inclination to pride in every one of us. The reason is that we have great gifts from God and great capabilities: but we are tempted to claim the credit for these gifts and capabilities for ourselves—whereas we owe them all to God's generosity.

A proud Christian is surely a contradiction in terms. A Christian is a follower of Christ whose humility can never be equaled. He was God as well as man. While on earth he emptied himself, as St. Paul puts it, of his divine glory so that he could be like one of us. A follower of Christ should not try to make display of gifts which are not his own, nor try to exalt himself above his neighbor because of something he has which was not given to his neighbor. If Christ wanted to be, and indeed was like the least one among us, we must never try to raise ourselves above our neighbor. Love of neighbor is the second of the two essential commandments—there can be no true love of neighbor where there is pride.

The second incident in today's Gospel story highlights true humility and true charity. The poor widow, forgetful of herself and of her own needs gave her all, her last penny, to help others who were in need. She made this sacrifice without publicity and without seeking the praise of her neighbors. It is this deep contrast between her outlook on life and on religion, and that of the Scribes in the first that connects the two incidents. While the Scribes sought to earn the respect and praise of their fellow-Jews—as well as all the financial gain they could come by—from the practice of the externals of their religion, this poor widow's religion was practiced in secret and it was to God alone that she looked for any reward that he might deign to give her.

As we saw in today's first reading we can be sure that she was not left without the reward she deserved. The widow of Zarephath was given a temporal reward. The same generous God did not let the similar act of supreme generosity on the part of the widow in Jerusalem go unnoticed. Christ's judgment on the Scribes implies this: They will receive the greater condemnation for their pride, and abuse of religion for their own temporal gain. On the other hand the widow's religion was an act of complete self-renunciation: "she has put in everything she had, her whole living."

We may never be called on to share our last morsel with a starving neighbor but if we are, we must remember that Christ gave his very life for us and has asked us to do likewise, if necessary. It may never be necessary for us to make this supreme act of self-renunciation. If, however, we are sincerely practicing our religion, we must be ever-ready to help a neighbor in need even if this cuts into our hard-earned reserves. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the reward.

Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.

Indulgences for All Souls Week
An indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed. The indulgence is plenary each day from the first to the eighth of November; on other days of the year it is partial.

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A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who on the day dedicated to the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed [November 2 {as well as on the Sunday preceding or following, and on All Saints' Day}] piously visit a church. In visiting the church it is required that one Our Father and the Creed be recited.

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To acquire a plenary indulgence it is necessary also to fulfill the following three conditions: sacramental Confession, Eucharistic communion, and prayer for the intention of the Holy Father. The three conditions may be fulfilled several days before or after the performance of the visit; it is, however, fitting that communion be received and the prayer for the intention of the Holy Father be said on the same day as the visit.

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The condition of praying for the intention of the Holy Father is fully satisfied by reciting one Our Father and one Hail Mary. A plenary indulgence can be acquired only once in the course of the day.

[Salvation]

Lauds -- Morning Prayer

Morning Prayer (Lauds)

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

Introduction

O God, come to my aid.

  O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen. Alleluia.

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A suitable hymn may be inserted here.

Psalm 117 (118)
A cry of rejoicing and triumph

Give thanks to the Lord, for his kindness is for ever. Alleluia.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,

  and his kindness is for ever.

Now let Israel say, he is good

  and his kindness is for ever.

Now let the house of Aaron say it too:

  that his kindness is for ever.

Now let all who fear the Lord say it too:

  that his kindness is for ever.

In my time of trial I called out to the Lord:

  he listened, and led me to freedom.

The Lord is with me,

  I will fear nothing that man can do.

The Lord, my help, is with me,

  and I shall look down upon my enemies.

It is good to seek shelter in the Lord,

  better than to trust in men.

It is good to seek shelter in the Lord,

  better than to trust in the leaders of men.

All the nations surrounded me,

  and in the Lord’s name I slew them.

They crowded in and besieged me,

  and in the Lord’s name I slew them.

They surrounded me like swarms of bees,

  they burned like a fire of dry thorns,

  and in the Lord’s name I slew them.

They chased and pursued me, to make me fall,

  and the Lord came to my help.

The Lord is my strength and my rejoicing:

  he has become my saviour.

A cry of joy and salvation

  in the dwellings of the righteous:

“The Lord’s right hand has triumphed!

  The Lord’s right hand has raised me up;

  the Lord’s right hand has triumphed.”

I shall not die, but live,

  and tell of the works of the Lord.

The Lord chastised me severely

  but did not let me die.

Open the gates of righteousness:

  I will go in, and thank the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord;

  it is the upright who enter here.

I will thank you, for you listened to me,

  and became my saviour.

The stone that the builders rejected

  has become the corner-stone.

It was the Lord who did this –

  it is marvellous to behold.

This is the day that was made by the Lord:

  let us rejoice today, and be glad.

Lord, keep me safe;

  O Lord, let me prosper!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

  We bless you from the house of the Lord.

The Lord is God, he shines upon us!

  Arrange the procession, with close-packed branches,

  up to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, I will give thanks to you;

  my God, I will give you praise.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,

  and his kindness is for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

Give thanks to the Lord, for his kindness is for ever. Alleluia.

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Canticle	Daniel 3

Let every creature praise the Lord

Alleluia. Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and exalt him for ever. Alleluia.

Blessed are you, Lord God of our fathers,

  praised and exalted for ever.

Blessed is the holy name of your glory

  praised above all things and exalted for ever.

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory

  praised and glorious above all things for ever.

Blessed are you who gaze on the depths,

  seated on the cherubim,

  praised and exalted for ever.

Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven

  praised and glorious for ever.

