2021년 9월 23일 연중 제25주간 목요일
오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp
제1독서
<집을 지어라. 그러면 나는 그 집을 기꺼이 여기리라.>
하까이 예언서 1,1-8
1 다리우스 임금 제이년 여섯째 달 초하룻날,
주님의 말씀이 하까이 예언자를 통하여
스알티엘의 아들 즈루빠벨 유다 총독과
여호차닥의 아들 예수아 대사제에게 내렸다.
2 만군의 주님께서 이렇게 말씀하신다.
“이 백성은 ‘주님의 집을 지을 때가 되지 않았다.’고 말한다.”
3 주님의 말씀이 하까이 예언자를 통하여 내렸다.
4 “주님의 집이 무너져 있는데 너희가 지금 판벽으로 된 집에서 살 때냐?
5 ─ 만군의 주님께서 이렇게 말씀하신다. ─ 너희가 살아온 길을 돌이켜 보아라.
6 씨앗을 많이 뿌려도 얼마 거두지 못하고 먹어도 배부르지 않으며
마셔도 만족하지 못하고 입어도 따뜻하지 않으며
품팔이꾼이 품삯을 받아도 구멍 난 주머니에 넣는 꼴이다.
7 ─ 만군의 주님께서 이렇게 말씀하신다. ─ 너희가 살아온 길을 돌이켜 보아라.
8 너희는 산에 올라가서 나무를 가져다가 집을 지어라.
그러면 나는 그 집을 기꺼이 여기고 그것으로 영광을 받으리라.
─ 주님께서 말씀하신다. ─”
복음
<요한은 내가 목을 베었는데, 소문에 들리는 이 사람은 누구인가?>
루카 9,7-9
그때에 헤로데 영주는 예수님께서 하신 7 모든 일을 전해 듣고 몹시 당황하였다.
더러는 “요한이 죽은 이들 가운데에서 되살아났다.” 하고,
8 더러는 “엘리야가 나타났다.” 하는가 하면,
또 어떤 이들은 “옛 예언자 한 분이 다시 살아났다.” 하였기 때문이다.
9 그래서 헤로데는 이렇게 말하였다.
“요한은 내가 목을 베었는데, 소문에 들리는 이 사람은 누구인가?”
그러면서 그는 예수님을 만나 보려고 하였다.
September 23, 2021
Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest
Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass
Reading 1
Hg 1:1-8
The word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai
to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel,
and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak:
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
This people says:
"The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD."
(Then this word of the LORD came through Haggai, the prophet:)
Is it time for you to dwell in your own paneled houses,
while this house lies in ruins?
Now thus says the LORD of hosts:
Consider your ways!
You have sown much, but have brought in little;
you have eaten, but have not been satisfied;
You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated;
have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed;
And whoever earned wages
earned them for a bag with holes in it.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Consider your ways!
Go up into the hill country;
bring timber, and build the house
That I may take pleasure in it
and receive my glory, says the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Gospel
Lk 9:7-9
and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
"John has been raised from the dead;
others were saying, "Elijah has appeared;
still others, "One of the ancient prophets has arisen."
But Herod said, "John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?"
And he kept trying to see him.
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
The reading from Haggai brought back old memories for me. Growing up Lutheran, I had vacation Bible school each summer, from 8 am until, noon, for two weeks. Some of my best memories are of the homemade sugar cookies and the red Kool Aid we had each day after recess; and, on the last day, singing, complete with hand movements, “The Wise Man Builds His House Upon the Rock” for our parents when they picked us up.
Fast forward six decades. What type of house are we building today? Is our house built on sand that will be washed away, or is our house built on the Rock of Peter? Are we more preoccupied filling our proverbial house with possessions, or are we focused on filling our house with love and good deeds? More importantly, what can we do to reinforce our house so it will not be washed away by the waves that crash down?
The pandemic kept many of us “sheltering in place” and spending more time at home. And the more time we spent at home, the more we noticed little projects or even major renovations that needed to be done.
But what attention did we give to our spiritual home? The home that is the most important for us to be continually updating and renovating. Are we looking deep inside to see what improvements are needed in our faith life, or are we focused only on the tangible?
For some of us there has been no updating or remodeling of our spiritual home since possibly our eight-grade confirmation. For others, daily prayer and reflection have made clear the changes that are needed in our spiritual homes, how we live our lives and how we interact with those around us.
As we go about our life today we need to remind ourselves of the words of the prophet Haggai and focus our attention not on our material needs, or as so aptly stated, our “own paneled houses,” but rather to work to build up the house of the Lord through our thoughts, words and deeds. And to remember that Jesus is constantly at our side, a guest at our house who, fortunately, will never leave us -- one who is always there to help and guide us to do what is right and just.
