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Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 10-26-15
USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 10-26-15 | Revised New American Bible

Posted on 10/25/2015 8:00:59 PM PDT by Salvation

October 26, 2015

Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time


Reading 1 Rom 8:12-17

Brothers and sisters,
we are not debtors to the flesh,
to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,
but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
but you received a spirit of adoption,
through which we cry, “Abba, Father!”
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him.

Responsorial Psalm PS 68:2 and 4, 6-7ab, 20-21

R. (21a) Our God is the God of salvation.
God arises; his enemies are scattered,
and those who hate him flee before him.
But the just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
R. Our God is the God of salvation.
The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.
R. Our God is the God of salvation.
Blessed day by day be the Lord,
who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation.
God is a saving God for us;
the LORD, my Lord, controls the passageways of death.
R. Our God is the God of salvation.

Alleluia Jn 17:17b, 17a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 13:10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.
And a woman was there who for eighteen years
had been crippled by a spirit;
she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.
When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,
“Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.”
He laid his hands on her,
and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.
But the leader of the synagogue,
indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath,
said to the crowd in reply,
“There are six days when work should be done.
Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.”
The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites!
Does not each one of you on the sabbath
untie his ox or his ass from the manger
and lead it out for watering?
This daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now,
ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day
from this bondage?”
When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated;
and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.


TOPICS: Catholic; General Discusssion; Prayer; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholic; lk13; ordinarytime; prayer
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To: Salvation
Luke
  English: Douay-Rheims Latin: Vulgata Clementina Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
  Luke 13
10 And he was teaching in their synagogue on their sabbath. Erat autem docens in synagoga eorum sabbatis. ην δε διδασκων εν μια των συναγωγων εν τοις σαββασιν
11 And behold there was a woman, who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years: and she was bowed together, neither could she look upwards at all. Et ecce mulier, quæ habebat spiritum infirmitatis annis decem et octo : et erat inclinata, nec omnino poterat sursum respicere. και ιδου γυνη ην πνευμα εχουσα ασθενειας ετη δεκα και οκτω και ην συγκυπτουσα και μη δυναμενη ανακυψαι εις το παντελες
12 Whom when Jesus saw, he called her unto him, and said to her: Woman, thou art delivered from thy infirmity. Quam cum videret Jesus, vocavit eam ad se, et ait illi : Mulier, dimissa es ab infirmitate tua. ιδων δε αυτην ο ιησους προσεφωνησεν και ειπεν αυτη γυναι απολελυσαι της ασθενειας σου
13 And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. Et imposuit illi manus, et confestim erecta est, et glorificabat Deum. και επεθηκεν αυτη τας χειρας και παραχρημα ανωρθωθη και εδοξαζεν τον θεον
14 And the ruler of the synagogue (being angry that Jesus had healed on the sabbath) answering, said to the multitude: Six days there are wherein you ought to work. In them therefore come, and be healed; and not on the sabbath day. Respondens autem archisynagogus, indignans quia sabbato curasset Jesus, dicebat turbæ : Sex dies sunt in quibus oportet operari : in his ergo venite, et curamini, et non in die sabbati. αποκριθεις δε ο αρχισυναγωγος αγανακτων οτι τω σαββατω εθεραπευσεν ο ιησους ελεγεν τω οχλω εξ ημεραι εισιν εν αις δει εργαζεσθαι εν ταυταις ουν ερχομενοι θεραπευεσθε και μη τη ημερα του σαββατου
15 And the Lord answering him, said: Ye hypocrites, doth not every one of you, on the sabbath day, loose his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead them to water? Respondens autem ad illum Dominus, dixit : Hypocritæ, unusquisque vestrum sabbato non solvit bovem suum, aut asinum a præsepio, et ducit adaquare ? απεκριθη ουν αυτω ο κυριος και ειπεν υποκριται εκαστος υμων τω σαββατω ου λυει τον βουν αυτου η τον ονον απο της φατνης και απαγαγων ποτιζει
16 And ought not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? Hanc autem filiam Abrahæ, quam alligavit Satanas, ecce decem et octo annis, non oportuit solvi a vinculo isto die sabbati ? ταυτην δε θυγατερα αβρααμ ουσαν ην εδησεν ο σατανας ιδου δεκα και οκτω ετη ουκ εδει λυθηναι απο του δεσμου τουτου τη ημερα του σαββατου
17 And when he said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the things that were gloriously done by him. Et cum hæc diceret, erubescant omnes adversarii ejus : et omnis populus gaudebat in universis, quæ gloriosæ fiebant ab eo. και ταυτα λεγοντος αυτου κατησχυνοντο παντες οι αντικειμενοι αυτω και πας ο οχλος εχαιρεν επι πασιν τοις ενδοξοις τοις γινομενοις υπ αυτου

