Bible Diary for October 13th – October 19th

Sunday
October 13th

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Wis 7:7-11:
I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire. Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, and I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep. Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands.

2nd Reading: Heb 4:12-13:
Brothers and sisters: Indeed the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

Gospel: Mk 10:17-30:
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.” He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?”

Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.”

Reflection:
Our possessions are blessings from God especially material possessions acquired honestly. It is but natural that we feel a certain closeness to these because they remind us of our efforts, in order to acquire them. Having them is already a blessing; little do we know that divesting them from ourselves will result to even greater blessings. The capacity to leave them behind ultimately rests on what we value most. Are we ready to enjoy spiritual blessings and delights in lieu of the material? The challenge is for us to get ready so that when the invitation of the Lord comes, we are ready.

How do I look at my possessions? If I use them well, I exercise dominion and control over them. If I keep them, fearing that they will diminish, I am possessed by them, and therefore letting go would be difficult. Perhaps I need to check myself today with regard to how I behave regarding my possessions in life. Lord, grant me the grace to take genuine delight in the fruits of my labor. May I find satisfaction in using them, the generosity to share them, and the magnanimity to let go of them when a higher calling beckons me in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Monday
October 14th

St. Callistus I

1st Reading: Gal 4:22-24, 26-27, 31–5:1:
Brothers and sisters: It is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the freeborn woman. The son of the slave woman was born naturally, the son of the freeborn through a promise. Now this is an allegory. These women represent two covenants. One was from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar. But the Jerusalem above is freeborn, and she is our mother. For it is written: Rejoice, you barren one who bore no children; break forth and shout, you who were not in labor; for more numerous are the children of the deserted one than of her who has a husband. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are children not of the slave woman but of the freeborn woman. For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

Gospel: Lk 11:29-32:
While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

Reflection:
Is it good to ask for signs and miracles? Should it be a temptation of the Lord’s might? Jesus is disappointed with his generation, always looking for signs and never believing. Even Paul wrote that Jews were looking for signs (1 Cor 1: 22). On our part, it is better to avoid the temptation of the Lord, accepting our actions and their consequences with humility. This gives us an occasion to put another question: do you think that Jesus was humble?

Of course, we remember his statement: “I am humble and meek in my heart” (Mt 11: 28). However, in the Gospel of today Jesus tells us that he is greater than Jonah and wiser than Solomon. Jesus, in his humility, is conscious of his mission and teaching. In both he is superior to prophets and kings. Why? They were simply sent by God, with many weaknesses. Jesus alone is the Son of the Father, whose words and deeds bring salvation to the entire world.

Tuesday
October 15th

St. Teresa of Avila

1st Reading: Gal 5:1-6:
Brothers and sisters: For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. It is I, Paul, who am telling you that if you have yourselves circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Once again I declare to every man who has himself circumcised that he is bound to observe the entire law. You are separated from Christ, you who are trying to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Gospel: Lk 11:37-41:
After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

Reflection:
The Gospel of today seems very simple, but it is very deep. We deal here with the true nature of morality. What does the Lord expect from us: external formalities or internal attitudes? To wash the hands before dinner is a tradition added to the Law prescriptions. Pharisees were very observant of these. It was not a hygienic practice as we use it today. It was rather a sanctification of the meal. Jesus doesn’t do the ritual. The polemic is engaged. The Lord explains the motive of his behavior.

The Creator of our souls looks at the deepest truth of ourselves and doesn’t care much of our hands. This is an evangelical lesson we must recall very often. We are so much accustomed to the precise devotions in order to obtain specific graces. Jesus wants to free us from this spiritual narrowness. Will we enter in the true freedom of the children of God? As for the spirit of alms, Jesus gave similar teachings on the humility and discretion in order to be considered by the Father.

Wednesday
October 16th

St. Hedwig
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

1st Reading: Gal 5:18-25:
Brothers and sisters: If you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.

Gospel: Lk 11:42-46:
The Lord said: “Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.” Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.” And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”

Reflection:
The Gospel of today completes the Gospel of yesterday. We all have known persons with this scrupulous style of doing. On the one hand, they don’t forget any detail of the abundant Jewish traditions. On the other, as Jesus says, they neglect justice and love. But Jesus claims both details and attitudes. But there is another secret pleasance in the Pharisee souls: to take the best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted in the marketplace. Jesus often points out this lack of humility on the part of these pious Jewish.

