Churches of the Day

Monday of the Thirty -Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1

Living a virtuous life  is the basis of true wisdom and leads to immortal life.

Saint of the Day; Nov. 10; Memorial of St Leo the Great, pope and doctor of the Church
C/f history of today’s saint can be found below today’s Readings and Reflection.      

FIRST READING           

 A reading from the book of Wisdom       1:1-7
Wisdom is a spirit, a friend to man and  fills the whole world.

Love virtue, you who are judges on earth, let honesty prompt your thinking about the Lord,
seek him in simplicity of heart; since he is to be found by those who do not put him to the test,
he shows himself to those who do not distrust him.

But selfish intentions divorce from God; and Omnipotence, put to the test, confounds the foolish.
No, Wisdom will never make its way into a crafty soul nor stay in a body that is in debt to sin; the Holy Spirit of instruction shuns deceit, it stands aloof from reckless purposes, is taken aback when iniquity appears.

Wisdom is a spirit, a friend to man, though she will not pardon the words of a blasphemer,
since God sees into the innermost parts of him, truly observes his heart, and listens to his tongue.
The Spirit of the Lord, indeed, fills the whole world, and that which holds all things together knows every word that is said.

The Word of the Lord.                Thanks be to God.


Responsorial Psalm             Ps 138: 1-10 R/v 24
Response                                   Lead me, O Lord, in the path of life eternal.

1. O Lord, you search me and you know me, you know my resting and my rising,
you discern my purpose from afar. You mark hen I walk or lie don,
all my ways lie open to you.                                                                                    Response

2. Before ever a word is on my tongue you know it, O Lord, through and through.
Behind and before you besiege me, your hand ever laid upon me.
Too wonderful for me, this knowledge, too high, beyond my reach.              Response

3. O where can I go from your spirit, or here can I flee from your face?
If I climb the heavens, you are there. If I lie in the grave, you are there.      Response

4. If I take the wings of the dawn and dell at the sea's furthest end,
even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would hold me fast. Response

Gospel  Acclamation         Phil 2: 15-16
Alleluia, alleluia!
You will shine in the world like bright stars because you are offering it the word of life.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL                                        

The Lord be with you.          And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to  Luke      17:1-6        Glory to you, O Lord.
If your brother comes back to you seven times a day and says, "I am sorry", you must forgive him.

Jesus said to his disciples,
'Obstacles are sure to come, but alas for the one who provides them!
It would be better for him to be thrown into the Sea with a millstone put round his neck than that he should lead astray a single one of these little ones. Watch yourselves!

'If your brother does something wrong, reprove him and, if he is sorry, forgive him.  And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, "I am sorry", you must forgive him.'

The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith'.
The Lord replied 'Were your faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree,
"Be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it would obey you."

The Gospel of the Lord.      Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection        Monday        Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time        Luke 17:1-6

You may have had the experience of stumbling over a slightly raised footpath or flagstone and, perhaps, even falling down. I know I have. We are walking along and, suddenly, our feet hits an unexpected obstacle and we end up on the ground or almost on the ground. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus speaks about people who can be obstacles to the faith journey of others. They undermine and weaken the faith of others, causing them to stumble on their journey towards the Lord, leading them astray from the Lord. Jesus is extremely critical of such people, declaring it would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around their neck. It is an image, not to be taken literally, but by means of it Jesus makes his point forcibly. Jesus looks to us to lead each other to him, rather than lead each other away from him. We can help to deepen each other’s faith or we can be instrumental in weakening one another’s faith. In the realm of faith, our impact on each other is rarely neutral.

The more we grow in faith, the more we will be a support to the faith life of others. That is why the prayer of the disciples in today’s gospel reading is an appropriate one for us all, ‘Increase our faith’. The response of Jesus to this prayer suggests that we should never underestimate the faith we have. Even if it is only the size of a mustard seed, that is enough of an opening for the Lord to work powerfully through us. The very prayer, ‘Increase our faith’, is itself an expression of deep faith, the kind of faith that will be a support to others as they strive to respond to the Lord’s call in their lives.