And if we do look inward each and every day to improve our spiritual home, then we, too, can take comfort in the words of Haggai when he said, “Go up into the hill country; bring timber, and build the house That I may take pleasure in it and receive my glory, says the LORD.”
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
SEEK JESUS
“[Herod] was very curious to see [Jesus].” —Luke 9:9
Many try to see famous people, such as athletes, celebrities, stars, entertainers, etc. Often this is thrill-seeking, or autograph hounding, or simply to gain bragging rights. Herod likewise kept trying to see Jesus (Lk 9:9), and was very curious to see Him. Curiosity can be helpful, but in Herod’s case, he apparently was not concerned with seeking the Lord and the truth. Herod finally did see Jesus, but the encounter did not benefit Herod (Lk 23:8ff). In fact, Herod changed for the worse, for after meeting Jesus, he became an ally and friend to Pilate, who ruled against Jesus (Lk 23:12).
“Consider your ways” (Hg 1:5). Are you seeking Jesus for His own sake in humility and truth? Or are you seeking Him for what you can get from Him? This latter approach is not necessarily bad, for Jesus does invite us to come to Him to seek our needs (see Mt 11:28ff). However, let us choose the better portion (see Lk 10:42). Let us “turn now ten times the more to seek” Jesus (Bar 4:28). Turn to Him at Mass in humility and truth, for in the environment of Holy Mass you can see Jesus present in the Holy Eucharist. Let this sight of Jesus change your heart and your life.
Prayer: Father, I need a life-changing encounter with Your Son, Jesus. Dispose my heart to seek Him constantly.
Promise: “The Lord loves His people, and He adorns the lowly with victory.” —Ps 149:4
Praise: St. Pio, a holy Capuchin priest, bore the stigmata of Christ’s crucified wounds in his hands for fifty years (see Gal 6:17).
http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/
Who do you most admire and want to be like? People with power, influence, fame, or wealth? Scripture warns us of such danger (see Proverbs 23:1-2). King Herod had respected and feared John the Baptist as a great prophet and servant of God. John, however did not fear to rebuke Herod for his adulterous affair with his brother's wife. Herod, however, was more of a people pleaser than a pleaser of God. Herod not only imprisoned John to silence him, but he also beheaded him simply to please his family and friends.
God's truth cannot be suppressed
Now when reports of Jesus' miracles and teaching reach Herod's court, Herod became very troubled in conscience. He thought that John the Baptist had risen from the dead! Herod sought to meet Jesus more out of curiosity and fear than out of a sincere desire to know God's will. He wanted to meet Jesus - not to follow him but to prevent him from troubling his conscience any further.
We can try to rid ourselves of guilt and sin by suppressing the truth or by ridding ourselves of anyone or anything that points us to the truth. No power on earth, however, can remove a guilty conscience or free us from slavery to sin - only God can set us free through the atoning sacrifice which his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ made for us on the cross.
Whose voice and message do you follow?
How can we find true peace with ourselves and with God? The Lord Jesus shows us the way. Jesus explained to his followers, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:31-32). Only Jesus can set us free. If we listen to his voice and obey his word, we will find true peace, joy, and freedom to live as sons and daughters of God.
Does God's word take priority in your daily life? Or do you allow other voices and messages to distract you or lead you astray. The Lord Jesus promises to be with us and to guide us continually if we will listen to his voice and obey his word.
Heavenly Father, form in me the likeness of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and deepen his life within me that I may be like him in word and deed. Increase my eagerness to do your will and help me to grow in the knowledge of your love and truth.
Psalm 149:1-6a,9b
1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful!
2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker, let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King!
3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with timbrel and lyre!
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.
5 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches.
6a Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
9b This is glory for all his faithful ones. Praise the LORD!
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Integrity is a hardship for the morally corrupt, by Peter Chrysologus (400-450 AD)
"John aroused Herod by his moral admonitions, not by any formal accusation. He wanted to correct, not to suppress. Herod, however, preferred to suppress rather than be reconciled. To those who are held captive, the freedom of the one innocent of wrongdoing becomes hateful. Virtue is undesirable to those who are immoral; holiness is abhorrent to those who are impious; chastity is an enemy to those who are impure; integrity is a hardship for those who are corrupt; frugality runs counter to those who are self-indulgent; mercy is intolerable to those who are cruel, as is loving-kindness to those who are pitiless and justice to those who are unjust. The Evangelist indicates this when he says, "John said to him, 'It is not lawful for you to have the wife of your brother Philip.'" This is where John runs into trouble. He who admonishes those who are evil gives offense. He who repudiates wrongdoers runs into trouble. John was saying what was proper of the law, what was proper of justice, what was proper of salvation and what was proper certainly not of hatred but of love. And look at the reward he received from the ungodly for his loving concern!" (excerpt from SERMONS 127.6-7)
[Peter Chrysologus, 400-450 AD, was a renowned preacher and bishop of Ravena in the 5th century]
More Homilies
