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The Word today, W31B

  • Writer: Admin
    Admin
  • Nov 1, 2024
  • 3 min read

ree

November 04 - November 09, 2024


St Charles Borromeo, bishop


Philippians 2:1-4 Conflict (and even competitiveness ) is normal in the Christian community but it is not how it should be. Paul makes a very personal appeal to faithful in Philippi to set aside any feelings of superiority.


Luke 14:12-14 Gospel values really offer us a kind of upside-down world. Nowhere is this so clear as in this short gospel passage.


St Martin de Porres, religious


Philippians 2:5-11 This hymn, cited by Paul, was most likely in use among the Philippians. He presents it here because he wants them “to have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus.”


Luke 14:15-24 The parable of the Great Banquet survives in two independent versions. It most likely goes back to Jesus: this is his prophetic word to God’s first chosen people, who did not accept him.



Philippians 2:12-18 It is worth noticing how Paul encourages the Philippians — a generous but not perfect community — to continue to grow. He always builds in the present (“indicative”) while commanding a deeper engagement (“imperative”). Affirmation, then encouragement.


Luke 14:25-33 Unfinished building projects are not just a scar on the landscape but shame on the builder. The message in this Gospel is clear: be sure you are able for discipleship before setting out — it really is not for the faint-hearted.


All Saints of Ireland


Sirach 44:1-15 This is a generous and delightful passage, inviting us to remember again all who have gone before us — not just the “canonised” of course! It might be a good idea to find an inclining language version (such as the NRSV / NRSVue).


Hebrews 11:2, 12:1-4, 15, 13:1 The reading summons up the great cloud of witness to encourage us today.


Luke 6:17-23 In a typical “wisdom” fashion, Jesus puts before us the “two ways”, one leading to death and misery, the other to life and joy. We read only the beatitudes. Of course it is never forbidden to extend the reading. “Happy” could well be read as “flourishing”.


St Wilibrord, bishop and missionary


Philippians 3:3-8 Paul is dealing with those who wish to retain significant parts of the Jewish law, such as circumcision. In the course of his reply, we learn a great deal about Paul himself.


Luke 15:1-10 Two short parables are offered today— short but significant. The open verses introducing the parables are a key to their meaning.



Philippians 3:17-4:1 Paul is attacking those so-called evangelists who insisted on core Jewish practices, such as circumcision and dietary laws. As he puts it, our homeland—lit. our citizenship (politeuma)—is elsewhere.


Luke 16:1-8 This Gospel can still shock. It appears that the one fiddling the books fiddles even more and is approved! In reality, however, the stewards was reducing his share of the profit, thus ensuring homes to be welcomed into. At least he is proactive!


Dedication of the Lateran Basilica


Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 Ezekiel offered the suffering people an extraordinary vision of life and healing flowing from God’s presence. The picture of abundant nature will surely strike a chord in our time: ‘Fish will be very plentiful, for wherever the water goes it brings health, and life teems wherever the river flows. etc.


1 Cor 3:9-11, 16-17 Who are we really before God? No less than a temple of the Holy Spirit, built on the foundation of Jesus Christ.


John 2:13-22 The Temple action was radical—not an attack on abuse but on the functioning of the Temple as such.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024u, November 3). Thirty-first Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110324.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/


 
 
 

The Word today, W30B

  • Writer: Admin
    Admin
  • Oct 25, 2024
  • 2 min read

ree

October 28 - November 02, 2024


Sts Simon and Jude, apostles


Ephesians 2:19-22 Our reading opens up a fundamental question: what or who are we as Christian believers? Using a building metaphor, the identikit is rich, to say the least.


Luke 6:12-16 Luke makes it plain that Jesus prayed before the choice and appointment of the Twelve. It is important to note that the Twelve function, in the ministry of Jesus, as a prophetic action, underscoring Jesus’ programme which was the restoration of Israel. Cf. “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24 NRSV) By the time Luke is writing the restriction to the Jewish people of Jesus’ ministry was already in the distant past.


St Colman


Ephesians 5:21-33 This reading—if read at all—calls for very careful handling. Within the patriarchal context of the time, the roles of husbands and wives are differentiated. We may note that challenges are laid before both the wife and the husband here. The non-Pauline Ephesians is somewhat different to the totally equal treatment in 1 Corinthians 7:1-7 (which also calls for careful handling).


Luke 13:18-21 The mustard seed was proverbially the smallest of seeds and so serves for a comparison. It is intriguing to notice that the mustard seed comes up again, this time in relation to the size of faith of the apostles!



