Hope in eternal love starting now

Listen for the Love message

The letter of Paul to the Philippians in the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary is full of the love which the Apostle to the Gentiles has toward these people. Friar Jude Winkler comments that in this authentic letter Paul is writing from prison where he is uncertain about whether he will soon be executed. The focus of Paul on reunion in the afterlife with this community is resonant with our own experience of hope in the eternal nature of Love. The Gospel from Luke contains a second discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees about acting in love for the other on the Sabbath. The image of ox and ass is used a second time by Luke to remind us that our concern for our work animals, or perhaps today our work itself, can be more important to us than care of the people around us. Andy Alexander, S.J. is very aware of how the Synod on the Family speakers recently have urged us to become more attentive to accompanying people in their struggles rather than focus on rules which exclude and separate us from those we love. The challenge for us is to seek the growth in love and knowledge Paul hopes for the Philippians so that we might act, in this time, to show deeper compassion for our beloved who struggle in exclusion by our laws.

The Battle against evil is engaged in prayer

Evil battled in prayer

The spiritual powers of evil are described as gathering in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. We need only glance into the media to be able to come up with a list of evil events in our world. We name our enemy as ebola, ISIS or terrorist. Friar Jude Winkler reminds us that the spiritual battle within against the passions which take us away from acting as people living in Christ are to be engaged first by seeking virtue through prayer. Prayer in the Spirit is described by Tom Purcell as our way of realizing how the gifts that God has given to us will be brought to action today. That action which will involve us with the other is love. Love will motivate the best response to the external evils. The Gospel from Luke emphasizes, according to Julian Kinkaid, the prayer life of Jesus. In walking in the Spirit, Jesus proclaims His destiny to be as the Prophets of His heritage and to be rejected by the people of the Holy City, Jerusalem. Unfortunately today, this place which is sacred to Jew, Muslim and Christian continues to do external battle against zealots who seem unable to find the armour of virtue in the action of love when they listen, internally, to the Spirit of God.

Too many questions for pragmatist

More than pragmatism

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge our modern need for answers and rules for success. The household instructions which are presented to the Ephesians today are directed to obligations within families and in the organization of work under slavery. Friar Jude Winkler alludes to the importance of mutual obligation in Stoic thinking of this time. The author of Ephesians goes beyond the pragmatic philosophy to encourage us to love others and treat them as Jesus would. Contemporary writers argue not only that Christianity contains Stoic thought but that this philosophy is very appropriate for Western society today which may find itself in similar political situations to Greece and Rome at the time of Jesus. The mystery of God and the disappointment we experience in not being able to get a straight answer from God are reflections of Diane Jorgensen from the Gospel of Luke today. Our pragmatic approach too often settles for less. Living with the love, compassion, charity and forgiveness of Jesus, which has no limit, is living in faith that the journey is not measured in accomplishments and quantity of good deeds but in the daily decisions to follow Him.

The Plan to hold the heritage of Love in the community

An community planned for holiness

The plan of God for building a community of believers is theme from the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. The Church commemorates the apostles Saints Simon and Jude today. The calling of the Twelve from the Gospel of Luke is a link to those followers of Jesus who lived with Him. Friar Jude Winkler comments that Luke emphasizes the Plan of God which will be executed. Stoic thought, with which Luke was acquainted, promoted obedience to the Divine Plan which may have seemed illogical in the type of persons chosen through prayer to be so close to Jesus. The letter to the Ephesians invites them to accept Christ’s invitation that they be built into a Temple of God’s people. The unity under Christ of Jews and Gentiles is our heritage which Friar Jude reminds is entrusted to the care of the present day Church. The reflection of Edward Morse that he belongs to something bigger than himself is a foundational experience through which we can address the great enemy of Christian community, our selfishness. The grin and bear it philosophy of the Stoics, which is mentioned by  Fr. George W. Rutler, was at home with obedience and discipline. The Life with Christ brings inclusion and joy as we praise God for the invitation to walk toward holiness singing with the psalmist as we bring the message of Life to all the earth.

