August 22, 2021Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

2021년 8월 22일 연중 제21주일 

오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp 

제1독서

<우리도 주님을 섬기겠습니다. 그분만이 우리의 하느님이십니다.>

여호수아기. 24,1-2ㄱ.15-17.18ㄴㄷ
 그 무렵 1 여호수아는 이스라엘의 모든 지파를 스켐으로 모이게 하였다.

그가 이스라엘의 원로들과 우두머리들과 판관들과 관리들을 불러내니,
그들이 하느님 앞에 나와 섰다. 2 그러자 여호수아가 온 백성에게 말하였다.
15 “만일 주님을 섬기는 것이 너희 눈에 거슬리면,
너희 조상들이 강 건너편에서 섬기던 신들이든,
아니면 너희가 살고 있는 이 땅 아모리족의 신들이든,
누구를 섬길 것인지 오늘 선택하여라. 나와 내 집안은 주님을 섬기겠다.”
16 그러자 백성이 대답하였다.
“다른 신들을 섬기려고 주님을 저버리는 일은 결코 우리에게 없을 것입니다.
17 우리와 우리 조상들을 이집트 땅에서, 종살이하던 집에서 데리고 올라오셨으며,
우리 눈앞에서 이 큰 표징들을 일으키신 분이 바로 주 우리 하느님이십니다.
그분께서는 우리가 걸어온 그 모든 길에서,
또 우리가 지나온 그 모든 민족들 사이에서 우리를 지켜 주셨습니다.
18 그러므로 우리도 주님을 섬기겠습니다. 그분만이 우리의 하느님이십니다.”

 

제2독서

<그리스도와 교회의 관계, 이는 큰 신비입니다.>

에페소서. 5,21-32
.형제 여러분, 21 그리스도를 경외하는 마음으로 서로 순종하십시오.

22 아내는 주님께 순종하듯이 남편에게 순종해야 합니다.
23 남편은 아내의 머리입니다.
이는 그리스도께서 교회의 머리이시고 그 몸의 구원자이신 것과 같습니다.
24 교회가 그리스도께 순종하듯이, 아내도 모든 일에서 남편에게 순종해야 합니다.
25 남편 여러분, 그리스도께서 교회를 사랑하시고
교회를 위하여 당신 자신을 바치신 것처럼, 아내를 사랑하십시오.
26 그리스도께서 그렇게 하신 것은 교회를 말씀과 더불어
물로 씻어 깨끗하게 하셔서 거룩하게 하시려는 것이었습니다.
27 그리고 교회를 티나 주름 같은 것 없이
아름다운 모습으로 당신 앞에 서게 하시며,
거룩하고 흠 없게 하시려는 것이었습니다.
28 남편도 이렇게 아내를 제 몸같이 사랑해야 합니다.
자기 아내를 사랑하는 사람은 자기 자신을 사랑하는 것입니다.
29 아무도 자기 몸을 미워하지 않습니다.
그리스도께서 교회를 위하여 하시는 것처럼
오히려 자기 몸을 가꾸고 보살핍니다.
30 우리는 그분 몸의 지체입니다.
31 “그러므로 남자는 아버지와 어머니를 떠나 아내와 결합하여,
둘이 한 몸이 됩니다.”
32 이는 큰 신비입니다. 그러나 나는 그리스도와 교회를 두고 이 말을 합니다.

 

복음

<저희가 누구에게 가겠습니까? 주님께는 영원한 생명의 말씀이 있습니다.>

요한. 6,60-69
 그때에 60 제자들 가운데 많은 사람이 예수님께서 말씀하시는 것을 듣고 말하였다.

“이 말씀은 듣기가 너무 거북하다. 누가 듣고 있을 수 있겠는가?”
61 예수님께서는 제자들이 당신의 말씀을 두고
투덜거리는 것을 속으로 아시고 그들에게 이르셨다.
“이 말이 너희 귀에 거슬리느냐?
62 사람의 아들이 전에 있던 곳으로 올라가는 것을 보게 되면 어떻게 하겠느냐?
63 영은 생명을 준다. 그러나 육은 아무 쓸모가 없다.
내가 너희에게 한 말은 영이며 생명이다.
64 그러나 너희 가운데에는 믿지 않는 자들이 있다.”
사실 예수님께서는 믿지 않는 자들이 누구이며
또 당신을 팔아넘길 자가 누구인지 처음부터 알고 계셨던 것이다.
65 이어서 또 말씀하셨다.
“그렇기 때문에, 아버지께서 허락하지 않으시면
아무도 나에게 올 수 없다고 너희에게 말한 것이다.”
66 이 일이 일어난 뒤로, 제자들 가운데에서 많은 사람이 되돌아가고
더 이상 예수님과 함께 다니지 않았다.
67 그래서 예수님께서는 열두 제자에게, “너희도 떠나고 싶으냐?” 하고 물으셨다.
68 그러자 시몬 베드로가 예수님께 대답하였다.
“주님, 저희가 누구에게 가겠습니까? 주님께는 영원한 생명의 말씀이 있습니다.
69 스승님께서 하느님의 거룩하신 분이라고
저희는 믿어 왔고 또 그렇게 알고 있습니다.”

