November 19, 2015

Nov. 19

November 19, 2015:  Thursday, 33rd week, Ordinary Time

Do you see 12 connections with today?
Legend below

 Listen to music for today's psalm
Pope Francis homily
The world is at war, and rejection of the path of peace makes God weep.  Jesus, seeing Jerusalem from a distance, weeps:  “If you only knew what makes for peace–but now it's hidden from you.”  Today Jesus weeps too:  we've chosen war, hatred, enmity.  We're close to Christmas lights, parties, trees, and Nativity scenes, but the world continues to wage war.  We haven't understood the way of peace.  Everywhere there's war, there's hatred.  What shall remain?  Ruins, children without education, innocent victims, money for arms dealers.  Jesus said, "You can't serve God and riches."  War is the right choice those who serve wealth.  Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers!"  But those who make war are cursed criminals.  People justify war, but there's no justification; God weeps.  Jesus weeps.
While arms dealers do business, poor peacemakers spend themselves, even giving their lives, as did Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.  Cynics might ask what she accomplished wasting her life helping the dying, but we don't understand the way of peace.  Ask the for the grace of tears, for this world that lives for war.  Pray for conversion of heart.  Ask that our joy be the grace that the world discover the ability to weep for its crimes, for what it does with war.
Read
  • 1 Mc 2:15-29  Mattathias and sons gather.  Officers enforcing apostasy:  “Obey as others have done and be rewarded.”  Mattathias:  “No; we'll keep to the covenant.”  He kills Jew who offered sacrifice and messenger forcing them, invites city to flee with him, leaving possessions.
  • Ps 50:1b-2, 5-6, 14-15  "To the upright I will show the saving power of God."  God the judge has summoned the earth.  “Offer praise as your sacrifice to God; fulfill your vows.  I'll rescue you.”
  • Lk 19:41-44  Jesus wept over Jerusalem:  “You didn't recognize the time of your visitation.  Your enemies will rise against you, hem you in, smash you.”
Reflect
    • Creighton:  "If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts":  What other day is there?  After the rebellion against Antiochus who tried to force Jews to give up their faith, they'd be hunted as outlaws; their daily activity was to stay alive.  Offer God a sacrifice of praise today.  God visited Jerusalem 'today,' but they didn't recognize him; Jesus wept over a city that rejected him.  He wanted to give them peace, but it was not to be.
    • One Bread, One Body:  "Will you deny him?"  The Seleucid king tried to enforce an apostasy on the Jews.  Roman emperors repeatedly tried to enforce apostasies on early Christians.  This continues to happen as Chinese Communists oppress Christians, terrorists brutalize Christians in other nations, and secular humanists express their intolerance of Christians in the Western world.  We won't deny Christ if we're like Mattathias, who, unmanipulated by threats or bribes, courageously answered that he wouldn't be influenced by popular opinion.  He was zealous and willing to leave everything behind to be faithful; he and his family kept the covenant.  Am I "apostasy-proof"?  Will I withstand the pressure?  Would I leave my lifestyle behind to save my life in Christ?
      Christ lamenting over Jerusalem/ Eastlake
    • Passionist:  Peace is elusive, especially when people believe it can only be attained by taking lives, living in fear.  King Antiochus tried to conquer Israel by abolishing their identity:  destroying the Temple and what it stood for, forcing acceptance of pagan gods, stripping Jews of their cultural heritage.  But fidelity to God and God’s Love conquers destructive ways.  Love will bring new life.  Faith helps us understand our relationship with God and the peace and forgiveness Jesus preached.   Hope allows us to walk into a deadly situation, confident God is there.  Jesus wept when he saw Jerusalem believe they'd stay alive by abandoning their relationship with God.  May Christ's peace be in our hearts....
    • DailyScripture.net:  "Know the time of your visitation":  The Father sent his only Son to reconcile us with God and unite us with one another in peace and mutual love.  Jesus' earthly ministry centers and culminates in Jerusalem, the holy city, the Lord's throne, the place God chose for his name to dwell, the holy mountain God set his king on.  'Jerusalem' comes from 'salem' ('peace,' as in shalom).  The Jerusalem temple was a reminder of God's presence.  Jesus wept over Jerusalem and the homes surrounding the temple because the inhabitants didn't know what makes for peace.  Throughout the city's history, rulers and inhabitants rejected prophets out of pride and unbelief; now they don't listen to Jesus their Messiah.  Jesus' entrance was a visitation of God's anointed King to his holy city; its rejection led to its devastation and destruction.  Jesus' lamentation and prophecy echoes Jeremiah's lamentation.  Do I recognize God's gracious visitation today?
    Dress legend
    • '[Flying] pig' tie pin:  king's command to eat pork (1st reading)
    • Silver- and gold-colored accoutrements:  If you obey the king, you'll be enriched with silver and gold (1st reading)
    • 'Girl with heart' pin:  When Mattathias saw the apostate Jew, his heart was moved with fury (1st reading)
    • 'Scales of justice' pin or tie:  God alone is the judge (psalm)
    • 'Peace sign' tie bar:  “If only you knew what makes for peace..." (gospel)
    • 'Eyeball' pin:   "...but now it's hidden from your eyes." (gospel)
    • Circular tie pin:  Your enemies will encircle you... (gospel)
    • 'Stone' tie pin:  ...and not leave one stone upon another within you... (gospel)
    • 'Clocks' tie:  ...because you didn't recognize the time of your visitation (gospel); countdown till end of church year (season)
    • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season
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