2021년 8월 26일 연중 제21주간 목요일
오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp
제1독서
<여러분이 서로 지니고 있는 사랑과 다른 모든 사람을 향한 사랑을 주님께서 더욱 자라게 하시기를 빕니다.>
테살로니카 1서. 3,7-13
7 형제 여러분,
우리는 이 모든 재난과 환난 속에서도
여러분의 일로 격려를 받았습니다.
그것은 여러분의 믿음 때문입니다.
8 여러분이 주님 안에 굳건히 서 있다고 하니
우리는 이제 살았습니다.
9 우리가 여러분 덕분에
우리의 하느님 앞에서 누리는 이 기쁨을 두고,
하느님께 어떻게 감사를 드려야 하겠습니까?
10 우리는 여러분의 얼굴을 보고
또 여러분의 믿음에 부족한 부분을 채워 줄 수 있게 되기를
밤낮으로 아주 간절히 기도하고 있습니다.
11 하느님 우리 아버지께서 친히, 그리고 우리 주 예수님께서
우리가 여러분에게 갈 수 있도록 길을 열어 주시기를 빕니다.
12 여러분이 서로 지니고 있는 사랑과 다른 모든 사람을 향한 사랑도,
여러분에 대한 우리의 사랑처럼
주님께서 더욱 자라게 하시고 충만하게 하시며,
13 여러분의 마음에 힘을 북돋아 주시어,
우리 주 예수님께서 당신의 모든 성도들과 함께 재림하실 때,
여러분이 하느님 우리 아버지 앞에서
흠 없이 거룩한 사람으로 나설 수 있게 되기를 빕니다. 아멘.
복음
<너희도 준비하고 있어라.>
마태오 24,42-51
그때에 예수님께서 제자들에게 말씀하셨다.
42 “깨어 있어라. 너희의 주인이 어느 날에 올지 너희가 모르기 때문이다.
43 이것을 명심하여라.
도둑이 밤 몇 시에 올지 집주인이 알면,
깨어 있으면서 도둑이 자기 집을 뚫고 들어오도록 내버려 두지 않을 것이다.
44 그러니 너희도 준비하고 있어라.
너희가 생각하지도 않은 때에 사람의 아들이 올 것이기 때문이다.
45 주인이 종에게 자기 집안 식솔들을 맡겨
그들에게 제때에 양식을 내주게 하였으면,
어떻게 하는 종이 충실하고 슬기로운 종이겠느냐?
46 행복하여라, 주인이 돌아와서 볼 때에 그렇게 일하고 있는 종!
47 내가 진실로 너희에게 말한다.
주인은 자기의 모든 재산을 그에게 맡길 것이다.
48 그러나 만일 그가 못된 종이어서 마음속으로
‘주인이 늦어지는구나.’ 하고 생각하며,
49 동료들을 때리기 시작하고 또 술꾼들과 어울려 먹고 마시면,
50 예상하지 못한 날, 짐작하지 못한 시간에 그 종의 주인이 와서,
51 그를 처단하여 위선자들과 같은 운명을 겪게 할 것이다.
거기에서 그는 울며 이를 갈 것이다.”
August 26, 2021
Thursday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass
Reading 1
1 Thes 3:7-13
in our every distress and affliction, through your faith.
For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
What thanksgiving, then, can we render to God for you,
for all the joy we feel on your account before our God?
Night and day we pray beyond measure to see you in person
and to remedy the deficiencies of your faith.
Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus
direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase
and abound in love for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm
PS 90:3-5a, 12-13, 14 and 17
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. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
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. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
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. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Alleluia
Mt 5:10
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mt 24:42-51
“Stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,
whom the master has put in charge of his household
to distribute to them their food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.
Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’
and begins to beat his fellow servants,
and eat and drink with drunkards,
the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day
and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely
and assign him a place with the hypocrites,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
I recall a conversation I had with a religious who could not understand why we humans had any obligation to care for the Earth. After all, he argued, God gave us this world. As God’s gift to us, we should be allowed to use Creation as we see fit. Unfortunately, this argument fails if you believe that God entrusted Creation to us. We are stewards of Creation, and our Gospel reading describes the faithful and prudent servant who distributes food at the proper time. In contrast, wicked servants beat their “fellow servants, and eat and drink with drunkards.”
