Zu Allerheiligen 2010

1. NOVEMBER ALLERHEILIGEN

Von der Liturgie der Kirche ausgehend steht am Hochfest Allerheiligen nicht der Tod im Mittelpunkt, sondern das Leben. Gott ruft alle Menschen aller Völker und aller Zeiten in die ewige Gemeinschaft seiner Liebe. Jesus Christus ist der Erlöser aller Menschen, und wir alle sind von Gott gerufen, heilig zu werden! Gewiss: Schon der heutige Tag ist gekennzeichnet durch das nachmittägliche Totengedenken, und dies setzt sich morgen am Allerseelentag und in der Allerseelenwoche noch fort. So manche Trauer um liebe Menschen, die durch den Tod von uns geschieden sind, erfüllt unser Herz. Wo sind die Menschen, die von uns gegangen sind? Welches Schicksal erwartet auch uns einmal, wenn wir gestorben sind?

Der christliche Glaube gibt uns hier Trost und Zuversicht: Gott will uns Menschen zum ewigen Leben in seiner Herrlichkeit führen. Er möchte uns in seiner Liebe vollenden, sodass wir mit reinem Herzen Gott schauen und im Himmel auf unverlierbare Weise die Fülle seiner Gaben empfangen.

Zugleich aber wissen wir: Gott ist ganz heilig! Keine Sünde und keine Unvollkommenheit verträgt sich mit seinem Wesen. Wie soll da der arme, sündige Mensch darauf hoffen dürfen einzugehen ins himmlische Jerusalem, ins ewige Paradies? Für uns Menschen ist dies aus eigener Kraft unmöglich. Wir alle sind auf Gottes Barmherzigkeit angewiesen, wir alle brauchen den Erlöser Jesus Christus. Er wäscht uns rein durch sein Blut, das er am Kreuz vergossen hat und macht uns heilig.

Bedenken wir die Glaubenslehre der Kirche, wie sie für die so genannten „Letzten Dinge“ gilt: Im Tod trennt sich die unsterbliche Seele vom sterblichen Leib, der der Verwesung anheimfällt. Nach dem Tod folgt das besondere Gericht. Hier erkennt die Seele im Lichte Gottes ihr bisheriges Leben. Der Mensch empfängt vom allwissenden und gerechten Gott eine unmittelbare Vergeltung „entsprechend seinem Glauben und seinen Werken“. Im Kompendium des Katechismus der Katholischen Kirche heißt es ausdrücklich: „Diese Vergeltung besteht im Eintreten in die Seligkeit des Himmels, unmittelbar oder nach einer entsprechenden Läuterung, oder im Eintreten in die ewige Verdammnis der Hölle.“ (Nr. 208)

Gottes Wille ist es, dass wir in den Himmel kommen, und eben darauf sollen wir uns im Leben vorbereiten. Wer zwar in der Freundschaft Gottes stirbt, aber noch der Läuterung bedarf, kommt ins Purgatorium oder Fegefeuer (vgl. Nr. 210).

Genau deshalb beten wir ja für die „Armen Seelen“, dass Gott sie in seiner Liebe von all ihren Sünden reinigt und sie heimführt ins himmlische Reich. Wir können unseren lieben Verstorbenen wirksam helfen: „Kraft der Gemeinschaft der Heiligen können die Gläubigen, die noch auf Erden pilgern, den Seelen im Purgatorium helfen, indem sie Fürbitten und besonders das eucharistische Opfer, aber auch Almosen, Ablässe und Bußwerke für sie darbringen.“ (Nr. 211)

So beten wir heute mit der ganzen Kirche darum, dass Gott unsere lieben Verstorbenen aufnimmt in sein himmlisches Reich und auch uns selbst einmal Anteil schenkt an der Seligkeit der Heiligen des Himmels, in Gemeinschaft mit der allerseligsten Jungfrau und Gottesmutter Maria und allen Engeln und Heiligen! 

