NOVEMBER
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016ALL SAINTS
(Lec. 667)- SOLEMNITY
1)Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
2)1 John 3:1-3
3)Matthew 5:1-12a
Gospel related: CCC 520, 544, 581, 764, 1716, 1720, 2305, 2330, 2518, 2546, 2763 CSDC 492
FOCUS:God invites all of us to sainthood.
On this feast of All Saints, we hear the author of Revelation share two visions of those belonging to God’s kingdom. In the first, 144,000 people from the twelve tribes of Israel are marked as God’s own. This highly symbolic number signifies the immensity of God’s promise of salvation in and through Christ Jesus. It also symbolizes the multitudes of people – too many to be counted – who have responded to God’s gracious offer of salvation by placing their faith in Christ Jesus.
Similarly, the second vision speaks of more people than can be counted, privileged to stand before the throne of God and Christ the Lamb. This throng includes people from every nation and race. God’s plan for salvation is open to all who die in right relationship with him. These worshippers testify that this is not a do-it-yourself project. Salvation comes from God. As they proclaim, thanksgiving, glory and power belong to God, not to us.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus also paints a picture of those who belong to God’s kingdom. Notice that he shares this picture – the beatitudes – with the crowds, not just with the Apostles. This teaching is for all of us.
What does this heavenly picture reveal? Those who sorrow will be comforted. The merciful will receive mercy. Those who are meek – and meekness doesn’t mean being wimpy, but having the strength to be gentle – they will receive the Promised Land of God’s kingdom. That kingdom also includes those who work for peace and are faithful in spite of challenges and persecution.
Who heads the list? The poor in spirit – those who recognize their weakness and rely upon God, not their own strength or resources. Like those described in Revelation, they don’t need to build their fragile egos up by glorifying themselves, but freely give glory to God.
So where do we fit in? We are challenged to let go of what the world sees as success, and to invest in spiritual and moral growth instead. Jesus invites us to die to self-will and follow him. Letting go of self-will frees us from egos that say it’s all about us, making us to open to living out the beatitudes.
And notice: Thebeatitudes describe qualities, not actions. We don’t pull ourselves up to God by our spiritual bootstraps. On the contrary, we face our weaknesses and, therefore, our need for God and for his mercy. We become aware that we are poor in spirit. We grow in healthy humility.
God loves us not because we are perfect, but because he is loving and merciful. When we accept this, we become much more likely to show mercy and forgiveness to others.
Our reward will be great in heaven, but that’s not a “pie in the sky” promise. When we live as God invites us to live,we help build up God’s kingdom. Wecome to have hearts that are open to God’s grace,and experience the good gifts of peace and joy he wants to bestow on us.
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Wednesday, November 2, 2016THE COMMEMORATION
(Lec. 668)OF ALL THE FAITHFUL
1)Wisdom 3:1-9DEPARTED
2)Romans 5:5-11(ALL SOULS DAY)
or Romans 6:3-9
3)John 6:37-40
Gospel related: CCC 161, 606, 989, 994, 1001, 2824
FOCUS:The faithful will rise again with Christ.
What comes to mind when you hearthe word “church”? Maybe you think of a building, parishioners or your parish priest. While these are all aspects of “church,” the Church encompasses more than our presence here on earth.
The Church is a communion of saints (CCC 960) – a family of the faithful at different stages of spiritual existence. It includes us as pilgrims in this world, the saints and blessed whom we remembered yesterday on All Saints’ Day, and the dead undergoing purification – those we pray for on this feast of All Souls’ Day. Together, we are the Church.
As we pray for the souls of our loved ones, an array of emotions may arise within us – grief, sorrow, uncertainty, maybe even anger. We miss our loved ones and cling to precious memories, perhaps recalling suffering they faced in this life. Today’s readings offer us consolation. They remind us of our hope as Christians – to one day rise again with Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus explains that he was sent to do his Father’s will: For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.
While faith in Christ should be all we need to believe his words, Scripture offers us further evidence of Jesus’ power over death. He raised the widow’s son, the daughter of a synagogue official and Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha. In Romans, Paul assures believers that if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life.
All Souls’ Day has been part of Catholic tradition for centuries. The way it is celebrated has changed over time and varies across cultures; however, it remains a powerful reminder to pray for souls undergoing purification. Like gold in the furnace and sparks through stubble, they will shine. We can pray for the dead and offer the Eucharist in their name. Pope Francis has said that doing so “is the best spiritual help that we can give to their souls, particularly to those who are the most forsaken.” (Angelus address, Nov. 2, 2014)
The Lord’s grace and mercy are with his faithful. Let All Souls’ Day be a day of hope. We can assist our loved ones with prayers – that they may be cleansed and purified, and enter eternal life in heaven. If we believe in Jesus and follow his path, we hope to one day find rest in the arms of our Lord. As Saint Paul reminds us, Hope does not disappoint.
