Saint Hedwig, Religious
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin
Biographical Information about St. Hedwig[1]
Biographical Information about St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Readings for Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Ephesians 1:1-10
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
to the holy ones who are (in Ephesus)
and faithful in Christ Jesus:
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.
In him we have redemption by his Blood,
the forgiveness of transgressions,
in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.
In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us
the mystery of his will in accord with his favor
that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times,
to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ephesians 1:1-10
The beginning of St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (although in some early manuscripts the specific faith community name is omitted, leading some to believe it was written as a “circular” letter – to be passed around) begins with the standard introduction of the apostle. This is followed with a blessing, in thanksgiving for the salvation brought to the faithful through Christ’s forgiveness and redemptive actions. The passage concludes with St. Paul’s understanding that all promises will be fulfilled according to God’s mysterious plan.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
R. (2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing a new song to the LORD,
who has done marvelous deeds,
Whose right hand and holy arm
have won the victory.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
The LORD has made his victory known;
has revealed his triumph for the nations to see,
Has remembered faithful love
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth
have seen the victory of our God.
Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully to the King, the LORD.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
Psalm 98 is a song of praise and thanksgiving. We see in this selection how God is praised for the strength he lends his people and the salvation he brings to those who are faithful.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Luke 11:47-54
“Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute’
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.”
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 11:47-54
Jesus continues his attack on the Pharisees. In this passage he begins by criticizing them for giving them respect (“…build the memorials”) only after they have been killed. Recounted explicitly are the death of Abel (see Genesis 4:8) and Zachariah (2 Chronicles 24:20-22). This emphasis provides a rationale for the Lord’s own later persecution.
The final “Woe” – “You have taken away the key of knowledge.” is a reference to the Pharisees rejection of Christ (who is the key of divine revelation). In rejecting Jesus they exhort the people who look up to them as teachers to also reject Christ (“…stopped those trying to enter.”).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homily:
We look today at the warning Jesus gives the Pharisees. There are two parts of his criticism offered up. First he blasts them for seeing God’s attempt to lead them through the prophets only after the prophets had already been mistreated and killed. We can see this as prophetic at the time it was spoken. Jesus was later treated the same way, rejected by those most responsible for providing a vision of God’s will for the people and killed by the civil leadership.
Was he saying this in an attempt to help them see what their forefathers had not? Was he really saying; “Stop what you are doing to me. Don’t you see it is the same trap your ancestors fell into?” In the back of his mind he must surly have hoped they would not be like those forbearers; although he could see history repeating itself disastrously.
(In a sense, the Pharisees reminds us of the story about the man trapped in his house by a flood. The sheriff came by and told him to leave but he said, “No, I trust God, He will save me.” Later, as the water continued to rise, a man in a boat came by and offered to take him out but he declined saying; “No, I trust in God he will save me.” Finally a helicopter came to him as he sat upon the roof of his house and offered to take him off. Once again he responded; “No, I trust in God he will save me.” The water continued to rise and the man was drowned. When he reached St. Peter he complained that he had trusted in God but he had still drowned. St. Peter consulted his book and said; “I don’t understand, God sent the sheriff, a boat and a helicopter. Didn’t they reach you?”)
He continued with his second point. He attacks their attitudes most severally because they have positions of responsibility and trust. What they say to the people matters. When they missed something so fundamentally important to their own salvation, the also hid the door so others who were seeking God’s Kingdom could not find it. Once more we speculate on the Lord’s thoughts behind the words. “Can’t you see?” he must have thought, “You condemn yourselves further because you are held to a higher standard.”
There is a great lesson for us highlighted by the Lord’s critical words to the Pharisees. We focus our worship and adoration upon Jesus who died and was raised. In him, the revelation of God was complete. But God’s plan continues. The Lord sends his faithful to accomplish his will in the world and we cannot close our eyes and reject out of hand messages that are not popular with our own world view. It is critical we do not fall into the closed-minded trap that so bound the Pharisees. As an apostolic community, we must prayerfully listen for the messages God send. We must be hyper-vigilant, seeking God’s fingerprints in our lives.
This is so critical to us, in part, because we are witnesses in the world. What we say is important to our friends and families. We do not want to compound our lack of vision by blinding others to Gods actions.
The Lord makes it tough on us today. We are called to be open to God’s actions but discerning as well – we must be prepared to accept God’s will, but be sure it is His will and not someone else’s we follow. Our prayer today, therefore, must be one of discernment. May God give us the wisdom to see the things that come from him and the strength to reject those things that come from the Evil One.