Ephesians 6:1-9 Our reading reflects a common type of writing, the “household code.” Even though conventional and not as revolutionary as one might hope, still the values of the Gospel shine through.


Luke 13:22-30 It is often said that preaching is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable! There’s a bit of that in today’s Gospel, as Jesus’ upends expectations with his own, very different, way of looking at things.



Ephesians 6:10-20 The writer is aware that being a Christian is a struggle, even a battle at times. Using the imagery of warfare and armour, he builds up a dynamic picture of what it means to be a Christian.


Luke 13:31-35 The Herod in this Gospel is not Herod the Great but his son Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee during the ministry of Jesus. He was well capable of cruelty as his killing of John the Baptism does (in Mark and in Mathew, but not in Luke). The second paragraph express the desolation of Jesus as he contemplates the fate of the prophets and, indeed, his own.



All Souls


The wide choice for the first two readings makes detailed notes impractical.


Mark 15:33-39, 16:1-6 The lectionary offers a sharp juxtaposition between the death of death and the empty tomb proclamation (it would be good of offer the full reading, 16:1-8). The juxtaposition is true to the spirit of Mark’s Gospel, written during the capture of Jerusalem, a time of immense turmoil, dispersion and suffering. Abandonment and Easter reassurance are the opposing yet supportive poles of discipleship in Mark’s Gospel.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024s, October 27). Thirtieth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102724.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/


 
 
 

The Word today, W29B

  • Writer: Admin
    Admin
  • Oct 18, 2024
  • 3 min read

ree

October 21 - October 26, 2024



Ephesians 2:1-10 Our reading contrasts our life apart from faith and our life now in Jesus. There is a great reminder of just who we are in the phrase “you are God’s work of art” (JB).


Luke 12:13-21 There is a prayer in the psalms which runs, “Lord make us know the shortness of our life.” Usually, we need no reminding, but, as we heart the Gospel, sometimes we do, as we listen to Jesus, the teaching of wisdom.


St John Paul II, bishop of Rome


Ephesians 2:12-22 It might seem that the concerns of this reading are confined to the first century: the communion of Jews and Gentiles in Christ. It is much greater than that: God was reaching out to all of humanity without distinction, showing us how much he loves us.


Luke 12:35-38 Parables of watchfulness are not uncommon but this one contains a major role reversal: the master will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on his own slaves. The story of the washing of the feet in John’s Gospel comes to mind as does another sentence from Jesus: “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45).


St John of Capistrano, priest


Ephesians 3:2-12 Sometimes, we can be so at home in the faith that a sense of wonder and transcendence may no longer be present. Our reading today should restore our feelings of awe before the mystery of our life in Christ.


Luke 12:39-48 The Gospel reading—from the “gentle” Luke—is both comforting and uncomfortable. It is comforting: fidelity will be rewarded. It is uncomfortable: there are consequence to our choices. Originally, it was aimed at disciples who had become complacent about God’s mercy. This may well be a risk to day as well.


St Antony Mary Claret, bishop


Ephesians 3:14-21 The writer bursts into prayer—and what a prayer! The reading lifts up our eyes from the everyday to see just how marvellous our life in Christ really is.


Luke 12:49-53 There is a strange juxtaposition of images at the start of this Gospel: fire and water. Fire points to purification and judgement, part of the tradition proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Water points to Jesus’ own role in the coming of that Kingdom. The verses which follow reflect early Christian experience When a family member become a disciple, often this created difficulties with society in general and family in particular. This is becoming the case again today.



Ephesians 4:1-6 Even in earliest Christianity, conflict was the normal experience. Normal doesn’t mean acceptable and so the advice given here applies today as much as ever before.


Luke 12:54-59 The first part of today’s short Gospel is a clear invitation to read the signs of the times and not to miss the moment of grace. The second part is more of a puzzle. Why did Jesus talk about taking your opponent to court? Firstly, it does reflect culture of Palestine at the time. Secondly, it teaching that now is the time to accept the gift of reconciliation already achieved in Jesus.



Ephesians 4:7-16 What does it mean to be part of the body of Christ? It means enjoying the different gifts so that flourishing individually we may grow in love.


Luke 13:1-9 Again, we have a reading in two parts. The first part is severe warning: you cannot tell when you life will end. We know this for our own experience of the unpredictable. The second part is a parable of “second chance.” Again, it does speak of a second opportunity, but now is the time. See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! (2 Corinthians 6:2)


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024q, October 20). Twenty-ninth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102024.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/


 
 
 
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