I know the link between carbon emissions from human activity and the increasing number of severe and extreme wildfires, floods, droughts. I reflect on how humanity is more like the wicked servant, misusing God’s Creation and failing as good stewards. I foresee a future where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Our first reading gives me hope. Some describe this letter to the Thessalonians as the “friendship letter” because of its reassuring tone and numerous expressions of gratitude. Paul finds comfort amid his own pain and suffering from the faith of the Christians in Thessalonica. And so, he thanks God for their nourishing faith. He prays that he could be with them, assisting them in whatever they are lacking. He asks that God “may make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all.” In short, Paul acts like a good friend, desiring the best for this community of faith.
To be a good steward, we need to renew our sense of friendship with God, with one another and with Creation. Do we see ourselves as good stewards of God’s Creation with its entailed responsibilities? Or do we see ourselves as the entitled beneficiaries in some contractual agreement?
Do we see our brothers and sisters as friends who co-labor with us to be good stewards of God’s Creation? Or do we see our brothers and sisters as competitors who get in the way of our own greedy desires?
Do we see Creation as inherently good and, like a friend, worthy of our love and protection? Or do we see Creation as something to be exploited for our own gain?
Jesus tells us to “stay awake” in today’s reading. As the impact of global climate change worsens each year, we must awaken to a renewed sense of friendship with God, with one another and with Creation.
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
ARE YOU READY?
“You must be prepared.” —Matthew 24:44
Jesus is coming back to take us with Him (Jn 14:3). No one can know the exact day or hour of Jesus’ return (Mt 24:42). He will return at the time we least expect (Mt 24:44). Therefore, we must be always ready. We are ready for Jesus’ second and final coming when:
1) We are faithful, farsighted servants (Mt 24:45).
2) We are working to feed people physically and/or spiritually (Mt 24:46).
3) Our hearts have been strengthened and made blameless and holy (1 Thes 3:13).
4) We have accepted Jesus’ salvation (2 Pt 3:15).
5) We are “without stain or defilement, and at peace” in God’s sight (2 Pt 3:14).
6) We are singing and praising the Lord (see Rv 19:1ff).
7) We are “pure and follow the Lamb [Jesus] wherever He goes” (Rv 14:4).
8) We have washed our robes in the blood of the Lamb and survived the great period of trial (Rv 7:14).
9) We have guarded our spirits against “indulgence and drunkenness and worldly cares” (Lk 21:34).
10) We are praying constantly (Lk 21:36; cf 1 Thes 5:17).
Are you ready for Jesus to come back now? Maranatha! “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rv 22:20)
Prayer: Jesus, come back now or as soon as possible.
Promise: “May the Lord increase you and make you overflow with love for one another and for all.” —1 Thes 3:12
Praise: James attends daily Mass and goes to Confession monthly. Thereby he lives in readiness for every opportunity the Lord brings his way.
http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/
Has your community or town ever participated in a grand homecoming party for a celebrated hero or champion who courageously and selflessly risked all to serve their people and nation - who risked great odds to protect people from harm and who achieved great victory over an enemy bent on destroying their land and freedom? The Lord Jesus promises us a great victory celebration when he returns again to put down his enemies and to establish his everlasting kingdom of peace, joy, and righteousness. That day when the Lord Jesus returns will be joy and peace for those who are prepared to meet him - but grief and sorrow for those who did not accept him as Lord and ruler of all.
Jesus will return to establish his everlasting kingdom
Jesus' first coming was a rescue mission - he was sent by the eternal Father in heaven to save us from the tyranny of sin, Satan, and death. Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross and his triumphant victory over the grave won pardon for us and reconciliation with our heavenly Father, and the promise of everlasting life and joy in his kingdom. The Lord Jesus told his disciples on a number of occasions that he would return again at the end of this present age - not simply to rescue us again from our enemies - but as a victor King and Lord who will vindicate all who have believed in him - by releasing us from the curse of death and condemnation and restoring for us the plan he had from the beginning of creation - a new heavens and earth for a people perfectly united with God in peace, joy, and harmony forever. This is the background to Jesus story (parable) about the householder and the thief in the night (Matthew 24:42-51). When the Lord Jesus returns, he doesn't want to find us flirting with the enemy or worse joining forces with enemies who are opposed to God and his kingdom.