21 posted on 10/26/2015 7:56:48 AM PDT by annalex (fear them not)
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To: annalex
10. And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
11. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
12. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said to her, Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.
13. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14. And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said to the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
15. The Lord then answered him, and said, you hypocrite, do not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or or ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
16. And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
17. And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

AMBROSE; He soon explained that He had been speaking of the synagogue, showing, that He truly came to it, who preached in it, as it is said, And he was teaching in one of the synagogues.

CHRYS. He teaches indeed not separately, but in the synagogues; calmly, neither wavering in any thing, nor determining aught against the law of Moses; on the Sabbath also, because the Jews were then engaged in the hearing of the law.

CYRIL; Now that the Incarnation of the Word was manifested to destroy corruption and death, and the hatred of the devil against us, is plain from the actual events; for it follows, And behold there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity, &c. He says spirit of infirmity, because the woman suffered from the cruelty of the devil, forsaken by God because of her own crimes or for the transgression of Adam, on account of which the bodies of men incur infirmity and death. But God gives this power to the Devil, to the end that men when pressed down by the weight of their adversity might betake them to better things. He points out the nature of her infirmity, saying, And was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

BASIL; Because the head of the brutes is bent down towards the ground and looks upon the earth, but the head of man was made erect towards the heaven, his eyes tending upward. For it becomes us to seek what is above, and with our sight to pierce beyond earthly things.

CYRIL; But our Lord, to show that His coming into this world was to be the loosing of human infirmities, healed this woman. Hence it follows, And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said to her, Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity. A word most suitable to God, full of heavenly majesty; for by His royal assent He dispels the disease.

He also laid His hands upon her, for it follows, He laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. We should here answer, that the Divine power had put on the sacred flesh. For it was the flesh of God Himself, and of no other, as if the Son of Man existed apart from the Son of God, as some have falsely thought. But the ungrateful ruler of the synagogue, when he saw the woman, who before was creeping on the ground, now by Christ's single touch made upright, and relating the mighty works of God, sullies his zeal for the glory of the Lord with envy, and condemns the miracle, that he might appear to be jealous for the Sabbath.

As it follows, And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said to the people, There are six days in which men ought to work, and not on the sabbath-day. He would have those who are dispersed about on the other days, and engaged in their own works, not come on the Sabbath to see and admire our Lord's miracles, lest by chance they should believe. But the law has not forbidden all manual work on the Sabbath-day, and has it forbidden that which is done by a word or the mouth? Cease then both to eat and drink and speak and sing. And if you read not the law, how is it a Sabbath to you? But supposing the law has forbidden manual works, how is it a manual work to raise a woman upright by a word?

AMBROSE; Lastly, God rested from the works of the world not from holy works, for His working is constant and everlasting; as the Son says, My Father works until now, and I work; that after the likeness of God our worldly, not our religious, works should cease. Accordingly our Lord pointedly answered him, as it follows, You hypocrite, do not each on of you on the sabbath-day loose his ox or his ass? &c.

BASIL; The hypocrite is one who on the stage assumes a different character from his own. So also in this life some men carry one thing in their heart, and show another on the surface to the world.

CHRYS. Well then does he call the ruler of the synagogue a hypocrite, for he had the appearance of an observer of the law, but in his heart was a crafty and envious man. For it troubles him not that the Sabbath is broken, but that Christ is glorified. Now observe, that whenever Christ orders a work to be done, (as when He ordered the man sick of the palsy to take up his bed,) He raises His words to something higher, convincing men by the majesty of the Father, as He says, My Father works until now, and I work. But in this place, as doing every thing by word, He adds nothing further, refuting their calumny by the very things which they themselves did.

