25TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (White)
St. Vincent de Paul, priest
Tb 13:2, 3-4a,4befghn, 7-8
Blessed be God, who lives for ever.
1st Reading: Ezra 9:5-9
I remained seated and dismayed until the evening sacrifice; and then, at the time for the evening offering, I rose from my fasting, and with my clothes and mantle torn, I knelt down, spreading out my hands to Yahweh, my God.
I said, “My God! I am ashamed and confused, my God, I do not dare raise my eyes to you; for our sins have increased over our heads and our crimes reach up to the heavens.
From the days of our ancestors to this day, our guilt has been great. We, our kings and priests have been given into the hands of foreign kings because of our crimes; we have been delivered to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and put to shame as on this day. However, for a brief moment, the mercy of Yahweh, our God, has been shown to us. He made a remnant of our people survive, and allowed the survivor to settle once again in his Holy Place. He has given us joy and life, though we are in bondage. We are no more than slaves, but in the midst of our slavery, God has not abandoned us, he has extended a merciful hand over us to support us before the kings of Persia. He has revived our life, enabled us to rebuild the house of our God, and to have walls in Jerusalem and in the other cities of Judah.
Gospel: Lk 9:1-6
Then Jesus called his Twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to drive out all evil spirits and to heal diseases. And he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He instructed them, “Don‘t take anything for the journey, neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and don‘t even take a spare tunic. Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place. And wherever they don‘t welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust from your feet: it will be as a testimony against them.“
So they set out, and went through the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.
REFLECTION:
Jesus‘s commissioning of the disciples has a disarming simplicity. They are to have no elaborate preparations, no provisions to take with them. Trust Providence and the generosity of the people they visit. Proclaim the Kingdom. Heal the sick. Drive out demons. Whatever house they walk in, they must stay there. If they are received, well and good. If not, they must dust themselves off and move on.
Is it possible to practice similar trust in our days? And why not? We too are commissioned by Jesus Christ who is the same Lord yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8). He gives us the same faculties, the same powers, and the same instructions. The problem is with us—we think we have a better understanding of the demands and dangers of the present world and refuse to trust God‘s Providence. How else would we explain our worries and anxieties in various ministries at the service of the Lord? We need to strengthen our trust in the one who called us. He is faithful and he will do it (1 Thess. 5:24).
Daily Reflection
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
Readings and Reflections
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