Week of November 25, 2007
Feast of Christ the King – November 25, 2007
II Samuel 5: 1-3
Psalm 122
Colossians 1: 12-20
Luke 23: 35-43
Today’s gospel is a scene from the crucifixion: "The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, ‘He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.’ Even the soldiers jeered at him as they approached to offer him wine they called out, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.’"
Commentary: What kind of royal scene is this for the feast of Christ the King, this last Sunday of the liturgical year? The year ends with the king ruling not from a throne, but from a cross, a place of defeat and abandonment. Do we want to accept his rule in our lives? Do we want this king to have sway over our affections and loyalties?
So we ask ourselves:
What’s in it for us?
Where in our lives is the rule of Christ evident?
Week of November 18, 2007
33rd SUNDAY -C- NOVEMBER 18, 2007
Malachi 3: 19-20
Psalm 98 2
Thessalonians 3: 7-12
Luke 21: 5-19
From today’s gospel:
“See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them!”
So we ask ourselves:
What voices do I hear each day?
How do I distinguish Jesus’ voice from the others?
What helps?
Week of November 4, 2007
The Gospel for the 31 st Sunday -C- November 4, 2007
Wisdom 11: 22-12:2
Psalm 145
2
Thessalonians 1: 11-22
Luke 19: 1-10
Think about it: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”
The real estate agents have it right, it is all about “location, location, location.” Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus. Jesus saw him and singled him out. The encounter changed Zacchaeus’ life. It’s about location. The story shows us that the first important location for us is where we have met Christ. In that place----at church, in personal prayer or in the midst of our day--- Jesus addresses us personally and offers us grace. From there we set about to make necessary changes. We go to the other locations in our lives, now that we are changed by grace, resolved to live our renewed lives in whatever location we find ourselves—home, work, school, indeed —in the whole world.
So we ask ourselves: Where have I met Christ in my life? Or, “What is my favorite meeting place with Christ?” What difference has that meeting(s) made to who I am and how I treat others?
Week of October 28, 2007
30th Sunday of Ordinary Time C: October 28, 2007
Reading I: Sirach 35:12-14;16-18
Reading II: 2 Timothy 4:6-8; 16-18
Gospel: Luke 18:9-14
Think about it: “O God be merciful to me a sinner.” This is
the prayer uttered in today’s gospel by the tax collector. Tax
collectors were traitors to their Jewish community since they
collected taxes from their own people for the Roman occupiers.
In our modern world we don’t like to use the word “sin”
very much. Yet, Jesus says that it was the tax collector’s
prayer for mercy and not that of the observant Pharisee, that
was heard by God.
We ask ourselves: Are we Catholics too “guilt ridden” as
some of our friends have said? What are “the biggies”—the
modern sins for which we need to seek God’s mercy?
Week of October 21, 2007
Twenty-Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time C: October 21, 2007
Reading I: Exodus 17:8-13
2 Timothy 3:14-4:2
Gospel: Luke 18:1-8
Think about it: Jesus’ question for us today is a sobering one: “But, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” There are forces we face in daily life that threaten our faith and weaken our determination to serve Christ.
Question of the Week: At times when I am troubled, really anxious or severely tested, who or what has helped me with my faltering faith?
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