Churches of the Day

Wednesday of the Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2
Because  God has shown his gracious love for us when we were unworthy sinners,
we need to love all our fellow human beings , yes, especially those who may have hurt us.

Saint of the Day: Nov. 11th; St Martin of Tours, bishop, Patron of France, soldiers, beggars and innkeepers.
C/f short history of today’s saint can be found below today’s Readings and Reflection

FIRST READING 

A reading from the letter of St Paul to Titus       3:1-7
We were misled, but because of his compassion God saved us.

Remind them that it is their duty to be obedient to the officials and representatives of the government; to be ready to do good at every opportunity; not to go slandering other people or picking quarrels, but to be courteous and always polite to all kinds of people. Remember, there was a time when we too were ignorant, disobedient and misled and enslaved by different passions and luxuries; we lived then in wickedness and ill-will, hating each other and hateful ourselves.

But when the kindness and love of God our saviour for mankind were revealed, it was not because he was concerned with any righteous actions we might have done ourselves; it was for no reason except his own compassion that he saved us, by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit which he has so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our saviour. He did this so that we should be justified by his grace, to become heirs looking forward to inheriting eternal life.

The Word of the Lord.         Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm       Ps 22
Response                            The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

1. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit.               Response

2. He guides me along the right path; he is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff;
with these you give me comfort.                                                                    Response

3. You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing.                 Response

4 Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.                          Response

Gospel  Acclamation                   2 Thess 2: 14
Alleluia, alleluia!
Through the Good News God called us
to share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia !

Or                                                    1 Thess 5: 18
Alleluia, alleluia!
For all things give thanks,
because this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus.
Alleluia !

GOSPEL    

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke         17:11-19
No one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him.
They stood some way off and called to him, 'Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.'
When he saw them he said, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests'.
Now as they were going away they were cleansed.

Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, 'Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.'
And he said to the man, 'Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.'

The Gospel of the Lord.        Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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Gospel Reflection            Wednesday         Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time              Luke 17:11-19

Normally Jews and Samaritans did not associate with each other; they lived apart from one another. However, leprosy was a great leveller. Jewish and Samaritan lepers occupied the same space, ostracized by their communities for fear of contagion. If a leper approached a healthy Jewish man, he had no interest in whether the leper was Jewish or Samaritan. Both were equally to be shunned.

In today’s gospel reading, a group of lepers, one of whom was a Samaritan, ‘stood some way off and called on’ Jesus, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us’. The Jews and Samaritan were united in their desperate plea to one whom they believed could heal them. It is only after their healing, while on their way to the priests, that the distinction between Jew and Samaritan shows itself. However, contrary to the expectation of the time, it is the Samaritan who emerges as one closer to God.

In the words of today’s first reading, ‘the kindness and love of God our saviour for humankind were revealed’ to all ten lepers, through the ministry of Jesus. However, whereas nine no doubt rejoiced in the gift of new health they had received from Jesus, it was only the Samaritan who looked beyond the gift to the ultimate giver, God. The Samaritan alone ‘turned back praising God at the top of his voice’. In praising God, he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him, because he recognized that it was through Jesus that God had worked in such a life-giving way. In the language of the first reading, God has renewed us ‘with the Holy Spirit which he so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our saviour’.

Like ‘the other nine’ we can be so absorbed by the gifts that God has given us that we fail to go beyond the gifts to the giver and to the one through whom God has given us these gifts, Jesus our Lord. The Samaritan prompts us to keep ‘turning back’ to the Lord, recognizing that ‘every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights’ (James 1:17).

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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd. and used with the permission of the publishers.  http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings : The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications , c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/

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Saint of the day: 11 Nov; St Martin of Tours, bishop, Patron of France
Martin was born in Pannonia (Hungary) about 316; he died in 397 and was buried on this day in Tours (France). He was a catechumen who in conscience was unable to continue with military service, was baptised at the age of eighteen, and for a time became a hermit,  worked to establish monasticism in the West and was made Bishop of Tours for twenty-five years.  Widely remembered for his legendary generosity to the poor, for arguing against the persecution of heretics, and especially for his active evangelisation and pastoral care of rural areas. Patron of France

St Martin of Tours is the first 'non-martyr' to be honoured as a saint and he is regarded as the patron saint of France. He is also honoured in Ireland in customs and in the dedications of holy wells and place names, such as Desertmartin in Co. Derry.