CYRIL; Now the ruler of the synagogue is convicted a hypocrite, in that he leads his cattle to watering on the Sabbath-day, but this woman, not more by birth than by faith the daughter of Abraham, he thought unworthy to be loosed from the chain of her infirmity. Therefore He adds, And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has bound lo, these eighteen years, to be loosed from this bond on the sabbath-day? The ruler preferred that this woman should like the beasts rather look upon the earth than receive her natural stature, provided that Christ was not magnified. But they had nothing to answer; they themselves unanswerably condemned themselves.

Hence it follows, And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed. But the people, reaping great good from His miracles, rejoiced at the signs which they saw, as it follows, And all the people rejoiced;. For the glory of His works vanquished every scruple in them who sought Him not with corrupt hearts.

GREG. Mystically the unfruitful fig tree signifies the woman that was bowed down. For human nature of its own will rushes into sin, and as it would not bring forth the fruit of obedience, has lost the state of uprightness. The same fig tree preserved signifies the woman made upright.

AMBROSE; Or the fig tree represents the synagogue; afterwards in the infirm woman there follows as it were a figure of the Church, which having fulfilled the measure of the law and the resurrection, and now raised up on high in that eternal resting place, can no more experience the frailty of our weak inclinations. Nor could this woman be healed except she had fulfilled the law and grace. For in ten sentences is contained the perfection of the law, and in the number eight the fullness of the resurrection.

GREG. Or else; man was made on the sixth day, and on the same sixth day were all the works of the Lord finished, but the number six multiplied three times makes eighteen. Because then man who was made on the sixth day was unwilling to do perfect works, but before the law, under the law, and at the beginning of grace, was weak, the woman was bowed down eighteen years.

AUG. That which the three years signified in the tree, the eighteen did in the woman, for three times six is eighteen. But she was crooked and could not look up, for in vain she heard the words, lift up your hearts.

GREG. For every sinner who thinks earthly things, not seeking those that are in heaven, is unable to look up. For while pursuing his baser desires, he declines from the uprightness of his state; or his heart is bent crooked, and he ever looks upon that which he unceasingly thinks about. The Lord called her and made her upright, for He enlightened her and succored her. He sometimes calls but does not make upright, for when we are enlightened by grace, we oft-times see what should be done, but because of sin do not practice it. For habitual sin binds down the mind, so that it cannot rise to uprightness. It makes attempts and fails, because when it has long stood by its own will, when the will is lacking, it falls.

AMBROSE; Now this miracle is a sign of the coming sabbath, when every one who has fulfilled the law and grace, shall by the mercy of God put off the toils of this weak body. But why did He not mention any more animals, save to show that the time would come when the Jewish and Gentile nations should quench their bodily thirst, and this world's heat in the fullness of the fountain of the Lord, and so through the calling forth of two nations, the Church should be saved.

BEDE; But the daughter of Abraham is every faithful soul, or the Church gathered out of both nations into the unity of the faith. There is the same mystery then in the ox or ass being loosed and led to water, as in the daughter of Abraham being released from the bondage of our affections.

Catena Aurea Luke 13
22 posted on 10/26/2015 7:57:10 AM PDT by annalex (fear them not)
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To: annalex


Christ Heals a Woman Bent-over and the Parable of the Fig Tree

Alexander Master

c. 1430
Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague

23 posted on 10/26/2015 7:57:40 AM PDT by annalex (fear them not)
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To: All
Information: St. Evaristus

Feast Day: October 26

Died: 107

24 posted on 10/26/2015 8:18:31 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All

St. Evaristus


Feast Day: October 26
Born: (around) 45 :: Died: 107

St. Evaristus was born in Greece. His parents were Hellenic Jews of Bethlehem and he was brought up in the Jewish religion. His father was so pleased with his son's virtue and knowledge that he sent him to the best teachers.

