September 22, 2014

Sept. 22

September 22, 2014:  Monday, 25th week, Ordinary Time


  • 'Penny pincher' button:  "Those who don't lend money at usury or accept bribes won't be disturbed." (psalm)
  • '[Christmas] lights' tie:  “One who lights a lamp doesn't conceal it but places it so those who enter see the light" (gospel)
  • White shirt:  light (gospel)
  • 'Clock' tie bar:  Landowner hired laborers at dawn, 9am, noon, 3pm, and 5pm (Sunday gospel)
Listen


Pope Francis



At Albania center for disabled/needy kids:  Be true educators, giving example through your lives.  Here we see faith expressed in acts of charity.  We see faith bringing light and hope in hardship, dislodging disbelief and apathy, and opening us to work for good and share the experience.  Through simple acts of service to the least we proclaim the Good News.  Your Center shows we can live together peacefully and fraternally amid diversity; differences become occasions for greater awareness and understanding.  Each religious community expresses itself through love and shows goodness!  Goodness leads to peace and joy even amidst difficulties and misunderstandings, draws us closer to the Supreme Good, helps us to think like him, see life in the light of his loving plan, delight in daily joys, and get help in difficulties.


Self-giving bears joy and hope and shows how serving others shares God’s kingdom.  Give yourself in love and receive strength for joyful self-sacrifice.  Keep serving the Lord in the poor and abandoned, and pray that all may be opened to goodness and lived charity, source of authentic joy.

Albania vespers:  Individualism, rivalry, and conflict are dictatorships that enslave and contaminate, but the Lord is at your side to help you accept each other with understanding, mercy, and communion.  Evangelization is more effective when carried out with unity and teamwork:  work together and help each other in catechesis, education, and charity.  Place love for Christ above all, even legitimate needs, to move from our petty selves towards Jesus who comes in our neighbor.  See his wounds on those who hunger, thirst, or are humiliated or in prison or the hospital; live the Gospel and adore God in our midst by caring for them with tenderness.

Daily problems compel us to work, but since we can't do anything on our own, give God space and time every day and open your hearts to him so he may work in us and our mission.  Prayer with trust and perseverance accomplishes more than what we can ask or imagine.  The more our mission calls us to go out, the more we need to be united to Christ.

Don't forget that the prayer for laborers (Mt 9:37-38) begins with the gaze of Jesus, who sees the harvest.  Do we also have this gaze and recognize the growing fruit and work to be done? By gazing on the field prayer springs forth; pray daily for vocations.  People seek witnesses of the Good Shepherd's mercy and tenderness.  Give testimony to Christ, walking with God toward hope, knowing the Church's love accompanies and supports you.

Read
  • Prv 3:27-34  Refuse no one the good on which they have a claim.  Don't delay when you can give now.  Don't quarrel with one who's done you no harm.  Don't act like the lawless.  The Lord is stern with the arrogant but kind to the humble.
    Wordle: Readings 9-22-14
  • Ps 15:2-4ab, 5  "The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord."  Those who walk blamelessly, do justice, think the truth, don't slander, lend at usury, accept bribes, or harm or take up reproach against others shall never be disturbed.
  • Lk 8:16-18  “No one who lights a lamp conceals it; no, they place it so those who enter see the light.  All that's hidden will become visible, and all that's secret will come to light.  Take care how you hear.  To anyone who has, more will be given....”
Reflect

    • Creighton:  Lamp = gifts to be used for building the Kingdom now (e.g., talent, skill, education).  God, give us the grace of transparency.

    • Passionist:  Stay grounded in reality of our lives and relationships.  When we pursue good deeds, good relationships, and a good mindset, we shine with Christ's light.
    • One Bread One Body:  Be like a sanctuary lamps to show where Jesus is, like John the Baptist, "lamp set aflame and burning" (Jn 5:35).  Don't worry if you're not a shining star; people in darkness see even dim sanctuary lamps.  Just reflect God's glory (Phil 1:18).  People line driveways with luminarias to point the way; we who possess the Light of Life must point people to Jesus through our lives.
    • DailyScripture.net:   Lamps help people to see, work, and avoid stumbling, and to Jews light expressed God's beauty, truth, and goodness.  God's light frees us to walk in truth and goodness, illumining our darkness and filling us with joy, and peace.  The light of Christ enables us to see God's kingdom.  Be a light-bearer so others see Gospel truth and are freed from their own blindness....
    • Universalis:  St. Maurice and the Theban Legion, martyrs
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