October 6, 2017

Oct. 5

October 5, 2017:  Thursday, 26th week, Ordinary Time

See 15 connections with today?
Legend below
Listen
You make the Bible more easily accessible in diverse languages and in a wide variety of media.  We serve the word of salvation, which never returns to the Lord empty.  Always nourish yourselves at the table of the word by reading, listening, studying, and bearing witness with your lives.  The Church must go out to proclaim the Gospel to all, always and everywhere, without delay, reluctance, or fear, in obedience to the Lord’s missionary mandate, certain of his presence.
We serve God's powerful word that enlightens, protects, defends, heals, and frees.  Many are in prison on account of the word, and many more have shed their blood in testimony to their faith in Christ.  Let us walk together to spread the word, praying that the Father’s will be done.  Let us work together, that what the Lord has said may be accomplished in us.
Read
  • Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12  Ezra brought the book of the law before the people, read, and all listened.  He blessed the Lord; they answered, “Amen!” and bowed.  He interpreted so all could understand.  Then he, Ezra, and the Levites told them, “Today is holy to the Lord.  Don't be sad or weep.  Go, eat and drink, and allot portions to those with nothing. Rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!”  All ate and drank, distributed portions, and celebrated, for they understood.
  • Ps 19:8-11  "The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart."  The law of the Lord is perfect, trustworthy, right, clear, pure, true, just, precious, and sweet, giving wisdom, joy, and light.
  • Lk 10:1-12  Jesus appointed and sent 72 disciples:  “The harvest is abundant but laborers few; ask the harvest master to send out laborers.  Go; I send you like lambs among wolves.  Carry no money, sack, or sandals, and greet no one along the way.  Into houses you enter, say, ‘Peace.’  If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it'll return to you.  Stay in the same house and eat what they offer you.  When they welcome you, cure the sick and say, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand’; when they don't, say, ‘We shake off the dust of your town against you.’  But know the Kingdom is at hand; it'll be more tolerable for Sodom....”
Reflect
  • Creighton:  In the 1st reading, Nehemiah tells the people to each rich foods, drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those with nothing; today is holy to our Lord.  Rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!"  And so they did.  The psalm mentions a delicacy:  the Lord’s precepts, and the joy they bring, are “sweeter than syrup or honey.”  And in the gospel, Jesus tells the 72 to eat and drink what's offered to them.  We have permission to celebrate the important things in life with food and drink:  God's love and care for us and his precepts....
  • One Bread, One Body:  "God's word":  "God's word is the seed, the beginning of life, birth, revival, renewal, evangelization, and family restoration.  Ezra began the revival of the Israelites by reading and interpreting God's word.  "All were weeping as they heard the law"; then they celebrated.  Once Jesus rose, he began forming a new people, setting their hearts on fire by explaining the Scriptures. "God's word is living and effective"; it "achieves the end" for which God sent it.  Bones rattle when God's word is proclaimed.  Will you let God's word change you?
  • Passionist:  Nehemiah holds a remarkable story of people who greatly influenced Judaism and Christianity.  The Edict of Cyrus permitted those captive in Babylon to return to Jerusalem, but they didn't have much to return to.  Demoralized by the ruins, they discovered it wasn’t the home they remembered.  The impoverished economy didn't spur a desire for rebuilding.  The prophets Haggai and Zechariah spurred the people to rebuild the temple.  In the 1st reading Ezra gathers the people to promulgate and proclaim the law, and they listen.  This is our first written account of people listening to a public proclamation of God’s Word; it touches the senses.  Today busy people still gather to listen to God’s word; Jesus continues to teach and feed his people.  Through God's word we discover God’s love for us and become motivated.
  • DailyScripture.net:  "The kingdom of God has come near to you":  Jesus gave his disciples a vision of a field ready to be harvested.  Harvest is the fruition of labor, from sowing of seeds, through growth, to reaping of fruit.  Isaiah's prophecy of a time wolves and lambs will dwell in peace refers to the Lord's second coming when all will be under Jesus' lordship.  Meanwhile, the disciples must expect opposition; we must be willing to offer our lives for our Savior.  Seventy was significant number in biblical times:  Moses chose 70 elders.  The Sanhedrin had 70 members.  Seventy was held to be the number of world nations.  Jesus commissioned 70 to speak in his name and act with his power.  God commissions us to share his word boldly and plainly....
Dress legend
  • 'Wood' tie pin:  Ezra stood on a wooden platform,... (1st reading)
  • 'Scroll' pin:  ...opened the scroll, and read from the law (1st reading)
  • 'Apple being eaten' pin:  They went to eat, drink, and celebrate (1st reading)
  • 'Owl' tie pin:  The Lord's decree gives wisdom (psalm)
  • 'Heart' pin:  The Lord's precepts rejoice the heart (psalm)
  • 'Eyeball' pin:  The Lord's command enlightens the eye (psalm)
  • Gold-colored accessories:  The Lord's ordinances are more precious than pure gold... (psalm)
  • 'Honey' tie, comb (in pocket, not shown):  ...and sweeter than honey from the 'comb' (psalm)
  • 'Lamb' tie bar:  I'm sending you like lambs among wolves (gospel)
  • 'Peace sign' tie bar:  When you enter, say, "Peace to this household" (gospel)
  • 'Hands' pin:  Tell them, "God's Kingdom is at 'hand'..." (gospel); the people raised their hands after Ezra's reading (1st reading)
  • 'Feet' pin:  Where they don't receive you, shake the dust off your feet (gospel)
  • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season
  • Sandals (not shown so not counted above :-):  Carry no sandals (gospel)
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)