Their true heart abides hidden within, but expands with spiritual corruption. The reproach to the teachers of the Law is similar. Truly, they don’t share the burden of the Law with the simple people. The spirit of the Pharisees and Rabbis is however so widespread. I guess these are the classical temptations of ministers and religious communities. More than the water at our hands, the words of Jesus in our hearts purify our consciences and practices.

Thursday
October 17th

St. Ignatius of Antioch

1st Reading: Eph 1:1-10:
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the holy ones who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him.

In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. In Christ we have redemption by his Blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

Gospel: Lk 11:47-54:
The Lord said: “Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute’ in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building.

“Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

Reflection:
Let us begin with a clarification. Where have we in the Bible the allusion to the first martyr – Abel – and to the last one–Zechariah? Abel and the voice of his blood are in Gen 4: 8-10; the murder of Zechariah is in the second book of Chr 24: 20-22. So we can say that the history of Israel is the drama of many martyrs. The summit of this bloody itinerary will be the murder of Jesus in Mount Calvary; later, the deacon, St Stephen, will become the first Christian Martyr. All these instances are always in Jerusalem. But why did Jesus say that the “present generation” will have to answer for the blood of all prophets?

Let us remember the terrible siege of Jerusalem by Roman troops, the destruction of the Temple and the dispersion of the people, in the year 70. Really this generation suffered in a singular way. The conversion of the Jewish people is prophesied by Paul. In history we always find Jews who became Christians. Teresa of Avila had Jewish ancestors while Edith Stein was a Jew. For the present, in which we celebrate Teresa as Doctor of the Church tomorrow, we are invited to pray for this deep encounter in peace.

Friday
October 18th

St. Luke

1st Reading: 2 Tm 4:10-17b:
Beloved: Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. You too be on guard against him, for he has strongly resisted our preaching. At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

Gospel: Lk 10:1-9:
The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’

If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.'”

Reflection:
Today we are remembering one of the most important figures of the Primitive Church, Luke the evangelist. Why important? Because of the following facts. First, Luke singlehandedly wrote a quarter of the New Testament. His two-volume work is made, first, of a gospel relating the story of Jesus, and second, of the Acts of the Apostles relating the story of the infant Church as a distinct phase of salvation history. Second, at every turn Luke in his gospel emphasizes how Jesus is caring and tender toward the poor and lowly, the outcast, the sinner and the afflicted, those who recognize their dependence on God.

No evangelist is more concerned than Luke with the mercy and compassion of Jesus, with the role of the Spirit in the life of Jesus and of the Christian disciples, with the importance of prayer, with Jesus’ concern for women. Third, Luke was at times a close and faithful collaborator of Paul, who calls him “the beloved physician” (Col 4:14). Fourth, Luke was highly literate both in the Old Testament and in Hellenistic Greek writings. He wrote mostly for Gentile Christians and the whole Church at large. Our debt to him is incalculable.

Saturday
October 19th

Sts. Isaac Jogues, John de Brebeuf, and Companions

1st Reading: Eph 1:15-23:
Brothers and sisters: Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones, I do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him.

May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the Church, which is his Body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Gospel: Lk 12:8-12:
Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. “Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”

Reflection:
Isn’t the Gospel of today a fine lesson about the Holy Spirit? In fact, what gives us the strength to confess Jesus, the Son of Man, before people? Let us be reminded with the last sentence of the text that Jesus promised the assistance of the Holy Spirit when Christians come before tribunals. Their irresistible inspiration will be the Holy Spirit. That is why the early faithful kept the “acts” of Martyrs, i.e. the minutes of their trials. Their answers are full of supernatural wisdom.

Jesus promised similar witness in front of his Father and the angels of heaven. But there is more. Why are the critiques against Jesus pardonable but the slanders against the Holy Spirit unpardonable? We can guess that perhaps the blasphemies against Jesus are due to his humanity; but if we refuse the grace of the Holy Spirit that leads us to faith, there is no salvation for us. In any case, let us carefully listen and obediently follow the inner voice of the Spirit at every moment.