2020년 9월 26일 연중 제25주간 토요일
제1독서
코헬렛.11,9ㅡ12,8
9 젊은이야, 네 젊은 시절에 즐기고
젊음의 날에 네 마음이 너를 기쁘게 하도록 하여라.
그리고 네 마음이 원하는 길을 걷고 네 눈이 이끄는 대로 가거라.
다만 이 모든 것에 대하여 하느님께서 너를 심판으로 부르심을 알아라.
10 네 마음에서 근심을 떨쳐 버리고 네 몸에서 고통을 흘려 버려라.
젊음도 청춘도 허무일 뿐이다.
12,1 젊음의 날에 너의 창조주를 기억하여라, 불행의 날들이 닥치기 전에.
“이런 시절은 내 마음에 들지 않아.” 하고 네가 말할 때가 오기 전에.
2 해와 빛, 달과 별들이 어두워지고
비 온 뒤 구름이 다시 몰려오기 전에 그분을 기억하여라.
3 그때 집을 지키는 자들은 흐느적거리고 힘센 사내들은 등이 굽는다.
맷돌 가는 여종들은 수가 줄어 손을 놓고
창문으로 내다보던 여인들은 생기를 잃는다.
4 길로 난 맞미닫이문은 닫히고, 맷돌 소리는 줄어든다.
새들이 지저귀는 시간에 일어나지만 노랫소리는 모두 희미해진다.
5 오르막을 두려워하게 되고 길에서도 무서움이 앞선다.
편도나무는 꽃이 한창이고 메뚜기는 살이 오르며
참양각초는 싹을 터뜨리는데
인간은 자기의 영원한 집으로 가야만 하고
거리에는 조객들이 돌아다닌다.
6 은사슬이 끊어지고 금 그릇이 깨어지며 샘에서 물동이가 부서지고
우물에서 도르래가 깨어지기 전에 너의 창조주를 기억하여라.
7 먼지는 전에 있던 흙으로 되돌아가고
목숨은 그것을 주신 하느님께로 되돌아간다.
8 허무로다, 허무! 코헬렛이 말한다. 모든 것이 허무로다!
복음
루카. 9,43ㄴ-45
그 때에 43 사람들이 다 예수님께서 하신 모든 일을 보고 놀라워하는데,
예수님께서 제자들에게 이르셨다.
44 “너희는 이 말을 귀담아들어라. 사람의 아들은 사람들의 손에 넘겨질 것이다.”
45 그러나 제자들은 그 말씀을 알아듣지 못하였다.
그 뜻이 감추어져 있어서 이해하지 못하였던 것이다.
그들은 그 말씀에 관하여 묻는 것도 두려워하였다.
September 26, 2020
Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass
Reading 1
Rejoice, O young man, while you are young
and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart,
the vision of your eyes;
Yet understand that as regards all this
God will bring you to judgment.
Ward off grief from your heart
and put away trouble from your presence,
though the dawn of youth is fleeting.
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
before the evil days come
And the years approach of which you will say,
I have no pleasure in them;
Before the sun is darkened,
and the light, and the moon, and the stars,
while the clouds return after the rain;
When the guardians of the house tremble,
and the strong men are bent,
And the grinders are idle because they are few,
and they who look through the windows grow blind;
When the doors to the street are shut,
and the sound of the mill is low;
When one waits for the chirp of a bird,
but all the daughters of song are suppressed;
And one fears heights,
and perils in the street;
When the almond tree blooms,
and the locust grows sluggish
and the caper berry is without effect,
Because man goes to his lasting home,
and mourners go about the streets;
Before the silver cord is snapped
and the golden bowl is broken,
And the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
and the broken pulley falls into the well,
And the dust returns to the earth as it once was,
and the life breath returns to God who gave it.
Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,
all things are vanity!
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17
R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, "Return, O children of men."
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Gospel
While they were all amazed at his every deed,
Jesus said to his disciples,
"Pay attention to what I am telling you.
The Son of Man is to be handed over to men."
But they did not understand this saying;
its meaning was hidden from them
so that they should not understand it,
and they were afraid to ask him about this saying
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
When I was a young girl my Great-Aunt Sal gave me a dresser that had been a wedding gift to her and my Great-Uncle Hank. The piece has beautiful curves and a large mirror. Ironically when I first heard about the gift I was disappointed as I was hoping for a plastic dresser that had been promoted during Saturday morning cartoons. Aunt Sal’s dresser has been a treasure throughout my life. Years ago my parents brought the dresser to my home so my young daughters could have it in their bedroom. It has been painted many times and always maintains a sense of dignity. My daughters are now young adults and I am currently painting the dresser again for my older daughter to take with her as she prepares to begin her career.
Thinking about Aunt Sal’s dresser helps me pray with today’s first reading from Ecclesiastes. The innocence and pure hearts we have as children is a treasured gift from God. We are called to follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes. The hardships of life and our own sinfulness can lead us away from the joyful worldview of our youth. Just as when I was a young girl I could not fully appreciate the significance of Aunt Sal’s generosity, I now realize how the dresser has been a become symbol of the many gifts in my life.
