Hold A Banquet

OCTOBER 31, 2022, MONDAY

Monday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time (Green)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 485

Reading 1

Phil 2:1-4

Brothers and sisters:

If there is any encouragement in Christ,

any solace in love,

any participation in the Spirit,

any compassion and mercy,

complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,

united in heart, thinking one thing.

Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;

rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,

each looking out not for his own interests,

but also everyone for those of others.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 131:1bcde, 2, 3

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

O LORD, my heart is not proud,

nor are my eyes haughty;

I busy not myself with great things,

nor with things too sublime for me.

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted

my soul like a weaned child.

Like a weaned child on its mother's lap,

so is my soul within me.

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

O Israel, hope in the LORD,

both now and forever.

R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

Alleluia

Jn 8:31b-32

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,

and you will know the truth, says the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 14:12-14

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine

at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.

He said to the host who invited him,

"When you hold a lunch or a dinner,

do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters

or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,

in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.

Rather, when you hold a banquet,

invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;

blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.

For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Jesus knows our heart, and poses a radical challenge to the many ways it invents in its self-seeking. He invites us to have a free and open heart, that does not seek any recompense for being generous: that is its own reward.

I consider those who are on Jesus' guest list. How do I find myself among them? Do I notice similar people being on my list of those I would really like to invite?

PRAYER:

Jesus, how often my giving is corrupted by self-interest and the hope of favours in return. You gave to me without hope of return. I can do you no favours, but you taught me that love means giving without expectations, that there is more happiness in giving than in receiving.

Zacchaeus, Come Down Quickly (31ST SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME - C)

OCTOBER 30, 2022, SUNDAY

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 153

Reading 1

Wis 11:22-12:2

Before the LORD the whole universe is as a grain from a balance

 or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth.

 But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things;

 and you overlook people's sins that they may repent.

 For you love all things that are

 and loathe nothing that you have made;

 for what you hated, you would not have fashioned.

 And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it;

 or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?

 But you spare all things, because they are yours,

 O LORD and lover of souls,

 for your imperishable spirit is in all things!

 Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little,

 warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing,

 that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14

R. (cf. 1)  I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

I will extol you, O my God and King,

and I will bless your name forever and ever.

Every day will I bless you,

and I will praise your name forever and ever.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and of great kindness.

The LORD is good to all

and compassionate toward all his works.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,

and let your faithful ones bless you.

Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom

and speak of your might.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

The LORD is faithful in all his words

and holy in all his works.

The LORD lifts up all who are falling

and raises up all who are bowed down.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

Reading 2

2 Thes 1:11-2:2

Brothers and sisters:

We always pray for you,

that our God may make you worthy of his calling

and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose

and every effort of faith,

that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,

and you in him,

in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.

We ask you, brothers and sisters,

with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

and our assembling with him,

not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed

either by a "spirit," or by an oral statement,

or by a letter allegedly from us

to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.

Alleluia

Jn 3:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 19:1-10

At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.

Now a man there named Zacchaeus,

who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,

was seeking to see who Jesus was;

but he could not see him because of the crowd,

for he was short in stature.

So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus,

who was about to pass that way.

When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said,

"Zacchaeus, come down quickly,

for today I must stay at your house."

And he came down quickly and received him with joy.

When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying,

"He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner."

But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,

"Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor,

and if I have extorted anything from anyone

I shall repay it four times over."

And Jesus said to him,

"Today salvation has come to this house

because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.

For the Son of Man has come to seek

and to save what was lost."

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

We all like Zacchaeus, the shy man who did not want to attract any attention, yet ended up getting far beyond his expectations. Jesus could see what he really desired in the depths of his heart, and invited himself to Zacchaeus’ house. All who saw this began to grumble, but Jesus faced this criticism by proclaiming that salvation had come to Zacchaeus’ house. I try to imagine myself present in this scene: would I be like the diffident Zacchaeus, like the complaining crowd or like the merciful and strong Jesus?

PRAYER:

Lord, like Zacchaeus, I hear you calling me by name and I gladly welcome you to my house today. Help me become more aware that I am, at all times and in all places, in your loving presence. Help me to realise that the divine is in me and in every person that I meet, and this includes those whom I may find difficult.

Go And Take The Lowest Place

OCTOBER 29, 2022, SATURDAY

Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)

CYCLE C - YEAR Ii

Lectionary: 484

Reading 1

PHIL 1:18B-26

Brothers and sisters:

As long as in every way, whether in pretense or in truth,

Christ is being proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

Indeed I shall continue to rejoice,

for I know that this will result in deliverance for me

through your prayers and support from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

My eager expectation and hope

is that I shall not be put to shame in any way,

but that with all boldness, now as always,

Christ will be magnified in my body,

whether by life or by death.

