Gospel of the Day (Luke 21:29-33)

He taught them a lesson. "Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.

When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

***

Reflections:

"When you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near"

"In him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). But blessed is he in whom he has his being, who lives for him and is moved by him. You ask then how I knew he was present, he whose ways cannot be traced (Rom 11: 3 3). He is life and power (Heb 4: 12), and as soon as he enters in he stirs my sleeping soul. He moves and soothes and pierces my heart, which was as hard as stone and riddled with disease (Ez 36:26). And he begins to root up and destroy, to build and to plant, to water the dry places and light the dark corners (cf. Jer 1:10), to open what was closed, set what was cold on fire, «to make the crooked straight and the rough places smooth» (Is 40:4), so that my soul may bless the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy name (Ps 102.1).

And so when the Bridegroom, the Word, came to me he never made any sign that he was coming... Only by the warmth of my heart, as I said before, did I know that he was there, and I knew the power of his might because my faults were purged and my body's yearnings brought under control. And when my secret faults were revealed and made visible, I have been amazed at the depth of his wisdom, At the slightest amendment of my life, I have experienced the goodness of his mercy. In the making and renewing of the spirit of my mind (2Cor 4,16; Eph 4,23), that is the inner man, I perceived the excellence of his glorious beauty; and when I contemplate all these things I am filled with awe of his manifold greatness.

Gospel of the Day (Luke 21:20-28)

When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand.

Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled.

Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people.

They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.

People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand."

***

Reflections:

"Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand"

«Then shall all the trees of the forest exult before the Lord, for he comes; he comes to rule the earth» (Ps 95[96], 12b-13). The Lord has already come once and he will come again. The first time he came «on the clouds» (Mt 26,64) in his Church. What are the clouds that bore him? Apostles, preachers... The first time he came borne by his preachers and he filled all the earth. Let us not resist his first coming if we would not dread the second...

So what should the Christian do? Profit by this world but not serve this world. And in what does that consist? «Own as though not owning». That is what Saint Paul said: «Brothers, the time is running out... From now on... let those weeping act as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning, those using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away. I should like you to be free of anxieties» (1Cor 7,29-32). Anyone free from anxiety confidently awaits his Lord's coming. For if we dread his coming do we love the Lord? My brethren, aren't we blushing about it? We love him and yet we dread his coming? Do we truly love him or do we not rather love our sins? Then let us hate our sins and love the One who is to come...

«Then shall all the trees of the forest exult before the Lord» for he has come a first time... He has come a first time and he will return to judge the earth. At that time he will find all those who believed in his first coming full of joy.

Gospel of the Day (Luke 21:12-19)

Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name.

It will lead to your giving testimony.

Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.

You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death.

You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.

By your perseverance you will secure your lives.

***

Reflections:

"You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed"

Jesus always promised his disciples peace, both before his death and after his resurrection, always peace (Jn 14,27; Lk 24,36). Never did the disciples receive this peace outwardly, but they garnered peace in suffering, in their struggles and love and, in death, they found life. They found joyful victory, too, when before this death they were interrogated, judged and condemned. They were true witnesses.

Yes, there are many who are filled with sweetness in body and soul, penetrating even to the marrow and veins, but when there follows suffering, darkness, interior and exterior abandonment, then they no longer know what to do with themselves. They come to a full stop and, from that, there issues nothing. When terrible storms come upon them, interior abandonment, exterior temptations from the world, the flesh and the Enemy, whoever is able to go through it all will find the profound peace that no one can take away from them. But whoever does not take this path is left behind and will never taste true peace. From this you know who are Christ's true witnesses.

Gospel of the Day (Luke 21:5-11)

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, he said, All that you see here--the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.

Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?"

He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them!

When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end."

Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.

