October 24, 2014: Friday, 29th week, Ordinary Time
- 'Peace sign' tie bar: Preserve unity through the bond of peace (1st reading)
- 'Phone' tie bar: Live worthy to the 'call' you received. (1st reading)
- 'Hands' tie: The one with sinless hands can ascend the Lord's mountain (psalm)
- 'No-excuses' sign: Read the signs... (gospel)
- 'Clock' tie bar: ...of the times (gospel)
- 'Scales of justice' pin: Settle on the way to court... (gospel)
- 'Penny' button: ...lest the judge hand you over till you've paid the last penny (gospel)
- 'Stone' tie pin: Church is built on living stones (homily)
King of glory/ Tomlin (1st reading, psalm)
Pope Francis homily
Peter speaks of the Church as a temple made of living stones—that's us. The opposite is the temple of pride, the Tower of Babel: the first brings unity; the second, disunity. Building Church unity is every Christian's job. When you build, first you find suitable land, then you lay the cornerstone. The cornerstone of the Church is Jesus, and the cornerstone of her unity is his prayer at the Last Supper: "Father, may they be one!" Jesus is the rock, the foundation, on which we build unity. Building unity is the work of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sent to make the Church one, strong, and growing.
Peter said we're living stones; Paul tells us to be weak bricks. Humility, gentleness, and magnanimity are weak. He says to bear with one another through love, having unity at heart. The weaker we are with these virtues, the stronger stones we become; it's the path of Jesus, who became weak, then strong. When you build, the architect draws plans. What's the plan for Church unity? Hope: of journeying towards the Lord, of living in a living Church; only then can we advance in Church unity. We've been called to great hope; let's go there, with the strength Jesus' prayer for unity gives us, with docility to the Spirit who can make living stones from bricks, and with the hope of encountering the Lord who called us.
- Eph 4:1-6 Live in a manner worthy of the call you received, with humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, preserving unity through peace; one Body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God...
- Ps 24:1-4ab, 5-6 "Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face." The Lord founded and established the earth. The Lord will bless those with sinless hands and clean heart.
- Lk 12:54-59 “Hypocrites! You can interpret the appearance of earth and sky; why don't you interpret the times? Settle before you go with your opponent before a magistrate, or else you'll be turned over to judge, constable, and jailer and stay till you've paid the last penny.”
- Creighton: Letting God’s love germinate and mature is a lifelong process; one of its fruits is willingness and ability to be reconciled with one another. Paul: live with humility (truth we're created and blessed, leading to gratitude and generosity), gentleness (being with and treating others like Jesus did, out of compassion), and patience (giving others time and space to grow, bearing with them); the times (cf. gospel) call for it. Paul: strive for unity: one Body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, God; God helps us get there. Be agents of peace and reconciliation; start at home, work, and communities.
- Passionist: 'Interpret/discern' is from Greek dokae, 'watch,' see as tested, genuine, or valuable.' When we're dumbfounded, shocked, and startled at God's love and what we mean to him, we'll discern better.
- DailyScripture.net: Jesus expects his disciples to read the signs of the times. We work hard at and reap benefits from weather prediction; how much more should we work at spiritual discernment, with God's help. Am I read for Christ's light to reveal my sin and free me?
- Universalis: St. Antony Claret, ex-Jesuit, bishop, founded Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretians), reformed clergy, built hospital and schools...; see Wikipedia.
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