For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.

If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.

And I do not know which I shall choose.

I am caught between the two.

I long to depart this life and be with Christ,

for that is far better.

Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.

And this I know with confidence,

that I shall remain and continue in the service of all of you

for your progress and joy in the faith,

so that your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound on account of me

when I come to you again.

 

Responsorial Psalm

PS 42:2, 3, 5CDEF

R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.

As the hind longs for the running waters,

so my soul longs for you, O God.

R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.

Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.

When shall I go and behold the face of God?

R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.

I went with the throng

and led them in procession to the house of God.

Amid loud cries of joy and thanksgiving,

with the multitude keeping festival.

R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.

 

 

Alleluia

MT 11:29AB

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

for I am meek and humble of heart. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

LK 14:1, 7-11

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine

at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,

and the people there were observing him carefully.

He told a parable to those who had been invited,

noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.

“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,

do not recline at table in the place of honor.

A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,

and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,

‘Give your place to this man,’

and then you would proceed with embarrassment

to take the lowest place.

Rather, when you are invited, 

go and take the lowest place

so that when the host comes to you he may say,

‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’

Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,

but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

We like a humble person. In Jesus we see the humility of the one who knew who he was - loved by the Father - and on earth to serve others. He is among us as one who serves, the one who sees the needs of his people and does his best to meet them. In word and action he served us in love - even onto death.

PRAYER:

Lord, if I am happy in my own skin, I'll be good company for whoever is beside me. I do not ask to make an entrance like a celebrity, nor do I want to be overlooked completely. Give me contentment and an eye for the needs of whoever sits by me.

The Chosen Twelve (FEAST OF SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES - C)

OCTOBER 28, 2022, FRIDAY

FEAST OF SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES (RED)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 666

Reading I

Eph 2:19-22

Brothers and sisters:

You are no longer strangers and sojourners,

but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones

and members of the household of God, 

built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,

with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.

Through him the whole structure is held together

and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;

in him you also are being built together

into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm

19:2-3, 4-5

R.    (5a) Their message goes out through all the earth.

The heavens declare the glory of God,

    and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Day pours out the word to day,

    and night to night imparts knowledge.

R.    Their message goes out through all the earth.

Not a word nor a discourse

    whose voice is not heard;

Through all the earth their voice resounds,

    and to the ends of the world, their message.

R.    Their message goes out through all the earth.

Alleluia

See Te Deum

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

We praise you, O God,

we acclaim you as Lord;

the glorious company of Apostles praise you.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 6:12-16

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray,

and he spent the night in prayer to God.

When day came, he called his disciples to himself,

and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:

Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,

James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,

Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,

Simon who was called a Zealot,

and Judas the son of James,

and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Choosing a team is agonising. It always means leaving out some who are worthy. Jesus had come to know his disciples, and prayed that he would make a good choice. He still could not guarantee that Judas would not become a traitor, or that Simon would not deny him three times. Jesus is at the mercy of our human frailty.

PRAYER:

I am not one of the twelve apostles, but I am a disciple, a learner. Lord, may I go on learning, and not let you down.

Jesus Sorrow For Jerusalem

OCTOBER 27, 2022, THURSDAY

Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 482

Reading 1

EPH 6:10-20

Brothers and sisters:

Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.

Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm

against the tactics of the Devil.

For our struggle is not with flesh and blood

but with the principalities, with the powers,

with the world rulers of this present darkness,

with the evil spirits in the heavens.

Therefore, put on the armor of God,

that you may be able to resist on the evil day

and, having done everything, to hold your ground.

So stand fast with your loins girded in truth,

clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,

and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace.

In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield,

to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One.

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,

which is the word of God.

With all prayer and supplication,

pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.

To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication

for all the holy ones and also for me,

that speech may be given me to open my mouth,

to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel

for which I am an ambassador in chains,

so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.

Responsorial Psalm

144:1B, 2, 9-10

R. (1b) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Blessed be the LORD, my rock,

who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.

R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

My mercy and my fortress,

my stronghold, my deliverer,

My shield, in whom I trust,

who subdues my people under me.

R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

O God, I will sing a new song to you;

with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise,

You who give victory to kings,

and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.

R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

 

 

Alleluia

See LK 19:38; 2:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

LK 13:31-35

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,

“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”

He replied, “Go and tell that fox,

‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,

and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.

Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day,

for it is impossible that a prophet should die

outside of Jerusalem.’