Bless the Lord, all his works,

  praise and exalt him for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

Alleluia. Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and exalt him for ever. Alleluia.

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Psalm 150
Praise the Lord

All that breathes, praise the Lord! Alleluia.

Praise the Lord in his sanctuary,

  praise him in his mighty firmament.

Praise him for his mighty deeds,

  praise him for all his greatness.

Praise him with trumpet-blasts,

  praise him with the harp and lyre,

praise him with timbrel and dance,

  praise him with strings and pipes,

praise him with cymbals resounding,

  praise him with cymbals of jubilation.

All that breathes, praise the Lord!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

All that breathes, praise the Lord! Alleluia.

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Short reading	2 Timothy 2:8,11-13 ©

Remember the Good News that I carry, ’Jesus Christ risen from the dead, sprung from the race of David’; Here is a saying that you can rely on: ‘If we have died with him, then we shall live with him. If we hold firm, then we shall reign with him. If we disown him, then he will disown us. We may be unfaithful, but he is always faithful, for he cannot disown his own self.’

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Short Responsory

We will give thanks to you, O God, and call upon your name.

– We will give thanks to you, O God, and call upon your name.

We will tell of your wonderful deeds.

– We will give thanks to you, O God, and call upon your name.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– We will give thanks to you, O God, and call upon your name.

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Canticle	Benedictus

The Messiah and his forerunner

I tell you solemnly, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

  for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption.

He has raised up the sign of salvation

  in the house of his servant David,

as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones,

  his prophets through the ages:

to rescue us from our enemies

  and all who hate us,

to take pity on our fathers,

  to remember his holy covenant

and the oath he swore to Abraham our father,

  that he would give himself to us,

that we could serve him without fear

 – freed from the hands of our enemies –

in uprightness and holiness before him,

  for all of our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High:

  for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path,

to let his people know their salvation,

  so that their sins may be forgiven.

Through the bottomless mercy of our God,

  one born on high will visit us

to give light to those who walk in darkness,

  who live in the shadow of death;

  to lead our feet in the path of peace.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

I tell you solemnly, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury.

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Prayers and Intercessions

Our God is a God of power and goodness, who loves us and knows our souls. We praise him with joyful hearts:

– We praise you, Lord, and we trust in you.

We bless you, almighty God, King of all things. We are in the wrong; we have sinned; but you have called us

  to know your truth and serve you in your greatness.

– We praise you, Lord, and we trust in you.

God, you chose to open wide the doors of your compassion:

  do not let us stray from the path of true life.

– We praise you, Lord, and we trust in you.

As we celebrate the resurrection of your beloved Son,

  let us spend this day in spiritual rejoicing.

– We praise you, Lord, and we trust in you.

Lord, give your faithful a spirit of prayer and praise,

  and let us always give you thanks.

– We praise you, Lord, and we trust in you.

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Our Father, who art in Heaven,

  hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

  thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

  and forgive us our trespasses

  as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

  but deliver us from evil.

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Almighty and ever-living God, remove the obstacles that stand in our way,

  so that unimpeded in body and soul

  we may freely devote ourselves to your service.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

  who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

  God for ever and ever.

Amen.

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May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Meditation: 1 Kings 17:10-16

A woman is minding her own business, gathering sticks so that she can build a fire and cook some food.

Out of nowhere, a man appears and asks: “Please bring me a small cupful of water” and “a bit of bread.” Instead of saying, “I am too busy” or “Go get your own bread” or “We’re too poor to feed you,” the woman does what he asks. The story is made all the more poignant when we consider that this woman was not only very poor but a widow as well.

Despite her poverty, this woman placed the traveler’s needs above her own. Her instincts of hospitality presvailed over the reality of her poverty. What this widow did not understand was that her generosity was going to be rewarded a hundredfold. For this traveler was Elijah, a powerful prophet of God.

Jesus once promised: “Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward” (Matthew 10:41). He placed a high value on hospitality, especially when it is shown to people who have dedicated themselves to serving the Lord. So what was this widow’s reward? Her jar never ran out of flour, and her jug never ran out of oil. Though drought and famine had gripped the land, this woman and her son were miraculously provided for.

There was another reward. When the widow’s son became ill and died, Elijah came and raised him from the dead.

Today we eat the body of the Lord and drink his blood. We welcome Jesus into our house just as this widow welcomed Elijah. So be sure to show him great hospitality. Don’t neglect him or leave him standing at the door. Know that if you are welcoming and generous to him, you will receive a huge reward: not just a “prophet’s reward” but a “Messiah’s reward.” Not just a “righteous man’s reward” but a “heavenly Savior’s reward.” Just as Jesus said to Zacchaeus, he will say to you: “Today salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:9).

“Jesus, I welcome you today. Come into my heart and make it your home.”

Psalm 146:7-10; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44

[Salvation]

The Two-Cent Rule

Pastor’s Column

31^st Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 8, 2009

“…but she, from her poverty, contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”

                                                  Mark 12:44         

          I love the story of the widow’s mite. Have you ever wondered where Jesus sat when he went to the synagogue? Well, this time he sat near the collection box and watched people making their contributions! If someone next to you in church made a point to see what you had written on your envelope, this would be considered very rude, but Jesus does this to make a point: God sees everything.         

          There is so much to learn from this little story! So often, we tend to judge ourselves and others by how wealthy we are, or how big and beautiful the house is, or how productive we are. Many people find it hard to cope, for example, when illness or unemployment makes them seem less valuable to others, less worthwhile. That’s when we need to remember the 2 cent rule: God only expects of us what we are able to give him, even if it is only 2 cents, as long as we have put our whole heart into it

Jesus was not impressed with the long-flowing robes of the Scribe, who was in fact advertizing his wealth and position. These robes were quite impossible to work -- or even walk fast in! They were worn quite deliberately to let everyone know the wearer was a member of the leisured class. This kind of showiness is offensive, not only to God, but to most everyone else as well.