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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 Reflections on the Weekday Readings  Your word is a lamp for my feet and light for my path by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications , c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/

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Saint of the Day:  November 10th;  St Leo the Great, pope and doctor of the Church

 Pope Leo the Great was a layman when chosen for the high office of Pope; he was able to keep the invaders from the north - the Huns and the Vandals  - at bay; he was a focus for unity in the Church; and he gave powerful expression to the dignity of all Christians who believe in the incarnation of Jesus, truly God and truly human. The present Holy Father has chosen St Leo as his patron/ namesake. 

Leadership
John Murray PP draws attention to the four main features of Pope Leo's pontificate. Surprisingly only two Popes have received the title 'Great' in the two-thousand-year history that is the papacy.
One was Gregory who lived at the end of the sixth century
and the other was Leo who was Pope between 440 and 461.ad
Leo is rightly called 'Great' for all manner of things that he did and for the way he led the Church at a time of political turmoil. However I want to remember him this month - as we approach the holy season of Christmas - mainly for something he wrote, more about that later.

Worthy Lay Papal Candidate !
Leo was born in Tuscany, central Italy, about the year 400 but the family came to live in Rome when he was still young. Strangely enough, Leo was not even a priest or a bishop when he was chosen to lead the Church of Rome. His position was more that of a civil servant and he was away on a civil mission in France to bring about peace between two of Rome's military leaders when the call to return came. The clergy and the people of the city could think of no more worthy candidate for the vacant see after the death of Pope Sixtus III. By the clarity of his vision for the Church and by the force of his administration he was to do much to fashion the papacy as we know it.

Northern Invaders
It is said that were it not for the Popes, Rome today would very likely be a mass of ruins like Babylon or Carthage or other ancient cities. Leo is especially remembered for saving the city from the invasions of the Northern tribes. The power of the empire was at a low ebb at that time and the prospect of riches and fame was attractive to the invaders from northern Europe. Attila the Hun came in 452.

A painting by Raphael shows the invader facing Leo, but behind him he sees Peter and Paul supporting the Pope's demands. In any event, Attila backed down. However when Genseric the Vandal came a few years later, the Emperor was dead and no military leader was defending the city.
Again Leo met the invader and persuaded him not to destroy the city. Genseric and his men pillaged for two weeks but no one was killed and much of the art and architecture was spared.

'Doctor' of Unity
Leo also combatted heresy in any form whatever. Whether it was the Manichaeans in Italy or the writings of the British monk Pelagius, Leo was a fiery opponent and an able adversary. 'The integral and true faith is a great bulwark to which nothing can be added or taken from by anyone.' In his encyclical Aeterna Dei Sapientia (1961), Pope John XXIII wrote, 'St. Leo is celebrated above all as the Doctor of the unity of the Church.'

Leo constantly appealed to the canons of the Council of Nicea (325) and often in his sermons cited previous decisions of the popes. Above all, he had a clear sense of his own role in speaking for the whole Church. 'For the stability which the Rock himself was given by the Rock which is Christ, he conveyed also to his successors, and wheresoever any steadfastness is apparent, there without doubt is to be seen the strength of the shepherd.'

This love for the Church even extended on occasion to the correction of his fellow bishops. One such was St. Hilary, bishop of Arles. Hilary, a holy and saintly man, had deposed Celidonius, bishop of Besancon. The latter had come to Rome to appeal and Hilary quickly followed to make his case. At the same time, others had protested that Hilary had consecrated another bishop while the incumbent was sick but still in office.

In a letter to the bishops of Gaul (France) Leo declared Hilary deposed from metropolitan jurisdiction and limited to his own bishopric: 'Anyone who dares to secede from Peter's solid rock may understand that he has no part or lot in the divine mystery.' Hilary, saint that he was, submitted and peace was restored to the church of that region.

Christology
Many of Leo's sermons have come down to us today. Written in Latin they are renowned for their clarity of thought and ability to reach the common man. However it is his Christmas sermons (eight in all) which above all merit his unique role in Christology.