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem,

you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,

how many times I yearned to gather your children together

as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,

but you were unwilling!

Behold, your house will be abandoned.

But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Jesus does not seem overawed by the threat posed by Herod. He does not run away, and even calls him a fox. His integrity was his strength against those who relied on their ability to be violent. As he told Pilate, ‘My kingdom is not of this world’. We still live in a world seemingly dominated by the violent, so I pray for integrity, for me and for all others of good will, that we may not be afraid and hold firm to what we believe to be true and right.

I join Jesus in praying for Jerusalem, the city of peace. It is still the focus of so much tension between different states, different religions, different groups, who somehow all identify themselves with this unique city. I let myself feel sorrow for the violence it witnesses even in our own times, and pray insistently for peace in the Middle East.

PRAYER:

As your beloved child, God, I am willing to have you gather me under your wings! I place my neediness and vulnerabilities before you. I pray that I may always feel your sacred care in every aspect of my life and the lives of those I love.

Enter Through The Narrow Gate

OCTOBER 26, 2022, WEDNESDAY

Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 481

Reading 1

Eph 6:1-9

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Honor your father and mother.

This is the first commandment with a promise,

that it may go well with you

and that you may have a long life on earth.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,

but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling,

in sincerity of heart, as to Christ,

not only when being watched, as currying favor,

but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

willingly serving the Lord and not men,

knowing that each will be requited from the Lord

for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

Masters, act in the same way towards them, and stop bullying,

knowing that both they and you have a Master in heaven

and that with him there is no partiality.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 13cd-14

R. (13c) The Lord is faithful in all his words.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,

and let your faithful ones bless you.

Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom

and speak of your might.

R. The Lord is faithful in all his words.

Making known to men your might

and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,

and your dominion endures through all generations.

R. The Lord is faithful in all his words.

The LORD is faithful in all his words

and holy in all his works.

The LORD lifts up all who are falling

and raises up all who are bowed down.

R. The Lord is faithful in all his words.

Alleluia

See 2 Thes 2:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God has called us through the Gospel

to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages,

teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.

Someone asked him,

"Lord, will only a few people be saved?"

He answered them,

"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,

for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter

but will not be strong enough.

After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,

then will you stand outside knocking and saying,

'Lord, open the door for us.'

He will say to you in reply,

'I do not know where you are from.'

And you will say,

'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.'

Then he will say to you,

'I do not know where you are from.

Depart from me, all you evildoers!'

And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth

when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God

and you yourselves cast out.

And people will come from the east and the west

and from the north and the south

and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God.

For behold, some are last who will be first,

and some are first who will be last."

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ How easy it is to distract ourselves from the real challenges by asking very interesting but ultimately irrelevant questions. Jesus’ reply points to what really matters: ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed’. Am I ready to do what is right, even when it costs?

PRAYER:

I bring my joys and hopes, my anxieties and difficulties, before Jesus in my prayer. I speak to him about them, listening for his voice as I come to know my own life better. My prayer makes it evident ‘where I come from’ – what is important to me.

Parable Of The Mustard Seed And Yeast

OCTOBER 25, 2022, TUESDAY

Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 480

Reading 1

EPH 5:21-33

Brothers and sisters:

Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.

For the husband is head of his wife

just as Christ is head of the Church,

he himself the savior of the Body.

As the Church is subordinate to Christ,

so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives,

even as Christ loved the Church

and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,

cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,

that he might present to himself the Church in splendor,

without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,

that she might be holy and without blemish.

So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.

He who loves his wife loves himself.

For no one hates his own flesh

but rather nourishes and cherishes it,

even as Christ does the Church,

because we are members of his Body.

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother

and be joined to his wife,

and the two shall become one flesh.

This is a great mystery,

but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church.

In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself,

and the wife should respect her husband.

 

Responsorial Psalm

PS 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

R. (1a) Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Blessed are you who fear the LORD,

who walk in his ways!

For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;

blessed shall you be, and favored.

R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine

in the recesses of your home;

Your children like olive plants

around your table.

R.  Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Behold, thus is the man blessed

who fears the LORD.

The LORD bless you from Zion:

may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem

all the days of your life.

R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

 

 

Alleluia

See MT 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;

You have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

LK 13:18-21

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?

To what can I compare it?

It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.

When it was fully grown, it became a large bush

and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”

Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?

It is like yeast that a woman took

and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour

until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

The kingdom of God is like a small seed that grew and became a large tree. The tree breathes in and out through its leaves and roots. Could I take a little time to breathe in and out, aware of the mysterious source of my life.