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Prof.Dr.theol.Josef Spindelböck 

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THE WORD: You Are Being Watched

October 29, 2010 Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time Luke 14: 1-6 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?" But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them, "Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?" But they were unable to answer his question. Introductory Prayer Lord, I believe in you with a faith that never seeks to test you. I trust in you, hoping to learn to accept and follow your will, even when it does not make sense to the way that I see things. May my love for you and those around me be similar to the love you have shown to me. Petition Lord, may I be a witness to you in the face of a world that often does not care. 1. And They Watched Him The Lord knows the thoughts of these men. With his question, he makes public their foolishness: God blesses on the seventh day, while they prevent good works on that day. It would seem that a day that does not allow the doing of good works is accursed. Let us be sure always to seek the will of God in our lives, so that we might use every minute of every day for the glory of God. 2. They Kept Silent The man with dropsy does not ask to be healed, perhaps out of fear of the watching Pharisees, yet Christ knows what he desires in his heart. Jesus is not concerned that this good work might scandalize the Pharisees; he is concerned about doing good. The Pharisees keep silent because they know that Jesus will give this man something they don’t have – their hearts have become closed to the man. We need to desire good for everyone. A sign that our hearts are becoming hardened to Our Lord, perhaps like the Pharisees, is when we begrudge the good that befalls others or even wish others harm. When we are mindful that we are beggars before God, it’s much easier to be merciful with others. 3. Keep Your Eyes on Christ In this Gospel passage, both the Pharisees and the man suffering from dropsy are looking at Christ. The Pharisees look at Christ with skepticism that will not be overcome by any miracle; the suffering man looks at Christ with the eyes of his heart. This man desires something that only Christ can give him, and Christ will not be outdone in generosity. We don’t know what becomes of this man. We can only imagine the great testimony he gives to all about Christ and how he cured him, even under the scrutiny of the Pharisees. As Pope John Paul II told us so many times, “Do not be afraid!” Conversation with Christ   Lord, help me to see with the eyes of faith all that you do in my life, especially when I don’t understand why you are doing it. Help me to witness to others all that you have done for me and my family. May I never take for granted the graces that you give me. Resolution I will say a prayer today for someone I know who has not opened his heart to Christ because of lack of faith or skepticism. Through my prayers and example, may I once again try to bring Christ into that person’s heart. Challenge Say a prayer today for someone you know who has not opened his heart to Christ because of lack of faith. Father Patrick Langan, LC Source: Catholic.net   A Bee Bg

 

 

 

Baltimore Episcopal Parish Votes To Enter Catholic Church

Baltimore Episcopal Parish Votes To Enter Catholic Church
The members of Mount Calvary Episcopal Parish in Baltimore voted on October 24 to seek entry into the Catholic Church as an Anglican Use parish.

“I am saddened that members of this small congregation have found a need to leave the Episcopal Church, of which Mount Calvary has been a part since 1842,” said Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, the Episcopal Church bishop of Maryland. “For those who are leaving I wish God’s blessing upon them … We are a diocese that receives warmly traditionalists and progressives, conservatives and liberals, women and men, married and single clergy, and persons oriented to the same gender.”

THE WORD: Up Against the Narrow Gate.

 