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Thursday, November 3, 2016THURSDAY OF
(Lec. 488)31ST WEEK
1)Philippians 3:3-8aIN ORDINARY TIME
2)Luke 15:1-10(Opt. Mem.
Saint Martin de Porres,
Religious)
Gospel related: CCC 545, 589, 1443, 1846
FOCUS:Even when we stray, God will go to great lengths to bring us back.
What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? Jesus’ rhetorical question invites the answer, “Of course, any shepherd would do that.” In reality, no shepherd in his right mind would think for a moment of doing what Jesus suggests. That would risk turning a minor misfortune, the loss of a single sheep, into a major disaster: the possible loss of the entire flock.
“That’s how good God is,” Jesus is saying with this simple parable. God’s care for us is not reasonable, measured or prudent. God’s love for us is reckless, according to ordinary worldly standards. When we stray from him, God will go to any lengths, and search without limit, to get us back.
But what about Jesus’ next assertion, that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance? Shouldn’t there be some rejoicing, at least, over those who have no need to repent?
To answer that question we must ask another. Who are these ninety-nine who do not need to repent? Do you know anyone like that? I don’t. Oh, I know many people who think they have no need to repent. But they are wrong. How can there be any rejoicing over people who are so mistaken about their spiritual condition?
In reality, all of us stray from our heavenly Father in some way and at some time. All of us need the Father’s loving forgiveness. With this short and simple parable, Jesus is telling us that God’s care, love and forgiveness are available to us always. Or, as Pope Francis never tires of telling us: God never gets tired of forgiving us. It is we who grow tired of asking for forgiveness.
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Friday, November 4, 2016FRIDAY OF
(Lec. 489)31ST WEEK
1)Philippians 3:17–4:1IN ORDINARY TIME
2)Luke 16:1-8(OBL MEM
Saint Charles Borromeo,
Bishop)
Gospel related: CCC 952
FOCUS:Our earthly dwelling, and all that is in it, is made by and for God. We are meant to use it wisely.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us: “A Christian is a steward of the Lord’s goods” (952), and that everything we have belongs to God. Luke’s parable of the dishonest steward thoughtfully considers a man who at first glance seems devious. He has squandered his employer’s goods and made a bit of a mess of things. Before he gets the boot, he decides to make sure he doesn’t have to dig ditches for a living. He calls in his employer’s debtors and tells them to rewrite promissory notes to reflect a lower debt than they originally owed. His employer commends him for acting prudently.
Has the steward acted prudently? Perhaps. After all, he has cut the debt by a significant amount, in keeping with the Christian tradition of coming to the aid of “neighbors in want” (CCC 952). The catechism also states that, “Everything the true Christian has is to be regarded as a good possessed in common with everyone else” (CCC 952). In some ways, the steward’s actions could be interpreted as sharing common goods. The rest of the story isn’t part of today’s reading, but Jesus later tells his disciples, You cannot serve God and mammon” (Lk16:13).
Concern for the common good is exemplified in the life of Saint Charles Borromeo, whose feast we celebrate today. Saint Charles was a sixteenth-century cardinal and bishop who devoted his life to reform when political and religious upheaval was the rule of the day. He saw that many of the issues that led to the Protestant Reformation were due to a lack of education and training for the clerics of his time. Because of his efforts, the Council of Trent was reconvened, resulting in reforms that included the establishment of seminaries for the education of the clergy. He also founded the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, an association devoted to providing religious education. Saint Charles dedicated his life to serving God, and provided for the poor and needy.
Although Charles was born into great wealth, he chose to devote his life in service to God. He placed his gifts – not only material things, but his intellect and leadership –at the service of others. As it says in the First Letter of Peter, As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace (4:10). Saint Charles is a model for us of good stewardship.
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Saturday, November 5, 2016SATURDAY OF
(Lec. 490)31ST WEEK
1)Philippians 4:10-19IN ORDINARY TIME
2)Luke 16:9-15(Saturday in honor
of BVM)
Gospel related: CCC 2424 CSDC 181, 453
FOCUS:All we have – every talent, every gift – comes from God.
Most of us have heard the words that Jesus spoke in today’s Gospel: You cannot serve God and mammon. But what is “mammon”? Actually, the etymology of this word is not universally agreed-upon. Although it is often translated simply as “riches” or “wealth,” there is a far more interesting translation for the word from some scholars, which comes from the Greek transliteration of a Hebrew or Aramaic word meaning “that in which one trusts.”