But when Evaristus grew older he learnt to love the Christian faith and soon became a Christian. So great was his love for his new faith that he decided to become a priest.

At Rome, where he carried out his priestly duties, everyone grew to admire and love him. So when the pope was killed, Evaristus was chosen to take his place. He felt he was not worthy to become pope, but God knew better.

These were times when non-believers were attacking the Church. Such bad lies were spread about the Catholic faith that the Romans went about looking for Christians and put them to death.

Every pope was almost certain of being arrested. For about eight years, Pope St. Evaristus ruled the Church. His enthusiasm was so great that the number of believers grew larger every day. But at last, he was captured.

The jailers were amazed to see the joy on the holy old man's face as he was taken to prison. St. Evaristus thought he was very lucky to be able to suffer and die for Jesus. And he felt that dying, as a martyr for Jesus was the best gift he could be given. Pope St. Evaristus died in 107.


25 posted on 10/26/2015 8:22:17 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Monday, October 26

Liturgical Color: Green

Today the Church remembers St. Lucian.
Lucian was a 3rd century devil worshiper.
He converted to Christianity when a
woman was able to avoid his spell by
making the sign of the Cross. He was
eventually martyred for holding to his new
faith.

26 posted on 10/26/2015 3:10:04 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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Day 299 - The Work of the Spirit

Today’s Reading: John 16:4-15
4 “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your ad- vantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Today’s Commentary:
Where are you going?: Although both Peter (13:36) and Thomas (14:5) asked this question earlier, they were too troubled by the prospect of Jesus’ departure to press for information about his destination.
he will convince: The Spirit exposes the sin of unbelief for what it is (3:20), convinces the world that Christ, though condemned as a criminal, was truly righteous.


27 posted on 10/26/2015 3:53:59 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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Ordinary Time: October 26th

Monday of the Thirtieth Week of Ordinary Time

MASS READINGS

October 26, 2015 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

Almighty ever-living God, increase our faith, hope and charity, and make us love what you command, so that we may merit what you promise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Catholic Culture

Old Calendar: St. Evaristus, pope and martyr

"This is a Saint who strove for the truth, even unto death, and feared not the words of sinful men, forasmuch as he was founded upon a sure foundation." — Antiphon for Vespers

According to the 1962 Missal of St. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of St. Evaristus, one of the first popes and the successor of St. Clement. Pope Evaristus governed the Church from 97 to about 107. He was buried at the Vatican.


St. Evaristus
The episcopate of Evaristus began in the third year of Emperor Trajan's reign. Sources refer to him as a Greek from Antioch, the son of a Jew named Juda from Bethlehem. The exact length of his reign has been disputed by historians, as have been the authenticity of his letters and decretals; however, early scholars credit Evaristus with dividing Rome into specific parishes and with ordaining fifteen bishops, seven priests, and two deacons. Lack of historical evidence for these acts, though, would make them questionable.

In his first epistle addressed to the bishops of Africa, Evaristus decreed that seven deacons were to monitor a bishop's preaching, to ensure that he did not lapse from the true teachings. Evaristus did not wish to see undue accusations aimed at his bishops, yet reserved solely to the See of Rome the power to terminate any bishop as a result of this indiscretion. His second epistle drew a comparison between the lasting bond of husband and wife and that of a bishop and his diocese. Fragments of certain documents bearing his name have been proved to be forgeries, and therefore the validity of his epistles is doubtful. Evaristus did, however, live long enough to see the beginning of the Antonine dynasty.

According to Church tradition, he died a martyr and was buried near St. Peter on the Vatican Hill, but again, there is no reliable evidence to support this.

—Excerpted from The Popes: A Papal History, J.V. Bartlett

28 posted on 10/26/2015 4:16:06 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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Meditation: Romans 8:12-17

30th Week in Ordinary Time

You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, ”Abba, Father!” (Romans 8:15)

Hang on a second. The opposites of slavery and fear are freedom and courage; so shouldn’t Paul be saying we receive those spirits instead of a “spirit of adoption”? He starts off today’s reading talking about bondage to sin and goes on to warn against letting that take a hold of us and drag us into fear. What does adoption have to do with any of that?