October 27, 2010 Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time Luke 13:22-30 Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" He answered them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, 'Lord, open the door for us.' He will say to you in reply, 'I do not know where you are from.' And you will say, 'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.' Then he will say to you, 'I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!' And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last." Introductory Prayer Lord, I believe in you with a faith that never seeks to test you. I trust in you, hoping to learn to accept and follow your will, even when it does not make sense to the way that I see things. May my love for you and those around me be similar to the love you have shown to me.   Petition Lord, grant me the humility and sincerity to enter by the narrow gate. 1. A Scary Question  “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Jesus doesn’t answer the question directly. Instead, he gives some advice. It almost looks like Jesus is avoiding the question, as if the answer is too discouraging. He tries to be encouraging instead, but at the same time underlines the difficulty of success. “Strive” he says, “to enter by the narrow gate.” Strive is the key word, since apparently, many are going to try to enter and fail, because the gate is so narrow. 2. A Disturbing Reply The words that many will try to enter and fail are troubling. What percentage? How many? Jesus doesn’t say, but we get the impression that it will be more than a few. The possibility of failure is very real. Who will fail? Probably, people who don’t take him seriously; people who don’t try hard enough; people who love something more than they love Jesus. In other word, lots of people will fail… 3. My Christian Credentials May Not Be as Solid as I Think They Are He goes on to say that many who think they are doing enough are going to be surprised to find they didn’t do enough. They think their Christian credentials are solid, but they will be found wanting. They will tell Jesus that they ate and drank with him. They will witness to how many times they heard him preach in their streets, how much they contributed to the collection, but that will not be enough. Yet others who did not seem so good in life will be entering the Kingdom before them. Which group will I be in? Jesus is warning me that just because I feel I am doing enough for him doesn’t mean I am going to be in the group to be saved. I need to follow him with as much sincerity and honesty as I am capable of, doing his will and not my own. Conversation with Christ Dear Jesus, your words are troubling to me. I see how often I fail in what I know I should be doing for you. I see that I cannot reliably guide myself in this matter. Send your Holy Spirit to help me open my eyes to see if I am falling short before it is too late. Help me to enter by the narrow gate. Resolution Today I will examine my conscience very honestly to see if I am saying ‘no’ to Jesus in any aspect of my life and to see if I am letting myself get too comfortable in any aspect of my life, since comfort, especially in the spiritual life, is a sign that I am not “striving to enter by the narrow gate.” Challenge Examine your conscience very honestly to see if you are saying ‘no’ to Jesus in any aspect of your life. Father James Swanson, LC Source: Catholic.net

 

 

 

Instrumental Hymn Sweet Hour of Prayer - ein kleiner Herbstgruß!

Sprung in der Schüssel

Eine kleine Anekdote passend zum heutigen Sonntagsevangelium: Zöllner und Pharisäer

 Sprung in der Schüssel

Es war einmal eine alte Chinesin, die zwei grosse Schüsseln hatte. Diese hingen an den Enden einer Stange, die sie über ihren Schultern trug.  Eine der Schüsseln hatte einen Sprung, während die andere makellos war und stets eine volle Portion Wasser fasste.

Am Ende der lange Wanderung vom Fluss zum Haus der alten Frau war die zweite Schüssel jedoch immer nur noch halb voll. 

Zwei Jahre lang geschah dies täglich: die alte Frau brachte immer nur anderthalb Schüsseln Wasser mit nach Hause.

 Die makellose Schüssel war natürlich sehr stolz auf ihre Leistung, aber die arme Schüssel mit dem Sprung schämte sich wegen ihres Makels und war betrübt, dass sie nur die Hälfte dessen verrichten konnte, wofür sie gemacht worden war.

Nach zwei Jahren, die ihr wie ein endloses Versagen vorkamen, sprach die Schüssel zu der alten Frau:“ ich schäme mich so wegen meines Sprungs, aus dem den ganzen Weg bis zu deinem Haus immer Wasser läuft.“

 Die alte Frau lächelte. Ist dir aufgefallen, dass auf deiner Seite des Weges Blumen blühen, aber auf der Seite der anderen Schüssel nicht?`

 Ich habe auf deine Seite des Pfades Blumensamen gesät, weil ich mir deines Fehlers bewusst war.  Nun giesst du sie jeden Tag, wenn wir nach Hause laufen.

 Zwei Jahre lang konnte ich diese wunderschönen Blumen pflücken und den Tisch damit schmücken.  Wenn du nicht genauso warst, wie du bist, würde diese Schönheit nicht existieren und unser Haus beehren.

Liebe Freunde jeder von uns hat seine ganz eigenen Grenzen, Mängel und Fehler. Aber es sind die Sprünge, die unser Leben so interessant und lohnenswert machen. 

Sonntags-Evanglium nach Lukas-u.Kommentar 24.10.10

Evangelium nach Lukas 18,9-14.

