November 4, 2016: St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop
- 'Cross' pin: Many conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ (1st reading)
- 'Crown' tie bar: My brothers and sisters, my joy and crown (1st reading)
- 'Feet' pin: We have set foot within your gates (psalm)
- 'Calculator' tie: Prepare an account of your stewardship; "recalculation" of debts (gospel)
- 'Wheat' pin: Debtor owing 100 measures of wheat (discounted to 80) (gospel)
- White shirt: St. Charles memorial
Listen
For Psalm 122
- I rejoiced when I heard them say/ Talbot
- I rejoiced/ Feeley
- Let us go rejoicing/ Bond & Bond, Mark Haas, Haas and Roberts, Haugen and Haas, Joncas, Hurd
- Psalm 122: Let us go rejoicing/ Celoni: sheet music, just written
- Rejoice to the full/ Fabing (but cuts off during Ps 122 verse)
For 1st reading and gospel
- St. Paul advises follow me: pick a CM tune (playing tips) (1st reading)
- That steward accused by his lord: pick a LM tune (gospel)
These brothers of ours have reached the goal, having served the Church and loved the Lord. For each of us, the journey to the Father's house begins in the first moment of our existence. For priests, ordination is an important stage, uniting them in a special way to Christ, associating them with his priestly ministry. Those we remember today dedicated themselves to witnessing and to giving others the love of Christ. Pastors of the flock of Christ, they spent their lives working for the salvation of those entrusted to them. Now we pray for them, offer Mass for them, and ask the Lord to make them shine forever in his kingdom of light.
Their death is the entrance into fullness of life. In the light of faith, we feel even closer to our deceased brothers; though we seem separated by death, the power of Christ and his Spirit unites us even more profoundly. Nourished by the Bread of Life, we too wait with hope the day of the face-to-face encounter with the Father's luminous and merciful face.
- Phil 3:17-4:1 Imitate me and observe those following our model; sadly, many don't. We're citizens of heaven and await Christ our savior who will by his power make our body conform with his. Stand firm in the Lord.
- Ps 122:1-5 "Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord."
- Lk 16:1-8 “Rich man, firing suspected steward: ‘Prepare an account.’ / ‘What shall I do? I'm too weak to to dig and ashamed to beg.’ So the master's debtors would welcome him, he reduced all their debts. The master commended that dishonest steward for his prudence. The children of this world are more prudent... than the children of light.”
Reflect
- Creighton: The steward tries to raise his standing by discounting his master's debtors' debts (perhaps foregoing his own take); the master commends him for acting shrewdly. We must do our best with what we're given. The steward figured out how to get money for his master and improve his own lot....
- Passionist: "The challenge of stewardship": The “resourceful” steward first dishonestly squandered his master’s property, then tried to save face by dealing with his master’s debtors, acting quickly to prepare for the future. Jesus highlights his gifts and limitations and encourages us to live out our faith with zeal. Paul encourages his followers to imitate his example as a convert-missionary, giving his life to spread the Good News. May we "stand firm in the Lord."
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| St. Charles Borromeo giving Communion to the infected |
- One Bread, One Body: "Your body of work": Join your body to that of Jesus on the cross, uniting your suffering to his, making it powerful. Our goal is eternal life, so our bodies will be members of Jesus' risen Body. May we make our bodies enemies of the world, crucify ourselves to the world, and let Jesus "remake" us now....
- DailyScripture.net: "The necessity of prudent foresight": Why did Jesus praise the steward? The steward likely overcharged his master's tenants and kept the difference, but he struck a deal with the debtors and won favor with them, also making his master look generous. The master, who would lose face and win resentment by undoing the discounts, praised him for outwitting him and making him appear merciful. Jesus commends the steward for his shrewd averting of disaster and securing his future. The original meaning of 'shrewdness' is 'foresight.' Jesus wants us to exercise foresight to avert spiritual and moral disaster.
"The bosoms of the poor, the houses of widows, the mouths of children are the barns that last forever" (Ambrose). True wealth consists in what we give away. The Lord expects us to use possessions responsibly and put them at his and others' service, thus making a good return on what he gives us. Love of money crowds out love of God and neighbor. If we're not possessed by God's love, some other love will possess us...
St. Charles Borromeo
- Universalis: Bishop, reformer, taught children the faith, fed the hungry, visited the sickest and got his clergy to, survived assassination attempt; see Catholic Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
- Passionist: St. Charles helped reform and build up the Church: as bishop and cardinal, he helped form clergy and religious. He helped author the Catechism of the Council of Trent (PDF, other formats), started the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) for children's growth in their faith, and helped incorporate the message and teachings of the Council of Trent in his diocese. He reached out to the poor, sick, hungry, and dying, sacrificing wealth, honor, and influence to serve them.
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