But here comes this poor widow. Nobody notices her coming in. She is not important. She has almost nothing to contribute. No one wants her opinion, or expects her to be a major donor in some capital campaign. She is dressed modestly. She does not wished to be noticed, for what she is offering is very small, very poor. What good can 2 cents do, after all? She slips in and out of the synagogue, as it were, unnoticed.  But she is the one who is singled out by Christ, for she gave God everything, even though it was, in fact, only 2 cents.

How thankful we ought to be for this story. Here, we learn so much about the mind of God! The Lord is often most pleased with the little things we do, when we put our whole heart into them. The world generally saves its rewards and honors for those who have made a big name for themselves, done great deeds, acted heroically, or given vast sums of money. All of these things are good, even necessary. But we must always remember that God sees things very differently than we do. Remember the two cent rule:

God only expects of us what we are able to give him, even if it is only 2 cents, as long as we have put our whole heart into it.

                                                          Father Gary    

[Salvation]

Faith and Family

Sharing, Caring & So Much More

by Tom and April Hoopes in Faith on Saturday, November 07, 2009 6:00 AM

(In this weekly column, Tom and April Hoopes share family-friendly ways of observing the liturgical year and celebrating the Sunday readings.)

Nov. 8 is the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, Cycle I). Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to make a pastoral visit to Brescia, Italy, today.

Veterans Day

Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, a time to thank those who were willing to put their lives on the line for us by serving in the armed forces. It also happens to be the feast of St. Martin of Tours, who was a soldier.

Pope Benedict XVI addressed the legacy of St. Martin of Tours two years ago on his feast day.

“While many miracles are attributed to him, St. Martin is known most of all for an act of fraternal charity,” said the Pope.

“While still a young soldier, he met a poor man on the street, numb and trembling from the cold. He then took his own cloak and, cutting it in two with his sword, gave half to that man. Jesus appeared to him that night in a dream smiling, dressed in the same cloak,” he said. “May St. Martin help us to understand that only by means of a common commitment to sharing is it possible to respond to the great challenge of our times: to build a world of peace and justice where each person can live with dignity.”

There are many stories of the generosity U.S. troops have shown to the children and families in the regions in which they are stationed overseas. To share some of these with your children, type “Iraqi Children and U.S. Troops” into YouTube’s search engine. Make sure to preview anything you show your children from YouTube — and make your window smaller to include just the video you’re watching.

Tell them what the Pope said about St. Martin of Tours, and pray for the troops with them.

Readings

1 Kings 17:10-16; Psalm 146:7-10; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44 or 12:41-44

Our Take

Today’s first reading and Gospel demonstrate the importance of tithing by using widows as examples.

Widows are often mentioned in both the New Testament and Old Testament because they are poor and defenseless. That means they are (as today’s Psalm makes clear), in a special way, in the care of the Lord. But they are also a perfect analogy to every Christian.

When they were married, they were joined in a religious ceremony. A priest put the spouses in the care of one another. When their husbands died, the religious community said things like “The Lord took him” or “He is with God.” What is clear is that God allowed their deaths. Widows might very well feel they have been left exposed, without a provider. In an Aug. 10, 1994, audience, Pope John Paul II said those who are separated or divorced are analogous to widows.

Christ went out of his way to show widows his care: He raised the son of one widow, he used a widow’s long unanswered pray—ers as a lesson in the parable of the unjust judge, and he criticized scribes who abused the position of widows.

The widow’s challenge is to see God’s care for her despite her predicament.

That’s our challenge, also. We all are placed by God in the world, a place where there are abundant resources but where, at some point, we have to fend for ourselves.

Ultimately, the illusion of reliance on human strength, or self-reliance, is just that: an illusion. Providence provides for us. Our job, for the most part, is to receive from God — who provides in a way that is practically hidden to us.

Today’s readings praise the generosity of two widows. The first reading’s widow is willing to share her last flour and oil with Elijah the prophet. In return, her flour miraculously never runs out. In the Gospel, the widow shares from all she has. One presumes that she, too, was taken care of.

When we keep our gifts to ourselves and try to live off of them, we are destined to fail. When we put them in the hands of God, who gave them to us in the first place, we place ourselves in his hands, too.

—This article originally appeared in our sister publication, the National Catholic Register.

[Salvation]

Secret Harbor ~ Portus Secretioris

07 November 2009

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading, 1 Kings 17:10-16
Zarephath is located in what is modern day Lebanon.

This Reading offers a foretaste of the abundant blessings that would flow from God to His people via the Incarnation of Jesus Christ of Whom Elijah prefigures. In this Reading's example, God showers blessings upon a woman and her son through the intercession of Elijah the prophet. After perusing this text you might be recalling the multiplication of the loaves and fishes story in the Gospels.

There are a couple of things to consider here. First, God supplies the blessing, and Elijah intercedes on behalf of the woman and her son; but it is the woman's obedience to Elijah that seems to trigger the blessing. In other words, the woman is rewarded for taking a leap of faith. The other thing to consider is something that Catholics don't talk about too much -- the biblical principle of tithing. The woman barely has enough ingredients to feed herself and her son but obeys Elijah's command to feed him first and then go and prepare something for herself and her son. She not only displays an act of faith by trusting in the words of Elijah but also gives to God or the work of God first. She trusted that what was left would be at the very least sufficient. It was not only sufficient but abundant.

