Readings for Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Rom 8:18-25
There is a note on the NAB that really does this passage justice: “The glory that believers are destined to share with Christ far exceeds the sufferings of the present life. Paul considers the destiny of the created world to be linked with the future that belongs to the believers. As it shares in the penalty of corruption brought about by sin, so also will it share in the benefits of redemption and future glory that comprise the ultimate liberation of God's people (Romans 8:19-22).
After patient endurance in steadfast expectation, the full harvest of the Spirit's presence will be realized. On earth believers enjoy the first-fruits, i.e., the Spirit, as a guarantee of the total liberation of their bodies from the influence of the rebellious old self (Romans 8:23).”
Responsorial Psalm Ps 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Psalm 126 recalls God’s salvation as the people scattered and enslaved are brought back out of exile. The restoration of the land and the people is seen as a foreshadowing of the salvation to come.
Gospel Lk 13:18-21
These two parables describe the humble beginnings and the ultimate growth of the Kingdom of God presented through Jesus’ ministry. While they have parallel passages in the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark (Matthew 13:31-33 and Mark 4:30-32) they are especially powerful for the Gentile population to which St. Luke ministers because of the inclusive nature of the stories.
Reflection:
We are reminded today, as we hear once more the two parables in the Gospel, of the old rhyme:
For want of a shoe the horse was lost
For want of a horse the message was lost
For want of the message the battle was lost
For want of the battle the country was lost
For want of a shoe the country was lost
From the very small beginnings in Israel, the word and work of Jesus has spread though out the world. The Church is in virtually every country and the Bible is the most published and distributed book in history. When we think of how far God’s plan has progressed in these two millennia we are amazed. Think of it. When the Lord suffered his passion and death there were only eleven –eleven disciples of Jesus. That does not, of course include his mother, Mary, Queen of the Saints nor the other women who where with them, but still there were certainly less than 100 people in the world who knew and believed Jesus' identity and mission.
From that humble beginning in that backwater part of the world sprang all the Christians everywhere. When that is considered, we wonder how anyone can doubt God’s gift of the Holy Spirit. We are awed by what has happened in the world because God’s Son chose to reveal His Father in the way he did.
We also fell insignificant at times in this grand plan our Heavenly Father has put into motion. We fell at times like our role is so insignificant that it would be alright if we sort of took time out from pushing forward with our zeal to bring that message to others. That is the reason we recalled that simple Middleville Rhyme. You see that mustard plant that God’s Church has become does not live in a gentle and loving world. Everyone is needed to keep it flourishing and growing. There are always leaves and even branches that are dying or cut back by a hostile world. We are part of that organic growth and the life of faith depends upon each of us.
Today our prayer is that we might help the Kingdom of God expand, even just a little, though our efforts for the greater Glory of the Father. We pledge to keep the promise handed down to us and to remain faithful to the one who gave all that we might live.
Pax
[1] After Links to Reading Expire
[2] The picture used today is Landscape with Birds by Roelandt Savery, 1622
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Rom 8:18-25
There is a note on the NAB that really does this passage justice: “The glory that believers are destined to share with Christ far exceeds the sufferings of the present life. Paul considers the destiny of the created world to be linked with the future that belongs to the believers. As it shares in the penalty of corruption brought about by sin, so also will it share in the benefits of redemption and future glory that comprise the ultimate liberation of God's people (Romans 8:19-22).
After patient endurance in steadfast expectation, the full harvest of the Spirit's presence will be realized. On earth believers enjoy the first-fruits, i.e., the Spirit, as a guarantee of the total liberation of their bodies from the influence of the rebellious old self (Romans 8:23).”
Responsorial Psalm Ps 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Psalm 126 recalls God’s salvation as the people scattered and enslaved are brought back out of exile. The restoration of the land and the people is seen as a foreshadowing of the salvation to come.
Gospel Lk 13:18-21
These two parables describe the humble beginnings and the ultimate growth of the Kingdom of God presented through Jesus’ ministry. While they have parallel passages in the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark (Matthew 13:31-33 and Mark 4:30-32) they are especially powerful for the Gentile population to which St. Luke ministers because of the inclusive nature of the stories.
Reflection:
We are reminded today, as we hear once more the two parables in the Gospel, of the old rhyme:
For want of a shoe the horse was lost
For want of a horse the message was lost
For want of the message the battle was lost
For want of the battle the country was lost
For want of a shoe the country was lost
From the very small beginnings in Israel, the word and work of Jesus has spread though out the world. The Church is in virtually every country and the Bible is the most published and distributed book in history. When we think of how far God’s plan has progressed in these two millennia we are amazed. Think of it. When the Lord suffered his passion and death there were only eleven –eleven disciples of Jesus. That does not, of course include his mother, Mary, Queen of the Saints nor the other women who where with them, but still there were certainly less than 100 people in the world who knew and believed Jesus' identity and mission.
From that humble beginning in that backwater part of the world sprang all the Christians everywhere. When that is considered, we wonder how anyone can doubt God’s gift of the Holy Spirit. We are awed by what has happened in the world because God’s Son chose to reveal His Father in the way he did.
We also fell insignificant at times in this grand plan our Heavenly Father has put into motion. We fell at times like our role is so insignificant that it would be alright if we sort of took time out from pushing forward with our zeal to bring that message to others. That is the reason we recalled that simple Middleville Rhyme. You see that mustard plant that God’s Church has become does not live in a gentle and loving world. Everyone is needed to keep it flourishing and growing. There are always leaves and even branches that are dying or cut back by a hostile world. We are part of that organic growth and the life of faith depends upon each of us.
Today our prayer is that we might help the Kingdom of God expand, even just a little, though our efforts for the greater Glory of the Father. We pledge to keep the promise handed down to us and to remain faithful to the one who gave all that we might live.
Pax
[1] After Links to Reading Expire
[2] The picture used today is Landscape with Birds by Roelandt Savery, 1622
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