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The Word today, W32B

  • Writer: Admin
    Admin
  • Nov 8, 2024
  • 3 min read


November 11 - November 16, 2024


St Martin of Tours, bishop


Titus 1:1-9 Writing some generations after Paul but in his name, the writer gives a picture of emerging ministries. What qualities do we look for in our pastors?


Luke 17:1-6 Our Gospel is made up of three brief teachings. The expression “little ones” means, in the context, those just beginning the Christian life.


St Josaphat, bishop and martyr


Titus 2:1-8,11-14 We may smile (or otherwise!) at some of the time-bound advice given here, but behind it all is a vision of life transformed by the Good News of Jesus: grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race.


Luke 17:7-10 This passage is unique to Luke. It seems to be aimed at emerging “clergy” who feel important or, as we say, are losing the run of themselves. It should be read in conjunction with a contrasting passage in Luke 22:24-27 (NB).



Titus 3:1-7 After the turmoil of the first paragraph—recognisable in any age—the writer reminds us that all is grace.


Luke 17:11-19 Three little expressions can help in all contexts: “May I?”, “I’m sorry” and “Thank you.” Thanksgiving—eucharist—is at the heart of our worship and our relationship with God.


St Laurence O’Toole, bishop


Philemon 1:7-20 A runaway slave sought refuge with Paul and, in the meantime, had become a believer. Paul entrusted him back to his original master, but no longer as a slave but as a brother in Christ.


Luke 17:20-25 In this Gospel, Jesus says the Kingdom of God is among you, a better translation than “within you.” It means the Kingdom is coming to be during the ministry of Jesus and even at the hands of Jesus, as he brings healing and forgiveness.


St Laurence: Festal Readings


Ezek 36:24-28 Ezekiel invites the exiles in Babylon to a real spiritual rebirth and not just a political restoration. What kind of renewal do we need today?


Colossians 3:12-15 St Laurence must often have reflected on theses verses in a very busy life, both as Abbot and as Archbishop. s there something for me?


John 10:11-18 Because it is read on the feast, this reading implies that leadership in the faith community must find its source and model in Jesus himself. Pastors should resemble the Good Shepherd etc. It does raise a question: how may we, by our critical support, enable our pastors to be truly good shepherds today?


St Albert the Great, bishop and doctor


2 John 1:4-9 The reading combines great warmth and encouragement with a severe warning against heresy, especially that heresy which denies the true humanity of our saviour. The core Johannine message is not lost, however: this is the commandment which you have heard since the beginning, to live a life of love.


Luke 17:26-37 Don’t be distracted by the last sentence, which is proverbial wisdom of unclear application. Instead, the core teaching is to look forwards, not backwards, in hope and confidence. As usual, discipleship comes at a cost.


St Margaret of Scotland


3 John 1:5-8 Here we have a little window onto the world of early Christianity. Those bearing the Gospel depended on the hospitality and good will of the communities they came to visit. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. (Romans 12:13)


Luke 18:1-8 The feisty widow is an appealing character and the parable does indeed illustrate the teaching on the need to pray continually and never to lose heart. The later reception of the parable may be noticed in the added verses.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024w, November 10). Thirty-second Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111024.cfm

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


 
 
 

The Word today, W31B

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


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


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/


 
 
 
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