September 28, 2014

26th Sun., Ordinary Time

September 28, 2014:  26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Day of Prayer for the October Synod of Bishops
on Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization

Look

  • Crucifix:  "Jesus become obedient unto death on a cross." (2nd reading)
  • 'Kneeling person' tie bar:  "God gave Jesus the name at which every knee should bend." (2nd reading)
  • 'Grapes' pin:  "Sons, work in the vineyard today." (gospel)
  • 'Money' tie:  "Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you." (gospel)
  • Brown slacks, socks, and sandals:  wood of the Cross (2nd reading)
  • Green grape leaves:  Ordinary Time season

Listen
Pope Francis

Prayer for Synod:  Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in you we turst and contemplate the splendour of love.  May our families be places of communion and prayer, schools of the Gospel, and domestic Churches.  May families never again experience violence, rejection, and division; may all who have been hurt find healing.  May the upcoming Synod make us more mindful of the sacredness, inviolability, and beauty of the family. (paraphrased)


At Mass with elderly:  Mary is very young.  Elizabeth is elderly, yet God’s mercy was manifested in her in carrying John the Baptist.  Mary shows us the way:  she visit her elderly kinswoman, to help her and learn from her.  A people has no future without encounter between generations.  At times young people feel a need to "break free" from their parents and the older generation, but unless fruitful intergenerational encounter is reestablished, everyone is impoverished and the freedom is false.  The Lord formed a family where kinship is less important than our relationship with him and our doing God's will, but God's love completes family love and renews family relationships.

The wisdom of Elizabeth and Zechariah enriched Mary's young spirit.  They weren't parenthood experts—it was their first pregnancy—but they were faith, hope, and God experts.  Mary listened to them and treasured their wisdom, and it proved precious in her journey as woman, wife, and mother.  The Virgin Mary shows us the way of encounter between young and old.  The young give strength to move forward, and the old consolidate it by their memory and wisdom.

Read

  • Ez 18:25-28  You say, "The Lord's way is not fair!" but the Lord asks, "It's your ways that aren't fair:  when people die after turning away from virtue, it's because of their iniquity, but if they turn from wickedness and do what's right, they'll preserve their life.
    Wordle: Readings 9-28-14
  • Ps 25:4-5, 8-10, 14  "Remember your mercies, O Lord."  Teach me your paths.  You're good and upright.  You teach the humble and guide them to justice.
  • Phil 2:1-11  Do nothing out of selfishness or vainglory, but humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, and look out for their interests.  Have the attitude of Christ Jesus, who didn't grasp at his equality with God but rather emptied himself, coming in human likeness, humbled himself, and became obedient unto death.  Because of this, God exalted him, giving him the name above all others so that at his name every knee should bend and every tongue confess him as Lord.
  • Mt 21:28-32  "A man told his two sons to work in the vineyard.  The first said no but then changed his mind and went; the other said yes but didn't go.  The first did the father's will.  Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you; they unlike you believed John the Baptist...."
Reflect
    • Creighton:  Paul:  imitate Christ’s humility.  Humility is forgotten in a world valuing success, wealth, and power.  It's not seeing ourselves as "not good enough" but the truth that God is God and has given us all good gifts.  Gifts are to be shared.  Humble people make us feel good about ourselves and happy we know them; they change the world quietly.
    • One Bread One Body:  Change to become unchanging:  To not change from virtue or love, we need to be repent from sin and reconciled with God and one another.
    • Passionist:  Attend to the needs of those close to home, in our families, parishes and communities; we're called to be Christ-like in how we relate to them.  What a difference we can make by changing our attitude!  Put on Christ and serve....
    • DailyScripture.net:  The choices we make now shape our future.  The "rebellious" son changed his mind and did what his father commanded, but the son who said he'd work didn't. Good intentions aren't enough.  God wants to change our hearts so we'll do his will.

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