It's easy to get caught up in negativity when serving God. "I'm too nervous to be a Reader at Mass." – "My voice isn't polished enough to sing in the choir." – "Father will yell at me if I make a mistake while serving at the altar." -- "I don't have the endurance to get involved with the Pro-Life movement," – etc., etc., etc. God is looking for leaps of faith and says to human hearts: "Give Me what you have and watch what I can do with it."

A poor, humble girl named Miriam became the Mother of God. One of Christianity's staunchest enemies became one of its greatest apostles in Saint Paul. An uneducated Polish nun named Faustina became the herald of the Divine Mercy message. A thespian in Nazi occupied Poland would later become Pope John Paul II. Jean-Marie Vianney was a man of limited knowledge who failed his entrance exams to enter the seminary; but he was certain of his vocation and would eventually become a priest and convert the entire town of Ars. This man of limited knowledge is today the patron saint of priests.

Saints come from all walks of life and for many of them it was an unbelievable and miraculous road that led to their eventual canonization. But it was their faith that helped pave that road. They gave what they had and God multiplied it. Somewhere, someone was the first to offer the prayer: "Lord, I've done all I can do – now do all You can do."


Second Reading, Hebrews 9:24-28
Saint Augustine of Canterbury taught that when Christ died He put chains around the devil in the sense that he would not be able to tempt us beyond our limits of resistance. The reality of this teaching might cause the shedding of tears when reflecting on the reality of our own lives. But our brokenness is never irreparable unless we make that choice.

Christ will appear a second time and bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him. To eagerly await Him is to be faithful to the Gospel message. Christ also dwells in another sanctuary not made by hands – the human soul. Eagerly awaiting Him and living out the Gospel means to pray that the Indwelling of Christ will be manifested daily in our lives so that Christ can clearly be seen in us.

Jesus only needed to offer Himself once. We are sinners but the gift of Christ's mercy is the cure for our illness. And with the cure comes yet another gracious invitation from Jesus to be in His service.


Gospel, Mark 12:38-44
After reading this Gospel don't be tempted to throw away your clothes and jewelry and put on sackcloth unless you have a very radical Saint Francis-like calling to serve Christ. Don't shy away from sitting in the front pew at your parish. Don't feel that you shouldn't pray before the Blessed Sacrament but rather somewhere that you cannot be seen; and don't feel like you need to cut your prayer time in half. It would be, however, beneficial for your soul not to engage in devouring the houses of widows.

What is in your heart? That is a key question to understanding this Gospel. It isn’t so much important that anyone else knows what is in your heart; but it is important that you know because God knows. Scripture tells us that God does not judge by the appearances of a man, but instead looks into the heart (cf. 1 Samuel 16:7).

Traditionally this Gospel story is titled, "The Widow's Mite". According to what is written in the Talmud, there were thirteen receptacles or containers in which to place offerings in the temple. These receptacles were shaped like trumpets. Jesus, proving Himself to be God, brings to the attention of His apostles the hidden truth behind the widow's offering. He does this to stress the importance of the intention of the heart when serving God. The moral worth of the widow's offering is measured in accordance to the sacrifice she made.

There are virtually two reasons for doing anything. One's intentions will either be honorable or dishonorable. In matters of prayer, for example, honor and dishonor can be more specific by suggesting that on the honorable side, one prays out of true love for God and seeks a more intimate relationship with Him. On the dishonorable side, it is done to be somewhat glitzy. Do I go to church and pray before the Monstrance or Tabernacle because I truly love Jesus and have a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament; or is it because I want to impress Father? Am I singing in the choir because God gave me this voice and I'm using it to serve Him; or is it because of all the compliments I receive from parishioners?

Temptation is a powerful force and it's easy for even the most devout to occasionally catch themselves on the wrong side of the fence. Sometimes holy intentions result in nothing more than feeding egos. Jesus teaches us that gifts should not be judged by their absolute value. How true this is, otherwise, how could God love us so much? Deeming God as our greatest gift maps out for us a life of service to Him; and even when holy intentions go awry His boundless mercy heals us and once again sets our sights to giving Him all the glory. "He must increase; but I must decrease" (John 3:30).

by Jeffrey S. J. Allan at 16:20

[Salvation]

Vultus Christi

Sin's Knotty Entanglements

By

Father Mark

 on November 8, 2009 10:25 AM |

On the Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost and the ferial days following it, we pray:

Absolve, quaesumus Domine,
tuorum delicta populorum:
ut a peccatorum nexibus,
quae pro nostra fragilitate contraximus,
tua benignitate liberemur.

Absolve, Thy people from their transgressions,
we beseech Thee, O Lord,
so that through Thy goodness,
we may be set free from the entanglements of those sins
which in our weakness we have committed.

The verb, absolvo, can mean to loosen. The verb, contraho, can mean, among other things, to draw together tightly. Understood in this way, the Collect presents an astute psychology of sin. Sin is a knotty business, leading to hopelessly complex entanglements.

One better understands the old German devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Looser of Knots (Maria Knotenlöserin) in the light of the Church's prayer. There are, I think, in every life, sinful entanglements that only the patient and gentle hands of the Immaculate Virgin Mary can loosen.

[Salvation]

Vespers -- Evening Prayer

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

Introduction

O God, come to my aid.

  O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen. Alleluia.

---

A suitable hymn may be inserted here.

Psalm 109 (110)
The Messiah, king and priest

Among the sacred splendours, I begot you before the dawn.

The Lord has said to my lord:

  “Sit at my right hand

  while I make your enemies your footstool.”

From Zion the Lord will give you a sceptre,

  and you will rule in the midst of your foes.

Royal power is yours in the day of your strength,

  among the sacred splendours.

  Before the dawn, I begot you from the womb.

The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent:

  “You are a priest for ever,

  a priest of the priesthood of Melchisedech.”