Jesus compared the kingdom of God to common ingredients; to what might I compare God’s reign in the ordinary things of my life?

PRAYER:

Lord, teach me to recognise the seeds of transformation which you have placed within me. Help me to understand that the kingdom is growing now in me, and that you are making your presence known to me in small as well as big ways.

Jesus Heals A Crippled Woman On the Sabbath

OCTOBER 24, 2022, MONDAY

Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)

Optional Memorial of Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop (White)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 479

Reading 1

EPH 4:32–5:8

Brothers and sisters:

Be kind to one another, compassionate,

forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.

Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love,

as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us

as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.

Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you,

as is fitting among holy ones,

no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place,

but instead, thanksgiving.

Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person,

that is, an idolater,

has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty arguments,

for because of these things

the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient.

So do not be associated with them.

For you were once darkness,

but now you are light in the Lord.

Live as children of light. 

Responsorial Psalm

PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6

R. (see Eph. 5:1) Behave like God as his very dear children.

Blessed the man who follows not

the counsel of the wicked

Nor walks in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the company of the insolent,

But delights in the law of the LORD

and meditates on his law day and night.

R. Behave like God as his very dear children.

He is like a tree

planted near running water,

That yields its fruit in due season,

and whose leaves never fade.

Whatever he does, prospers.

R. Behave like God as his very dear children.

Not so the wicked, not so;

they are like chaff which the wind drives away.

For the LORD watches over the way of the just,

but the way of the wicked vanishes.

R. Behave like God as his very dear children.

Alleluia

JN 17:17B, 17A

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Your word, O Lord, is truth;

consecrate us in the truth.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel 

LK 13:10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.

And a woman was there who for eighteen years

had been crippled by a spirit;

she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.

When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,

“Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.”

He laid his hands on her,

and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.

But the leader of the synagogue,

indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath,

said to the crowd in reply,

“There are six days when work should be done.

Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.”

The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites!

Does not each one of you on the sabbath

untie his ox or his ass from the manger

and lead it out for watering?

This daughter of Abraham,

whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now,

ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day

from this bondage?”

When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated;

and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Think of the perspective this woman had: never able to look anyone in the eye, unable to take her place among any ordinary crowd. She was likely to have been looked down on or overlooked, denied her dignity as a person. Jesus wants to free me of any improper impediments, ligatures, or restrictions. He does not ask me what I can bear, what I am used to, or what I can settle for. He wants to restore me to my proper stature and to let me see as he sees.

PRAYER:

Straighten me up, Lord. Unshackle my heart from crippling attachments.

Parable Of The Pharisee And The Tax Collector (30TH SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME - C)

OCTOBER 23, 2022, SUNDAY

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 150

Reading 1

Sir 35:12-14, 16-18

The LORD is a God of justice,

 who knows no favorites.

 Though not unduly partial toward the weak,

 yet he hears the cry of the oppressed.

 The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan,

 nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint.

 The one who serves God willingly is heard;

 his petition reaches the heavens.

 The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds;

 it does not rest till it reaches its goal,

 nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds,

 judges justly and affirms the right,

 and the Lord will not delay.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23

R. (7a)  The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

I will bless the LORD at all times;

his praise shall be ever in my mouth.

Let my soul glory in the LORD;

the lowly will hear me and be glad.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

The LORD confronts the evildoers,

to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.

When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,

and from all their distress he rescues them.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;

and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.

The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;

no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Reading 2

2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18

Beloved:

I am already being poured out like a libation,

and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have competed well; I have finished the race;

I have kept the faith.

From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,

which the Lord, the just judge,

will award to me on that day, and not only to me,

but to all who have longed for his appearance.

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf,

but everyone deserted me.

May it not be held against them!

But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength,

so that through me the proclamation might be completed

and all the Gentiles might hear it.

And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat

and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.

To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia

2 Cor 5:19

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,

and entrusting to us the message of salvation.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable

to those who were convinced of their own righteousness

and despised everyone else.

"Two people went up to the

 temple area to pray;

one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.

The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,

'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity --

greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector.

I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.'

But the tax collector stood off at a distance

and would not even raise his eyes to heaven

but beat his breast and prayed,

'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.'

I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;

for whoever exalts himself will be humbled,

and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

What would you like to boast to God about? Let's be honest. There are times when we want to tell him how good we are, or the good we have done. We may look down on others' moral or spiritual life. This is just human. But it's not to be the end of the story of our relationship with God. We look on what is good in ourselves and know that all is gift; both our talents and what we have made of them. We end up with the prayer of the taxman - cover me O Lord with your mercy, for, with all my good deeds and intentions, there is a deeply sinful side of me which needs your mercy.

