Oct. 25

October 25, 2014:  Saturday, 29th week, Ordinary Time

• 'Ruler' suspenders:  "Grace was given to us according to the measure of Christ’s gift." (1st reading)

• 'Baby feet' tie:  He equipped us till we attain maturity, so we may no longer be infants (1st reading); We've set foot within your gates (psalm)

• 'Body' tie pin (sorry head is missing; don't read anything into it):  We should grow into Christ, from whom the Body grows and builds itself up in love (1st reading)

• 'Blood drop' pin:  Some told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. (gospel)

• 'Barren tree' pin:  Parable of the barren fig tree (gospel)

Listen

For 1st reading

• Bind us together/ Gillman
• We are many parts/ Haugen
• We are one body/ Scallon

For psalm

• I rejoiced when I heard them say/ Talbot
• I rejoiced/ Thomson or Feeley
• Psalm 122:  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem/ Mui
• Let us go rejoicing/ Bond & Bond, Haas, or Hurd
• Rejoice to the full/ Fabing (oops:  cuts off during Ps 122 verse)

Read

• Eph 4:7-16  Grace was given to each of us.  Christ descended and ascended that he might fill all things.  He equips the holy ones for ministry, for building up the Body of Christ.  We should grow into Christ, from whom the Body grows and builds itself up in love.

• Ps 122:1-5  "Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord."  We've set foot within your gates....

• Lk 13:1-9  “You think that because these Galileans suffered they were greater sinners?  No!  But if you don't repent, you'll perish as they did!  Do you think those killed when the tower fell on them were more guilty?  No!  But if you don't repent, you'll perish as they did!” / “Someone with a fig tree in his orchard came for fruit but found none, then asked the gardener to cut it down.  ‘Leave it another year; I'll cultivate around it and fertilize it, and it may bear fruit.  If not, you can cut it down.’”

Reflect

• Creighton:  The ways Paul lists of belonging to the Body of Christ don't include the new ones for today.  We must find our role and live it generously, seriously, and joyfully.  For that we need to pray and seek familiarity with the Spirit.

• Passionist:  We can ‘dry up' and become ‘unproductive,' but Paul reminds us grace abounds.  God never gives up, treats us with compassion, and gives us opportunities to come back to him, and welcomes us with open arms.

• DailyScripture.net:  Jesus used calamities (Pilate's order to slaughter Galileans who offered sacrifice, and a tower that collapsed) to teach about God's kingdom and the consequences of bad choices.  Jews thought calamities were consequences of sin.  The time for repentance and forgiveness is now; the real calamity Jesus points out is not preparing to meet the Judge. / The barren fig tree parable warns about the consequences of letting sin take root.  Fig trees were an important food source; failed ones were felled to make room for healthy ones.  A decaying one with bad fruit symbolized spiritual corruption; here it's Israel's unresponsiveness to God.  Prophets depicted Israel's desolation, from her unfaithfulness, as a languishing fig tree; Jeremiah likened people to figs that were good or rotten (24:2-8).  God is patient, but don't presume....

• Sacred Space

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