The Lord is at your right hand,

  and on the day of his anger he will shatter kings.

He will drink from the stream as he goes –

  he will hold his head high.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

Among the sacred splendours, I begot you before the dawn.

---

Psalm 111 (112)
How blessed are the just

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for what is right, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord

  and loves his commands above all things.

His seed will be powerful on earth:

  the descendants of the just will be blessed.

Glory and riches will fill his house,

  and his righteousness will stand firm for ever.

He rises up in the darkness,

  a light for the upright,

  compassionate, generous, and just.

Happy the man who takes pity and lends,

  who directs his affairs with wisdom –

  he will never be shaken.

The just man will be remembered for ever,

  no slander will he fear.

His heart is ready, hoping in the Lord;

  his heart is strong, it will not fear,

  until he looks down on his defeated enemies.

He gives alms and helps the poor:

  his righteousness will endure for ever,

  his future will be glorious.

The transgressor will see, and be enraged:

  he will grind his teeth and fade away.

The desires of the wicked will perish.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for what is right, for they shall be satisfied.

---

Canticle	(Apocalypse 19)

The wedding of the Lamb

Praise God, all his servants, small and great. Alleluia.

Alleluia.

Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

  because his judgements are true and just.

Alleluia.

Alleluia.

Praise our God, all his servants,

  and you who fear him, small and great.

Alleluia.

Alleluia.

For the Lord reigns, our God, the Almighty:

  let us rejoice and exult and give him glory.

Alleluia.

Alleluia.

The marriage of the Lamb has come,

  and his spouse has made herself ready.

Alleluia.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

Praise God, all his servants, small and great. Alleluia.

---

Short reading	Hebrews 12:22-24 ©

What you have come to is Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where the millions of angels have gathered for the festival, with the whole Church in which everyone is a ’first-born son’ and a citizen of heaven. You have come to God himself, the supreme Judge, and been placed with spirits of the saints who have been made perfect; and to Jesus, the mediator who brings a new covenant and a blood for purification which pleads more insistently than Abel’s.

---

Short Responsory

Our Lord is great, and great is his power.

– Our Lord is great, and great is his power.

His wisdom has no limits.

– Our Lord is great, and great is his power.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– Our Lord is great, and great is his power.

---

Canticle	Magnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

From the little the widow had, she has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

  and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.

For he has shown me such favour –

  me, his lowly handmaiden.

Now all generations will call me blessed,

  because the mighty one has done great things for me.

His name is holy,

  his mercy lasts for generation after generation

  for those who revere him.

He has put forth his strength:

  he has scattered the proud and conceited,

  torn princes from their thrones;

  but lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things;

  the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,

  he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,

  to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

From the little the widow had, she has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.

---

Prayers and Intercessions

We rejoice in the Lord, from whom all good things come, and as we rejoice we sincerely pray:

– Lord, hear our prayer.

Father and Lord of all, you sent your Son into the world so that everyone everywhere would give you glory:

  make your Church an ever stronger witness among the nations.

– Lord, hear our prayer.

Make us followers of the teaching of the Apostles

  and firm believers in the truth.

– Lord, hear our prayer.

You love justice:

  give judgement in favour of those who suffer wrongs.

– Lord, hear our prayer.

Break the fetters of captives, enlighten the eyes of the blind,

  lift up those who are cast down, be the protection of strangers.

– Lord, hear our prayer.

Fulfil the hopes of those who already sleep in peace:

  through your Son, bring them to the final resurrection.

– Lord, hear our prayer.

---

Our Father, who art in Heaven,

  hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

  thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

  and forgive us our trespasses

  as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

  but deliver us from evil.

---

Almighty and ever-living God, remove the obstacles that stand in our way,

  so that unimpeded in body and soul

  we may freely devote ourselves to your service.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

  who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

  God for ever and ever.

Amen.

---

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

[Salvation]

Regnum Christi

A Call to Authenticity

| SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

Sunday, 32nd week, OT

Father Paul Campbell, LC 

Mark 12:38-44
In the course of his teaching Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation." He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in you. I believe that you are here with me, within me as the life of my soul. I place all of my trust in you, for without you I can do nothing. I love you. Thank you for revealing your loving mercy to me. I offer you all I do in return.

Petition:Lord, help me to be coherent and sincere in my decision to follow your will in my life.

1. Religion for Show The Gospel passage presents us with the stark contrast between the scribes and a poor widow. The scribes were driven by appearances. They were slaves to their vanity. Their interior security lasted only as long as praise flowed from the mouths of those around them. They were more driven by the applause of men than the approval of God. Since their piety was mere show, it left no deep mark in their soul and could not free them from their disordered passions. Externally they appeared religious, but within they were a seething mass of vice. In their greed, they “devoured the houses of widows.” Is my piety for show or for God alone?

2. Generosity Means Giving All The poor widow went unnoticed by the crowd, but Jesus saw her. While the rich made a great show of their gifts, she had only two small coins to give. She quietly slipped in among the crowd, seeking no one’s notice; but she was noticed by Christ. This is our choice: the applause of men or the praise of God.

3. Drawing Comparisons Sometimes it is easy for us to get caught up in what others have -- what they are doing or saying. We fall into the trap of comparing ourselves with others, and probably most of the time we don’t measure up! It causes nothing but anguish. Yet, God doesn’t compare us to others. He loves us. He made us as we are, with our own unique combination of talents and abilities. He measures our generosity not by what we give, but by what we hold back for ourselves. Remember, the happiest are not those who have everything but those who give everything they have.

Conversation with Christ:Lord, help me to stop comparing myself to others. Help me to see the good you want me to do today. Let me see the things I’m holding on to and that which is keeping me from you. You have given me everything. I want to return your gifts in full with interest.