PRAYER:

God, be merciful to me, a sinner’ – let this be my prayer today and always. I must not leave my place of prayer today, thankful that I am not like the Pharisee! It is God who ‘justifies’ the ungodly tax collector, whose only virtue is that he is honest before God.

Repent Or Perish

OCTOBER 22, 2022, SATURDAY

Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)

Optional Memorial of Saint John Paul II, Pope (White)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 478

Reading 1

EPH 4:7-16

Brothers and sisters:

Grace was given to each of us

according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Therefore, it says:

He ascended on high and took prisoners captive;

he gave gifts to men.

What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended

into the lower regions of the earth?

The one who descended is also the one who ascended

far above all the heavens,

that he might fill all things.

And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,

others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,

to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,

for building up the Body of Christ,

until we all attain to the unity of faith

and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood

to the extent of the full stature of Christ,

so that we may no longer be infants,

tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching

arising from human trickery,

from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.

Rather, living the truth in love,

we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ,

from whom the whole Body,

joined and held together by every supporting ligament,

with the proper functioning of each part,

brings about the Body’s growth and builds itself up in love.

 

Responsorial Psalm

PS 122:1-2, 3-4AB, 4CD-5

R. (1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

I rejoiced because they said to me,

“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”

And now we have set foot

within your gates, O Jerusalem.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Jerusalem, built as a city

with compact unity.

To it the tribes go up,

the tribes of the LORD.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

According to the decree for Israel,

to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

In it are set up judgment seats,

seats for the house of David.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

 

 

Alleluia

EZ 33:11

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,

but rather in his conversion that he may live.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

LK 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans

whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.

He said to them in reply, 

“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way 

they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?

By no means!

But I tell you, if you do not repent,

you will all perish as they did!

Or those eighteen people who were killed 

when the tower at Siloam fell on them–

do you think they were more 

guilty 

than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?

By no means!

But I tell you, if you do not repent,

you will all perish as they did!”

And he told them this parable: 

“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, 

and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,

he said to the gardener,

‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree 

but have found none.

So cut it down.

Why should it exhaust the soil?’

He said to him in reply,

‘Sir, leave it for this year also, 

and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; 

it may bear fruit in the future.

If not you can cut it down.’”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

The story about the fig tree is about the patience of God, our need for time to repent and grow in our faith and prayer, and it is about the 'God of the many chances'. The God of Jesus never lets go on us, and always believes in our future. All of us carry particular faults and failings through life, and even though we try our best, find that they stay with us. God knows this and sees our efforts to change and be renewed. Prayer helps us to believe in ourselves as God believes in us.

PRAYER:

You speak to me too, Lord. You look to me for fruit, for signs of love in my life. I do not want to be wasting my opportunities, but I rely on you to have patience and help me. Dig around me and dung me, even if it hurts. You alone know how to make something good of my life..

Interpret The Sign Of The Times

OCTOBER 21, 2022, FRIDAY

Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 477

Reading 1

Eph 4:1-6

Brothers and sisters:

I, a prisoner for the Lord,

urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,

with all humility and gentleness, with patience,

bearing with one another through love,

striving to preserve the unity of the spirit

through the bond of peace;  

one Body and one Spirit,

as you were also called to the one hope of your call;

one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

one God and Father of all,

who is over all and through all and in all.

Responsorial Psalm

24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

R.    (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;

the world and those who dwell in it.

For he founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the rivers.

R.    Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?

or who may stand in his holy place?

He whose hands are sinless, whose heart  is clean,

who desires not what is vain.

R.    Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,

a reward from God his savior.

Such is the race that seeks for him,

that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.

R.    Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

 

 

Alleluia

See Mt 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;

you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

LK 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds,

“When you see a cloud rising in the west

you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;

and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south

you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.

You hypocrites!

You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;

why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?

If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,

make an effort to settle the matter on the way;

otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,

and the judge hand you over to the constable,

and the constable throw you into prison.

I say to you, you will not be released

until you have paid the last penny.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Prayer helps us to notice God in our lives. We can go back over a day or a week and notice where we found love given and love received, where we found the moments of depth in our lives, the call to help or to serve...all the different ways we can notice the presence and activity of God in life.

PRAYER:

Lord, you are shaking my complacency. You ask me to judge the signs of the times, to recognise what is evil, greedy and perverse and to take sides for justice and mercy. Teach me to interpret the present time with your eyes.