Hearing how we look

See light in children

The words from the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today may be best absorbed from the point of view of children. The passage from the Letter to the Ephesians directs us to be imitators of God and children of light. A Sunday School lesson on this text makes the point that we need to know what are some of the actions which witness to our membership in the family of Christ and some life choices which will convey the opposite message to people. The reflection of Jan Schnack which describes walking in solitude where we have the opportunity to listen to God may be an opportunity to have the Spirit indicate to us the areas in which our life journey could radiate more of the Light of Christ. Friar Jude Winkler reinforces the theme of how actions speak loudly of what we really believe. The Gospel from Luke tells of Jesus decision to act now to relieve the burden of the crippled woman instead of arranging a less confrontational action where the cure would be offered in private or after the Sabbath. The impetuous response of our childhood to receive and give love and affection is often replaced with caution and reticence as we dwell on the bruises and scars of our personal journey. Our healing from the crippling attitudes and actions of 18 or 80 years is offered to us now.

Present in our love for the alien

Vertical Horizontal moral responsibility

This Sunday’s readings offer a great opportunity to appreciate Jesus’ commitment to the moral vision of the Hebrew Bible. This is a comment made by Dennis Hamm, S.J., Professor Emeritus in the Department of Theology at Creighton University. The PONTIFICAL BIBLICAL COMMISSION has produced a document on the Biblical Roots of Christian Conduct which looks at the search of every person for happiness and meaning and how Holy Scripture aids in understanding contemporary questions of morality. Friar Jude Winkler describes the development of the horizontal and vertical aspects of our faith as we need our relationship with God to support our relationship with each other. Pope Francis speaking on the World Day for Migrants and Refugees declares the role of the Church to love the poorest and most abandoned. This love takes the form of the particular care for the least powerful expressed in the passage from Exodus. Friar Jude and Dennis Hamm S.J. remind us of the gift of meeting God in the Presence of those to whom we offer our service. The model which Paul preaches to the Thessalonians is to imitate Christ. Our understanding of Jesus is enhanced as we realize that He taught and spoke in the manner of Jewish teachers of His time. Friar Jude reminds us that the Jewish exaggeration of Paul is a technique which flags for us superlatives in behaviour and morality. The experience of being aliens in our salvation history is that of the Israelites in Egypt and of the Holy Family who fled after Jesus birth to the same region for safety. Our moral heritage points to our responsibility to open our lives to help the aliens and refugees today.

Building faith and building the Church

Faith to fruit

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today provide some nourishment as we consider what fruit may be produced from our faith. The letter to the Ephesians directs our attention to the gifts we have received from God. Chas Kestermeier, S.J. challenges us to find our particular role in the Church. The maturity which Friar Jude Winkler comments we are called to develop with the charisms given us by the Spirit is one which takes us deeper than the speech of modern spiritual gurus to participation in building a community which is resonant with the experience of thousands of years of living with attention to the revelation of the Holy Spirit. In the time when the Gospel of Luke was written, the end time marked by Jesus return was thought to be close. Anxiety about the truth in the Gospel today that our personal end time on earth can come unexpectedly is balance with the parable Jesus tells of the decision of the landowner to allow the gardener to fertilize and cultivate the barren fig tree so that it may produce the fruit required in the next year. Our gifts will produce the fruit as we open ourselves to being fertilized and cultivated in our faith.

Faith reconciliation and communion

Surrender and ascend

The people who long to see the face of God are described by the psalmist in the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. The people who ascend the mountain of the Lord are sinless, with clean hearts and they desire not what is vain. In the Gospel from Luke today Jesus calls us to awareness that we need to choose, as Friar Jude Winkler comments, to make our peace with God or not as the day of judgement is as forecastable as a change in the weather. The letter to the Ephesians gives us direction about the qualities in our lives which are the evidence of our surrender to the Love offered by God. Tom Stegman, S.J. sees in the texts today a call in the present time to practice humility, gentleness and patience. Accepting reconciliation with God through our surrender in faith to the One Lord is our decision to be an active agent in bringing the Kingdom of God to the present time as we grow in replacing our self interest with interest in the needs of others. In living the communion of Body and Spirit described to the Ephesians, we are ascending the mountain of the Lord in praise and thanksgiving with the psalmist.

The fullness of Love is a difficult Kingdom for some

Four dimensions and conflict

The psalmist proclaims that the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord and the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today address some of the conflict which arises from this belief. The prayer of Paul as recorded by the author of the Letter to the Ephesians is that we become open to the Divine Plan of salvation which immerses us in Love through Christ and the indwelling Spirit. Friar Jude Winkler tells of how this message strikes out against the Gnostic heretics who understood fullness in a very different way. The Gospel from Luke states clearly that the acceptance of Jesus proclamation of the Kingdom of God will refine and purify His followers. Friar Jude explains that the consequence of acting in the Spirit of the goodness of the Lord in our daily life will bring crosses which will even come from family members who misunderstand our work in the vineyard as trivial, misdirected, being taken advantage of, deluded, not realistic, too passive and inappropriate in a world where there are winners and losers.