Einigen, die von ihrer eigenen Gerechtigkeit überzeugt waren und die anderen verachteten, erzählte Jesus dieses Beispiel: Zwei Männer gingen zum Tempel hinauf, um zu beten; der eine war ein Pharisäer, der andere ein Zöllner. Der Pharisäer stellte sich hin und sprach leise dieses Gebet: Gott, ich danke dir, daß ich nicht wie die anderen Menschen bin, die Räuber, Betrüger, Ehebrecher oder auch wie dieser Zöllner dort. Ich faste zweimal in der Woche und gebe dem Tempel den zehnten Teil meines ganzen Einkommens. Der Zöllner aber blieb ganz hinten stehen und wagte nicht einmal, seine Augen zum Himmel zu erheben, sondern schlug sich an die Brust und betete: Gott, sei mir Sünder gnädig! Ich sage euch: Dieser kehrte als Gerechter nach Hause zurück, der andere nicht. Denn wer sich selbst erhöht, wird erniedrigt, wer sich aber selbst erniedrigt, wird erhöht werden. 

Auszug aus der liturgischen Übersetzung der Bibel 

Kommentar des heutigen Evangeliums 

Hl. Johannes Chrysostomus (um 345 – 407), Priester in Antiochien, später Bischof von Konstantinopel, Kirchenlehrer 

Homilien über die Bekehrung, Nr.2 

„Sei mir Sünder gnädig“

     Ein Pharisäer und ein Zöllner gingen zum Tempel hinauf um zu beten. Der Pharisäer begann alle seine guten Eigenschaften aufzuzählen und sprach: „Gott, ich danke dir, dass ich nicht wie die anderen Menschen bin, die Räuber, Betrüger und Ehebrecher, oder auch wie dieser Zöllner dort!“ Du Elender, du wagst es über die ganze Erde ein Urteil zu sprechen? Warum machst du deinen Nächsten so nieder? Musst du auch noch diesen Zöllner verurteilen, die Erde hat dir wohl noch nicht genügt? Du hast alle Menschen angeklagt, alle ohne Ausnahme: „ Ich bin nicht wie die anderen Menschen... oder auch wie dieser Zöllner dort; ich faste zweimal in der Woche, ich gebe den Zehnten von allem, was ich besitze.“ Wie viel Selbstgerechtigkeit steckt in diesen Worten! Du Erbärmlicher!...

     Der Zöllner hatte diese Worte sehr wohl gehört. Er hätte etwa so entgegnen können: „ Wer bist du denn, dass du es wagst, mich derartig zu beschimpfen? Woher kennst du mein Leben? Du hast nie in meiner Umgebung gelebt, du gehörst nicht zu meinen Vertrauten. Wozu einen solchen Stolz an den Tag legen? Übrigens, wer kann bezeugen, dass du tatsächlich Gutes getan hast? Warum lobst du dich selber? Was bringt dich dazu, dich derart zu erhöhen?“ Aber der Zöllner tat nichts dergleichen. Ganz im Gegenteil, er demütigte sich und sagte: „Gott, sei mir Sünder gnädig!“ Weil er Demut gezeigt hatte, wurde er gerechtfertigt.

     Der Pharisäer verließ ohne jede Absolution den Tempel, der Zöllner hingegen kam heraus mit einem durch wiedergewonnene Gerechtigkeit erneuerten Herzen... Und doch war es kaum Demut, sofern man darunter die Selbsterniedrigung eines Vornehmen versteht. Im Falle des Zöllners handelte es sich nicht um Demut, sondern um schlichte Aufrichtigkeit, weil er die Wahrheit sagte.

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THE WORD: Jesus’ Fire Must Be My Own

