October 9, 2015

Oct. 9

October 9, 2015:  Friday, 27th week, Ordinary Time

See 9 connections with today?
Legend below

Listen

Pope Francis homily
Jesus drove out a demon, but some accused him of being in league with Beelzebul; they sought to interpret Jesus’ words and actions against him.  Some for envy, others for doctrinal rigidity, others out of fear of the Romans, they sought to distance Jesus’ authority from the people, even via slander.  Against such misinterpretations, discern the roots of situations, because in the life of faith temptations always return.  The Evil One is hidden, coming with his very educated friends, knocking, asking permission, coming in, living, and giving instructions on how to do things with relativism.  When the Evil Spirit anesthetizes a conscience, he can claim victory, for he's become its master.
What can we do against such attacks?  Watchfulness.  Make an examination of conscience:  what happened today in my heart?  Discernement.  From where, from whom, do these comments, words, teachings come?  Ask the Lord for the grace of discernment and watchfulness.
Read

  • Jl 1:13-15; 2:1-2  Weep, O ministers!  The house of your God is deprived of offering.  Proclaim a fast, call an assembly, blow the trumpet, tremble, and cry to the Lord!  The day of the Lord is near and comes as ruin, a day of darkness and somberness!
  • Ps 9:2-3, 6, 16, 8-9  "The Lord will judge the world with justice."  I will give thanks and praise to You and declare your wondrous deeds.  You destroyed the wicked; they're sunk in the pit they made.  But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he judges with justice and governs with equity.
  • Lk 11:15-26  When Jesus had driven out a demon, some said, “By the power of Beelzebul, prince of demons, he drives out demons.”  Others asked him for a sign.  He told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste.  If Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?  If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God is upon you.  When an armed strong man guards his palace, his possessions are safe, but when a stronger one overcomes him, he distributes the spoils.  Whoever is not with me is against me.  When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, searches for rest, and finds none, it says, ‘I'll return.’  On returning and finding things swept clean, it brings back seven more spirits, and the man's last condition is worse than it was.”
Reflect
    • Creighton:  “The greatest of these is love”:  Joel shouts that something is missing in the house of God, and that it's necessary to life.  How many approach God's people and find they don't deliver what God most wants?  Jesus shows us with his life where the focus should be:  heal, restore, love, deliver, consider people over rules.
    • One Bread One Body:  "Radical and fanatical":  Imagine walking into church and seeing your pastor prostrate, wailing in repentance. We have more reason to cry and repent than did the people of Joel's time.  We must not minimize sin's deadly effects.  We're in denial that our situation is bad.  In a state of emergency, only those who seem to be fanatics are acting sanely. Get radical and fanatical about repentance.
      St. Denis
    • Passionist:  "A Spiritual Clutter Counselor":  Battles must be approached with caution and planning. Overconfidence may leave you vulnerable.  Luke ends with a scene reminiscent of a character Saint Maybe where we meet a professional clutter counselor.  When a demon is sent on his way and the place he lived is cleaned and made new, the demon returns with his buddies. We need clutter counselors!  It's not enough to tidy up; we can't leave the place empty.  Invite Jesus to be the guest....
    • DailyScripture.net:  "If it is by the finger of God":  Jesus came to free us from the corrupting force of evil.  Evil has a name and face and seeks to master everyone.  Jesus came to overthrow Satan's power. Jesus' exorcisms brought freedom to many.  Jesus himself battled with Satan in the wilderness; he overcame him through obedience to his Father.  Some Jewish leaders assumed Jesus was in cahoots with Satan to release people from Satan's influence.  Jesus argues that they're also incriminating their own kin who cast out demons, and that divided kingdoms don't last.
    Kingdoms are established by subjects' fidelity and obedience.  Houses are established when those who belong to them... agree in will and deed.  It would also establish Beelzebub's kingdom had he abstained from everything contrary to himself.  How does Satan cast out Satan?  So devils don't depart from people on their own but unwillingly. “Satan doesn't fight with himself,” rebuke his own servants, or permit himself to injure his own armor bearers; no, he helps his kingdom. “I crush Satan by divine power.” [Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke, Homily 80]
    Jesus' reference to the 'finger of God' refers to Moses' confrontation with Pharaoh and his magicians who represented the kingdom of darkness.  Jesus claims to be carrying on the tradition of Moses whose miracles freed the Israelites by the finger of God.  God's power is clearly at work in the exorcisms Jesus performed....  It's not enough to banish evil; we must fill the void with God.  Our lives have a God-shaped void (inspired by Augustine and Pascal).  If we leave it vacant or fill it with something else, we'll end up worse off.  How do I fill the void in my life?...
    Dress legend
    • 'Horns' tie:  "Blow the trumpet in Zion" (I can't find my 'angel with trumpet' pin) (1st reading)
    • Dark shirt:  The day of the Lord, day of darkness and gloom, is near (1st reading)
    • 'Feet' pin:  The nations are sunk in the snare they set, their foot caught (psalm)
    • 'Crown' tie bar:  The Lord has set up his throne for judgment (psalm); the Kingdom of God is among you (gospel)
    • '[City of Saints] sign' button:  Some asked Jesus for a sign from heaven (gospel)
    • 'Abacus' tie pin:  "Every kingdom 'divided' against itself will be laid waste" (gospel)
    • 'Car' tie pin:  "He drives out demons by Beelzebul's power" (gospel)
    • 'Hand' tie pin:  "If I drive out demons by the finger of God..." (gospel)
    Special greetings to and prayers for the
    in Diamond Bar
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