Don't let Satan rob you of your heavenly treasure
What does Jesus' parable of the thief in the night teach us about God's kingdom? If you knew that a thief was prowling about and trying to strike your home and threaten your life, wouldn't you seek to protect yourself from harm's way? Jesus' parable of the thief in the night brings home the necessity for watchfulness and being on guard to avert the danger of plunder and destruction, especially under the cover of darkness and secrecy! While no thief would announce his intention in advance, nor the time when he would strike, lack of vigilance would nonetheless invite disaster for those who are unprepared to keep their treasure and their lives secure at all times! The intruder strikes when he is least expected!
Our adversary the devil seeks to rob us of the treasure which the Lord freely offers us. What is the treasure which the Lord Jesus wants us to guard lest we lose it? It is the treasure of a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus himself - who is our greatest gift and portion in this life. The Scriptures remind us that there is no greater treasure on earth or in heaven than the Lord himself (Psalm 16:5,11, Job 22:25-26, and Philippians 3:8):
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever" (Psalm 73:25-26).
The Lord Jesus chooses to come and dwell in our hearts through the gift and working of his Holy Spirit. He knocks at the door of our heart and invites us to let him enter (Revelation 3:21). Are you ready to meet the Lord - each and every day?
Be ready to give your account to the Lord Jesus
Jesus ends his teaching on watchfulness and vigilance with another parable about a master and his servants (Matthew 24:.45-49). The storyline is similar. There is an element of surprise - the master suddenly returns home unexpectedly, probably from a long journey. He rewards the dutiful servant for his faithfulness to his master. He has performed his service with diligence and has done all that the master required of him. The master punishes the other servant who behaved wickedly. This servant was not only irresponsible - he was frequently absent from work and spent his master's money by throwing endless parties with his friends. The wicked servant also abused his fellow workers with physical force and violence - probably to make them do the work he was supposed to do for his master. The master not only throws him out of his house, he fires him from his job! He also throws him into the worst possible place - a prison of no return where there is nothing but torment and misery.
Should we be surprised to see the master acting with such swift judgment? After all he is only giving back what they have given to him. The master rewards the faithful servant with honor, promotion, and friendship, and he punishes the unfaithful servant - who stole from his master and used his position to abuse others - by removing him from his position of trust with the master and by throwing him into prison for robbing the master and mistreating his fellow servants. The Lord has entrusted each of us with his gifts and grace - the grace to love God with faithfulness, trust, and obedience - and the grace to love our neighbor as our self. Do you love faithfulness?
Always be prepared for your homecoming
The Lord Jesus calls us to be vigilant in watching for his return and to be ready to meet him when he calls us to himself. The Lord gives us his Holy Spirit so that we may have the wisdom, help, and strength we need to turn away from sin to embrace God's way of love, justice, and holiness. The Lord's warning of judgment causes dismay for those who are unprepared, but it brings joyful hope to those who eagerly wait for his return in glory. God's judgment is good news for those who are ready to meet him. Their reward is God himself, the source of all truth, beauty, goodness, love and everlasting life.
Lord Jesus, you have captured my heart and it is yours. Take my life and all that I possess that I may have you alone as my treasure and joy. Make me strong in faith, steadfast in hope, and generous in love that I may seek to please you in all things and bring you glory.
Psalm 145:2-7
2 Every day I will bless you, and praise your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 Men shall proclaim the might of your awesome acts, and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: You do not know the day, by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)
"But his meaning is like this: If ordinary persons knew when they were going to die, they would surely be striving earnestly at that hour. In order therefore that they may strive, not at that hour only, he does not tell them the hour or day. He wants to keep them on their toes looking for it, that they may be always striving. This is why he made the end of each person's life so uncertain. In this passage he openly implies that he himself is Lord. Nowhere before has he spoken of this so distinctly. But here he seems to me also to be putting to shame those who remain careless about his lordship. They take much more care about a thief taking their money than about their own soul. Those who care about their house and do not want their possessions stolen take measures against the thief. They watch; they are prepared for the thief. So it is with you. You do not know when he will come. But you know assuredly that he will come. If you do not continue to watch, you will not be ready on that day. You will be unprepared. Destruction will come in your sleep. If the person had known when the thief was coming, he would have been prepared. So be like the one who is prepared at all times, so you will escape free. Having then mentioned the judgment, he directs his thoughts next to teachers, speaking of honorable and dishonorable actions. His discourse closes with that which is alarming, for he speaks first of those who do right, then of those who continue in sin." (excerpt from the THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 77.2-3)
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