In what do we trust? Do we trust positions, privileges and titles? Perhaps “mammon” in this context is anything that takes our focus away from God, the source of our life and our very being. Jesus speaks of wealth in this passage as “dishonest.” Does he mean that the dogged pursuit of wealth can lead to dishonesty? It most likely can. But Jesus might be trying to get his listeners to stop and think about earthly riches, and how they use them. Do we use our wealth for self-gain? Or do we put it to good use? Jesus is warning us not to put our trust in worldly treasure, but rather to use it to build the kingdom of God here on earth. We must place our trust in God, and use our gifts in ways that serve him.
The things of this world are fleeting. We see all too often how people’s lives can be changed forever in an instant. But God and his kingdom are eternal and will not pass away. This is why we must place our trust solely in him. We have one master in this world: our merciful Father. Let’s strive to love him and serve him so that our lives may be blessed with peace and joy, and one day we may be blessed with an eternal dwelling place in heaven.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2016THIRTY-SECOND
(Lec. 156)SUNDAY
1)2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14IN ORDINARY TIME
2)2 Thessalonians 2:16–3:5
3)Luke 20:27-38
or 20:27, 34-38
Gospel related: CCC 330
FOCUS:We may be deprived of life in this world, but the King of the world will raise us up to live forever with him.
Today’s Scripture passages truly engage our imagination: the brutality of the scene in Maccabees; Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians depicting God as a vigilant sentinel; and Luke’s Gospel enticing us to visualize the resurrected life.
Vastly different imagery, with one central theme: Whatever we know of this life pales in comparison to the fullness of life in Christ that is promised to us in the resurrection. And the reason we are not able to fully understand the resurrection is precisely because it is a wondrous mystery that far exceeds the limits of the human mind.Though the resurrection is a mystery beyond our comprehension, images and concepts from the teachings of Jesus and sacred Scripture can help us make sense of it for our lives.
Scripture reminds us that our relationship with God is the reason for our existence. The resurrection is more than just something we hope or believe will happen upon our death. It represents the basis, promise and fulfillment of our relationship with God.
The first reading assures us we may be deprived of life in this world, but the King of the world will raise us up to live forever with him. There is much to consider in this statement. First, there will be suffering and death in this world, events and experiences that will cause us pain. But that is not the end of the story.
The statement continues with the declaration of God as the King of the world. No matter what the world throws at us – whatever pain, suffering and death come our way – God is greater than all that. He rules over that. God is king.
Therefore, God has the final say about our eternity – and he wants it to be, as Jesus says, where we are like angels; and [we] are the children of God. God rescues us from the depths of sin and death – raising us up, out of the darkness and into the light of Christ. He does this first at our baptism, and again upon our death – in our resurrection to new life.
God does not just raise us up, he raises us up to live forever with him.The one who created us out of love is faithful to us in all things, and remains with us through our suffering. God encourages us and strengthens us, and guards us from evil.
Our relationship with God is not just about this world; it is about living forever with him.
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Monday, November 7, 2016MONDAY OF
(Lec. 491)32ND WEEK
1)Titus 1:1-9IN ORDINARY TIME
2)Luke 17:1-6
Gospel related: CCC 162, 2227, 2287, 2845
FOCUS:As followers of Christ, we are called to always set a good example.
Taken together, today's readings call on us, as followers of Christ, to take the high road. We are to set an example of propriety, humility and loyalty to the word of God.
The first reading describes the qualities bishops or presbyters are to have, but they apply to all of us. Bishops, for example, are called God's stewards, and we are all to serve in that capacity. The list of attributes serves as a great examination of conscience for any Christian.
Paul lists five things not to be and seven things to be. God's stewards must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but rather hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message given by Jesus. We may not be able to fulfill all these high-minded qualities all the time, but we certainly can try. It would not hurt any of us to write out this list and look at it before we go to bed each night and see how well we are doing.
The Gospel continues in a similar way. Jesus gives us two injunctions: Avoid leading others into sin, and forgive those who wrong you. This forgiveness is not a simple acceptance of the wrongdoing, however. Jesus tells us to rebuke the person – try to help him or her see the wrong they have done. Then, if the person repents, forgive – and keep forgiving as many times as needed. Sometimes it takes a while before a person can reform his or her ways, but we are to help, rather than condemn or reject.
The list of attributes from our first reading can come in handy here. We will truly be following Jesus if we can help someone without being aggressive or arrogant, but instead temperate, just, holy and self-controlled. Since this is Monday, let us try every day this week to put these ideas into action. See how it goes. You may find your life being blessed in ways you never expected.