September 19, 2015

Sept. 19

September 19, 2015:  Saturday, 24th week, Ordinary Time

How many connections do you see with today?
Legend at bottom

Listen

  • For gospel
I'll do all I can to build bridges, remove barriers, and foster communication between Cuba and the US; communication can bring friendship.
Each of you has the seed of leadership.  A good leader develops other leaders; a leader who wants to lead alone is a tyrant.  True leadership is fruitful.
We have to face the challenge of children's education; think of children in countries at war, with no education....  Educate each other; don't wait till governments agree.  An important part of education is playing, where you learn how to be social and enjoy life.  So many children can't play because of war or poverty!
Take care of the environment; it's crying for attention.  See the problems in your neighborhood, city, and country, and look for concrete ways to act.  Don't be afraid; fear paralyzes.  The future is in your hands.  (Q&A with students via CNN en Español)
Read
  • 1 Tm 6:13-16  Keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our immortal Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings Lord of lords, who dwells in unapproachable light.  To him be honor and eternal power.
  • Ps 100:1b-5  "Come with joy into the presence of the Lord."  Serve him with gladness.  He made us; we're the flock he tends.  Bless his name.  He's good, kind, and faithful....
  • Lk 8:4-15  Jesus to crowd:  “As a sower sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds ate it.  Some fell on rocky ground and grew to wither.  Some fell among thorns and grew to be choked.  And some fell on good soil and grew to produce fruit a hundredfold....  Meaning:  the seed is God's word.  Those on the path are the ones who heard, but the Devil takes the word away.  Those on rocky ground received the word with joy but have no root and fall away.  Those on thorns heard but get choked by life's anxieties, riches, and pleasures and fail to produce mature fruit.  But those on rich soil embrace the word with a generous heart and bear fruit through perseverance.”
Reflect
    • Creighton:  The seed doesn't thrive till it falls on “good soil.”  What are some elements of that soil today? What nutrients are needed to bring balance to the excesses that have resulted in poverty and lack of clean water and air, good education, and basic rights for a happy life?  Study Laudato Si', think and pray about it, analyze the signs of the times, leave your comfort zone, embrace the reality of others' lives, uncover fears, prejudices, and barriers to identifying as a cohabitant with others willing to cherish our common home.  May we discover tools to pursue “good soil” where God's word in us may flourish.
    • One Bread One Body:  "Obedience school":  The Lord charges us to obey him and parents command their children to obey, but we want to do our own thing and not listen to others or God.  Jesus' death and our baptism into it gave us a new nature not tending toward disobedience, but we're tempted to fall back into our old nature.  May we fear the Lord who made us, fix our eyes on him, and remember he'll come again....
    • Passionist:  We've been reading about Jesus in ministry:  teaching the beatitudes, healing on the Sabbath, choosing apostles, forgives the public sinner.  Jesus loves to teach in parables, challenging short stories, opening our eyes and hearts to our loving, forgiving, welcoming God, to see there's no communion with God unless there is communion with others.  Let us open our hearts and minds to hear what Pope Francis says and pray for him as he comes to Cuba and the US....
    • DailyScripture.net:  God is always ready to speak to us and to give us understanding of his word.  Different ways of accepting God's word produce different results.  Closed-minded hearers are blind to the things of God.  Shallow ones don't think things out or through may initially respond with fervor but then wander elsewhere.  Others have many interests and cares but don't hear and understand what's truly important; they're too busy to pray and to reflect on God's word.  What gets my attention?  Receptive hearts listen attentively to God's word and search out its meaning for them so that it may grow and bear good fruit in their lives.  They hear with a teachable spirit and tune out distractions.  May we receive God's word with trust and allow it to take root deep within to nourish and strengthen us on our journey....
      • Theodore of Tarsus (now in Turkey), monk, ordained priest at 65 to be Archbishop of Canterbury, reformed Church life, reconciled divisions between Celtic and Roman traditions; see Catholic Encyclopedia.
    Dress legend
    • 'Lights' tie:  Christ dwells in unapproachable light (1st reading)
    • 'Eyeball' pin:  No human being has seen or can see God (1st reading)
    • 'Jubilee year' button:  "Come with joy into the presence of the Lord." (psalm)
    • 'Sheep' tie bar:  We're God's people, his flock (psalm)
    • 'Bird' tie pin:  Birds ate the seed on the footpath (gospel)
    • 'Rock' tie pin:  Seed on rocky ground withered (gospel)
    • 'Rose' pin:  Seed on thorns was choked (gospel)
    • 'Fruit' pin:  Seed on good soil produced fruit
    • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season
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