September 5, 2017

Sept. 5

September 5, 2017:  Tuesday, 22nd week, Ordinary Time

  • 'Clocks' suspenders:  You don't need us to write you about times... (1st reading)
  • 'Peace sign' tie bar:  Disaster comes when people are saying, "Peace and security" (1st reading)
  • 'Lights' tie:  You're children of the light (1st reading); The Lord is my light (psalm)
  • 'Crucifix' chain:  Jesus died for us so we may live together with him (1st reading)
  • 'Celebrate teaching' pin:  Jesus taught on the sabbath (gospel)
  • White and green shirt:  White for St. Mother Teresa and "children of the light" (1st reading), green for Ordinary Time
Listen

For Psalm 27
Pope Francis
To Shalom community:  Go out of yourself to share the good news of God's mercy.  God is always waiting for us, just as the prodigal son's father.  Don't be self-centered:  Narcissism is the "disease of the mirror"; it makes us sad as we worry about how to appear better than we are.  Break the mirror and look at others.  Share freely with others:  Drugs dominate lives by destroying our roots and all we hold close.  Become aware of those roots and share the blessings you've received.  Learn from your elders, especially your grandparents.  Inter-generational dialogue a major challenge facing society today.
Pre-Colombia visit video:  Take the first step:  reach out in a sign of peace.  Be the first to love, to build bridges and create solidarity.  Keep working for a stable and lasting peace, so we see and treat others as brothers and sisters.  You've labored to make a place of harmony and solidarity where the Gospel is known and loved.  Promote reconciliation with the Lord, among yourselves, and with the environment, God’s Creation, which we're exploiting.
Read
  • 1 Thes 5:1-6, 9-11  You don't need us to write you about times and seasons.  You know the day of the Lord will come like a thief.  You're not in darkness for it to overtake you; you're children of the light and day.  Don't sleep like the rest, but stay alert; God destined us for salvation through Christ, who died for us, so that we may live with him.  Encourage one another...
  • Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14  "I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living."  The Lord is my light and salvation; whom should I fear?  I seek one thing:  to dwell in the Lord's house forever, to gaze on his loveliness.  Wait for the Lord with courage....
  • Lk 4:31-37  Jesus taught with authority; people were astonished.  Man with the spirit of a demon / Jesus:  “Have you come to destroy us?  I know you're God's Holy One!” / “Quiet!  Come out!”  The demon came out without doing harm.  Amazed, they said, “What is there about his word?  He commands spirits with authority and power and they come out.”  News spread....
Reflect
  • Creighton:  We can ask God, “Why?” and “How could you let this happen?” but God never leaves our side.  What's faith if we only have it when life is easy?  We know that God, life, and light win....
  • One Bread, One Body:  "Body build":  Just as every building needs maintenance, so must we maintain the "living stones" of the Church by building one another up; even the strongest members need upbuilding.  Building one another up can be inconvenient, disruptive, and noisy, but love must override the inconvenience and disruption, for it's love that upbuilds.  May we build through acts of love and charity.  We are God's building.  Be a body builder and "build one another up."
    Christus heilt in der Synagoge von Capernaum
    einen Besessenen
  • Passionist:  The 1st reading describes what many are experiencing now:  floods, fires, contended elections, movement of refugees....  “The day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.”  I used to equate “the day of the Lord” with disaster, but since Paul associates it with our salvation, why would it be a disaster?  What if disasters just happen and trials and troubles are just part of our journey?  What if the day of the Lord is when God is especially close to us, holding us through troubles, inspiring us to help, is calling us to be awake, see his presence in those around us, help, and see others helping?  What if the day of the Lord is not the disasters but God’s response to seeing his children suffer?  Today is the day of the Lord.  Jesus is God’s response to all our suffering.  May we make every day a “day of the Lord” and find ways to serve....
    "St. Mother Teresa"
  • DailyScripture.net:  "His word was with authority and power":  Do you hear God's word with indifference, selective submission, or full faith and obedience?  Jesus spoke God's word as no one had before:  rabbis supported their statements with others' authority, prophets spoke with delegated authority, but Jesus was authority incarnate, God's word made flesh. When he commanded, even the demons obeyed.
"The bystanders, witnesses of Jesus' great deeds, were astonished at the power of his word.  He performed miracles without asking for power from anyone.  Since he's God the Father's living and active Word, in himself he crushed Satan and closed demons' mouths. (Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke, Homily 12).  God's Word has power to free us and heal us in body, mind, and spirit.  Jesus speaks his word to us so we may walk in freedom, love, and truth.  May we approach God's Word with humility and eagerness to do all the Lord desires.
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