Thursday - September 28, 2017
"When we were little, we kept close to our mother in a dark alley or if dogs barked at us. Now, when we feel temptations of the flesh, we should run to the side of our Mother in Heaven, by realizing how she is to us, and by means of aspirations. She will defend us and lead us to the light."
--St. Josemaria Escriva
TODAY'S READINGS
September 28, 2017
Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 452
Reading 1HG 1:1-8
On the first day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius,The word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai
to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel,
and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak:
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
This people says:
"The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD."
(Then this word of the LORD came through Haggai, the prophet:)
Is it time for you to dwell in your own paneled houses,
while this house lies in ruins?
Now thus says the LORD of hosts:
Consider your ways!
You have sown much, but have brought in little;
you have eaten, but have not been satisfied;
You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated;
have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed;
And whoever earned wages
earned them for a bag with holes in it.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Consider your ways!
Go up into the hill country;
bring timber, and build the house
That I may take pleasure in it
and receive my glory, says the LORD.
Responsorial PsalmPS 149:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6A AND 9B
R. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
AlleluiaJN 14:6
R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 9:7-9
Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening,and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
"John has been raised from the dead";
others were saying, "Elijah has appeared";
still others, "One of the ancient prophets has arisen."
But Herod said, "John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?"
And he kept trying to see him.
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Holy curiosity
In today's Gospel reading, we read about King Herod's curiosity. He wanted to meet Jesus because of all the fascinating news he had heard about this miracle-worker from Nazareth.
Sadly, meeting Jesus face to face did not change Herod's life. Why not?
Curiosity about the supernatural is a good thing. It impels us to use our God-given gifts of intelligence, creativity and imagination to find new paths for growing spiritually, new ways of helping others, new solutions to old problems, and new discoveries that improve our lives and bring us closer to God. But if we're not willing to face the challenging truths that holy curiosity invariably leads us to, we turn away from God and follow our passions into sinful or harmful predicaments.
Herod didn't want to face the truth that stared him in the face. Preferring to remain comfortable with his own perspectives and goals and attitudes, he let his curiosity about Jesus carry him only as far as it fit within his choice of lifestyle.
How many times do we look away when we hear a truth or face a reality that we don't like? Have you ever stopped asking questions because you didn't like the answers? Which is worse: doubting the truth or doubting the misconceptions that you've been living by? Doubt is good if it stirs up our curiosity and if we have the humility to let the Holy Spirit contradict our old, familiar, comfortable ways of thinking.
When curiosity is merely fascination, it can do us more harm than good. We flit here and there, directionless, getting our egos stroked, fooling ourselves into believing that we're truth seekers while we're really truth avoiders.
When curiosity leads us to the discomforts of humility, repentance, and selflessness, we can be sure that we've reached an important milestone on our journey to heaven. Will we look around for something new to distract us? Or will we look for the wounded hand of Jesus to grab onto, even though it doesn't feel good?
To grow closer to God, we have to be curious about what needs changing within us. We have to ask new questions about ourselves and not be afraid of the answers.
There is nothing to fear, no matter what discoveries we make about our vulnerability to sin, because Jesus is with us -- the same Jesus who already died for us and nailed our sins to his cross, the same Jesus who conquered the destruction of sin. When we humbly admit our need for forgiveness, his sacrifice on the cross frees us to move into the resurrection that brings us new life. Here, we discover healing, increased love, and unexpected joy!
Prayer
Lord, Following You cleans both my soul and my heart. Give me courage to accept my limitations, and purify the intentions that help me grow closer to You. Amen.
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God Bless You.....
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