When Christians gaze upon the crib today or attend Midnight Mass, they inherit the truths which Leo crafted in his sermons and writings. In the divine office for the feast his words echo through the centuries: 'Christian, be aware of your dignity for it is God's own nature that you share.'

In one of Leo's 173 letters, dubbed 'The Tome', he wrote to St. Flavian, bishop of Constantinople, in reference to the views of an abbot, Eutyches, which had been condemned earlier at a synod held in the great Eastern city. 'The Tome' is dated 13 June 449 and later it was read to more than 500 bishops at the great Council of Chalcedon in 452.

Greatest Moment
St. Leo's words describe the greatest moment in human history, that moment when God the Son took on our human nature: 'Thus the Son of God enters this lowly world, He comes down from the throne of heaven, yet does not separate himself from the Father's glory. He is born in a new condition, by a new birth. Beyond our grasp, He chose to come within our grasp.

'Existing before time began, He began to exist at a moment in time. Lord of the Universe, He hid his infinite glory and took the nature of a servant. Incapable of suffering as God, He did not refuse to be a man, capable of suffering. He who is true God is also true man.

With Magi and shepherds, with Mary and Joseph, we can but only adore.' 

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Memorable Saying for Today

 St Peter committed one of the greatest sins, denying Christ,
and yet they made him Pope. Think about that today.

~ the late Pope Francis ~

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Thirty Third Sunday in  Ordinary Time, Cycle C
World Day of the Poor
Marking the end of the 'Jubilee Year of Mercy', the late Pope Francis wrote "the worthiest way to prepare for next Sunday's celebration of our Lord, King of the Universe would be to identify with His little ones, the poor and who judges us on our works of mercy to them." 

FIRST READING

A reading from the Book of Malachi        3:19-20
For you the sun of righteousness will shine out.

The day is coming now, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and the evil-doers will be like stubble.  The day that is coming is going to burn them up, says the Lord, leaving them neither root nor stalk.

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will shine out with healing in its rays.

The Word of the Lord          Thanks be to God.

 

Responsorial Psalm       Ps 95:5-9 R/v 9
Response                           The Lord comes to rule the peoples with fairness.

1. Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp with the sound of music.
    With trumpets and the sound of the horn acclaim the King, the Lord.      Response

2. Let the sea and all within it, thunder; the world, and all its peoples.
    Let the rivers clap their hands and the hills ring out their joy
    at the presence of the Lord.                                                                                 Response

3. For the Lord comes, he comes to rule the earth.
    He will rule the world with justice  and the peoples with fairness.             Response

SECOND READING    

A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians       3:7-12
Do not let anyone have any food if he refused to do any work.

You know how you are supposed to imitate us: now we were not idle when we were with you,
nor did we ever have our meals at anyone's table without paying for them;
no, we worked night and day, slaving and straining, so as not to be a burden on any of you.
This was not because we had no right to be, but in order to make ourselves an example for you to follow.

We gave you a rule when we were with you:' not to let anyone have any food if he refused to do any work'. Now we hear that there are some of you who are living in idleness, doing no work themselves but interfering with everyone else's.
In the Lord Jesus Christ, we order and call on people of this kind to go on quietly working and earning the food that they eat.

The Word of the Lord           Thanks be to God.

Gospel  Acclamation       Lk 21: 36
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.
Alleluia!


Or                                          Lk 21: 28
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand'.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL

The Lord be with you                And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke    21:5-19         Glory to you O lord
Your endurance will win you your lives.

When some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, Jesus said,
'All these things you are staring at now-the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another: everything will be destroyed'.
And they put to him this question: 'Master,' they said 'when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that this is about to take place?'

'Take care not to be deceived,' he said 'because many will come using my name and saying,
"I am he" and, "The time is near at hand". Refuse to join them. And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened, for this is something that must happen but the end is not so soon.'
Then he said to them,
'Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines here and there; there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

'But before all this happens, men will seize you and persecute you; they will hand you over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and bring you before kings and governors because of my name - and that will be your opportunity to bear witness.

Keep this carefully in mind: you are not to prepare your defence, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death.
You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost.'

Your endurance will win you your lives.'

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

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.