Sunday
October 20th

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
St. Paul of the Cross

1st Reading: Is 53:10-11:
The Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the Lord shall be accomplished through him. Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.

2nd Reading: Heb 4:14-16:
Brothers and sisters: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Gospel: Mk 10:35-45:
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can.”

Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles Lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Reflection:
Even those closest to Jesus who heard Him preach and saw how He lived were not immune to flawed desires of the heart. They desired power, authority and recognition. These were the very things that Jesus had to wrestle with when He went to the desert for forty days. These hidden desires of their hearts come into the open when James and John were bold enough to articulate their ambition. It would have led to the breakup of the group. But Jesus showed His authority over the Twelve by teaching them the proper perspective of power and authority. It ought to be for service. It was enough to calm the hearts and minds of His disciples.

They had seen Jesus practicing what He taught them. His authority was (and is) derived from His being. That is why it is so effective. I may need to recall the many times when I was given the chance to lead and how it turned out in order for me to have a picture of who I am in front of power and authority. Knowing my personal style of leadership, I can slowly orient it to the gospel based idea of leading. Lord, may I handle power well. May it not corrupt or deform me. May it transform me so that I may see that it is a privilege extended to those who are worthy. And when power bests me in the war of wills, help me Lord to gain the upper hand. May I be in the end, a worthy vessel of Your power. Amen.

Monday
October 21st

1st Reading: Eph 2:1-10:
Brothers and sisters: You were dead in your transgressions and sins in which you once lived following the age of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the desires of our flesh, following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved), raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast. For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.

Gospel: Lk 12:13-21:
Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’

“And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”

Reflection:
Thích Nhất Hạnh, a Buddhist monk, narrates the story of a person who lost his cows. One day the Buddha was sitting with a group of monks in the woods near the city of Sravasti. They had just finished a mindful lunch and were engaged in a small Dharma discussion. Suddenly a farmer came by. He was visibly upset and shouted, “Monks! Have you seen my cows?” The Buddha said, “No. We have not seen any cows.” “You know, monks,” the man said, “I am the most miserable person on earth. For some reason, my twelve cows all ran away this morning. I have only two acres of sesame seed plants, and this year the insects ate them all. I think I am going to kill myself.”

Out of compassion, the Buddha said, “No. Sir, we have not seen your cows. Maybe you should look for them elsewhere.” When the farmer was gone, the Buddha turned to his monks, looked at them deeply, smiled, and said, “Dear friends, do you know that you are the happiest people on Earth? You don‘t have any cows to lose.” (laughter) So, my friends, if you have cows (laughter), look deeply into the nature of your cows to see whether they have been bringing you happiness or suffering. You should learn the art of releasing your cows. The key thing is to let go and free yourself. A monk or nun is supposed to leave everything behind in order to be a free person. A monk or nun should have only three robes and one bowl, because freedom is the most valuable possession.

Tuesday
October 22nd

St. John Paul II

1st Reading: Eph 2:12-22:
Brothers and sisters: You were at that time without Christ, alienated from the community of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the Blood of Christ. For he is our peace, he made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one Body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it.

He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Gospel: Lk 12:35-38:
Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”

Reflection:
Do we realize that the metaphor of a wedding is often the horizon of the parables of Jesus? This is the time to celebrate the wedding of the Lamb (Rev 19: 7). Yes, since the Ascension of Christ, the banquet has been prepared, and the guests continuously arrive. However, we are still in our earthly time of waiting, and the wait can be long. The Lord tells us to be ready always. The image of the lamp is suggestive. It reminds us of the parable of the ten bridesmaids.

We can link it with the symbolic candle that lit during our Baptism. Its great significance is that of living in the grace of God, avoiding all mortal sins. This should be our attire for the banquet as well as our joy when we open the door of our life for eternity. We cannot imagine what the “table” of the Lord will be, but we can long for it. What will be the “worship” of the Holy Trinity in the Kingdom? St. Paul of the Cross in his transit through Jesus’ Passion had a foretaste of it.

Wednesday
October 23rd

St. John of Capistrano

1st Reading: Eph 3:2-12:
Brothers and sisters: You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier. When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same Body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.

Of this I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power. To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things, so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the Church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens. This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in him.

Gospel: Lk 12:39-48:
Jesus said to his disciples: “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.

