September 25, 2021Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

2021년 9월 25일 연중 제 25주간 토요일 

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

제1독서

<정녕 내가 가서 네 한가운데에 머무르리라.>

 즈카르야 예언서 2,5-9.14-15ㄷ
5 내가 눈을 들어 보니, 손에 측량줄을 쥔 사람이 하나 있었다.
6 내가 “어디로 가십니까?” 하고 묻자, 그가 나에게 “예루살렘을 측량하여,
그 너비와 길이가 얼마나 되는지 알아보러 간다.” 하고 대답하였다.
7 그때에 나와 이야기하던 천사가 앞으로 나가자,
다른 천사가 그에게 마주 나와 8 말하였다.
“저 젊은이에게 달려가서 이렇게 일러 주어라.
‘사람들과 짐승들이 많아 예루살렘은 성벽 없이 넓게 자리 잡으리라.
9 주님의 말씀이다.
내가 예루살렘을 둘러싼 불 벽이 되고
그 한가운데에 머무르는 영광이 되어 주리라.
14 딸 시온아, 기뻐하며 즐거워하여라.
정녕 내가 이제 가서 네 한가운데에 머무르리라. 주님의 말씀이다.
15 그날에 많은 민족이 주님과 결합하여
그들은 내 백성이 되고 나는 그들 한가운데에 머무르리라.’” 

 

복음

<사람의 아들은 넘겨질 것이다. 제자들은 그 말씀에 관하여 묻는 것도 두려워하였다.>

 루카. 9,43ㄴ-45
 그때에 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 25, 2021

Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week 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 

Zec 2:5-9, 14-15a

I, Zechariah, raised my eyes and looked:
there was a man with a measuring line in his hand.
I asked, "Where are you going?"
He answered, "To measure Jerusalem,
to see how great is its width and how great its length."

Then the angel who spoke with me advanced,
and another angel came out to meet him and said to him,
"Run, tell this to that young man:
People will live in Jerusalem as though in open country,
because of the multitude of men and beasts in her midst.
But I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the LORD,
and I will be the glory in her midst."
Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion!
See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,
and they shall be his people and he will dwell among you. 

Responsorial Psalm 

Jer 31:10, 11-12ab, 13

R. (see 10d)  The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd guards his flock.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the LORD's blessings.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

 

Gospel 

Lk 9:43b-45

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
and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

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

 The scene was a wedding-rehearsal dinner preceding a niece's nuptials. Always a gala event, the dinner had a special influence on me. I was the priest-witness of the next day's celebration, thus especially open to discover events, people, circumstances, and facts that influenced the couples' (and my) life.

A cousin of the bride had given birth mere weeks before the wedding. Sammy, the weeks old boy, was proudly held by his mother. He was joining a family that included two boy-siblings.

Sammy, of course, was an instant hit with the whole entourage that evening. I've heard the spiriual writer, Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OMI, make claims that when an infant arrives somewhere, the child becomes the center of attention; the esteemed spiritual writer says that no matter who else is in the room, a pro football player, and actor, a revered uncle, in a word, anyone accustomed to the spotlight, takes second-seat to the baby!

That was clearly played out for me that evening of conviviality. We all went gaga for the beautiful example of humanity (Sammy), whom we met that evening.

I had a chance later in the evening to visit him being held lovingly in the arms of his mother. He was calm and secure in his mother's love, and it got me thinking.

Sammy was simply being loved by his family most expecially, but also by the crowd of smiling faces that evening. Wondering what might be going on in the mind of this miraculously formed human being in front of me, I was struck by the passive chaacter those moments were for him. The real question is not "what is he thinking," but rather what he was receiving in those moments of joy surrounding him.

Sammy's presence that night pointedly clarified for me the segment of love that many times is forgotten. The clear focus of the soon-to-be-married couple was on love, shown by the scripture readings they chose for the next day's celebration, so LOVE WAS ON MY MIND! What is love, anyway?

The part (of love) that many of us tend to ignore is to first receive/accept love before we do love by offering it to others or other situations. THAT was Sammy's teaching for me!

Sammy (a great name by the way!) was purely and simply being loved by family and new friends. As a gifted retreat director once pointed out to me: "to love God is to LET GOD love you."

There's the truth that Sammy's being was shouting out to all "Hey! Don't forget that the main component of love is that God is initiating love in your heart/mind/body. Get that; receive that love; and then you will be a graced lover of God. Remember: Be bold both in what you receive and how you share that with others.

Pretty big thoughts coming from someone who is living the "to love God is to let God love you!" reality right there in front of us. We need to listen to Sammy.

Thank you, tiny child, and may you keep discovering love!

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

 

GOD’S INSURANCE POLICIES

“I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.” —Zechariah 2:9

Zechariah prophesied that God’s people would live “as though in open country” (Zec 2:8). In other words, they would not need a wall, army, or other means of protection. The Lord Himself would be “an encircling wall of fire” to protect them (Zec 2:9).

This prophecy has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He is our Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer (Ps 18:3). We need no longer defend or insure ourselves. Jesus is all the firepower, all the insurance we’ll ever need.

Most Christians don’t believe the Lord is that real. Some say the Lord protects us through insurance companies, military forces, and government intelligence agencies. Is this the Lord’s idea, or a theology based on our lack of faith? Did Jesus ever say He wanted to use a corporation to insure us or an army to protect us? Didn’t the Lord actually intend to be “an encircling wall of fire”?

We should always be motivated by faith and not by fear (see Mk 5:36). Let’s not conform ourselves to the world (Rm 12:2), but be transformed by the Spirit.

Prayer:  Father, give me a freedom, fearlessness, and boldness I’ve never had before.

Promise:  “He Who scattered Israel, now gathers them together, He guards them as a shepherd his flock.” —Jer 31:10

Praise:  When encouraged to abort, Timothy and Amanda prayed to the Deliverer and were blessed with healthy twins.

 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)

 

 

More Homilies

September 28, 2019 Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time