Pax
[1] The picture used today is “St. Hedwig” artist and date are UNKNOWN
[2] ALTRE
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Psalm Response is from Printed source United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3000
November 11, 2002 Copyright (c) by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin
Biographical Information about St. Hedwig[1]
Biographical Information about St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Readings for Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Ephesians 1:1-10
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
to the holy ones who are (in Ephesus)
and faithful in Christ Jesus:
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.
In him we have redemption by his Blood,
the forgiveness of transgressions,
in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.
In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us
the mystery of his will in accord with his favor
that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times,
to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ephesians 1:1-10
The beginning of St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (although in some early manuscripts the specific faith community name is omitted, leading some to believe it was written as a “circular” letter – to be passed around) begins with the standard introduction of the apostle. This is followed with a blessing, in thanksgiving for the salvation brought to the faithful through Christ’s forgiveness and redemptive actions. The passage concludes with St. Paul’s understanding that all promises will be fulfilled according to God’s mysterious plan.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
R. (2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing a new song to the LORD,
who has done marvelous deeds,
Whose right hand and holy arm
have won the victory.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
The LORD has made his victory known;
has revealed his triumph for the nations to see,
Has remembered faithful love
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth
have seen the victory of our God.
Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully to the King, the LORD.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
Psalm 98 is a song of praise and thanksgiving. We see in this selection how God is praised for the strength he lends his people and the salvation he brings to those who are faithful.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Luke 11:47-54
“Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute’
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.”
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 11:47-54
Jesus continues his attack on the Pharisees. In this passage he begins by criticizing them for giving them respect (“…build the memorials”) only after they have been killed. Recounted explicitly are the death of Abel (see Genesis 4:8) and Zachariah (2 Chronicles 24:20-22). This emphasis provides a rationale for the Lord’s own later persecution.
The final “Woe” – “You have taken away the key of knowledge.” is a reference to the Pharisees rejection of Christ (who is the key of divine revelation). In rejecting Jesus they exhort the people who look up to them as teachers to also reject Christ (“…stopped those trying to enter.”).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homily:
We look today at the warning Jesus gives the Pharisees. There are two parts of his criticism offered up. First he blasts them for seeing God’s attempt to lead them through the prophets only after the prophets had already been mistreated and killed. We can see this as prophetic at the time it was spoken. Jesus was later treated the same way, rejected by those most responsible for providing a vision of God’s will for the people and killed by the civil leadership.
Was he saying this in an attempt to help them see what their forefathers had not? Was he really saying; “Stop what you are doing to me. Don’t you see it is the same trap your ancestors fell into?” In the back of his mind he must surly have hoped they would not be like those forbearers; although he could see history repeating itself disastrously.
(In a sense, the Pharisees reminds us of the story about the man trapped in his house by a flood. The sheriff came by and told him to leave but he said, “No, I trust God, He will save me.” Later, as the water continued to rise, a man in a boat came by and offered to take him out but he declined saying; “No, I trust in God he will save me.” Finally a helicopter came to him as he sat upon the roof of his house and offered to take him off. Once again he responded; “No, I trust in God he will save me.” The water continued to rise and the man was drowned. When he reached St. Peter he complained that he had trusted in God but he had still drowned. St. Peter consulted his book and said; “I don’t understand, God sent the sheriff, a boat and a helicopter. Didn’t they reach you?”)
He continued with his second point. He attacks their attitudes most severally because they have positions of responsibility and trust. What they say to the people matters. When they missed something so fundamentally important to their own salvation, the also hid the door so others who were seeking God’s Kingdom could not find it. Once more we speculate on the Lord’s thoughts behind the words. “Can’t you see?” he must have thought, “You condemn yourselves further because you are held to a higher standard.”
There is a great lesson for us highlighted by the Lord’s critical words to the Pharisees. We focus our worship and adoration upon Jesus who died and was raised. In him, the revelation of God was complete. But God’s plan continues. The Lord sends his faithful to accomplish his will in the world and we cannot close our eyes and reject out of hand messages that are not popular with our own world view. It is critical we do not fall into the closed-minded trap that so bound the Pharisees. As an apostolic community, we must prayerfully listen for the messages God send. We must be hyper-vigilant, seeking God’s fingerprints in our lives.
This is so critical to us, in part, because we are witnesses in the world. What we say is important to our friends and families. We do not want to compound our lack of vision by blinding others to Gods actions.
The Lord makes it tough on us today. We are called to be open to God’s actions but discerning as well – we must be prepared to accept God’s will, but be sure it is His will and not someone else’s we follow. Our prayer today, therefore, must be one of discernment. May God give us the wisdom to see the things that come from him and the strength to reject those things that come from the Evil One.
Pax
[1] The picture used today is “St. Hedwig” artist and date are UNKNOWN
[2] ALTRE
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Psalm Response is from Printed source United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3000
November 11, 2002 Copyright (c) by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
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