Everything! Our freedom from slavery doesn’t come from our hard work. The chains of sin are too strong for us to break on our own. Likewise, our courage doesn’t come from an excess of grit and determination, as if we could banish fear simply by wishing it away. Both of these blessings come from our identity in the Lord. We know that we belong to him, and that knowledge sets us free and encourages us. So it’s totally appropriate to contrast adoption with slavery and fear.

You have probably seen a child stumble or be startled by an intimidating new encounter with a stranger or a barking dog. Instinctively, that child will call out for his or her parents. This is the kind of instinct that the Holy Spirit places in our hearts. Paul talks about how the Spirit within us is the One who remembers that our Father will listen to us. So if you are attentive to the Spirit, you’ll remember to call out to God for help whenever you feel threatened, weary, or scared.

With a Father who is the Creator of the universe, a brother who is the Savior of all people, and a spiritual family that is spread throughout the world, you are in a good place to face up to fear! Of course, knowing these things doesn’t make fear instantly disappear. But the Holy Spirit is in you, reminding you of your status as God’s son or daughter. Remember to tune in to the witness of the Spirit, so that every day you can become more deeply aware of your adoption—and more free and courageous as a result.

“Holy Spirit, thank you for calling me a child of God! Remind me today to live with the confidence and freedom of one adopted into his family.”

Psalm 68:2, 4, 6-7, 20-21
Luke 13:10-17

29 posted on 10/26/2015 4:22:46 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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Marriage = One Man and One Woman Until Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for October 26, 2015:

Share a childhood memory with your beloved. What was your favorite song, TV show, toy, or outdoor activity? Is it possible to recreate it for a date?

30 posted on 10/26/2015 4:28:31 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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Regnum Christi

Jesus Blows me Out of my Comfort Zone – Again!
U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY
October 26, 2015. Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time


By Father James Swanson, LC

 

Luke 13:10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, "Woman, you are set free of your infirmity." He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, "There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day." The Lord said to him in reply, "Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?" When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in you with a faith that never seeks to test you. I trust in you, hoping to learn to accept and follow your will, even when it does not make sense to the way that I see things. May my love for you and those around me be similar to the love you have shown to me.

Petition: Lord, protect me from spiritual old age.


  1. Jesus Is Showing his Messiah Credentials Again: Jesus’ opponents were desperate. They didn’t want to believe that he was the Messiah, and they especially didn’t want anyone else to think he was the Messiah. But there was the pesky problem of his miracles. They knew that when God sent someone to speak for him, he usually performed signs through the person so that people would believe in him. The sign was proof that the person (Jesus in this case) was sent by God. Jesus was doing plenty of miracles, which most people were taking as the sign that he was sent by God. What could Jesus’ opponents do? They could only try to discredit the miracles any way possible.


  1. You Can Do a Lot More than You Think on the Sabbath: This miracle was done on the Sabbath. The head of the synagogue had a problem with that. Didn’t God himself rest on the sixth day? Oughtn’t we to do the same? How does this Jesus heal on the Sabbath if he is truly from God? In fact, there were many exceptions to the rules about the Sabbath. In another place, Jesus himself says that the Sabbath is made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). Certainly, the observance of the Sabbath was always subject to the practice of charity, that it was always permissible to break the Sabbath rest in the case when needed to do some necessary act of charity for another. Jesus mentions situations when for practical reasons (necessary farm chores, like watering animals) work can be done without breaking the Sabbath rest.


  1. Lord, Please Let me Keep my Mediocrity: And so, there is really nothing to the objection. The head of the synagogue does not want to believe because what Jesus says and does seems threatening to him. If Jesus is the Messiah, he foresees having to change his life, and he does not want to do that. He may not even realize that this is his real objection, but it is. We can be this way, too. We don’t want to accept something Jesus teaches us through his Church because it would mean that we have to change our lives, and we don’t want to. We are comfortable the way we are. If we had to do what Jesus asks, it would take us out of our comfort zone. Sometimes it is mere fear of something different. Jesus always is offering us something different, but we don’t want it. We want to stay in our rut. We have surrounded ourselves with limited horizons and are afraid to stretch them.