Live with faith and love eternally

The Household listens for the Master

In the Household listening for the Master

The ideals of peaceful communion and life lived well are set before us from the texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The letter to the Ephesians proclaims that the Gentiles, who did not know the salvation history of the Jews, are called by Jesus to join the communion which sets aside the differences between peoples. Friar Jude Winkler describes the Household of God wherein we no longer seek God in the Temple but we encounter the Spirit in ourselves and others. The reality of our finite time in our earthly existence is brought to our attention by the Gospel from Luke. Friar Jude describes the peaceful anticipation of the final judgement through living daily with the goal of leaving nothing unsaid or nothing undone. This is a tall order. We are not alone as we journey in our transformation to deeper intimacy with God. Craig Zimmer encourages us to listen and we may hear the echo of the master’s footsteps, in the here and now.

Living with excess... giving with grace

Our greed is our life

Our choices about what we carry from this life to the next are a topic of reflection from the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The letter to the Ephesians reminds us of death like existence of being slaves to our passions with our transgressions dominating our concern. The text points to the free gift of salvation which manifests itself, as Friar Jude comments, in a life of vitality in Christ which will transition to the next life by falling asleep in the Lord. The Gospel from Luke challenges the degree of our complete dependence upon God when greed seems to be our strong motivator. Don Schwager meditates on the reality that our treasure is the thing upon which we most set our hearts. The parable from Luke encourages Jay Carney to remind us that a typically northern and western desire to choreograph our lives may take us away from the living our fundamental dependency on God and each other. The social message which we fail to hear is that our excess is gift from God and that gift is to be shared with those who have less.

On a mission acting with faith, hope and love

Mission, diversity and communion

The themes of mission, diversity and communion are inspirations from the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. The passage from Deutero Isaiah tells of the anointing of the Persian Cyrus as an agent of God to defeat the Babylonians who held the Jews in captivity and set the stage for the return of the captives to Jerusalem. Frair Jude Winkler comments on the development of monotheism among the Israelites as they perceive that One God acts and accomplishes the Divine Mission through the actions of many peoples. The letter to the Thessalonians contains an early presentation of the “theological virtues”, faith, love and hope. Friar Jude expands how these graces are developed by work, labour and endurance. The beginning of the letter to the Thessalonians, Friar Jude notes, is marked by the use of the pronoun “we”. The notion of the communal nature of our mission to draw disciples to Christ is the meditation of Suzanne Guthrie as she is struck by the contrast of the sameness of the image on Caesar's coin and the uniqueness and diversity of nature and humanity. Giving God glory and honor is the method whereby Rev. Richard Gabuzda advises us to render unto God as Jesus cleverly turns the tables on those who try to entrap Him in the account from the Gospel of Matthew. Our daily lives bring us into encounters with civil authority and company policy which may be in conflict with labouring in love, working for faith and enduring in hope. In those times our communion with Jesus and His disciples will strengthen our resolve to attend to the Way.

Mercy attracts

Evangelize and live mercy

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary inspire consideration of what aspect of God is most attractive to humanity? Molly Mattingly suggests that the readings today are like a how-to manual for evangelization. She notes that successful evangelization rests on the foundation of the Golden Rule. The humanity of Paul who describes some of his needs and disappointments in the text from the letter to Timothy reminds us that we need to live simply and be open to help from others. Friar Jude Winkler reminds us that we bring the message of the Gospel to everyone but that some will not be ready to hear our message. The timing of personal recognition of the Love of God is not our domain. Our work for the harvest will likely be brought to fruition by someone else.In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus is preparing missionaries for the work of being His witnesses. The Gospel written by Luke is named the Gospel of Mercy.The only account of the deep mercy of Jesus to the thief who is crucified next to Him comes from Luke. It is the quality of the mercy that we show others which presents that most attractive Divine Attribute which bears fruit in the vineyard in which His disciples are giving witness to others.