Thursday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Luke 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." Introductory Prayer Father, I place myself in your presence. I firmly believe in you and love you with all my heart. I entrust myself completely to your merciful but demanding ways, knowing that you only seek to lead me home to heaven. Petition Lord, help me to ignite awareness of your love all around me. 1. The Spark that Must Become a Blaze Jesus’ intensity and passion break out in radical expression in today’s Gospel. He yearns for a divine conflagration in the hearts of his disciples. Jesus endured a true baptism of immersion, steeped in the pain of Golgotha, precisely so that our own baptism would not be a mere ceremony. Rather he wanted our baptism to be a holy spark of divine life that, with care and formation, would become a growing flame of authentic Christian holiness. Indeed, let us fan that flame and never allow external pressures, or our own mediocrity, to extinguish it. 2. Peace, at Any Price? Jesus corrects a misperception in some of his listeners. Some no doubt expected him to usher in the messianic peace, when the lion would lie down with the lamb (see Isaiah 11:6-9). No, the time for that peace will be at history’s end, when God’s Kingdom is established in all its fullness. Till then, Christianity will often find itself in conflict with the powers of the world. We want to be considered nice people, yet our convictions will at times bring us conflict. May the spark of our soul be a strong-enough flame to accept those moments and avoid the cheap peace of acquiescing with the world. 3. Put Up Your Dukes? Should Catholics be people spoiling for a fight? Not if they want to be good Catholics! Those who love fighting and arguing may very well find themselves in divided households, but not for the reasons Jesus really means. Courtesy, gentleness, and the finer details of charity should characterize the person who wants to be like Christ. These kinds of people seek to unite, not divide. When they are dividers, it is because they have to be. They know when the point arrives that if they bend any further, they’ll break — where flexibility would degenerate into infidelity. There are tough, sad moments when being faithful to Christ means a head-on collision in a very important relationship, such as the ones Jesus mentions. But when it’s a question of where our first loyalty lies, there is no debate. Christ must come first. Conversation with Christ Lord, you are the center of my life. I thank you for my family and pray that I will never be a stumbling block for their faith. Give me the wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent. Help me, so that I will never compromise the Gospel, nor needlessly alienate those whom you have sent me to serve. Resolution I will strive to set a good spiritual example for my family and will invite someone who has strayed to consider coming back. Father Steven Reilly, LC  Catholic.net

 

THE WORD: Laws that Bind or Free

Luke 11:37-41 "While he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him; so he went in and sat at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner.  And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of extortion and  wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you. Introductory Prayer Lord, I believe that you are present here as I turn to you in prayer. I trust and have confidence in your desire to give me every grace I need to receive today. Thank you for your love, thank you for your immense generosity toward me. I give you my life and my love in return. Petition Lord, grant me this grace of conversion. 1. Law for the Law’s Sake  The Mosaic Law was intended to free them for worship, delivering them from slavery to pagan gods and from slavery to sin. When the Law (and the added customs and regulations) became an end in itself, it was truncated and severed from the One to whom it was meant to lead. Today in the Catholic Church there are enough laws, customs and regulations to make even the most rigorous Pharisee proud. The danger is that we can fall into one of two traps. First, we can adhere to them with such vigor that we lose sight of the One they are freeing us to worship. We don’t allow our hearts and minds to be educated and formed by them, we just follow them blindly. We wind up cleaning the outside of the cup and stopping there, without going on to see God’s love and let it purify our hearts. 2. The Second Trap The second trap we can fall into is at the other extreme: to give ourselves an easy pass by presuming that “if my heart is in the right place, I don’t need to worry about all these rules and such.” With a lax attitude we permit ourselves to ease up on fulfilling these laws which in truth will free us. “I know today is Sunday and I should go to Mass, but it’s vacation! God knows I’m a good person.” Yet it is in the Sunday Mass that we receive the many graces necessary toward our being that “good person”. The commandment to keep the Sabbath holy, as with any of the Ten Commandments and customs of the Church, is there to lead us to God. These free us from our often confused subjective conclusions about how we should worship God and live our lives. 3. Cleaning the Cup “Charity covers a multitude of sin” (1 Peter 4:8). The law of love is the most important of all the commandments of the Lord. In Chapter 12 of the Gospel of Mark, Christ responds to a scribe’s question about the first of all the commandments: “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Love of God and neighbor is both the source and the summit of the Law of the Old Covenant and of the New. Living these two greatest commandments purifies and cleanses our hearts—the inside of the cup. So when Christ says to give alms, he is telling the Pharisees to love their neighbors. Then their hearts will be clean. Conversation with Christ Lord, I want my heart always to be focused on you. I need your guidance, for I can’t do it alone. I need you to teach me how to love you, how to worship and serve you. The laws you give me free me and guide me toward you. Help me to see your hand leading me ever closer to you. Challenge Learn about an aspect of the Faith that you are not yet well versed on. Author: Father Daniel Ray, LC Source: Catholic.net

 

 

120 pic for Waterfalls

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Sonntags-Evangelium nach Lukas-u.Kommentar 10.10.10

Evangelium nach Lukas 17,11-19.