***

Reflections:

«Do you not know that you are the temple of God?» (1Cor 3,16)

«Jesus said to the Jews: 'Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up'... But he was speaking about the temple of his body» (Jn 2,19.21)... Certain people think it impossible to apply to Christ's body everything spoken about the Temple; they think his body was called 'temple' because, just as the first Temple was indwelt by God's glory, so the Firstborn of all creation is the image and glory of God (Col 1,15) and therefore it is fitting that his Body, the Church, should be called the temple of God because it contains the divine image... But we have learned from Peter that the Church is the body and house of God, built of living stones, a spiritual house for a holy priesthood (1Pt 2,5).

Thus we can consider Solomon, the son of David, who built the Temple, as being a prefiguration of Christ: it was after the war, while peace reigned, that Solomon constructed a temple to the glory of God in the earthly Jerusalem...Just so, when all Christ's enemies have been «put under his feet and the last enemy, death, has been destroyed» (1Cor 15,25-26), then there will be perfect peace, then Christ will be the «Solomon» whose name means «Peacemaker» and in him this prophecy will be fulfilled: «With those who hate peace, I speak of peace» (Ps 120[119], 6-7). Then each of these living stones will become a stone in the temple, according to their merits in this present life: one – apostle or prophet – placed in the foundation, will carry the stones set above it; another, following after those at the foundation and itself carried by the apostles, will carry other, weaker ones with it; one will be a stone completely on the inside, where the ark with the cherubim and the mercy seat is to be found (1Kgs 6,19); another will be the stone of the porch (v.3), and yet another, outside the vestibule for the priests and Levites, will be the altar stone where the grain offerings are made... The overseeing of the construction together with the organization of the ministers will be entrusted to the angels of God, those holy powers prefigured by Solomon's prefects for the work... All these things will be accomplished when peace is perfect, when there reigns a great peace.

God is faithful! Have you ever had someone who betrayed you — who you could not trust?

God is the exact opposite of that — He is totally faithful and trustworthy. “He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.” You can know for sure that God loves you — and that He will always do what is best for you. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

If you are walking across a bridge, you want to know that the bridge will hold your weight — that you can trust walking on it. Please know that God is altogether trustworthy — no one who truly trusts in Him will ever be put to shame. God is faithful, and loving, and kind — His nature is truth. You can trust in Him with your whole life and He will never let you down.

We want the whole world to know Christ! So this week, can you please pray that

• God will help you to truly trust in Him with your whole heart
• God will help us reach even more people for Jesus Christ using the internet

THANK YOU so much for your faithful prayers. God dwells within the praises of His people. He is pleased when you pray to Him and you talk with Him and you listen to Him.

“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands.” Deuteronomy 7:9

Gospel of the Day (Luke 21:1-4)

When he looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.

He said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."

***

Reflections:

"She has offered her whole livelihood."

Let us call to mind that widow who, in her care for the poor, forgot herself to the point of giving away everything she had to live on, thinking only of the life to come as our Lord himself attests. The others gave of their abundance but she – even poorer, perhaps, than many of the poor – for her whole fortune resided in two small coins – she it was who carried in her heart more wealth than many of the wealthy. She looked only at the riches of the eternal reward. In her desire for heavenly treasure she gave up all she possessed as being goods that come from the earth and return to the earth (Gn 3,19). She gave what she had in order to possess what she did not as yet see. She gave away perishable goods so that she might gain immortal ones. This poor little lady had not forgotten the means foreseen and arranged by our Lord for acquiring the future reward. Neither, therefore, did the Lord forget her on his part and even now the judge of the world has pronounced his sentence: he praises her whom he will crown on the day of judgment.

Gospel of the Day (Luke 19:45-48)

Then Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.'"

And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

***

Reflections:

May their interior temple be as beautiful as this temple of stone

When three are gathered in your name (Mt 18,20) they already form a church. Watch over the thousands assembled here: their hearts have prepared a sanctuary before ever our hands constructed this one for the glory of your name. May their interior temple be as beautiful as this temple of stone. Be pleased to dwell in one as in the other; our hearts, like these stones, are signed with your name.