But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

Reflection:
Peter’s question offers Jesus the pretext to teach about stewardship on a deeper level. Peter and the apostles are openly concerned. Jesus depicts two different possible stewards. One who is faithful to his task receives the congratulations of the master. The other steward though is confident in his master’s delay and his conduct is reproachable. Jesus paints an ugly situation: the steward’s abuse of menservants and girls as well as eating and drinking and getting drunk. The consequence is terrible: he will be considered as an “unfaithful” gentile or pagan.

Nevertheless, Jesus makes a distinction among servants according to their awareness of their tasks. Ignorance is a real excuse and the punishment is lighter. But the mind of Jesus is clear: the gifts one receives is proportionate to the responsibility over them. The Gospel today focuses on the ministers in the Church. It is a clear warning by Jesus. Later, the Fathers of the Church will discourage the ambition to become priest or bishop. They had deep insight on the responsibility, postponing all kind of honor and pride. Therefore, according to the grace we receive let us pray for our utter answer and fidelity to it until the end of our life.

Thursday
October 24th

St. Anthony Mary Claret (Founder of the Claretians)

1st Reading: Eph 3:14-21:
Brothers and sisters: I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel: Lk 12:49-53:
Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Reflection:
The words of Jesus fit so well with the missionary intention of this month of October. Fire is light, warmth and a blaze. Jesus would like to spread this fire on earth to burn evil and sin, and to enlighten minds and to warm hearts. In the History of Salvation the tongues of fire at Pentecost are the beginning of this universal expansion of the faith and love of Jesus. Yes, through the Holy Spirit, the salvation he acquired for us in his Death and Resurrection, will reach all countries and generations. Don’t we see flames in the heart of Jesus? But Jesus also speaks of a personal baptism.

This baptism is as well called “chalice” or cup to drink. This is a clear allusion to the Passion (Mk 10: 38). Jesus longs for the summit of his life in which he will accomplish the Redemption of the world. From this baptism of blood will spring the baptism of fire in the Spirit that will purify, illuminate and sanctify humankind. The preaching of this Gospel will provoke division in families, peoples and cultures. But these sufferings and persecutions will contribute to universal salvation. Let us share his fire and baptism with an ardent desire of spreading the Gospel and anguish for the conversion of the world.

Friday
October 25th

1st Reading: Eph 4:1-6:
Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace; one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Gospel: Lk 12:54-59:
Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

Reflection:
Living in different climates, people in all cultures have proverbs that use signs announcing future weather. Jesus uses the occasion of this custom to apply it to the spiritual situation of his time in Israel. Do you remember the messengers John the Baptist sent to him asking for his messianic task? The answer of the Lord was clear: “Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard.” And he gives a set of miracles, including the evangelization of the poor (Lk 7: 18-23). For Jesus the messianic signs in him were evident. But the people refused to believe: “You superficial people!”

From the beginning of his preaching Jesus had been telling: “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mk 1 15) Every period of the human history also has special “signs” for faith and salvation. Some authors guess them today in the thirst for spirituality, and the abundant groups of prayer. Are we “superficial people”? Do we reject the “signs” of present time? In any case, we have only a short time to convert: before our arrival in front of the Judgment seat of God. Let us encourage ourselves to do the suitable steps according to the signs we receive in our life.

Saturday
October 26th

1st Reading: Eph 4:7-16:
Brothers and sisters: Grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, it says: He ascended on high and took prisoners captive; he gave gifts to men. What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended into the lower regions of the earth? The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.

And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood to the extent of the full stature of Christ, so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming. Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole Body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the Body’s growth and builds itself up in love.

Gospel: Lk 13:1-9:
Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them– do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”

And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

Reflection:
It seems easy to link sins and punishments. Every time there are political massacres or natural disasters we think about victims and sinners. We consider these events as consequences of God’s justice. It arrived with Pilate and the tower of Siloah in the time of Jesus. Catastrophes occur in many countries today. Once again, Jesus withdraws from this popular judgment. He surprises us with new criteria. The victims are not guiltier. The sudden death is, instead, a general admonition to us.

We must do penance and be prepared for the meeting with the Lord. Remember Saint Anthony Claret: in his preaching he used to begin by exhorting his listeners to conversion and offering reconciliation through the sacrament of penance. Does it mean that we must fear death without any preparation, when our life is unfruitful? No. The parable of the gardener interceding for the barren tree and offering to dig and add fertilizer fills us with confidence. Let us be attentive to the signs of Jesus doing it in our life. Let us recall the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Let us peacefully progress to the encounter with the Lord.