Jesus Brings Division

OCTOBER 20, 2022, THURSDAY

Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)

Optional Memorial of Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest (White)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 476

Reading 1

EPH 3:14-21

Brothers and sisters:

I kneel before the Father,

from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory

to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,

and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;

that you, rooted and grounded in love,

may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones

what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,

so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine,

by the power at work within us,

to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus

to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.

 

Responsorial Psalm

PS 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19

R. (5b) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Exult, you just, in the LORD;

praise from the upright is fitting.

Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;

with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

For upright is the word of the LORD,

and all his works are trustworthy.

He loves justice and right;

of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

But the plan of the LORD stands forever;

the design of his heart, through all generations.

Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,

the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,

upon those who hope for his kindness,

To deliver them from death

and preserve them in spite of  famine.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

 

Alleluia

PHIL 3:8-9

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I consider all things so much rubbish

that I may gain Christ and be found in him.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

LK 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples:

“I have come to set the earth on fire,

and how I wish it were already blazing!

There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,

and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!

Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?

No, I tell you, but rather division.

From now on a household of five will be divided,

three against two and two against three;

a father will be divided against his son

and a son against his father, 

a mother against her daughter

and a daughter against her mother,

a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law

and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Jesus shed his blood to reconcile us with God and among ourselves. Yet the radicality of his message leads inevitably to division, between those who accept it and those who resist it. Often these divisions run across families. I pray that I may know how to bear the division that being faithful to Jesus and his message can bring to my life. I pray for my family and friends that Jesus can be for us the source of unity rather than division.

PRAYER:

Lord that we might experience the fire of your love in our hearts today. Saint Ignatius was ‘ablaze with God’ and we wish that for ourselves too. Only so will we be your true disciples..

Be Prepared

OCTOBER 19, 2022 WEDNESDAY

Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs (Red)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 475

Reading 1

EPH 3:2-12

Brothers and sisters:

You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace

that was given to me for your benefit,

namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation,

as I have written briefly earlier.

When you read this

you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

which was not made known to human beings in other generations

as it has now been revealed

to his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit,

that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same Body,

and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.

Of this I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace

that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power.

To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given,

to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,

and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery

hidden from ages past in God who created all things,

so that the manifold wisdom of God

might now be made known through the Church

to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.

This was according to the eternal purpose

that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

in whom we have boldness of speech

and confidence of access through faith in him.

 

Responsorial Psalm

IS 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6

R. (see 3)  You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

God indeed is my savior;

I am confident and unafraid.

My strength and my courage is the LORD,

and he has been my savior.

With joy you will draw water

at the fountain of salvation.

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;

among the nations make known his deeds,

proclaim how exalted is his name.

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;

let this be known throughout all the earth.

Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,

for great in your midst

is the Holy One of Israel!

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

 

Alleluia

MT 24:42A, 44

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Stay awake!

For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

LK 12:39-48

Jesus said to his disciples: 

“Be sure of this:

if the master of the house had known the hour

when the thief was coming,

he would not have let his house be broken into.

You also must be prepared,

for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Then Peter said,

“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”

And the Lord replied,

“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward

whom the master will put in charge of his servants

to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?

Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.

Truly, I say to you, he will put him

in charge of all his property.

But if that servant says to himself,

My master is delayed in coming,’

and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants,

to eat and drink and get drunk,

then that servant’s master will come

on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour

and will punish the servant severely

and assign him a place with the unfaithful.

That servant who knew his master’s will

but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will

shall be beaten severely;

and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will

but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating

shall be beaten only lightly. 

Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,

and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Once again, Jesus insists on vigilance: be prepared, do not let your attention wander so that when the master comes you are ready to welcome him. In fact we are told that the Son of Man will come at an hour we do not expect. We prefer something totally predictable, which we can control, but we know that the Lord comes to us very often unexpectedly, thorough events and through the others. Today I pray for knowing how to be open to the presence of the Lord who comes.

PRAYER:

I pray for the grace to be aware of all my gifts, and of the responsibility they bring with them. I ask that this be always a source of joy and gratitude for me, and never a burden.

The Kingdom Of God Is At Hand For You

OCTOBER 18, 2022, TUESDAY

FEAST OF SAINT LUKE, EVANGELIST (Red)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 661

Reading I

2 Tm 4:10-17b

Beloved:

Demas, enamored of the present world,

deserted me and went to Thessalonica,

Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

Luke is the only one with me.

Get Mark and bring him with you,

for he is helpful to me in the ministry.

I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas,

the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments.

Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm;

the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

You too be on guard against him,

for he has strongly resisted our preaching.

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf,

but everyone deserted me.

May it not be held against them!

