October 27, 2016

Oct. 27

October 27, 2016:  Thursday, 30th week, Ordinary Time

Find 22 connections with today?
Legend below

Listen
For 1st reading
For Psalm 144
Pope Francis

Homily:  Jesus had his Father's tenderness when he wept over Jerusalem.  Somebody said God became man to be able to weep over what his children had done.  The weeping in front of Lazarus' tomb is the weeping of a friend.  In the same way, we can look at the behavior of the prodigal son's father and what happens when the son asks for his inheritance and leaves home.  The father didn't go to his neighbors to say, “Look at the horrible thing that happened to me!  I'll curse this son…”  Maybe went to his bedroom and wept alone.  The Gospel doesn't talk about that; it just says he saw his son returning, meaning the Father was continually looking.  A father who does this is living in tears, waiting for his son to return.  This is the weeping of God the Father; with it, he recreates all creation through his Son.  When Jesus carried the cross, the pious women wept, not over him but their own children.

God still weeps like parents:  in front of calamities, wars waged to worship the god of money, people killed by bombs.  He says, "My children, what are you doing?"  He also says it to the poor victims, arms traffickers, and all those who sell the life of people.  Think about how God became man to be able to weep and how God weeps today, over humanity that doesn't understand the peace he offers us, the peace of love.
To John Paul II Institute:  The Church understands marriage and family as an expression and fulfillment of human nature, ordered to human flourishing.  It's a treasure in need of ransom from alarming intellectual, cultural, and social threats.  We must apply ourselves enthusiastically to the work of rehabilitating, "ransoming," this divine creation of marriage and family.  The work must be taken seriously, both in the doctrinal and practical senses; the dynamics of relationships between God, man, woman, and children are the key to understanding the world and history.  At times we've proposed an abstract and almost artificial ideal of marriage and family, removed from concrete situations and possibilities; it doesn't help make marriage more desirable and attractive.  A theological doctrine not guided and shaped by the Church's evangelizing purpose and pastoral concern is unthinkable....
Read
    Breastplate of righteousness
    Animate
  • Eph 6:10-20  Draw your strength from the Lord and his power.  Put on God's armor to stand firm against the Devil; our struggle is with principalities, powers, rulers of the present darkness, with evil spirits.  So put on God's armor to resist and hold your ground.  Stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod, ready for the Gospel of peace.  Hold faith as a shield, to quench the Evil One's flaming arrows.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, God's word.  Pray in the Spirit.  Be watchful with perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones and for me, that I may make the Gospel known with courage.
  • Ps 144:1b, 2, 9-10  "Blessed be the Lord, my Rock," mercy, fortress, stronghold, deliverer, and shield.  O God, I'll sing praise to you...
  • Lk 13:31-35  Pharisees / Jesus:  “Go away; Herod wants to kill you.” / “Go tell that fox, ‘I cast out demons and heal today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.  I must continue; prophets die in Jerusalem.’  “Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets, how I've yearned to gather your children, but you were unwilling!  Your house will be abandoned.  You won't see me till the time when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Reflect
    • Creighton:  Today's 1st reading is a good guide on how to protect ourselves from evil.  Unless we pray and follow those instructions, chances are the evil one will infiltrate our lives. Visualize a time when darkness surrounded you and you trembled with fear.  Distractions came at you, you felt an evil presence, and a voice spoke untruths to you saying you weren't good enough, and there was no hope to escape.  Then you cry to God, see light, and are guided by God toward the light and protected.  He tells you you can stand firm if you hold onto him.  We must be prepared to fight evil today, protected, armed with his word, ready to share the Gospel of peace.  The devil would enjoy if we listened to him, but he's defeated when we fight with prayer in the Spirit.  The more we stand firm, the harder the evil one tries to get us to stumble, but salvation is ours....
    • One Bread, One Body:  "Don't budge":  Our goal in battle is to hold our ground and stand fast; the devil wants to manipulate us.  When we're anointed by God, we're invincible, so the devil tries to deceive and push us to give ground.  When we're out of place, we're on our own and are no match for the devil.  The devil tried to get Jesus to give in, but Jesus didn't deviate from doing his Father's will.  Even in agony on the cross he was tempted to come down, but he remained steadfast and conquered evil.
    • Passionist:  The readings are about preparation:   “Put on the armor of God so you may be able to stand firm... and to resist on the evil day.”  “The Lord trains my hands for battle.”  Jesus sets his face toward Jerusalem, where he'll accomplish his purpose.  Some say, just engage in the present moment, where God is present; if you live in the past or future, you may miss God.  Maybe the key is to stay aware of the grace of the present, knowing it may be my armor for the future.  The signs of God around me now are my armor, strength, and grace to carry me into God’s arms.
    • DailyScripture.net:  "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"  When King Herod heard thousands were coming to Jesus, he decided it was time to eliminate this threat; that's why some Pharisees warned Jesus to flee from Herod, but Jesus warned that they were in greater danger if they didn't heed God and the prophets.  Like the prophets, Jesus posed a threat to the authorities.
    Jesus called Herod a fox.  Foxes were regarded as sly and destructive; they symbolized what was worthless, insignificant, and destructive.  Jesus willingly exposed himself to danger but prayed for his persecutors and for those who rejected God's message.  Do I?  Jesus contrasted his desire for Jerusalem with Jerusalem's lack of desire for him; he compares his longing with a hen gathering her chicks.  "Under his wings you will find refuge."  "I am the door; if you enter by me, you'll be saved...."
    Dress legend
    • 'Breastplate/shield/sword' tie pin:  The Lord, my shield, delivered David from the evil sword (psalm); breastplate of righteousness, sword of the Spirit; shield of faith... (1st reading) 
    • 'Arrow' tie bar:  ...to quench the arrows of the Evil One (1st reading)
    • 'Helmet' tie pin:  Helmet of salvation (1st reading)
    • 'Rock/stone' tie pin:  "Jersusalem, you who stone those sent to you" (gospel); Blessed be the Lord, my Rock,... (psalm)
    • 'Hand' tie pin:  ...who trains my hands for battle (psalm)
      • 'Dove' pin:  Sword of the Spirit; pray in the Spirit (1st reading) 
      • 'Blood drop' pin:  Our struggle is not with flesh and blood... (1st reading)
      • 'Ruler' tie bar:  ...but with the 'rulers' of this darkness (1st reading)
      • 'Feet' pin, 'peace sign' tie bar:  Stand fast with feet ready for the Gospel of peace (1st reading)
      • 'Bass guitars' tie:  With a 10-stringed lyre I'll chant your praise (psalm) [shhh; they only have 4 strings each]
      • 'Hen' pin:  Jerusalem, I've yearned to gather your children as a hen her brood (gospel)
      • 'Love' suspenders:  Jesus' love-driven healings, lament for Jerusalem (gospel)
      • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season
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