August 22, 2021

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Daily Readings — Audio

Daily Reflections — Video

http://www.usccb.org/bible/ 

Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass 

Reading 1
Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b 
Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem,
summoning their elders, their leaders,
their judges, and their officers. 
When they stood in ranks before God,
Joshua addressed all the people:
“If it does not please you to serve the LORD,
decide today whom you will serve,
the gods your fathers served beyond the River
or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling. 
As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

But the people answered,
“Far be it from us to forsake the LORD
for the service of other gods. 
For it was the LORD, our God,
who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt ,
out of a state of slavery. 
He performed those great miracles before our very eyes
and protected us along our entire journey
and among the peoples through whom we passed. 
Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”  

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21
R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Many are the troubles of the just one　　,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him;
he watches over all his bones;
not one　　 of them shall be broken. 
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

 
Reading II
Eph 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32

Brothers and sisters:
Be subordinate to one　another out of reverence for Christ. 
Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.
For the husband is head of his wife
just as Christ is head of the church,
he himself the savior of the body. 
As the church is subordinate to Christ,
so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish. 
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. 
He who loves his wife loves himself. 
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it, 
even as Christ does the church,
because we are members of his body.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the church. 

or

Brothers and sisters:
Live in love, as Christ loved us. 
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish. 
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. 
He who loves his wife loves himself. 
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it, 
even as Christ does the church,
because we are members of his body.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh. 
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the church. 

Gospel
Jn 6:60-69
Many of Jesus’disciples who were listening said,
“This saying is hard; who can accept it?”
Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this,
he said to them, “Does this shock you?
What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending
to where he was before? 
It is the spirit that gives life,
while the flesh is of no avail.
The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.
But there are some of you who do not believe.”
Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe
and the one who would betray him. 
And he said,
“For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me
unless it is granted him by my Father.”

As a result of this,
many of his disciples returned to their former way of life
and no longer accompanied him.
Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” 
Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? 
You have the words of eternal life. 
We have come to believe
and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

 esus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?

Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 
We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” - John 6

To whom shall we go?”

In this moving passage from the Gospel of John, St. Peter asks a question that must haunt every believer who is disappointed in their church. Like the disciples of old who abandoned Jesus, thousands have simply walked away from the Church.

Yet millions of us stay with no plans to leave. Why? It’s a question that I along with countless others (especially my fellow Catholics) surely ask ourselves every time there’s a headline about some new sexual, fiscal or historical scandal/coverup.

I think St. Peter’s answer to Jesus – which the human Jesus must have cherished—speaks to today’s troubled and hurting Church. Where else would we go that would satisfy our deepest needs, especially in times of personal trouble?

I was born into the pre-Vatican II church where nuns in our Catholic schools taught us that we alone had the truth. We were proud and certain but Vatican II forced us to look at our church and the world far less simplistically. Thank God! Modern scandals have forced us to face far more unpleasant truths. As we wait for desperately needed reforms to take hold, we suffer shame and anger.

But meanwhile those of us who will never leave ask ourselves where else could we go.

Having been formed in a background of rosaries, First Communions, May processions and more importantly by a sense of community and social justice, my Catholic identity is far too deep to be uprooted by the corruption of any church leaders. This isn’t about bishops and bad priests. It’s about Jesus and the community he called.

On days when I am particularly upset with our leaders, I try to imagine life outside the Church and frankly, I can’t.
I think of my beloved parish and the wonderful things we do together than none of us could do alone. I think of the heroic church workers in Third World countries and the saints who are my heroes. I think of how I have always turned to my faith in times of personal crisis and found strength and comfort.

“To whom shall we go?” asks Peter. Then he supplies the answer that is critical to us today. “We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

 http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp

 

BLESSED SUBMISSION

“As the Church submits to Christ, so wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” —Ephesians 5:24

This Scripture passage is among the most misunderstood in the Bible. Submission is an unpopular word in our contemporary culture. In the Bible, however, submission is highly valued. It is Jesus’ position on the cross (see Phil 2:8). Submission is the way of redemption and the power of God. It is not a position of weakness; rather, it is one of supernatural strength. Submission is not passivity; it is an active, loving obedience even in disagreement.