Resolution:I will trust in God’s providence and give him something today that I’ve been holding back.

[Salvation]

Homily of the Day

What Kind of Heart Are You Making?

November 7th, 2009 by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

1 Kgs 17:10-16 / Heb 9:24-28 / Mk 12:38-44

For those of us who read the newspapers and watch the nightly news, bad news is no novelty.  We get it all the time.  But once in a while something happens that is so monstrously evil that it almost stops our hearts.  One of those dreaded moments came several years ago this week when we listened with horror to the confession of a young mother who strapped her two little boys in the back seat of the family car and drowned them — so she could be free!  To us her actions seem incomprehensible, beyond belief.  “She must be crazy,” we say.  But, in fact, there’s a good chance she’s not. There’s a very good chance, indeed a likelihood, that her monstrous deed is quite comprehensible, almost predictable!

Big choices rarely come from outer space.  They come from within.  They come from the inner person that we have created — a tiny piece at a time — through thousands of choices across many years. Just as we are what we eat, we become what we choose.  It happens so slowly that we rarely notice, but through our daily choices we shape our heart as surely as a sculptor shapes his clay.  And our heart in turn impresses its shape on our deeds.

So, if a heart has slowly taken a shape that habitually says to itself, “I want what I want when I want it,” can there be any surprise that when a big moment of choice comes the choice is to seize what I want with no thought of what I may be doing to others?  How could that be a surprise?  The ugly deed is always “bought and paid for” well in advance.

But there’s another side to this tale, and it’s a happier one. Because gracious and true hearts are made in exactly the same way as vicious and selfish ones — through thousands of daily choices across many years.  Not one of our thousands of tiny decisions to be compassionate, gracious, and true ever gets lost.  Every one of them is incorporated into the fabric of our heart, and piece by piece they help to shape the deeds that come after them.

The two widows in Sunday’s readings had built gracious and true hearts in just that way over the years, and so when each was asked to give away all she had, the decision almost made itself. It didn’t come from outer space.  It came from the gracious inner person each widow had created one piece at a time.

We have, with God’s help, the power to create for ourselves hearts and lives that are compassionate, noble, and true.  We have the power to shape our future by shaping our present.

God has given us incredible power for good.  Let us not waste it! Let us use it well this day and always!

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 

<< Sunday, November 8, 2009 >>

32nd Sunday Ordinary Time Saint of the Day

1 Kings 17:10-16
Hebrews 9:24-28
View Readings

Psalm 146:6-10
Mark 12:38-44

MONEY TALKS

"This poor widow contributed more than all the others." —Mark 12:43

 

The widow of Zarephath and the widow in today's Gospel reading both gave from their want, all that they "had to live on" (Mk 12:44; 1 Kgs 17:13ff). When Zacchaeus accepted salvation, he gave half his possessions to the poor (Lk 19:8). Barnabas donated his farm to the Church (Acts 4:37). It became so common to do this that Ananias and Sapphira lied and said they gave to the Church all the money they received from selling a piece of property, although they had only given most of it (Acts 5:2-3). Paul had to caution the Macedonians about over-giving! (2 Cor 8:13) They gave to the point of impoverishing themselves. We don't seem to have this problem today.

Christians today seem light-years away from the financial giving we see in the Bible, especially in the New Testament. Many Christians aren't even tithing, and tithing is B.C. It's 2,000 years behind the times. We're a few light-years behind New Testament Christianity. We must repent of watering down our faith. We have become lukewarm not only in financial matters, but also in many other areas (Rv 3:16). We must repent, even if we're the first one or the only one to repent.

 

Prayer: Father, may I give as You gave to me.

Promise: Jesus "will appear a second time not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him." —Heb 9:28

Praise: Praise You, Jesus, our Wealth (Phil 3:8). You gave everything, even Your very life's blood, so that we could live with You forever. Alleluia!

[Salvation]

Compline -- Night Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer)

Introduction

O God, come to my aid.

  O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen. Alleluia.

---

This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited.

---

Hymn

Christ, thou who art the light and day,

Who chasest nightly shades away,

Thyself the Light of Light confessed,

And promiser of radiance blest:

O holy Lord, we pray to thee,

Throughout the night our guardian be;

In thee vouchsafe us to repose,

All peaceful till the night shall close.

O let our eyes due slumber take,

Our hearts to thee forever wake:

And let thy right hand from above

Shield us who turn to thee in love.

O strong defender, hear our prayers,

Repel our foes and break their snares,

And govern thou thy servants here,

Those ransomed with thy life-blood dear.

Almighty Father, this accord

Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord,

Who with the Holy Ghost and thee

Doth reign through all eternity.

---

Psalm 90 (91)
The protection of the Most High

He will shade you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night.

He who lives under the protection of the Most High

  dwells under the shade of the Almighty.

He will say to the Lord:

  “You are my shelter and my strength,

  my God, in whom I trust.”

For he will free you from the hunter’s snare,

  from the voice of the slanderer.

He will shade you with his wings,

  you will hide underneath his wings.

His faithfulness will be your armour and your shield.

You will not fear the terror of the night,

  nor the arrow that flies by day;

nor the plague that walks in the shadows,

  nor the death that lays waste at noon.

A thousand will fall at your side,

  at your right hand ten thousand will fall,

  but you it will never come near.

You will look with your eyes

  and see the reward of sinners.

For the Lord is your shelter and refuge;

  you have made the Most High your dwelling-place.

Evil will not reach you,

  harm cannot approach your tent;

for he has set his angels to guard you

  and keep you safe in all your ways.

They will carry you in their arms

  in case you hurt your foot on a stone.

You walk on the viper and cobra,

  you will tread on the lion and the serpent.

