SOCL, Sunday28B

Sunday October 13, 2024

Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; come, follow me.

See

We all have our own “emotional programmes for happiness.” These are are part of who we are from a very young age, structured around what was happening then in our lives. To continue in these attitudes well beyond the need for them is the common human experience. At the same time, the call to be fully alive entails some kind of conversion, some kind of letting go. Commonly, something triggers this growth and we become aware of hitherto unrecognised blocks. We may even have the help of someone like Jesus to put his/her finger on the hidden hesitations.

Listen

Wisdom 7:7-11; Psalm 90 (89); Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30

Reflect

(Mark 10:17-30)

-We often get satisfaction from the things we own, clothes, cars, homes, gadgets, or money. There would be something unnatural if we did not. But what happens to us when our possessions begin to ‘own’ us, when they take a hold us, when we become obsessed with them? Jesus seeks followers who have the freedom to let go of possessions in order to be a servant of others. In whom have you seen this freedom? When have you experienced it yourself ?

-Growth implies change. That change sometimes means letting go of something we have at this moment: job, status, home, security, or something else we value. There can be an apparent loss in letting go but when have you found that you gained by having the freedom to let go of something you had previously clung to?

-The disciples thought that Jesus was making impossible demands of people following him. He acknowledged that discipleship was impossible to us on our own efforts alone. How have you experienced the benefits of the help of others and of God when you were faced with difficulties in life?

Pray

God of wisdom, whose word probes the motives of our hearts, with you all things are possible. Let worldly treasure not keep us from Jesus who looks on us with love. Free us to leave all things and follow him, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy

References

Fill Us With Your Love, O Lord

One another, Sunday27B

October 06, 2024

Genesis 2:18-24; Psalm 128 (127); Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16

Let us now lift our hearts and voices in prayer to God for all the human family:

For our Church and parish community, that in our prayer and work together we may proclaim the reign of God: let us pray to the Lord.

For the nations and peoples of the world, that all humanity may be bound by the love of God into a family of brothers and sisters: let us pray to the Lord.

For married couples, that they may always find joy and fulfillment in the sacrament of their life together in Christ: let us pray to the Lord.

For children and young people, that they may grow and learn in an environment of nurturing love and patient understanding: let us pray to the lord.

For those experiencing the pain and trauma of loss, separation, or divorce, that they may rebuild their lives with the compassionate support of family and friends: let us pray to the Lord.

For our deceased relatives and friends [especially _________], that they may walk forever in the light and peace of God’s presence: let us pray to the Lord.

For the prayers we now offer in the silence of our hearts [Pause...]: let us pray to the Lord.

To you who are the Father of creation, the Source of love and peace, the Protector of the poor and lost, we offer these prayers for all our brothers and sisters. Hear and grant these prayers we offer in the name of your Son, Jesus the Christ.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024m, October 6). Twenty-seventh Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100624.cfm

-Cormier, J. (1995). Lord, Hear Our Prayer: Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses.

The Word today, W27B

October 07 - October 12, 2024

Monday 07 October

Our Lady of the Rosary

The letter to the Galatians is one of the most important Christian documents ever written. The presenting issue — how much of the Jewish Law should Christ-believers practice — triggers a passionate and highly personal letter. The best translation is the NET online.

Galatians 1:6-12 For the next week and a bit, we hear from the letter to the Galatians. Briefly, Paul had preached to the people of Galatia (in modern Turkey) and told them they need not follow the Jewish Law in all its details. After Paul left, preachers arrived who said they should keep all the law, including circumcision. Paul writes back—in this reading we can see how upset he was, livid, really!

Luke 10:25-37 The message of today’s parable is plain as a pikestaff…and yet we miss it, unless we open our hearts to our neighbour.

Tuesday 08 October

Galatians 1:13-24 The encounter with Christ was foundational for Paul and his being an apostle was a calling from the risen Lord himself, not some human authority. No one “authorised” him, so he really was independent.

Luke 10:38-42 Real hospitality goes beyond the material and the customary to a real encounter.

Wednesday 09 October

St John Henry Newman, priest and doctor

Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14 Eating with Gentiles was a big issue. The Kosher rules were seen a key to Jewish identity. Paul has a “go” at Peter, who has acted in a very hypocritical way. Paul writes with clarity (if not with charity!).

Luke 11:1-4 When the disciples asked to be taught to pray, they were not looking for a formula of words but a way of prayer. Although we treat the Lord’s Prayer as “a” prayer, in reality is a method of prayer.

Thursday 10 October

Galatians 3:1-5 The new arrivals claimed to have enhanced the faith of the Galatians. Paul asks a penetrating question: did you receive the Spirit before these people came or after? The answer is clear. Just as Paul had his encounter with Christ long before meeting Peter and the others, likewise, the Galatians knew the Spirit before the arrival of those wishing to impose the Law.

Luke 11:5-13 Using ordinary examples and a good dash of humour, Jesus underlines the importance of persistence in prayer.

Friday 11 October

St John XXIII, bishop of Rome

Galatians 3:7-14 Our reading today is one of the most dense and difficult in St Paul’s writings. We bear two things in mind. (1) According to Paul, the promise to Abraham included the future salvation of everyone including Gentiles. (2) “Curse” here means to be outside the blessing of the covenant. Paul is saying that on the cross Jesus, whose ministry was to the excluded and marginalised, himself became one of them by experiencing the cross. By identifying with the outsiders, so to speak, Jesus brought them God’s salvation and so the promise to Abraham was fulfilled.

Luke 11:15-26 In some ways, this is a very distressing Gospel: contemporaries of Jesus were saying that he was in partnership with the forces of evil. On the other hand, the incident gives Jesus these chance to underline the struggle against evil in his ministry and in his death and resurrection.

Saturday 12 October

Galatians 3:22-29 Eventually, Paul has to ask a hard question. If some major features of the Law are set aside in Christ and no longer apply to Christians, what was the point of the Law at all? He explains by using an image from everyday experience. In those days, children going to school were accompanied by a slave—called in our translation a guardian—who minded the children until they grew up. Once grown up, the minder is no longer needed.

Luke 11:27-28 Today we have the shortest of all gospel passages — a quick retort of Jesus, taking us to the heart of believing.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024m, October 6). Twenty-seventh Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100624.cfm

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