First Installment in eternal plan

No control over experiencing Grace

Attempt to control knowledge with false icons

The temptation to control the manner in which we join with others in experience  of Divine Presence is not in accord with the themes in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The Letter to the Ephesians is celebrated as the text in which the theology of our Life in Christ is proclaimed, according to Ray Stedman. The author tells us of a plan of God to to bring all creation under the final rule of Christ. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the link which associates Jesus with Lady Wisdom in the Hebrew Testament. He presents how the Pharisees and scribes reduced the knowledge of God to an icon which they defined much as some Christians today fashion Jesus as the prophet of their own worldview. The Gospel from Luke continues the rant of Jesus in the home of the Pharisee against the practices which have burdened those seeking communion with God. Kyle Lierk identifies the actions of people who intentionally attempt to keep others from the grace of God. The attitude of holy woman and Doctor of the Church, St Teresa of Avila, is cited by Don Schwager as the key to experiencing knowledge of the Kingdom of God. In simple surrender and service we experience the Life in Christ intended for us from the beginning of time.

Freedom, slavery, laws and Love

Law and Love

The question of the nature of freedom for the followers of Jesus and the role of guilt in the lives of believers are thoughts inspired by the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. In the text from the Letter to the Galatians Paul creates a list of vices and virtues. Friar Jude Winkler analyses the format of this presentation which uses Hebrew techniques to express the superlative to present ancient and Greek virtues as part of an organized and peaceful life. Our concern about what is right and wrong may lead us to be susceptible to the tyranny of laws which lead us away from the Spirit of Love which Timothy R. Lannon, S.J. suggests is the role of laws. The Gospel from Luke continues Jesus forceful denunciation of over scrupulous rules and regulation which Friar Jude notes will leave people guilty with no way out. The way out is Love.

The freedom to be generous

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary urge us to develop our relationship with God using our freedom to choose to be generous with others.

The letter to the Galatians continues the appeal of Paul to his audience for a decision in favour of the Spirit and faith as the guide to their journey with Christ. In the living out of the journey with Jesus, we may find ourselves in the position of the Pharisee in the Gospel from Luke who seeks more information about Jesus but when challenged to review our own deficiencies become more defensive and retreat to the comfort of our preconceptions of how an encounter with God should play out. Sue Crawford expresses the view that our freedom in Christ is experienced in our love for God and one another as we free the time and treasure once devoted to ourselves. Living by giving freely and generously to others expresses the love, compassion, kindness and mercy that is developing in our hearts in relationship with God according to Don Schwager.

Symbols and allegory point to our pattern

Our patterns presented in allegory

Review of some commentaries on the texts from the Roman Catholic lectionary today raises the question of how can we interpret symbols, signs and allegories. The letter of Paul to the Galatians is described as an allegory where the story he tells is symbolic and the characters and events are meant to be applied to a situation being addressed by the author. Friar Jude Winkler identifies the technique rabbinical technique of midrash in this letter about being enslaved by the Law and being freed by faith in Jesus. This technique of using patterns in salvation history as an illustration of doctrine is thought by Chuck Missler to be one of the techniques of Scripture study which will help modern Western Christians recover a spiritual viewpoint with which Jesus and Paul taught the people. In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus presents the sign of Jonah to the crowds in response to their demands. Friar Jude reminds us that the symbolism of Jonah is not straightforward. Is Jesus aiming at the sign that Jonah spent three days in the belly of the whale in reference to His own time to come in the tomb? Like the understanding of Nancy Shirley, Friar Jude favours the sign of Jonah who preached to Nineveh and the repented to become people of God. The pattern which midrash technique may show us is that those who hear and accept the Word receive deep communion with God and those who hesitate and reject the message see that their opportunity has been passed to the other. There is a continual repetition of the pattern of invitation from God and our free decision to accept or reject for which midrash and allegory are the tools which best present the continued faithfulness of God and our continued fickle response.

Choose to participate in the banquet

All invited to feast

The invitation to feast and be guided to green pastures is an image of Providence in the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. Friar Jude Winkler notes that the passage from Isaiah speaks of a universalism whereby salvation is offered to all people through the great feast on the holy mountain.  Karoline M. Lewis is stuck by the extravagant banquet which Isaiah, Psalm 23 and the Gospel from Matthew describe. There are people excluded from the banquet in the parable Jesus tells in the Gospel. Ignacio Castuera understands that a process of self exclusion is being described. The Gospel was written by a Jew to a Jewish audience at a time after the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 CE. This event was part of a great transition to suffering for many Jews in the Roman Empire. The Letter of Paul to the Philippians, Friar Jude notes, was written by Paul from his imprisonment in Rome. The faith of Paul in Providence has the character of expectation that the mission to spread the Good News is connected to and even facilitated by the tragedies and suffering of our lives. The openness of Paul to finding the Will of God in all life events is in contrast to the attitude of some people invited by the king to the wedding feast in the Gospel. The message of Matthew to his Jewish audience is linked to rejection of the Prophets and Jesus and the destruction of the Temple. The decision not to accept the invitation to the Kingdom of Heaven here and now is often because our self serving priorities place communion with God in joyful celebration at a lower importance that our property, power, possessions and privilege. The invitation is for all. The universal set of all people is dualistically described as the good and the bad. With all of the joy and invitation to Life in Isaiah, Psalm and Matthew it is very surprising that we might accept the invitation and arrive with no intention to participate. Did the unfortunate who was thrown bound into the darkness come with an assumption formed through an overblown self image that he deserved something for nothing. The King seeks only the decision to participate and be open. How sad when we cannot put on the garment provided for our Life.