But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength,

so that through me the proclamation might be completed

and all the Gentiles might hear it.

Responsorial Psalm

145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18

R.    (12)  Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,

    and let your faithful ones bless you.

Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom

    and speak of your might.

R.    Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Making known to men your might

    and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,

    and your dominion endures through all generations.

R.    Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

The LORD is just in all his ways

    and holy in all his works.

The LORD is near to all who call upon him,

    to all who call upon him in truth.

R.    Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Alleluia

See Jn 15:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I chose you from the world,

to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 10:1-9

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples

whom he sent ahead of him in pairs

to every town and place he intended to visit.

He said to them,

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;

so ask the master of the harvest

to send out laborers for his harvest.

Go on your way;

behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.

Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;

and greet no one along the way.

Into whatever house you enter,

first say, ‘Peace to this household.’

If a peaceful person lives there,

your peace will rest on him;

but if not, it will return to you.

Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,

for the laborer deserves payment.

Do not move about from one house to another.

Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,

eat what is set before you,

cure the sick in it and say to them,

‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Jesus appoints each of his followers to go out to heal and to preach the kingdom of God. He needs help and he doesn’t wait for us to sort out issues of personal frailty. He has selected us, and he says to us ‘Go!’! People will be surprised and we will experience a variety of receptions as we try to share his love and his values.

PRAYER:

Lord, you were sending followers on a mission, so your words here carry weight over the centuries. You sent them in pairs, not as individuals. You told them to travel light and to be vulnerable, to bring peace, but not to dally with small talk. On each of these counts I can look at my own life.

Parable Of The Rich Fool

OCTOBER 17, 2022, MONDAY

MEMORIAL OF SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, BISHOP AND MARTYR (Red)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 473

Reading 1

EPH 2:1-10

Brothers and sisters:

You were dead in your transgressions and sins

in which you once lived following the age of this world,

following the ruler of the power of the air,

the spirit that is now at work in the disobedient.

All of us once lived among them in the desires of our flesh,

following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses,

and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest.

But God, who is rich in mercy,

because of the great love he had for us,

even when we were dead in our transgressions,

brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

raised us up with him,

and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,

that in the ages to come

he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace

in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith,

and this is not from you; it is the gift of God;

it is not from works, so no one may boast.

For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works

that God has prepared in advance,

that we should live in them.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 100:1B-2, 3, 4AB, 4C-5

R. (3b) The Lord made us, we belong to him.

Sing joyfully to the LORD all you lands;

serve the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful song.

R. The Lord made us, we belong to him.

Know that the LORD is God;

he made us, his we are;

his people, the flock he tends.

R. The Lord made us, we belong to him.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

his courts with praise.

R. The Lord made us, we belong to him.

Give thanks to him; bless his name, for he is good:

the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,

and his faithfulness, to all generations.

R. The Lord made us, we belong to him.

 

 

Alleluia

MT 5:3

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are the poor in spirit;

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

LK 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,

“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”

He replied to him,

“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”

Then he said to the crowd,

“Take care to guard against all greed,

for though one may be rich,

one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Then he told them a parable.

“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.

He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,

for I do not have space to store my harvest?’

And he said, ‘This is what I shall do:

I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.

There I shall store all my grain and other goods

and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you,

you have so many good things stored up for many years,

rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’

But God said to him,

‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;

and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’

Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself

but is not rich in what matters to God.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

In this parable Jesus attacks greed and egotism. This rich man is living for this world and this life only. He is thinking only of himself, with no awareness of the needs of others, despite his own abundance.

Jesus is asked to settle an inheritance case. He cautions his listeners against any kind of greed. He tells them that their lives are not made secure by what they own. They must grow into a true sense of values and recognise that their real life cannot be measured in terms of material possessions.

All the rich man’s ambitious planning is in vain because that same night he was to die. Who would inherit his substantial fortune, since he cannot take it with him, though he lived as if he could? I ask Jesus to show me what are the real values and riches in my own life?

PRAYER:

Jesus, how patient you are with us as we struggle with our earthly desires. We want more and yet more. We look with envy on what others seem to have - better homes, better jobs, better ways of living. Help us instead to be grateful for what we have, for your goodness to us, and for who we are as children of God.

Parable Of The Persistent Widow (29TH SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME - C)

OCTOBER 16, 2022, SUNDAY

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 147

Reading 1

Ex 17:8-13

In those days, Amalek came and waged war against Israel.

Moses, therefore, said to Joshua,

"Pick out certain men,

and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle.

I will be standing on top of the hill

with the staff of God in my hand."

So Joshua did as Moses told him:

he engaged Amalek in battle

after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur.