Auf dem Weg nach Jerusalem zog Jesus durch das Grenzgebiet von Samarien und Galiläa. Als er in ein Dorf hineingehen wollte, kamen ihm zehn Aussätzige entgegen. Sie blieben in der Ferne stehen und riefen: Jesus, Meister, hab Erbarmen mit uns! Als er sie sah, sagte er zu ihnen: Geht, zeigt euch den Priestern! Und während sie zu den Priestern gingen, wurden sie rein. Einer von ihnen aber kehrte um, als er sah, daß er geheilt war; und er lobte Gott mit lauter Stimme. Er warf sich vor den Füßen Jesu zu Boden und dankte ihm. Dieser Mann war aus Samarien. Da sagte Jesus: Es sind doch alle zehn rein geworden. Wo sind die übrigen neun? Ist denn keiner umgekehrt, um Gott zu ehren, außer diesem Fremden? Und er sagte zu ihm: Steh auf und geh! Dein Glaube hat dir geholfen. 

Auszug aus der liturgischen Übersetzung der Bibel 

Kommentar des heutigen Evangeliums 

Hl. Bruno von Segni (um 1045 – 1123), Bischof 

Kommentar zum Evangelium nach Lukas, 2,40; PL 165,426-428 

Der Glaube macht rein

     Wofür stehen die zehn Leprakranken? Doch für die Gesamtheit der Sünder! Als Christus, unser Herr, kam, litten alle Menschen am Aussatz der Seele, auch wenn nicht alle vom Aussatz des Leibes befallen waren... Die Lepra der Seele ist weitaus schlimmer als die Lepra des Leibes.

     Wie aber ging es weiter? „Sie blieben in der Ferne stehen und riefen: Jesus, Meister, hab Erbarmen mit uns!“ Die Männer hielten Abstand, denn wegen ihres Zustandes wagten sie nicht näherzutreten. So ist es auch mit uns: solange wir in unseren Sünden verharren, halten wir Abstand. Um wieder gesund zu werden und von der Lepra unserer Sünden zu genesen, wollen wir also mit lauter Stimme inständig bitten: „Jesus, Meister, hab Erbarmen mir uns!“ Freilich darf die Bitte nicht aus unserem Mund kommen; sie muss aus unserem Herzen kommen, denn das Herz spricht mit lauterer Stimme. Das Gebet des Herzens dringt bis in den Himmel, es steigt hoch bis zum Thron Gottes.

THE WORD: Gratitude among the Rarest of Virtues

 Sunday October 10
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.  And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance  and lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us."  When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed.  Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;  and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.  Then said Jesus, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"  And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."

Introductory Prayer

Lord, I believe that you are present here as I turn to you in prayer. I trust and have confidence in your desire to give me every grace I need to receive today. Thank you for your love, thank you for your immense generosity toward me. I give you my life and my love in return.


Petition

Lord, may I know what gratitude really is and live up to this call.

1. Jesus Shows Pity

It is easy to forget at times what it meant to be a leper in Jesus’ time. Such a person had to separate himself from the community, live outside the town, and declare himself “unclean” when anybody started to approach him. Since illness was also equated with sin. According to the mentality of the time, God punished the sinner with physical illness. Thus, to have to shout “unclean” meant that one had to publicly declare he was a sinner. So, as miserable a state as leprosy was, worse still was the shame of it. From here we understand better the sense of desperation and urgency in the lepers’ petition: “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” There is such thing as spiritual leprosy too, but Jesus can heal the sickness in our soul within confession. As Christians we should look for this as ardently as the ten lepers looked to be healed of their bodily leprosy.