Our priorities for Peace through Love

Love the Priority

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary inspire consideration of the relative priority of some of the concerns and practices we carry in our journey as the Body of Christ. Paul concludes Chapter 3 of his letter to the region of Galatia with an argument in support of our justification by faith and the promise to Abraham which links us spiritually to a long tradition of trust in God. The importance of our personal revelation during our short time aware of Christ needs to be weighed on a balance with a salvation history beginning with the revelation to Abraham. Friar Jude Winkler explains the priority Paul gives the Law relative to faith as the agent of our justification. The distinctions in our temporal and finite world between Jew and Gentile, free and slave, and male and female still exist. Our ability to trust in God as source and summit of Life brings all the distinct elements of humanity to union in Love as members of the Body of Christ. The love in this communion is Way to rise above distinctions from our fallen nature. Friar Jude reminds us that attention to the detail of the Gospel from Luke reveals that Mary is portrayed as the greatest disciple. Don Schwager extends the blessing of Jesus to the experience of joy which is found among those who hear the Word, like Mary, and act upon it. A Catholic tradition is to invoke the intercession of Mary for peace in the world. This priority is recognized in the comments today from SusanTinley. Our Father, Our Brother Jesus and Mary set Love as the top priority. Let us pray for peace.

Good and Evil tensions for people of faith

The disciple persists in faith and prayer

Seek through the Spirit

Some of our struggle as humans seeking communion with the Divine are brought to our mind by the texts today in the Roman Catholic Lectionary. The refrain of the Canticle of Zechariah reminds us that the Lord, the God of Israel has come to His people. Paul addresses strong words to the Galatians calling them to remember their experience of the Spirit and trust in God which is their communion with Life. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the anger of Paul that the following of law may lead to concupiscence which will take them away from the Spirit. Don Schwager understands the text from the Gospel from Luke shows the desire of God to give us the best for needs at all times. Yves I-Bing Cheng, M.D., M.A. writes about the need for us to approach God with persistence in prayer. This attitude toward communication with God is for our benefit according to the comments by George Butterfield. Salvation history, as lived by Abraham, Zachariah, Jesus, Paul and our own experience, is revelation of how our persistent seeking invokes love and forgiveness as the response of God.

Prayer and Leadership for Disciples

Leadership and Prayer

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary invite us to consider how we may be advancing our plans as disciples in a manner which is not in complete harmony with direction which is based in prayerful petition. The issue which Paul explores in the letter to the Galatians revolves around whether Gentile converts are required to follow practices which originate in the tradition of Jewish converts. Friar Jude Winkler drills down to the theological implications of Peter showing disbelief in the forgiveness of the sins of Gentiles by deciding not to eat with them. The primitive version of the Lord’s Prayer from the Gospel of Luke contains  praise as an act of recognition of the truth about God and, as Mark Latta and Friar Jude note, goes far beyond the distance at the rabbis of Jesus time held God. Friar Jude reminds us that the Apostle Paul was always working strategically to understand the consequences of his words and actions. Our understanding of the impetuous and less sophisticated nature of Peter is that he often spoke and acted without hesitation and forethought. Both approaches to leadership are in need of inspiration through intimate prayer contact with God to allow Providence to provide the content and timing of our action.

