October 17, 2021

29th Sun., Ordinary Time

October 17, 2021:  Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

See a dozen connections with today?
Legend below

Listen
For 1st reading
For 2nd reading
For Psalm 33
Pope Francis

Angelus:  I'm close to families who lost loved ones in last week's attacks in Norway, Afghanistan, and the UK, sad over the deaths and injuries. I appeal to the perpetrators to abandon violence; it leads to further violence, and everyone loses. 

Remember yesterday's beatification of Fr. Juan Elías Medina and 126 martyred companions killed during the religious persecution in Spain in the 1930s.  May their fidelity grant us, especially persecuted Christians, strength to witness to the Gospel courageously.

Ordination homily:  Jesus sent out the Apostles to proclaim the Gospel to all, leading them to salvation.  To perpetuate this apostolic ministry, they transmitted the gift of the Spirit to co-workers through the laying on of hands.  Through the succession of bishops, this ministry has been preserved, and the Savior's work continues.  Bishops Marini and Moreira, you've been chosen for a life of service.  Proclaim the Word at every opportunity, continue to study, and be close to their flock.  You'll be custodians of faith, service, and charity, mirroring God's compassion and tenderness.  Be close to God in prayer.  Pray with your heart, not like parrots.  Be close to other bishops, and remember the priests are your closest neighbors.  Be available to your priests like a father.  Be near your flock.  May you grow in closeness, imitating the Lord who has always been close and is always close to us.

Read
  • Is 53:10-11  The Lord crushed him in infirmity.  If he gives his life as an offering for sin, the Lord's will shall be accomplished through him.  Because of his affliction, he'll see the light; through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, bearing their guilt.
  • Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22  "Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you."  The Lord's word is upright and his works trustworthy.  Earth is full of the Lord's kindness.  The Lord's eyes are on those who fear him and hope for his kindness, to deliver and preserve them.  Our soul waits for the Lord our help.
  • Heb 4:14-16  Since we have a great high priest, let us hold fast to our confession.  Our high priest can sympathize with our weaknesses; he's similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.  So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace.
  • Mk 10:35-45  James and John / Jesus:  "We want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." / "What do you wish?" / "That in your glory we may sit at your right and left hand." / "You don't know what you're asking.  Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with my baptism?"  / "We can." / "Then you will, but the seats aren't mine to give."  Jesus, to the ten now indignant at James and John:  "Those recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority felt.  But among you, whoever wishes to be great will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first will be the slave of all.   The Son didn't come to be served but to serve and to give his life as ransom for many."
Reflect
  • Creighton:  As we approach the Christ the King celebration, the Church challenges us to consider the Harvest of God.  Many early Christians were killed because they claimed allegiance to Lord Jesus, not Caesar; the Mass's introductory rites begin Kyrie (Lord), Caesar's title.   Lord Jesus is all about, is, mercy.  Pope Francis talks about mercy as a verb:  Jesus “mercifies” us, transforming us in his mercy and making us effective in "mercifying" others. Jesus told those closest to him they must be servants like him, “mercifying” the world.  The 1st reading discloses the servant-leader as one who knows and loves his followers.  A servant leader, though without sin, enters the consequences of sin forgives, and heals.  Servant leaders are enriched only by God’s mercy so they may pour riches out on those served.  Every Christian is called to be merciful in our exercise of Jesus' servant-leadership, within the community and for the world.  The servant leader knows that Truth (God) is inseparable from Mercy.  Christ is all about mercy and challenges me to be mercy....
  • One Bread, One Body:  "Good and bad suffering":  The Lord removes some sufferings to make room for other, redemptive, sufferings. He frees us to be vulnerable to hurt.  He gives us the grace to love ourselves so we can be hated and persecuted for the gospel's sake. He blesses us with self-acceptance so we can handle rejection and contempt.  Jesus wants to deliver us from useless suffering. “He went about... healing all in the devil's grip.”  Jesus declared war on sickness, suffering, and bondage.  “The Son of God revealed himself to destroy the devil’s works.”  Suffering in the pattern of Jesus’ death is good, redemptive, for the kingdom, and to be prayed for; it fills up what's lacking in Christ's sufferings for the sake of his Body.
  • Passionist:  May the Lord's will be accomplished through us (1st reading).  If it is, we will have achieved what we were born to do:  to help God’s goodness, justice, patience, kindness, mercy, and compassion break into the world through our attitudes, words, and actions.  We glorify God whenever God’s will is accomplished through us.  The gospel revolves around the question, “What does it mean to be important/great?” Apostles James and John want to matter; they want Jesus to assure them they'll sit at his right and left.  We may connect greatness with recognition, esteem, power, and wealth, but Jesus turns such thinking upside down. saying that true greatness is about serving others, transcending ourselves in love, goodness, generosity, and kindness, doing what we can to bring others to fuller life.  If we do, God's will shall be accomplished through us, and we'll truly be great.
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Not to be served but to serve":  We, like Jesus' disciples, thirst for recognition, power, and authority, but Jesus reversed the order of master/servant, lord/subject, first/last; he linked authority with love, position with sacrifice, and service with humility.  To serve with the Lord, we must be prepared to sacrifice our lives and all we have; we must "drink the cup."  What's my cup:  physical suffering/martyrdom, or daily sacrifices, disappointments, struggles, and temptations?  Jesus' disciples must daily be ready to lay down our lives in little and big sacrifices, but love makes such sacrifice a joy, not a burden.  We share in God's reign through humble service and love for each other. May we lay down our lives, serving others as Jesus taught and modeled for us.
  • Sunday-trumped saint:  Ignatius of Antioch, 2nd bishop of Antioch after St. Peter; wrote about Christ, Church structure, and Christian life.  Arrested, sentenced to death, thrown to wild beasts; described soldiers escorting him as like “ten leopards, who when they are kindly treated only behave worse.”   From famous letter  to the Romans;  "I am God's wheat and shall be ground by the teeth of wild animals.  (context).  More at Universalis, New Advent..
Dress legend
  • 'Street light' tie bar:  The Servant shall see the light (1st reading)
  • 'Eyeball' pin:  The Lord's eyes are on those who fear and hope in him (psalm)
  • 'Clock' tie bar:  Our soul waits for the Lord (psalm)
  • 'Mitt' tie pin:  Let us fold fast to our confession (2nd reading)
  • 'Boundless mercy' pin:  Lord, let your mercy be on us (psalm); approach the throne of grace to receive mercy (2nd reading)
  • 'Rulers' suspenders:  "Those recognized as the Gentiles' rulers lord it over them" (gospel)
  • '?' tie pin:  "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I'm baptized with?" (gospel)
  • 'Cups' tie:  You'll drink the cup I drink (gospel)
  • 'Cross' pin:  The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life (gospel)
  • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season
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