We must submit to the Lord, His Word, and His Church (Eph 5:21). We must be submissive to pastors, parents, husbands, governments, and leaders (Eph 5:21; cf Rm 13:7). If authorities contradict one another, we submit to the higher authority. For example, if the government contradicts the Bible, we obey the Bible and accordingly disobey the government. Most of the time, however, we submit to them, deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow in Jesus’ footsteps (Lk 9:23).

Prayer:  Father, give me the strength to accept the privilege of submission.

Promise:  “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” —Jos 24:15

Praise:  “He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has life eternal, and I will raise him up on the last day” (Jn 6:54). Risen Jesus, how can we ever thank You enough?

 http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/

 Why do some find it easier while others find it harder to accept the claims which Jesus made? Many were attracted to Jesus because he offered them something irresistible - a visible sign of God's mercy and favor which Jesus demonstrated in his wonderful works of healing, deliverance, and miraculous signs, including the multiplication of the loaves and fish when he feed the five thousand who had gathered to hear him speak. Many stumbled, however, when Jesus made claims which only God can make. Jesus' discourse on "eating his flesh and drinking his blood" (see John 6:51-59) which pointed to the Last Supper, caused offence to many of his followers.

The blessing of full union with God through Christ
Jesus claimed to be the bread of heaven, the very life of God given to us as spiritual food to sustain us on our journey to our promised homeland with the Father in heaven. Jesus did not leave any middle ground for his hearers. They must either accept his word as divine or reject it as the claim of an imposter. Even the apostles admitted that this was a "hard saying". This expression meant that it was not just hard to understand, but hard to accept. Jesus pressed the issue with his beloved disciples because he wanted to test their faith and loyalty to him as the Holy One sent from the Father in heaven. Jesus promised his disciples nothing less than the full blessing of eternal life and union with God. Jesus assures his disciples that it is his heavenly Father who gives the invitation and the grace to believe and follow even in the "hard sayings". Jesus knew that some would not only reject him and his word, but would do so with violence fueled by hatred, envy, and even betrayal by one of his own disciples.

"My words are spirit and life"
Jesus told his disciples that his words were "spirit and life" (John 6:63) - his words came from the heavenly Father who is the Author of life and the One who breathes his Spirit into those who believe in him. Through the gift of faith Peter was able to receive spiritual revelation of who Jesus truly is - the Holy One of God, the eternal Son sent from the Father in heaven to redeem a fallen human race and reconcile them with God.

Faith is a gift and a personal response to God's revelation of himself
How does God help us grow in faith and trust in his word, even the hard sayings which are difficult to understand? Faith is a gift which God freely gives to those who listen to his word and who put their trust in him. Faith is a personal response to God's revelation of himself. Faith is neither blind nor ignorant. It is based on the truth and reliability of God's word. True faith seeks understanding. Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) said, "I believe in order to understand, and I understand the better to believe." The Lord Jesus offers all of his followers his life-giving word and Spirit to help us grow in our knowledge and understanding of God.

We can know God personally through his word
Paul the Apostle tells us that it is the work of the Holy Spirit who enlightens the eyes of our heart and mind to understand the truth and wisdom which comes from God (Ephesians 1:17-18). Faith is the key to understanding and experiencing God's action and work in our personal lives. Paul the Apostle tells us that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). We can know God personally, and we grow in recognizing his voice as we listen to his word and obey his instruction. Do you believe, as Peter did, that Jesus has the words of everlasting life and the power to change and transform your life? Ask the Lord Jesus to increase your faith that you may grow in knowing, loving, and serving him as your Lord and Redeemer, Teacher and Healer, Master and Savior.

Lord Jesus, you have the words of everlasting life. Help me to cast aside all doubt and fear so that I may freely embrace your word with complete trust and joy. I surrender all to you. Be the Lord of my life and the Ruler of my heart. May there be nothing which hinders me from trusting in your love and following your will.

Psalm 34:2-3,17-19,22

2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Eat Life - Drink Life, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"'Unless you eat My Flesh and drink My Blood, you shall not have life in you,' says the Lord. Eat life - drink life. You will then have life, and life is complete. Then the Body and Blood of Christ will be life for each person under this condition: what is eaten visibly in the Sacrament be spiritually eaten and spiritually drunk in truth itself." (excerpt from Sermon 102,2)

 

 

More Homilies

August 26, 2018 Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time