As long as Moses kept his hands raised up,

Israel had the better of the fight,

but when he let his hands rest,

Amalek had the better of the fight.

Moses'hands, however, grew tired;

so they put a rock in place for him to sit on.

Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands,

one on one side and one on the other,

so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people

with the edge of the sword.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

R.(cf. 2)  Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

I lift up my eyes toward the mountains;

whence shall help come to me?

My help is from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

May he not suffer your foot to slip;

may he slumber not who guards you:

indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps,

the guardian of Israel.

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

The LORD is your guardian; the LORD is your shade;

he is beside you at your right hand.

The sun shall not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

The LORD will guard you from all evil;

he will guard your life.

The LORD will guard your coming and your going,

both now and forever.

R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Reading 2

2 Tm 3:14-4:2

Beloved:

Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed,

because you know from whom you learned it,

and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures,

which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation

through faith in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is inspired by God

and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction,

and for training in righteousness,

so that one who belongs to God may be competent,

equipped for every good work.

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,

who will judge the living and the dead,

and by his appearing and his kingly power:

proclaim the word;

be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient;

convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.

Alleluia

Heb 4:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The word of God is living and effective,

discerning reflections and thoughts of the heart.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 18:1-8

Jesus told his disciples a parable

about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.

He said, "There was a judge in a certain town

who neither feared God nor respected any human being.

And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,

'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.'

For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,

'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,

because this widow keeps bothering me

I shall deliver a just decision for her

lest she finally come and strike me.'"

The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.

Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones

who call out to him day and night?

Will he be slow to answer them?

I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.

But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

We can be so impatient sometimes and feel that God has not heard our prayers when they are not answered immediately. We live in a world of instant gratification, instant coffee, instant contact, a touch of a button on our computer and we can be anywhere in the world! But Jesus in today’s gospel is asking us to be patient, ‘pray always and do not lose heart’ Our prayers will be answered, maybe not in the way we are expecting, but answered in the way that is beneficial to us.

Jesus, teach us to trust you and not lose heart when we call on you in prayer. The prayer of intercession will never go unanswered, but our ways are not your ways and our thoughts not your thoughts. Keep us faithful in prayer Lord, for you will never be outdone in generosity.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, that, unlike that desperate widow, I live in a regime where judges cannot be bought, and where injustices can be aired in the media. In some ways we have made society a better place. But I need your words about perseverance in prayer. There have been times when I belaboured God and nearly lost heart at the silence of heaven. Teach me to recognise you in your silence as well as your words.

The Holy Spirit Will Teach You

OCTOBER 15, 2022, SATURDAY

MEMORIAL OF SAINT TERESA OF JESUS, VIRGIN AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (White)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 472

Reading 1

EPH 1:15-23

Brothers and sisters:

Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus

and of your love for all the holy ones,

I do not cease giving thanks for you,

remembering you in my prayers,

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,

may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation

resulting in knowledge of him.

May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,

that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,

what are the riches of glory

in his inheritance among the holy ones,

and what is the surpassing greatness of his power

for us who believe,

in accord with the exercise of his great might,

which he worked in Christ,

raising him from the dead

and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,

far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,

and every name that is named

not only in this age but also in the one to come.

And he put all things beneath his feet

and gave him as head over all things to the Church,

which is his Body,

the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 8:2-3AB, 4-5, 6-7

R. (7) You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

O LORD, our LORD,

how glorious is your name over all the earth!

You have exalted your majesty above the heavens.

Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings

you have fashioned praise because of your foes.

R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars which you set in place—

What is man that you should be mindful of him,

or the son of man that you should care for him?

R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

You have made him little less than the angels,

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You have given him rule over the works of your hands,

 putting all things under his feet.

R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

 

 

Alleluia

JN 15:26B, 27A

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord,

and you also will testify.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

LK 12:8-12

Jesus said to his disciples: 

“I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others

the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.

But whoever denies me before others

will be denied before the angels of God.

“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,

but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit

will not be forgiven.

When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities,

do not worry about how or what your defense will be

or about what you are to say. 

For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

It is not always easy to declare oneself openly for Jesus in the presence of others. Sometimes because we deem it counterproductive, but at other times because we are fearful of what the others might think about us. Today I ask for the gift of light and for fortitude, to be able to live in integrity before Jesus and before others.

PRAYER: 

As I pray with you Lord, I thank you for your forgiveness when I have been disabled by fear. Your love can eliminate my fear. Over and over you tell me not to be afraid. Plant in me your spirit of courage so that I may speak clearly and confidently to others about your word.