Life in the Moment may offer Transformation

The Good News which puts Love before Law

Journey in vineyard to universal love

Tenants in the Vineyard

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today involve us in a journey in which we live as members of the Body of Christ. The parenesis of Paul to the Philippians is compared by Friar Jude Winkler to the last minute advice of a parent to a child who is going away from home. Peace in the life of the child is to be realized by continuing to live as taught in the family. Friar Jude emphasizes the need for disciples of Jesus to remain on guard against filling our lives and minds with junk which has no beauty or grace. The journey throughout the Gospel texts of October is, according to Ignacio Castuero, an opportunity to hear loudly and clearly that tribalism must be abandoned. The Great Commandment of love of God and neighbour will be the Gospel text at the end of this month. Paddy Gilger, S.J. shows us an view of the Gospel from Matthew about the parable of the tenants which challenges us to hear the message of prophets yesterday and today about the our status as both sinners and loved. As Rev. Dr. Janet H. Hunt notes, we are taking the lives of those sent to collect the rent when we adopt the attitude that the vineyard is mine or I have worked to receive it. Don Schwager understands that God entrusts his gifts and grace to each of us and he gives us work to do in his vineyard — the body of Christ. The sharpness of the message in the Text from Isaiah that God has not found the fruit He seeks in His Vineyard is not a condemnation of one tribe or tradition but it is a challenge all the people of God to live the parenesis of Paul on peace.

Links to the commentators are here

Simple Humble Path to Peace

A Channel of peace

The Roman Catholic Lectionary for the feast to commemorate the life of St Francis of Assisi features texts which show humility and relationship to God to be the values which bring Life. The Islamic feast of Eid al-Adha is also celebrated today. The relationship of this saint with Muslim leaders during a time of conflict in the Crusades is extremely relevant today as mostly Christian armed forces prepare to do battle with Muslims in Syria and Iraq. The conclusion of Job that he must simply trust in God has resonance within the pillars of Islam. Friar Jude Winkler comments on our need to understand some of the language of sacred texts according to the traditions of the time. Thankfully we no longer consider children as possessions and some of the misunderstanding of sacrifice in Islam is based on attempts to understand the practices of earlier times with a modern mindset. Don Schwager finds the call to simplicity of heart in the advice Jesus gives His disciples in the Gospel from Luke. The power and magnificence of God experienced by the disciples is deeply experienced in the simplicity of faith and a loving charity toward others. Steve Scholer tells of Francis action toward a street beggar which was an experience of loving all people.  Fr Richard Rohr describes the method of Francis to bring about reform is to practice the better. The prayer of peace of St Francis is the humble start to a reform of our attitudes to surrender to Love.

The Mystery invites us to live in trust

Angels are powerful guides

Divine guidance from powerful spiritual beings

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today commemorate Guardian Angels. This is one way for believers to explore the experience of not being alone in our spiritual journey. This life experience is often identified in reflection on where we are and how we got here. In Canada, the first reading is from Exodus and it describes the angel which will go before the Israelites in their conquest of Canaan. This angel is a powerful spiritual creature which is a different portrayal than the pet-like creature which Friar Jude Winkler warns us some modern cultural presents as our angel guide. The American Catholic Blog details specific lifelong roles of angels in the lives of individuals. The first reading from the USCCB is from the Book of Job. Friar Jude Winkler comments that the struggles of Job have convinced him that he has a goel, a vindicator or a redeemer who will be present to Job after death. This is noted by Friar Jude as a very early Biblical mention of resurrection. The message of Jesus to His disciples in the Gospel today from Matthew sets the priority for disciples to seek a lifestyle of simplicity which Jesus personifies in a child, who is declared to have Divine Guidance in the form of an angel in the Presence of God (Matt 18:19) Father Ramon Claro comments on the practical ways we are called to be angels to others. We may find that the opportunities cited by Daniel Patrick O'Reilly are pathways we already know in our experience of not being alone on the Way

Responding to the Mystery

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary on the day for the memorial of Saint Therese of Lisieux offer some reflection about the diverse paths possible in our journey as disciples of Jesus. The position of Job as he considers the majesty and infinite power of God is to realize, as we all should, that equality with the Divine is not our destiny. When we are aware of starring at the Eternal Mystery our sense, like Job, of our personal trials may be that they are out of proportion to our sinfulness. Friar Jude Winkler connects with this theme and we all have experience of knowing people who seem to carry more than their fair share of challenges. Saint Therese is described by the Catholic Online Website as one of the most beloved of saints who prayed for those who live the life of disciples, in her case, especially for priests. The Gospel from Luke stresses the demands made on those who decide to follow Jesus as disciples. Friar Jude relates this passage to social conditions and Jewish practices around death in Jesus time. The social behaviour of “door-talking” which connects to the lengthy farewells of Middle East hospitality may signal a reluctance to get on with the mission. Our interpersonal relationships often demand a quick and decisive response for the other in times when they are counting on us. Joe Zaborowski examines our willingness to put God first, others second and ourselves last. The message from the Scriptures today reinforces that we are on a journey which is our Life and we are too often distracted by the destination.