Patrick Duffy tells his story.

Introduction
Martin was born about 316 at Sabaria, Pannonia (modern Szombathely, Hungary), where his father was an officer in the Roman army. He was named after Mars, the god of war, which his biographer St Sulpicius Severus (360-425) interprets as meaning "the brave, the courageous". His father was transferred back to Ticinum (modern Pavia, near the Po river in Italy). At that time due to the conversion of Constantine, Christianity had come into favour in the military camps.  However, it was against the wishes of his parents that Martin became a catechumen or candidate for baptism at the age of ten.

Sharing his Cloak
In his late teens Martin joined the Roman army and was posted to Amiens in Gaul. It was here that the famous incident of his cutting his cloak in half took place. One very cold day, Martin met a scantily clad beggar outside the gates of the city and moved with compassion, he cut his large cloak in two parts and gave one part to the poor man. That night in a dream he saw Jesus wearing the half-cloak he had given away and heard him say to the angels: "Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptised and he has clothed me" (Sulpicius, Life of Martin, 2)

Baptism
Soon after this Martin had himself freed from military service, which was then considered incompatible with being a Christian.  He was baptised and almost immediately went to Poitiers to become a disciple of St. Hilary (300-367), a wise and pious bishop.

Against the Arians
At that time Arianism, which held that Jesus (the Word) was created and therefore a lesser being that God the Father, was being promoted by the local Visigoth nobility and threatened the true Trinitarian doctrine. Hilary of Poitiers, because he opposed this doctrine, got the nickname “the hammer against Arianism” (malleus Arianorum).  Later some Arians got into power and Hilary was forced to go into exile to Phrygia in Asia Minor, where he allied himself with St Athanasius and other supporters of the true doctrine.

Martin meanwhile went to Italy, where the Arians put pressure on him too. Auxentius, the Arian archbishop of Milan, expelled him from the city.  He went to the island of Gallinara in the Mediterranean Sea (modern Isola d'Albenga, between San Remo and Genoa) where he lived the life of a hermit. When Hilary returned briefly to Poitiers 361, Martin joined him there and established a monastery nearby which later developed into the Benedictine Ligugé Abbey. From there he travelled through Western Gaul evangelising and many legends of his travels remain.

Bishop of Tours
In 371, under the guise of a call to attend a dying woman, Martin was drawn back to the city and was elected bishop of Tours by popular acclaim.  Soon he began destroying temples of the Druidic religion, but when he began cutting down the “sacred” trees, the people opposed him. He crossed over to the opposite side of the Loire and founded a monastery that practised a strict regime and drew many disciples.

Interceding for Priscillian
Priscillian was a Christian ascetic and mystic from Spain who held that for a Christian to be in continuous communication with God he had to renounce marriage. He was condemned as a heretic by the Council of  Saragossa, he fled.  But a Spanish bishop named Ithacius rushed to denounce him to the Emperor Maximus at Trier.  Martin also hastened to Trier to ask for mercy and have the case removed from secular jurisdiction.  The Emperor at first agreed, but, when Martin had gone away, he gave in to the Spanish bishops and ordered Priscillian and his followers to be beheaded (385), the first Christians executed for heresy. Martin was deeply grieved by this and refused to communicate with Ithacius, until pressured by the Emperor.

Death and Influence
After a visit to Rome, Martin went to Candes, a religious centre he had founded in the diocese of Tours.  Here he died of natural causes. By his request, he was buried in the Cemetery of the Poor on 11th November (his feast day).  Later his relics were placed in the cathedral at Tours, which because of his reputation for sanctity became a focus of pilgrimages and reported miracles throughout the Middle Ages.

