October 13, 2015

Oct. 13

October 13, 2015:  Tuesday, 28th week, Ordinary Time

  • 'Owl' tie pin:  While claiming to be wise, they became fools... (1st reading)
  • 'Bird,' 'snake' tie pins:  ...and exchanged God's glory for an image of a man, birds, 4-legged animals, or snakes (1st reading)
  • 'Hearts' suspenders:  God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts (1st reading)
  • 'Olympics' pin:  Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message (psalm)
  • 'Silverware' tie bar:  A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine at his home (gospel)
  • 'Cups and dishes' tie:  “You cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you're filled with evil.” (gospel)
  • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season
Listen
  • Rom 1:16-25  I'm not ashamed of the Gospel; it's God's power for the salvation of all believers.  It reveals God's righteousness.  God's wrath is being revealed against those who suppress truth by their wickedness.  Ever since he created the world, his power and divinity could be understood and perceived in what he made.  So they have no excuse; though they knew God, they didn't give him glory or thanks but became vain fools exchanging God's glory for an image of a man, birds, animals, or snakes.  So God handed them over to impurity through their hearts' lusts; they exchanged God's truth for a lie and worshiped creature rather than creator.
  • Ps 19:2-5  "The heavens proclaim the glory of God" and his handiwork.  Every word is heard; their message resounds to the ends of the world.
  • Lk 11:37-41  A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine at his home.  As he reclined at table, the Pharisee was amazed he didn't observe the prescribed washing.  Jesus:  “You Pharisees!  Though you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, inside you're filled with evil.  Fools!  Didn't the Maker of the outside also make the inside?  Give alms, and everything will be clean for you.”
Reflect
    • Creighton:  Today’s readings speak about God’s creation and our creaturehood.  Paul reminds Christians living in Rome, where citizens worshiped the late emperor as Lord, Savior, and Father, that they worship another Father and Lord:  God the Father and the Lord Jesus. He also reminds them that God's power has always been visible in creation.  But the power holders of the Roman Empire have chosen to worship idols.  In the gospel, Jesus, confronts Pharisees with their failure to recognize their own creaturehood.  When they fuss about his not washing up, he says, “You clean the outside, but inside you're filled with evil....  Give alms and everything will be clean for you.”  Their preoccupation with the external purity overlooks purity of heart.  The best way to address their greed is to let go of possessiveness by giving to the poor.  Their impurity of heart keeps them from seeing they're God's creatures and attending to the needs of their fellow creatures.  This is what Pope Francis means in Laudato Si when he challenges us to practice “integral ecology” by recognizing that the pollution of our failure to perceive the excluded and discarded among us as fellow creatures and members of the human family.
    • One Bread One Body:  "Sin-cerely":  A Pharisee at whose home Jesus was dining was surprised Jesus didn't wash up before dinner.  Jesus lifted the subject from hand-washing to soul-washing.  We too should be preoccupied with repentance....
    • Passionist:  Today's gospel sits between Jesus' teaching on light (“If your body is full of light, it will illuminate you with brightness”) and his “woes” (“You Pharisees pay tithes but don't pay attention to judgement and love.”).  Jesus challenges the status quo while showing who's really unclean; he's inviting the Pharisee to love God.  Where's my blindness?  What are my assumptions? How well do I love my neighbor?  Do I look within to God’s beautiful indwelling and love myself?
    • DailyScripture.net:  "Give alms from what you have within":  Is the Lord Jesus welcomed at your table and are you ready to feast at his table?  It was not unusual for a rabbi to give a teaching over dinner, but what Jesus did offended his host.  Jesus turned the table on him, chiding him for an unclean heart.  He urges almsgiving because it expresses love, compassion, kindness, and mercy and so leaves no room for envy, greed, or bitterness.  Do I allow God's love to transform my heart and my actions toward others?
    • Universalis:  St. Edward the Confessor, king, generous to Church and the poor, ready to listen to his subjects

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