2. The Lepers Were Cleansed

Jesus felt obliged to perform the miracle of curing these ten lepers; they truly believed he could do it. That is why Jesus so hastily tells them to go to the priest as prescribed by the law and have their return to health officially recognized; thus will end their banishment and disgrace. However, in their burst of joy nine of the cured ten forget to say “thank you.” At first it seems strange to us that they would omit this, after being transformed in one moment from utter misery to a clean bill of health. However, we often do the same; we forget to say thanks in the joy of a moment when someone has really helped us or resolved a major problem for us.

3. “Stand Up and Go”

It did occur to one leper, a foreigner, to come back and say “thank you”; it was the Samaritan leper. In Jesus’ time Samaritans and Jews normally despised each other, which probably makes his words of thanks to Jesus all the more remarkable. However, what really catches Jesus’ attention is the fact that only one person comes back to express his words of gratitude. Doesn’t this passage remind us of how rare is the virtue of gratitude in the human heart? The cured Samaritan’s faith has saved him, and it wouldn’t be rash of us to think that he used especially well the new gift of health the Lord had given him. Those who are really grateful for what they receive from God generally use more zealously and profitably the gifts they are given.

Conversation with Christ

Lord Jesus, I realize now how many things I might take for granted in life. May this meditation really be a renewal in looking for spiritual healing in you and in using well all the talents and gifts you have given me.


Resolution:  Make a special effort to thank anyone who has assisted or served you in any way today or just recently.


Challenge: Make a special effort to thank anyone who has assisted or served you in any way today or just recently.

Father Gregory Woodward, LC

Catholic.net

***

Photos fr. Bro. Bong Pamintuan

Music Offering of His People

     

Background Courtesy Of
Christian Backgrounds

CATHEDRAL OF SAN SEBASTIAN

CATHEDRAL OF SAN SEBASTIAN
LIPA CITY. BATANGAS
PHILIPPINE

SEPT. 22, 2010

THE WORD: The Christian Who Doesn’t Pray Treats God like a Servant

Luke 11:5-13

And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,' and he says in reply from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.' I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. "And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?"



Introductory Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are the master of the universe, and yet you wish to listen to me and guide me. You know all things past, present and future, and yet you respect my freedom to choose you. Holy Trinity, you are completely happy and fulfilled on your own, and yet you have generously brought us into existence. You are our fulfillment. Thank you for the gift of yourself. I offer the littleness of myself in return, knowing you are pleased with what I have to give.



Petition

Lord, through this meditation, grant me the grace of a greater dependence on you.

Jesus doesn’t say not to worry; instead he says that our Heavenly Father will gladly and lovingly provide whatever we need, provided we ask for it.

One reason why God has arranged things this way is because if our needs were automatically provided for, a great number of us would not even realize there is a God, or we would easily forget him.

 When we ask God to provide for our needs, we implicitly recognize his existence and authority in our lives. God wants us to do this.


Petitions in prayer Increase my faith But there are even more important reasons God wants us to ask. It is in asking that our faith grows. The more I ask, the more I come into a personal relationship with God. If I never had to turn to him for my needs, I would never realize how much he wants to be a part of my life.


When I Don’t Ask for What I Need, I Treat God as My Servant.


When we expect God to give us all we need without asking, are we not placing the whole burden of our salvation on him and nothing on ourselves?


Are we not in a sense being lazy?

“You know what I need, Lord. Just give it to me, take care of it, while I focus on my own interests.” Not only is this laziness, it is pride, treating God like a servant whose role is to provide whatever I need. We forget he is God. Certainly God is generous and loving, willing to give us everything that is good for us; but he is still God, and he deserves our respect, adoration, and especially our gratitude.



Conversation with Christ

  Dear Jesus, so often I expect you to take care of me without my having to ask. Help me to live my dependence on you through the practice of asking you for my needs. Increase my faith through my prayer so that I see my real dependence on you and how much you do for me.



Resolution

What do I most need today?

I will ask God for it early and often.



Challenge

What do you most need today?

Ask God for it early and often.




Father James Swanson, LC
Catholic.net





Bkg. Courtesy Of
Christian Backgrounds