The mighty power of God might have raised up a habitation with as much ease as, at a gesture, it brought the world into being. But God has formed man so that man might form a habitation for him. Blessed be his mercy who has so loved us! He is infinite, we are limited. He builds the world for us; we build a house for him. How wonderful it is that man is able to build a dwelling for the All-Powerful, ever present One, from whom nothing can escape.

He dwells tenderly in our midst; he draws us with bonds of love; he stays among us and calls us to take the way of heaven that we might live with him. He left his dwelling and chose the Church that we might forsake our dwelling and choose paradise. God dwelt in the midst of men so that men might encounter God.

Gospel of the Day (Luke 19:41-44)

As he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If this day you only knew what makes for peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes.

For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.

They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."

***

Reflections:

"He saw the city and wept over it"

When our Lord and Saviour was close to Jerusalem and in sight of her, he wept over her: «Ah! If this day you only knew what makes for peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you»... Someone will perhaps say: «The meaning of these words is clear; in fact they have come to pass where Jerusalem is concerned; the Roman army laid siege to her and brought her to ruin so that she was wiped out and the time will come when she will no longer have one stone upon another.»

I don't deny it; Jerusalem was destroyed because of her blindness. Yet I put you the question: didn't those tears have more to do with our own Jerusalem? For we ourselves are the Jerusalem over which Jesus wept – we who think ourselves to have such penetrating sight. If, having been instructed in the mysteries of the truth, having received the message of the Gospel and the teaching of the Church..., one of us should sin, he will give rise to lamentations and weeping since we weep, not over any of the pagans, but over someone who, having been a member of Jerusalem, has ceased to be so.

Tears are shed over our Jerusalem since, because of her sins, «enemies surround her», namely opposing forces, evil spirits. They will raise a palisade around her, lay siege to her and «will not leave one stone upon another». This is what happens when, after a long period of continence and many years of chastity, a man succumbs, overcome by the flesh... This, then, is the Jerusalem over which tears are shed.

Gospel of the Day (Luke 19:11-28)

While they were listening to him speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the kingdom of God would appear there immediately.

So he said, "A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return.

He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, 'Engage in trade with these until I return.'

His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, 'We do not want this man to be our king.'

But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading.

The first came forward and said, 'Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.'

He replied, 'Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.'

Then the second came and reported, 'Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.'

And to this servant too he said, 'You, take charge of five cities.'

Then the other servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding person; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.'

He said to him, 'With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding person, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.'

And to those standing by he said, 'Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.'

But they said to him, 'Sir, he has ten gold coins.'

'I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.'"

After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

***

Reflections:

'Engage in trade with these'

Sweat and toil, which work necessarily involves in the present condition of the human race, present the Christian and everyone who is called to follow Christ with the possibility of sharing lovingly in the work that Christ came to do. This work of salvation came about through suffering and death on a Cross. By enduring the toil of work in union with Christ crucified for us, man in a way collaborates with the Son of God for the redemption of humanity. He shows himself a true disciple of Christ by carrying the cross in his turn every day in the activity that he is called upon to perform.

Christ, "undergoing death itself for all of us sinners, taught us by example that we too must shoulder that cross which the world and the flesh inflict upon those who pursue peace and justice"; but also, at the same time, "appointed Lord by his Resurrection and given all authority in heaven and on earth, Christ is now at work in people's hearts through the power of his Spirit... He animates, purifies, and strengthens those noble longings too, by which the human family strives to make its life more human and to render the whole earth submissive to this goal" (Vatican II, GS 38).

The Christian finds in human work a small part of the Cross of Christ and accepts it in the same spirit of redemption in which Christ accepted his Cross for us. In work, thanks to the light that penetrates us from the Resurrection of Christ, we always find a glimmer of new life, of the new good, as if it were an announcement of "the new heavens and the new earth" (Rev 21,1) in which man and the world participate precisely through the toil that goes with work.

