October 14, 2016

Oct. 14

October 14, 2016:  Friday, 28th week, Ordinary Time

  • 'Dove' pin:  "In Christ you were sealed with the Holy Spirit" (1st reading)
  • Tie with closed doors and housetops:  "What you've whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops." (gospel)
  • 'Bird' tie pin, 'penny' tie bar:  "Aren't 5 sparrows sold for 2 small coins?  You're worth more than a flock of sparrows." (gospel)
  • 'Feet' pin:  People were trampling one another underfoot (gospel)
  • 'Gun' pin:  "Don't fear those who can do no more than kill the body" (gospel)
  • Crucifix, 'blood drop' pin:  Redemption in Christ Jesus, savior, whom God set forth as an expiation, by his blood (1st reading); martyrdom of Pope St. Callistus
Listen
For Psalm 33
Pope Francis
Homily:  Good leaven builds God's kingdom; bad leaven only creates the appearance of the Kingdom.  Only good leaven rises and grows to become good bread.  Hypocrisy is when we invoke God with our lips but our heart is far away; we say one thing but do another.  It’s spiritual schizophrenia.  You seem polite but have a dagger behind your back.  Look at Herod:  terrified inside, he politely received the Magi, then told them, "Come back and tell me where I can worship him!"  To kill him!  Hypocrite!  Jesus told the doctors of the law, "You say this but don’t do it."  Another type of hypocrisy is believing that by saying something, it's done.  No; things must be done not just said.  Hypocrites accuse others, not themselves; think about the splinter and the log.  This is how we describe the leaven that's hypocrisy.
Examine your conscience:  Am I growing with good or bad leaven?  Am I acting, praying, turning to others with a spirit that builds?  Don't deceive yourself!  Tell the truth.  Children never lie during confession; they talk about concrete things because they have good leaven, leaven that makes them grow like the Kingdom.  May the Lord give us the Spirit and the grace of lucidity to discern what kind of leaven we're growing with, how we're behaving.  Am I loyal and transparent?
More:  Protect child migrants.  To fight hunger, combat climate change
Read
You're worth more than a flock of these
(Animate)
  • Eph 1:11-14  In Christ we were chosen, destined in accord with God's purpose, so we might exist for his praise.  In him you who heard and believed were sealed with the Spirit, the first installment of our inheritance.
  • Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-13  "Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own."  Exult in the Lord; give thanks on harp and lyre.  God's word is upright, his works trustworthy.  He is just and kind.
  • Lk 12:1-7  “Beware the Pharisees' leaven, hypocrisy.  There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, no secret that won't be known.  What you said in darkness will be heard in the light; what you whispered will be proclaimed on the housetops.  Don't fear those who can only kill the body; fear the one who can cast into Gehenna.  Sparrows are sold for small coins, but God notices them all; even the hairs of your head have been counted.  Fear not; you're worth more than many sparrows.”
Reflect
    • Creighton:  "God causes all things to work together for good...." despite my shortcomings and bad choices.  Those transformed in Christ are confident of God's presence and labor.  The One who has chosen us lives in us, guides us, and accomplishes what God wants, though we can still choose.  The Gospel provides hope about how to deal with fears that can divert us from God’s purposes, fears that we're unloved, unlovable, inadequate, or insufficient; only when they're brought into the light can we can see them for the nothingness they are. We're held by loving hands.  God sustains, nourishes, and guides us....
      (I made that Tagul word cloud from this)
    • One Bread, One Body:  "Baptismal 'richness and responsibility'":  We're baptized into Jesus and so into his death, Resurrection, priesthood, prophetic ministry, and kingship.  In Christ we were chosen and are heirs of God's kingdom; we inherit the grace to be holy, pure, and free.  Our baptism is the basis for God's greatest gifts to us. This richness gives us great responsibility.  If we don't develop our baptisms, we fail in stewardship. "When much has been given, much will be required...  More will be asked of one to whom more has been entrusted...."
    • Passionist:  We were given life to give honor, glory, and praise to God.  “Through him, with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, forever and ever. Amen!”  This Great Amen is an opportunity to, as a praying community, shout Yes and give glory to God....
      Pope St. Callistus I
    • DailyScripture.net:  "Don't fear those who kill the body":  To the Jews leaven was a sign of evil; fermentation was associated with decay, smelly decomposition.  The Pharisees wanted everyone to recognize they were pious Jews because they scrupulously performed their religious duties, but Jesus turned the table on them by declaring outward appearance doesn't always match the heart.  'Hypocrite' means actor, one who pretends.  Hypocrisy thrives on making a good appearance and masking what they want to hide.  God's light exposes our evil and sin, transforms us, and enables us to overcome hatred, pride, and pretense with love, humility, integrity, and truthfulness.  God gives grace to enable us to overcome the leaven of our insincerity and hypocrisy.  Fear can lead us to panic and flight or spur us to faith and action.  Fear of God, reverence for the One who made and sustains us, is the antidote to fear of losing one's life.  The greatest loss we can experience is loss of our soul and life; healthy fear of God leads to spiritual maturity, wisdom, and right judgment and frees us from pride, deceit, and cowardice....
    Pray for new Jesuit Superior General Fr. Arturo Sosa
    and the ongoing General Congregation...
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