Because he clung to me, I shall free him:

  I shall lift him up because he knows my name.

He will call upon me and for my part, I will hear him:

  I am with him in his time of trouble.

I shall rescue him and lead him to glory.

I shall fill him with length of days

  and show him my salvation.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

He will shade you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night.

---

Reading	Apocalypse 22:4-5

They will see the face of the Lord, and his name will be marked on their foreheads. There will be no more night: they will not need sunlight or lamp-light, because the Lord God himself will shine upon them. And they will reign for ever and ever.

---

Short Responsory

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness.

– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

---

Canticle	Nunc Dimittis

Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.

Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace.

  You have fulfilled your promise.

My own eyes have seen your salvation,

  which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.

A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness;

  the glory of your people Israel.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

  world without end.

Amen.

Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.

---

Let us pray.

Today we have celebrated the mystery of the Christ’s resurrection, and so now we humbly ask you, Lord, that we may rest in your peace, far from all harm, and rise rejoicing and giving praise to you.

Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

---

May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.

A M E N

	Salve Regina

Hail to you, O Queen, mother of loving kindness,

  our life, our happiness, our hope.

Hear us cry out to you,

  children of Eve in our exile.

Hear as we sigh, with groaning and weeping

  in this life, this valley of tears.

Come then, our Advocate, turn towards us

  the gaze of your kind and loving eyes.

And show us Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb,

  when at last our exile here is ended.

[annalex]

Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 12
38.	And he said to them in his doctrine: Beware of the scribes, who love to walk in long robes, and to be saluted in the marketplace,	Et dicebat eis in doctrina sua : Cavete a scribis, qui volunt in stolis ambulare, et salutari in foro,	και ελεγεν αυτοις εν τη διδαχη αυτου βλεπετε απο των γραμματεων των θελοντων εν στολαις περιπατειν και ασπασμους εν ταις αγοραις
39.	And to sit in the first chairs, in the synagogues, and to have the highest places at suppers:	et in primis cathedris sedere in synagogis, et primos discubitus in cœnis :	και πρωτοκαθεδριας εν ταις συναγωγαις και πρωτοκλισιας εν τοις δειπνοις
40.	Who devour the houses of widows under the pretence of long prayer: these shall receive greater judgment.	qui devorant domos viduarum sub obtentu prolixæ orationis : hi accipient prolixius judicium.	οι κατεσθιοντες τας οικιας των χηρων και προφασει μακρα προσευχομενοι ουτοι ληψονται περισσοτερον κριμα
41.	And Jesus sitting over against the treasury, beheld how the people cast money into the treasury, and many that were rich cast in much.	Et sedens Jesus contra gazophylacium, aspiciebat quomodo turba jactaret æs in gazophylacium, et multi divites jactabant multa.	και καθισας ο ιησους κατεναντι του γαζοφυλακιου εθεωρει πως ο οχλος βαλλει χαλκον εις το γαζοφυλακιον και πολλοι πλουσιοι εβαλλον πολλα
42.	And there came a certain poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing.	Cum venisset autem vidua una pauper, misit duo minuta, quod est quadrans,	και ελθουσα μια χηρα πτωχη εβαλεν λεπτα δυο ο εστιν κοδραντης
43.	And calling his disciples together, he saith to them: Amen I say to you, this poor widow hath cast in more than all they who have cast into the treasury.	et convocans discipulos suos, ait illis : Amen dico vobis, quoniam vidua hæc pauper plus omnibus misit, qui miserunt in gazophylacium.	και προσκαλεσαμενος τους μαθητας αυτου λεγει αυτοις αμην λεγω υμιν οτι η χηρα αυτη η πτωχη πλειον παντων βεβληκεν των βαλλοντων εις το γαζοφυλακιον
44.	For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want cast in all she had, even her whole living.	Omnes enim ex eo, quod abundabat illis, miserunt : hæc vero de penuria sua omnia quæ habuit misit totum victum suum.	παντες γαρ εκ του περισσευοντος αυτοις εβαλον αυτη δε εκ της υστερησεως αυτης παντα οσα ειχεν εβαλεν ολον τον βιον αυτης

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38. And he said to them in his doctrine, Beware of the Scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
39. And the chief seats in the Synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
40. Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

PSEUDO-JEROME; After confuting the Scribes and Pharisees, He burns up as a fire their dry and withered examples; wherefore it is said, And he said to them in his doctrine, Beware of the Scribes, which love to go in long clothing.

BEDE; To walk in long clothing is to go forth into public clad in garments too much ornamented, in which amongst other things, that rich man, who fared sumptuously every day, is said to have sinned.

THEOPHYL. But they used to walk in honorable garments because they wished to be highly esteemed for it, and in like manner they desired other things, which lead to glory. For it goes on: And love salutations in the marketplaces, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts.

BEDE; We must observe that He does not forbid that those, to whom it falls by the rule of their office, should be saluted in the marketplace, or have chief seats and places at feasts, but He teaches that those who hove those things unduly, whether they have them or no, are to be avoided by the faithful as wicked men: that is, He blames the intention and not the office; although this too is culpable, that the very men who wish to be called masters of the synagogue in Moses' seat, should have to do with lawsuits in the marketplace. We are in two ways ordered to beware of those who are desirous of vain glory; first, we should not be seduced by their hypocrisy into thinking that what they do is good; nor secondly, should we be excited to imitate them, through a vain rejoicing in being praised for those virtues which they affect.

THEOPHYL. He also especially teaches the Apostles, not to have any communication with the scribes, but to imitate Christ Himself; and in ordaining them to be masters in the duties of life, He places others under them.

