September 28, 2016

Sept. 28

September 28, 2016:  Wednesday, 26th week, Ordinary Time

See 16 connections with today?
Legend below

Listen

For gospel
For Psalm 88
Pope Francis Audience
Jesus’ words during his Passion culminate in forgiveness: “Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing.”  For the good thief, these aren't mere words; Jesus truly forgives him.  The bad thief can't conceive that the Messiah would remain on the Cross, but remaining on the Cross is how Jesus offers everyone salvation.  This Jubilee Year is a time of grace and mercy for all, a time to remember nothing can separate us from God's love.  To the sick, imprisoned, or who are trapped by war, let us look to Christ Crucified, God with us, who remains with us on the Cross and offers himself as our Savior.  The good thief helps us understand we should approach God with awe, not fear, with respect for God’s power and goodness.  When we approach Him in this way, we entrust ourselves to His mercy, even in the darkest of moments.  God is always with us sinners and loves us even to death.  Let us imitate the good thief's confidence in the Lord, call on Jesus’ name, and ask him to remember us in Paradise.
Read
  • Jb 9:1-12, 14-16  Job:  How can a man be justified before God?  God is wise and mighty; he made the stars and does marvelous things.  How could I argue with him, even if I were right?  If he answered me, I couldn't believe he'd hearken to my words.
  • Ps 88:10bc-15  "Let my prayer come before you, Lord."  Why do you reject me; why hide your face?
  • Lk 9:57-62  To Jesus:  “I'll follow you wherever you go.” / “Foxes have dens and birds nests, but the Son has nowhere to rest his head.” / “Let me go bury my father first.” / “Let the dead bury their dead; go proclaim the Kingdom.” / “First let me say farewell to my family.” / “No one who looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom.”
Reflect
    • Creighton:  Tensions are a part of every relationship. Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah, Amos for example were interrupted, invited, and put in tension.  In today's gospel Jesus invites three persons who seem willing.  One is challenged to reflect that Jesus' followers won't have a place to call home, one has to care for his father, and one wants to say goodbyes, but Jesus doesn’t want to give them time; they're not ready in their minds, giving excuses from their identity and relationships.  When we're invited, it's natural to consider whether the invitation will cost us time or money, or require change or letting go.  The invitation is the rope, the tension from the tugs of selfishness and generosity.  Relationships are invitations that force us to respond or react.  We don't know the consequences of our responding. Jesus asks that we listen to our selfish inclinations pulling us one way and our good hearts the other...
    • One Bread, One Body:  "Quite a following":  Jesus calls us to total, immediate, permanent commitment.  To many such commitment seems unreasonable, but it's actually beyond reason, as God's ways are beyond ours. To follow the Lord is to walk in unknown regions, for unknown reasons, to walk by faith, not sight.  Love is the only reason to follow Jesus on his terms....
    • Passionist:  A disciple's life requires all or nothing!  We have so many things calling for attention; it's hard to stay close to our commitment to Jesus, but the call to follow Jesus is the most rewarding.  Jesus walks with us, listens, picks us up when we fall, and loves us.  Jesus' disciples didn’t really know what they signed up for, nor do we, but they came believe in the power and goodness of the Caller.  May we continue to say yes and invite others to...
    • DailyScripture.net:  "Fit for God's kingdom":  The Lord calls and gives grace to respond and strength to follow through.  Jesus was clear about the cost of discipleship; he told these people to detach from what might hold them back.  Detachment frees us to give ourselves to and serve the Lord; we must be willing to part with whatever might impede us from doing God's will.  The one saying he'd follow once he buried his father meant that he wanted to take care of his father till he died. One just wanted to go back and say good-by. We're free to decide whether we'll follow Jesus' path, but if we do, then the Lord wants us to count the cost.
    A plowman has to look straight ahead to keep the plow on course; looking back makes the line he cuts into the soil crooked and eventually messes up the whole field.  If we look back on what we've left behind to follow the Lord, we'll likely miss what God has for us. 
    St. Lorenzo Ruiz
    God's grace is sufficient and his love strong. We can do nothing greater than put ourselves at the Lord's service.  He offers us peace, joy, love, friendship, and life.  What's holding you back?  "Take, Lord, and receive my liberty, my memory, my understanding, my will.  You've given me all I am and all I possess.  I surrender it to you to be disposed of according to your will.  Give me only your love and your grace; with these I'll be rich enough and desire nothing more." (SpEx §234)
      • SS. Lorenzo Ruiz (1st Filipino martyr) and companions Dominic Ibañez de Erquicia, Francis Shoyemon, James Kyushei Tomonaga, Michael Kuroboiye, Lucas Alonso of the Holy Spirit, Matthew Kohioye of the Rosary, Antonio González, William Courtet / Thomas of St. Dominic, Niguel de Aozaraza, Vincent Schiwozuka of the Cross, and Lázaro of Kyoto, martyrs
    Dress legend
    • Dark shirt, tie, suspenders:  Job's dark story (1st reading)
    • 'Earth' on tie:  "God shakes the earth out of its place" (1st reading)
    • 'Star' tie pin:  He seals up the stars and made the constellations (1st reading)
    • 'Heart' pin:  God is wise in heart (1st reading)
    • 'Sun' pin:  God commands the sun (1st reading)
    • 'Eyeball' tie pin:  "Should he come near, I don't see him" (1st reading); "No one who looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom." (gospel)
    • 'Phone' tie bar:  "Daily I call upon you, Lord" (psalm)
    • 'Skeleton' tie pin:  "Will you work wonders for the dead?" (psalm); "Let the dead bury their dead" (gospel)
    • 'Bird' tie pin:  "Birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” (gospel)
    • 'Hand' tie pin:  “No one who sets a hand to the plow...” (gospel)
    • 'Blood drop' pin:  The martyrs we remember today
    • Green on tie:  Ordinary Time season
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