Holding steadfast to God’s gracious gifts can help us meet the challenges we face throughout our life. Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, all things are vanity! When we think we can face these challenges on our own, without God, we fall into vanity.
Today I pray to God to help me appreciate the beauty in our world with a childlike wonder. I ask that I see the good in other people especially those who bring out the worst in me. I pray to open my heart to the gifts God is continually offering. When I feel overwhelmed I pray to remember to trust in God’s love and to live life one day at a time. And just as I could not initially appreciate the gift from my Aunt Sal, I pray to learn to better appreciate God’s gifts.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
FOR GOD IT’S ALWAYS NOW
“For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night.” ––Psalm 90:4
Human beings tend to be creatures of habit. One habitual skill most of us possess is a keen ability to forget things! Bogged down by our daily hustle and bustle, we rarely remember the transitory nature of life. Over time, God’s transcendence may momentarily break into our humdrum lives — but just as quickly these epiphanies generally fade. The Lord, knowing our weakness, is forebearing with us. “Consider that our Lord’s patience is directed toward salvation” (2 Pt 3:15). This is an unmerited blessing.
The Psalmist, echoing a prayer of Moses, reminds us we “are like the changing grass” (Ps 90:5). Have we listened? The author of Ecclesiastes, recalling the wisdom of Solomon, tells us “the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God Who gave it” (Eccl 12:7). Have we contemplated this truth? St. Peter, calling to mind the Hebrew Scriptures, continues to challenge us: “This point must not be overlooked, dear friends. In the Lord’s eyes, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years are as a day” (2 Pt 3:8; cf Ps 90:4). Do we recognize our mortality? How many prophets and apostles does the Lord need to send?
Jesus broke into our world and made the great I AM present (see Jn 8:57-58). Focus on the eternal. “God has overlooked the times of ignorance, but now He demands that all people everywhere repent” (Acts 17:30, RNAB). Let us no longer presume God’s patience. Repent!
Prayer: Father, teach me to conquer procrastination.
Promise: “Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes; Yet understand that as regards all this God will bring you to judgment.” ––Eccl 11:9
Praise: Sts. Cosmas & Damian, twin brothers and medical doctors, never accepted payment for their services.
http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/
Do you know the majesty of God? When we ascribe majesty to someone or something we acknowledge greatness in that person or thing and voice our respect for it. The miracles of Jesus revealed the awesome power and majesty of God and his favor and blessing (grace) - especially towards the lowly and humble of heart.
God's way to victory and glory is through the cross
But with the miracles Jesus also gave a prophetic warning: There can be no share in God's glory without the cross. Jesus prophesied concerning his own betrayal and crucifixion - but it did not make any sense to the disciples because it did not fit their understanding of the Messiah who was supposed to come and free his people from tyranny and oppression. Little did they know that the way to victory over sin and death would be through the cross and resurrection of Christ.
Our fear of suffering betrays our lack of hope in Christ's victory
When the disciples heard Jesus' prediction of suffering and betrayal they were afraid to ask further questions. Like a person who might receive bad news from the doctor about some tumor or disease that could destroy them and then refuse to ask any further questions, the disciples of Jesus didn't want to know any more about the consequences of possible suffering, defeat, and death on a cross. They couldn't understand how the cross could bring victory and lead to new life and freedom in Christ.
How often do we reject what we do not wish to see? We have heard God's word and we know the consequences of accepting it or rejecting it. But do we give it our full allegiance and mold our lives according to it? Ask the Lord Jesus to show you his majesty and glory that you may grow in reverence of him and in godly fear (reverence) of his word.
Lord Jesus, by your cross you have redeemed the world and revealed your glory and triumph over sin and death. May I never fail to see your glory and victory in the cross. Help me to conform my life to your will and to follow in your way of love and holiness.
Psalm 90:3-6,12-14,17
3 You turn man back to the dust, and say, "Turn back, O children of men!"
4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
5 You sweep men away; they are like a dream, like grass which is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.
12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us, yes, the work of our hands establish it.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: The scapegoat foreshadowed Christ's passion, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"The mystery of the passion may be seen also in another instance. According to the Mosaic law, two goats were offered. They were not different in any way from one another (Leviticus 16:7-8), but they were alike in size and appearance. Of these, one was called 'the lord,' and the other was called 'sent-away.' When the lot was cast for the one called 'lord,' it was sacrificed. The other one was sent away from the sacrifice, and therefore had the name of 'sent-away.' Who was signified by this? The Word, though he was God, was in our likeness and took the form of us sinners, as far as the nature of the flesh was concerned. The male or female goat was sacrificed for sins. Death was our desert, for we had fallen under the divine curse because of sin. When the Savior of all undertook the responsibility, he transferred to himself what was due to us and laid down his life, that we might be sent away from death and destruction."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 53)
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