Tuesday - September 26, 2017
When we must do something we dislike, let us say to God, " My God I offer You this in honor of the moment when You died for me."
~~ St. John Vianney
TODAY'S READINGS
September 26, 2017
Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 450
Reading 1EZR 6:7-8, 12B, 14-20
King Darius issued an order to the officialsof West-of-Euphrates:
"Let the governor and the elders of the Jews
continue the work on that house of God;
they are to rebuild it on its former site.
I also issue this decree
concerning your dealing with these elders of the Jews
in the rebuilding of that house of God:
From the royal revenue, the taxes of West-of-Euphrates,
let these men be repaid for their expenses, in full and without delay.
I, Darius, have issued this decree;
let it be carefully executed."
The elders of the Jews continued to make progress in the building,
supported by the message of the prophets,
Haggai and Zechariah, son of Iddo.
They finished the building according to the command
of the God of Israel
and the decrees of Cyrus and Darius
and of Artaxerxes, king of Persia.
They completed this house on the third day of the month Adar,
in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
The children of Israel–priests, Levites,
and the other returned exiles–
celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.
For the dedication of this house of God,
they offered one hundred bulls,
two hundred rams, and four hundred lambs,
together with twelve he-goats as a sin-offering for all Israel,
in keeping with the number of the tribes of Israel.
Finally, they set up the priests in their classes
and the Levites in their divisions
for the service of God in Jerusalem,
as is prescribed in the book of Moses.
The exiles kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
The Levites, every one of whom had purified himself for the occasion,
sacrificed the Passover for the rest of the exiles,
for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
Responsorial PsalmPS 122:1-2, 3-4AB, 4CD-5
R. (1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
AlleluiaLK 11:28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are those who hear the word of God
and observe it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 8:19-21
The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to himbut were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside
and they wish to see you."
He said to them in reply, "My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and act on it."
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Time for action
The message of the Gospel reading today is short and sweet. Oh how truly sweet it is! To hear Jesus say that we are as dear to him as his own Blessed Mother and his other close relatives -- this is pure delight. However, he says we're only that special to him if we're doing the Word of God.
Jesus is explaining that it truly is possible to become part of his inner circle of nearest and dearest family and friends. This should motivate us! It makes us get off our prayer chairs and fly into action, changed by the Word of God, directed by the Word, empowered by the Word, making a difference in the world through the love that is the Word, the love who is the Word made flesh.
Why do you think so many prayers of Christ's household (the Church) go unanswered? For example, at every Mass the priest prays on our behalf: "Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress..." So, how many of us suddenly stop worrying about our problems? This prayer is only answered when we learn what the Word says about trusting God and we do it -- our actions are based on the truth of it.
Why is it that a parish adds the Prayer to Saint Michael ("defend us in battle") to the end of daily Mass yet remains in division or under financial attack? It's because we shouldn't be waiting on angels to do all the work for us; to overcome the enemy while the angels defend us; we have to act upon what the Word says about community and unity or stewardship and generosity.
When we pray the Rosary, what value is there in ending each decade with the Fatima prayer, "Lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy," unless we are doing evangelizing activities that reach out to lost souls to help guide them to heaven? What good is it to recite the Divine Mercy prayer, "Have mercy on us and on the whole world," if we are not doing acts of mercy to spread God's love?
Why has there been a shortage of priests and religious vocations, even after many years of many prayers for an increase? Praying is not enough. We need to pay attention to what the Word says about our own calling to ministry -- the laity as well as the ordained -- and act upon it. By being joyful, passionate ministers who are motivated by a depth of heroic love that compassionately goes the extra mile, our attitude will inspire others to hear and respond to their own callings. Where clergy live their vocation as a pastoral ministry instead of a job and where laity are collaboratively unified with their clergy in doing the work of God's kingdom, they inspire energy for new vocations, consecrated lives, and more lay ministers.
Prayer without action is meaningless. Action without knowing the Word of God is misdirected. Hearing the Word and then acting upon it is true kinship with Christ. May we all grow as close to Jesus as his own mother. Amen!
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God Bless You.....
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