Conversation with Christ: Dear Jesus, help me to accept you fully. If I am rejecting you or your teaching without realizing it, show me. Help me to overcome my attempt to construct my own little universe in which I am God. If I have grown old spiritually, renew my youth and help me break through my restricted, shrunken horizons that exclude you.

Resolution: Where in my life have I settled into spiritual routine and old age? Do I habitually skip some prayer I should be saying, telling myself it isn’t that important? I will make an extra effort to pray it today. Is there some other aspect of my spiritual or moral life that I have removed to make life “more comfortable” for me? Time to start doing it again!


31 posted on 10/26/2015 4:53:41 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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Homily of the Day
October 26, 2015

What Would the Father Want Us to Do?

The Readings for today point to two conditions, that of the frail, sickly, and tentative human condition and that of being sons and daughters of God.

In the first reading, St. Paul reminds the followers from Rome to leave the flesh and to walk in the Spirit and become the sons and daughters of God.  As children of God, we can share in God’s glory.

In the Gospel, Jesus demonstrates that Glory by curing a woman crippled for 18 years. The narrative gives us two lessons:  1) that sometimes in doing good works, we will encounter difficulties and criticisms; and 2) that many times, we have to discern what is the more loving thing to do.

In this situation, Jesus encounters the hypocritical ruler of the synagogue who thinks that Jesus violated the Sabbath by curing the cripple.  And yet, as Jesus demonstrates, even in the Sabbath, people work; isn’t it much more loving to cure, and do good?  The discernment that is asked of us in situations like this is – what is more pleasing to the Father, to obey the Sabbath, or to cure the cripple and relieve her of 18 years of pain and suffering.

Many times, we will encounter difficult situations but we must discern and answer the question, WHAT IS THE MORE LOVING THING TO DO?   WHAT WOULD THE FATHER WANT US TO DO?


32 posted on 10/26/2015 5:00:09 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

Language: English | Español

All Issues > Volume 31, Issue 6

<< Monday, October 26, 2015 >>
 
Romans 8:12-17
View Readings
Psalm 68:2, 4, 6-7, 20-21 Luke 13:10-17
Similar Reflections
 

WITH THE SUFFERING JESUS

 
"If we are children, we are heirs as well: heirs of God, heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with Him so as to be glorified with Him." —Romans 8:17
 

Jesus is with us (Mt 28:20), and we are with Him. We are heirs with Him and glorified with Him "if only we suffer with Him." Everyone wants to be a glorified heir, but are we willing to be a crucified sufferer with Him? Do we miraculously even find joy in sharing in His sufferings? (Col 1:24; 1 Pt 4:13) Do we consider it a privilege not only to believe in Him but also suffer with and for Him? (Phil 1:29) Do we "consider the sufferings of the present to be as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed in us?" (Rm 8:18)

Jesus wants to remove many, but not all, sufferings from our lives. Jesus continues to free men and women who have been in the bondage of Satan, shackled (Lk 13:16), drained of strength, and badly stooped for eighteen years (Lk 13:11) or more. Jesus' heart is moved with pity for us (Mt 9:36). By His wounds, Jesus heals us (1 Pt 2:24). However, Jesus does not remove all sufferings. He gives us the opportunity to "fill up what is lacking" in His sufferings "for the sake of His body, the church" (Col 1:24).

Therefore, be healed of many sufferings and also choose to suffer in the pattern of Jesus' death (Phil 3:10). Choose to suffer persecution and rejection for the Gospel. Choose fastings, penances, and other sacrifices. Rejoice! You are not suffering alone. You suffer with Him.

 
Prayer: Jesus, teach me how to share in Your sufferings by being formed into the pattern of Your death (Phil 3:10).
Promise: "God gives a home to the forsaken; He leads forth prisoners to prosperity." —Ps 68:7
Praise: Being financially strained, the Wilsons have learned to rely on Jesus for their daily bread.

33 posted on 10/26/2015 5:03:44 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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34 posted on 10/26/2015 5:04:33 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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