Tuesday - September 25, 2017
"We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can - namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us."
--Saint Teresa of Avila
TODAY'S READINGS
September 25, 2017
Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 449
Reading 1EZR 1:1-6
In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia,in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah,
the LORD inspired King Cyrus of Persia
to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom,
both by word of mouth and in writing:
"Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia:
'All the kingdoms of the earth
the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me,
and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem,
which is in Judah.
Therefore, whoever among you belongs to any part of his people,
let him go up, and may his God be with him!
Let everyone who has survived, in whatever place he may have dwelt,
be assisted by the people of that place
with silver, gold, goods, and cattle,
together with free-will offerings
for the house of God in Jerusalem.'"
Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin
and the priests and Levites–
everyone, that is, whom God had inspired to do so–
prepared to go up to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
All their neighbors gave them help in every way,
with silver, gold, goods, and cattle,
and with many precious gifts
besides all their free-will offerings.
Responsorial PsalmPS 126:1B-2AB, 2CD-3, 4-5, 6
R. (3) The Lord has done marvels for us.When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
AlleluiaMT 5:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.Let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 8:16-18
Jesus said to the crowd:"No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel
or sets it under a bed;
rather, he places it on a lampstand
so that those who enter may see the light.
For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible,
and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.
Take care, then, how you hear.
To anyone who has, more will be given,
and from the one who has not,
even what he seems to have will be taken away."
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Let your light shine
Jesus says in today's Gospel reading that no one lights a lamp just to hide it. You and I -- our lives have been lit up by Christ, and of course we want others to benefit from it. The good news is so good that we want to make Jesus available to those who are seeking more light for their own paths. We want to put ourselves where others can see Jesus shining in us so that their faith grows.
The people around us should have access to the reasons why Jesus has made a difference in our lives so that they can be uplifted by our example and our testimony.
Interestingly, Jesus connects this with another important principle of our faith: "To those who have, more will be given." Think "responsibility" in understanding why God would give more to those who already have much. When we recognize our responsibilities in spreading the light of Christ, we become aware of additional opportunities to reveal Christ to others.
Opportunities occur every day in our ordinary circumstances. Everything we do should reveal the light of Christ. Those who fail to take seriously the need and importance of sharing this light are hiding their lamps under beds of laziness.
Who around you is suffering through a tragedy or difficulty? They're instinctively seeking a light that will lead them to hope, to love, to healing, and to the restoration of goodness. What are you doing to give them more of Christ's illumination?
Who around you has insufficient faith? They want to be assured that God cares; they're ready to grow. Will you say yes to the responsibilities that God has placed in front of you to make a difference?
There are many reasons why we hide our lamps. Perhaps we assume that evangelization is someone else's responsibility. Or we look at the darkness of others and feel inadequate; this comes from distrusting the ability of Christ to enlighten others through us. Or we fear rejection and persecution. In each case, we allow the darkness of discouragement and negativity and hopelessness to spread. Our light fades.
But when we allow the light of Christ to take over our lives so brightly that it changes us, we naturally grow in our concern for others and their level of faith. We enjoy opening ourselves to others so that they can see Jesus shining in us.
If you feel unprepared to use current opportunities to let Christ shine from you, avail yourself of the extra grace that's available in the Sacrament of Reconciliation to become the light that you are meant to be. Let your concern for others be the fuel for your light.
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God Bless You.....
The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”
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