October 20, 2016

Oct. 20

October 20, 2016:  Thursday, 29th week, Ordinary Time



  • 'Dove' pin:  May you be strengthened through the Lord's Spirit (1st reading)
  • 'Ruler' tie bar:  May you comprehend the breadth, length, height, and depth... (1st reading)
  • 'Hearts' tie:  "May Christ dwell in your hearts" (1st reading); the design of the Lord's heart stands forever (psalm)
  • 'Eyeball' tie pin:  "The Lord's eyes are on those who fear him" (psalm)
  • 'Fire' pin, yellow shirt:  “I've come to set the earth on fire" (gospel)
  • 'Olympics' tie pin:  The earth is full of the Lord's goodness (psalm); setting fire to earth (gospel)
  • 'No-peace' button:  "I've come to establish division, not peace." (gospel)
  • 'Abacus' tie pin:  Families will be divided (how-to divide) (gospel)
Listen
For 1st reading

    • O Father, from your glorious riches/ Vander Veen:  lyrics, tune
For gospel
    • But who shall abide the day of his coming? from Messiah/ Handel:  traditional, "soulful" 
For Psalm 33
For Sunday:  Psalm 34:  The Lord hears the cry of the poor/ Celoni:  sheet music, just written
    Pope Francis homily
    Paul prayed that the Ephesians be strengthened through the Holy Spirit and that Christ dwell in them.  How can we know Christ and understand his love beyond all knowledge?  We learn about Christ by reading the Gospel and studying the catechism, but that's not enough.  To understand Christ, we need to have a habit of praying, as Paul did:  “Father, send me the Spirit to know Jesus.”
    In addition, we must “worship this mystery” and ask for grace.  We can't know the Lord without silent worship and adoration.  I think the prayer of adoration is the one we do least.  Waste time in front of the Lord, in front of the mystery of Christ.  Worship him in the silence of adoration.
    Third, we must know ourselves as sinners.  We can't worship without accusing ourselves.  To enter into the mystery of Christ, we need to pray, worship, and accuse ourselves.  May the Lord give us this grace that Paul implored, the grace to know and earn Christ.
    Read
      Eph 3:14
      Click for animation
    • Eph 3:14-21  May the Father grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit, and may Christ dwell in your hearts through faith; so that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to know Christ's love and be filled with God's fullness.  To God be glory in the Church and in Christ forever!
    • Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19  "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord."  Exult in the Lord who is just and kind and whose word is upright and works trustworthy.  The Lord's plan and design stands forever.  The Lord's eyes are on those who fear him and hope for his kindness, to deliver and preserve them.
    • Lk 12:49-53  "I've come to set the earth on fire; how I wish it were already blazing!  There's a baptism with which I must be baptized; my anguish is great till then!  I haven't come to establish peace but rather division.  Households will be divided..."
    Reflect
        "Not peace" —Lk 12:51
        See as word cloud
      • Creighton:  Jesus didn’t want households to be divided, but he knew that what he came for would lead to division.  When he talks about fire, he's referring to the Holy Spirit.  All of us received the Spirit at baptism; we're called to continue the Mission of Christ to help ourselves and others draw closer to God....
      • One Bread, One Body:  "Family values":  Jesus, who lived in a holy family, has high standards for family life; he calls families to be signs of the Trinity.  To make holy families, Jesus lights "a fire on the earth," was baptized (immersed) in the pain of his death, surfaces family divisions to deal with them with forgiveness, repentance, and healing, dwells in family members through faith, enables us "to grasp the breadth, length, height, and depth of" his love, and does "more than we ask or imagine...."
        Another twist on "no peace"
      • DailyScripture.net:  "I came to cast fire upon the earth":  Jesus shocked his disciples when he said he'd cast fire and cause division.  Fire was associated with God and his action:  God manifested his presence by fire, such as the burning bush; God assured the Hebrews of his presence, guidance, and protection with the pillar of fire; Elijah called down fire from heaven.  Fire was also a sign of God's glory, holiness, protective presence, just judgment, and wrath against sin.  Fire is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit's presence and power.  John the Baptist said Jesus would baptize with the Spirit and fire. When the Spirit was poured out on the disciples at Pentecost, "tongues of fire" appeared over their heads.  God's fire purifies and cleanses us and inspires reverence and respect for God and his word.  Jesus used Hebrew hyperbole to warn of the Gospel's serious consequences for our lives.  He likely had in mind Micah's prophecy:  my enemies are those of my household.  Christianity is loyalty to Christ that takes precedence over every other relationship, putting God first.  Do I love God above all else?  Would I forsake all for Christ?  Family or friends can become our enemies they keep us from doing what God wants.  The Gospel is good news for those who seek pardon, peace, and the life God offers us.
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