28TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green/Red)
Sts. Isaac Jogues / John de Brébeuf,
priests & martyrs & Companions, martyrs
Ps 130:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6ab
With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
1st Reading: Rom 3:21-30
But, now it has been revealed, altogether apart from the law, as it was already foretold in the law and the prophets: God makes us righteous by means of faith in Jesus Christ, and this is applied to all who believe, without distinction of persons. Because all have sinned and all fall short of the glory of God; and all are graciously forgiven and made righteous, through the redemption effected in Christ Jesus. For God has given him to be the victim, whose blood obtains us forgiveness, through faith.
So God shows us, how he makes us righteous. Past sins are forgiven, which God overlooked till now. For, now, he wants to reveal his way of righteousness: how he is just, and how he makes us righteous, through faith in Jesus.
Then, what becomes of our pride? It is excluded. How? Not through the law and its observances, but through another law, which is faith. For we hold, that people are in God‘s grace, by faith, and not because of all the things ordered by the law. Otherwise, God would be the God of the Jews; but is he not God of pagan nations as well? Of course he is, for there is only one God, and he will save, by faith, the circumcised Jews, as well as the uncircumcised nations.
Gospel: Lk 11:47-54
A curse is on you, for you build monuments to the prophets your ancestors killed. So you approve and agree with what your ancestors did. Is it not so? They got rid of the prophets, and you build monuments to them!
For that reason the wisdom of God also said: I will send prophets and apostles and these people will kill and persecute some of them. But the present generation will have to answer for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was murdered between the altar and the Sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, the people of this time will have to answer for them all.
A curse is on you, teachers of the law, for you have taken the key of knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you prevented others from entering.”
As Jesus left that place, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees began to harass him, asking him endless questions, setting traps to catch him in something he might say.
REFLECTION:
The killing and persecution of the prophets and apostles which is cited in the gospel recalls the event of the killing of Abel (Gen 4:1-12) and murder of the priest Zechariah in the court of the house of the Lord (2 Chr 24:20-22). These incidents serve as outcomes of envy and murderous rage. For Luke prophets and apostles hold the same function. They are both sent by God to proclaim his word. Since there are those who cannot accept their words or envious of them, killing and persecution took place.
Sufferings and difficulties are among the crosses that a follower of Christ must carry. They were experienced by early Christian and saints; and up to now, being experienced by the members of the Church founded by Christ. In the midst of them, we could use our own knowledge of the doctrine of the Church in order to endure until the end. Let this knowledge become our tool to make prudent judgment; to attain a deeper relationship with Christ; and to lead and encourage others to do the same. Be not like the lawyers in Luke‘s communities who possess the key of knowledge but their conduct have prevented them from using it for themselves and others.
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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