Monday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Saint Wenceslaus, Martyr
Saints Laurence Ruiz and his Companions, Martyrs
Alternate Proper for the Memorial of St. Wenceslaus
Alternate Texts for the Common of Martyrs
Readings for Monday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Zechariah 8:1-8
This word of the LORD of hosts came:
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
I am intensely jealous for Zion,
stirred to jealous wrath for her.
Thus says the LORD:
I will return to Zion,
and I will dwell within Jerusalem;
Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city,
and the mountain of the LORD of hosts,
the holy mountain.
Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women,
each with staff in hand because of old age,
shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem.
The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Even if this should seem impossible
in the eyes of the remnant of this people,
shall it in those days be impossible in my eyes also,
says the LORD of hosts?
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Lo, I will rescue my people from the land of the rising sun,
and from the land of the setting sun.
I will bring them back to dwell within Jerusalem.
They shall be my people, and I will be their God,
with faithfulness and justice.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Zec 8:1-8
The Prophet Zechariah, whose oracle we hear in this passage, was another contemporary of Ezra and Haggai. Zechariah here issues God’s call to the people to come back from exile to Zion, Jerusalem that the city might be reborn in greatness. We may see it as a call to conversion, a return to more steadfast faith in the New Jerusalem – Christ’s Kingdom.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23
R. (17) The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the Lord:
“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die.”
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence.
That the name of the LORD may be declared in Zion;
and his praise, in Jerusalem,
When the peoples gather together,
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23
Psalm 102 is actually a lament – one of the Penitential Psalms. In this selection we see the call to return to the foundations of faith set in Jerusalem or Zion. These strophes support the call from Zechariah heard in the first reading.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Luke 9:46-50
An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest.”
Then John said in reply,
“Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company.”
Jesus said to him,
“Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 9:46-50
St. Luke depicts a teaching moment for Jesus as he tells his Disciples that they must not fall into the all too human trap of rivalry for leadership. Rather he tells them that humble leadership will be the norm. In the second instance, the Lord insists that his Disciples accept support from those whom they do not know (see also comments on Mark 9:38-48).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
Kneeling before the tabernacle, I can think of only one thing to say to our Lord: "My God, you know that I love You." And I feel that my prayer does not weary Jesus; knowing my weakness, He is satisfied with my good will. -Saint Therese of Lisieux
When we read the Gospel of St. Luke and hear the words we heard today; “For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest” there are some contemporary examples we could point to for meaning. None, however, are more eloquent than the attitude expressed by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower of Jesus who was quoted at the beginning of this entry.
The simple faith captured in that one piercing prayer “My God, you know that I love You.” says volumes and when it comes from the heart it drives our actions to imitate those of Christ. His whole mission was to give exactly that message from God to us “My Children, you know that I love you.”
The Lord was telling his Disciples that when their intent was unselfish, their actions directed at loving God, then their leadership would be genuine and the outcome pleasing to the Father whose love is expressed perfectly in Jesus. It is such a simple concept that, like them, we often “over think” it. We get caught up in the complexity of human interaction, trying to detect motives and appeal to agendas. Our expression of that prayer; “My God, you know that I love You.” in our every action will accomplish what God intends.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Zechariah and Gabriel” artist and date are UNKNOWN
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
Saint Wenceslaus, Martyr
Saints Laurence Ruiz and his Companions, Martyrs
Alternate Proper for the Memorial of St. Wenceslaus
Alternate Texts for the Common of Martyrs
Readings for Monday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Zechariah 8:1-8
This word of the LORD of hosts came:
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
I am intensely jealous for Zion,
stirred to jealous wrath for her.
Thus says the LORD:
I will return to Zion,
and I will dwell within Jerusalem;
Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city,
and the mountain of the LORD of hosts,
the holy mountain.
Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women,
each with staff in hand because of old age,
shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem.
The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Even if this should seem impossible
in the eyes of the remnant of this people,
shall it in those days be impossible in my eyes also,
says the LORD of hosts?
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Lo, I will rescue my people from the land of the rising sun,
and from the land of the setting sun.
I will bring them back to dwell within Jerusalem.
They shall be my people, and I will be their God,
with faithfulness and justice.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Zec 8:1-8
The Prophet Zechariah, whose oracle we hear in this passage, was another contemporary of Ezra and Haggai. Zechariah here issues God’s call to the people to come back from exile to Zion, Jerusalem that the city might be reborn in greatness. We may see it as a call to conversion, a return to more steadfast faith in the New Jerusalem – Christ’s Kingdom.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23
R. (17) The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the Lord:
“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die.”
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence.
That the name of the LORD may be declared in Zion;
and his praise, in Jerusalem,
When the peoples gather together,
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23
Psalm 102 is actually a lament – one of the Penitential Psalms. In this selection we see the call to return to the foundations of faith set in Jerusalem or Zion. These strophes support the call from Zechariah heard in the first reading.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Luke 9:46-50
An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest.”
Then John said in reply,
“Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company.”
Jesus said to him,
“Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 9:46-50
St. Luke depicts a teaching moment for Jesus as he tells his Disciples that they must not fall into the all too human trap of rivalry for leadership. Rather he tells them that humble leadership will be the norm. In the second instance, the Lord insists that his Disciples accept support from those whom they do not know (see also comments on Mark 9:38-48).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
Kneeling before the tabernacle, I can think of only one thing to say to our Lord: "My God, you know that I love You." And I feel that my prayer does not weary Jesus; knowing my weakness, He is satisfied with my good will. -Saint Therese of Lisieux
When we read the Gospel of St. Luke and hear the words we heard today; “For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest” there are some contemporary examples we could point to for meaning. None, however, are more eloquent than the attitude expressed by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower of Jesus who was quoted at the beginning of this entry.
The simple faith captured in that one piercing prayer “My God, you know that I love You.” says volumes and when it comes from the heart it drives our actions to imitate those of Christ. His whole mission was to give exactly that message from God to us “My Children, you know that I love you.”
The Lord was telling his Disciples that when their intent was unselfish, their actions directed at loving God, then their leadership would be genuine and the outcome pleasing to the Father whose love is expressed perfectly in Jesus. It is such a simple concept that, like them, we often “over think” it. We get caught up in the complexity of human interaction, trying to detect motives and appeal to agendas. Our expression of that prayer; “My God, you know that I love You.” in our every action will accomplish what God intends.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Zechariah and Gabriel” artist and date are UNKNOWN
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
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