BEDE; But they do not only seek for praise from men, but also for gain. Wherefore there follows, Which devour widows' houses, under the pretense of long prayers. For there are men who pretending to be just hesitate not to receive money from persons who are troubled in conscience, as though they would be their advocates in the judgment. A hand stretched out to the poor is always an accompaniment to prayer, but these men pass the night in prayer, that they may take away money from the poor.

THEOPHYL. But the Scribes used to come to women, who were left without the protection of their husbands, as though they were their protectors; and by a pretense of prayer, a reverend exterior and hypocrisy, they used to deceive widows, and thus also devour the houses of the rich. it goes on, These shall receive a greater damnation, that is, than the other Jews, who sinned.

41. And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43. And he called to him his disciples, and said to them, Verily I say to you, That this poor widow has cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

BEDE; The Lord, who had warned them to avoid the desire of high place and vain glory, now distinguishes by a sure test those who brought in gifts. Wherefore it is said, And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury. In the Greek language, phylassein means to keep, and gaza is a Persian word for treasure; wherefore the word gazophylacium which is here used means a place where riches are kept, which name also was applied to the chest in which the offerings of the people were collected, for the necessary uses of the temple, and to the porch in which they were kept. You have a notice of the porch in the Gospel, These words spoke Jesus in the treasury as He taught in the temple; and of the chest in the book of Kings, But Jehoida the priest took a chest.

THEOPHYL. Now there was a praiseworthy custom amongst the Jews, that those who were able and willing should put something into the treasury, for the maintenance of the priests, the poor, and the widows; wherefore there is added, And many that were rich cast in much. But whilst many people were so engaged, a poor widow came up, and showed her love by offering money according to her ability; wherefore it is said, And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing

BEDE; Reckoners use the word 'quadrans' for the fourth part of anything, be it place, money, or time. Perhaps then in this place is meant the fourth part of a shekel, that is, five pence. It goes on, And he called to him his disciples, and said to them, Verily I say to you, That this poor widow has cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: for God does not weigh the property but the conscience of those who offer; nor did He consider the smallness of the sum in her offering, but what was the store from which it came.

Wherefore He adds, For all they did cast in of their abundance, but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

PSEUDO-JEROME; But in a mystical sense, they are rich, who bring forth from the treasure of their heart things new and old, which are the obscure and hidden things of Divine wisdom in both testaments; but who is the poor woman, if it be not I and those like me, who cast in what I can, and have the will to explain to you, where I have not the power. For God does not consider how much you hear, but what is the store from which it comes; but each at all events can bring his farthing, that is, a ready will, which is called a farthing, because it is accompanied by three things, that is, thought, word, and deed. And in that it is said that she cast in all her living, it is implied that all that the body wants is that by which it lives; wherefore it is said, All the labor of man is for his mouth.

THEOPHYL. Or else; That widow is the soul of man, which leaving Satan to which it had been joined, casts into the temple two mites, that is, the flesh and the mind, the flesh by abstinence, the mind by humility, that so it may be able to hear that it has cast away all its living, and has consecrated it, leaving nothing for the world of all that it possessed.

BEDE; Again, in an allegorical way, the rich men, who cast gifts into the treasury, point out the Jews puffed up with the righteousness of the law; the poor widow is the simplicity of the Church: poor indeed, because she has cast away the spirit of pride and of the desires of worldly things; and a widow, because Jesus her husband has suffered death for her. She casts two mites into the treasury, because she brings the love of God and of her neighbor, or the gifts of faith and prayer; which are looked upon as mites in their own insignificance, but measured by the merit of a devout intention are superior to all the proud works of the Jews. The Jew sends of his abundance into the treasury, because he presumes on his own righteousness; but the Church sends her whole living into God's treasury, because she understands that even her very living is not of her own desert, but of Divine grace.

Catena Aurea Mark 12

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The Widow's Mite

James C. Christensen

[Salvation]

Sunday's Gospel Reflections

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
1Kings 17:10-16 II: Hebrews 9:24-28

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Gospel
Mark 12:38-44

³⁸ In the course of his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
³⁹ seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets.
⁴⁰ They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation."
⁴¹ He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.
⁴² A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
⁴³ Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury.
⁴⁴ For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."

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Interesting Details

• "as a pretext recite lengthy prayers ."(NAB) or, "for a show make lengthy prayers." (NIV). Their prayers are directed at human rather than to God.
• "greetings in the marketplaces ". According to the Talmud, when two people meet in the public, the one who is less knowledgeable of the law should greet the other first.
• Treasury (or collection box) is most likely, one of the thirteen trumpet-shaped chests placed in the court of the temple. The copper coins when dropped into these receptacles would reverberate and thus will draw attention to both the giver and the amount of coins.
• The small copper coin that the widow offers is a "lepton", the smallest monetary denomination, which is about 1/8 of a Roman penny, or 1/32 of a "denarius" (a daily wage of a day labor). In Mt 10:29 it is stated that two sparrows is sold for a penny. So, the two coins of the widow cannot even buy one sparrow.
• The mention of two coins is important: the woman could have kept one for herself. But instead she had let go of her own security and offer herself wholly to God. These words addressed to the disciples are the final words on discipleship at the close of Jesus' ministry.
• According to some commentators, Jesus does not praise but rather laments this woman's behavior. She has been taught "sacrificial giving" by her religious leaders, and that is the pity.

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One Main Point

While we are content to be guided by appearances, to judge people by what they possess and to value presents by how much they cost, Christ measures us by our inner motives and attitudes behind our actions.

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Reflections

1. Why do I do what I do? What benefits do I get from others? What benefits do I expect from God? What really motivates my behavior?
2. Do I assume that the more I do or contribute, the better? What standard do I use to discern, to decide what I should do and how much? Am I aware of different standards and motivators? How free am I to choose my standard?