Patron Saint of France
Martin was different from most of his colleague bishops in Gaul at the time. They had moved to the episcopacy from being upper-class leaders in the civil sphere whereas Martin, who resigned from military service to become baptised, was a Christian by conviction. He also had an affinity with the poor and the country people, the pagani, whom he moved out to evangelise. He is a patron saint of France. Because of Martin's influence in establishing Christianity there (along with King Clovis a little later), France is often referred to as 'the eldest daughter of the Church'.

Customs
A number of customs take place in rural communities around the season called Martinmas that are associated with generosity to beggars, cooperation and neighbourliness. For example, a pig or a cow is killed and cooked at this time and shared in honour of Martin. It is also a time for making black puddings and haggis.

Martin has  a place of honour in Ireland, especially in the dedications of holy wells and place names.  A season of mild weather in the middle of November is called a 'St Martin's summer.'

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Memorable Sayings for Today

“Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts.
The only gift is to give a portion of thyself.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

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Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

The emphasis in the readings today is on fidelity and on dedication to duty and work.  Talents and gifts are given for service of the community. The Christian is meant to be fully dedicated to working in the service of others while watching and waiting for the life to come. There is always so much good to be done for others, so little time in which to do it.

World Day of the Poor

FIRST READING               

 A reading from the book of  Proverbs            31:10-13. 19-20. 30-31
A perfect wife-who can find her?

A perfect wife-who can find her? She is far beyond the price of pearls.
Her husband's heart has confidence in her, from her he will derive no little profit.
Advantage and not hurt she brings him all the days of her life.

She is always busy with wool and with flax, she does her work with eager hands.
She sets her hands to the distaff, her fingers grasp the spindle.
She holds out her hand to the poor, she opens her arms to the needy.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty; the woman who is wise is the one to praise.
Give her a share in what her hands have worked for, and let her works tell her praises at the city gates.

The Word of the Lord.              Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm           Ps 127: 1-5. Rv:1
Response                                O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

1. O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!
By the labour of your hands you shall eat. You will be happy and prosper.    Response

2. Your wife like a fruitful vine in the heart of your house;
your children like shoots of the olive, around your table.                                   Response

3. Indeed thus shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion in a happy Jerusalem
all the days of your life.                                                                                               Response

SECOND READING           

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians      5:1-6
The Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night.

 You will not be expecting us to write anything to you, brothers, about 'times and seasons', since you know very well that the Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. It is when people are saying, 'How quiet and peaceful it is' that the worst suddenly happens, as suddenly as labour pains come on a pregnant woman; and there will be no way for anybody to evade it. But it is not as if you live in the dark, my brothers, for that Day to overtake you like a thief. No, you are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober.

The Word of the Lord.              Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation           Apoc 2: 10
Alleluia, alleluia!
Even if you have to die, says the Lord,
keep faithful, and I will give you the crown of life
Alleluia!

Or                                              Jn 15:4-5
Alleluia, alleluia!
Make your home in me, as I make mine in you, says the Lord
Whoever remains in me, with me bears fruit in plenty
Alleluia!

GOSPEL 

The Lord be with you                         And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew   25:14-30             Glory to you, O Lord
You have shown you can be faithful in small things, come and join in your master's happiness.

Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples:
"The kingdom of heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them.  To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third is one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out.
The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more.
The man who had received two made two more in the same way.
But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them.
The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more.
"Sir," he said "you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made."
His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness".

Next the man with the two talents came forward. "Sir," he said "you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made."
His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness".

Last came forward the man who had the one talent. "Sir," said he "I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered; so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back."
But his master answered him, "You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have recovered my capital with interest. So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the five talents. For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth."

The Gospel of the Lord.          Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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Shorter form

The Lord be with you                         And with your spirit.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew     25:14-15.19-20
You have shown you can be faithful in small things, come and join in your master's happiness.

Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples:
" The kingdom of heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third is one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out. The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more. The man who had received two made two more in the same way. But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them.

The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. "Sir," he said "you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made." His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness".

The Gospel of the Lord.              Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here:  https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/




Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966,  by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.