Joy in the Midst of Sorrow. How can you have joy in the midst of sorrow? The best example of this in history is Jesus Christ rising from the dead almost 2,000 years ago.

The disciples, the followers of Jesus, were overcome with sorrow. Jesus had just been crucified and placed in a tomb. The disciples did not fully understand yet that Jesus would rise from the dead, so they thought that death had won.

But on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead! “Death where is your victory.” Jesus Christ had conquered sin, and death, and hell. He rose victorious — and granted us the gift of eternal life to all who would believe in Him.

What is your greatest trial, or test, or sorrow? Can you believe that, even out of death and disaster, God can bring good? When the disciples traveled with Jesus and were in a storm in their boat and thought that they would die, Jesus rebuked the wind and waves and it became calm — and He said to them, “Where is your faith?”

Let us place our faith in Jesus Christ — who can bring life from death, resurrection from a tomb, health out of disaster. God’s power is greater than all the adversaries in the universe — and He is our loving and kind heavenly Father!

So this week, let us pray that

• God will help you see good and find joy even if you have great sorrow and tragedy in your life
  

• God will help us see more than 10,000 people each day indicate decisions for Jesus Christ through our blog

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!! Only in heaven will you truly know how much your prayers have contributed in giving the good news of Jesus Christ to the world.

“...Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” Psalms 30:5

Gospel of the Day (Luke 19:1-10)

He came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.

Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.

So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.

When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house."

And he came down quickly and received him with joy.

When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner."

But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over."

And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost."

***

Reflections:

"Today I must stay at your house"

Some people are very like Zacchaeus. They desire to see Jesus as he is. All power of reason and all natural light are too short and small for this, so they run ahead of all crowds and all the multiplicity of creatures. Through faith and love they climb up to the highest part of their mind, where their spirit lives in its freedom, devoid of images and obstacles. It is there that Jesus is seen, known, and loved in his divinity, for there he is always present to the free and exalted spirit which has risen above itself in love of him. Jesus there flows forth with a fullness of grace and favors.

But he says to all: "Come down quickly, for the exalted freedom of the spirit cannot be maintained except through lowly obedience of mind. You must know and love me as both God and a human being, higher than all and lower than all. You will savor me when I raise you up above all things and above yourself to myself, and when you lower yourself beneath all things and beneath yourself to me and for my sake. Then I will have to come to your house and remain living with you and in you, and you with me and in me."

When these persons know, taste, and feel this, they come down quickly in great disdain of themselves, and with a humble heart and true displeasure over their life and all their works they say: "Lord, I am not worthy-but am truly unworthy-that I should receive your glorious body in the blessed Sacrament into the sinful house of my body and soul. But be gracious to me, Lord, and have mercy on my poor life and all my transgressions."

Gospel of the Day (Luke 18:35-43)

Now as he approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.

They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."

He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"

The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me!"

Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, What do you want me to do for you? He replied, "Lord, please let me see."

Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."

He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

***

Reflections:

"He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God"

Our Redeemer foresaw that the hearts of his disciples would be greatly disturbed by his passion. He foretold to them far ahead both the agony of his passion and the glory of his resurrection (Lk 18,31-33). Then when they beheld him dying, as had been foretold, they would not doubt he was to rise again. But since the disciples, still unspiritual as they were, were entirely unable to grasp the words of the mystery (v.34), there was need of a miracle. A blind man received the light before their eyes so that a heavenly deed might strengthen the faith of those who failed to grasp the words of the heavenly mystery.

We must understand the miracles of our Lord and Savior, dearly beloved, so as to believe that they have been truly done and that their meaning still signifies something else... We do not know the historical identity of the blind man, but we know whom he mystically denotes. The blind man is the human race. In our first parents it was driven from the joys of paradise, and ignorant of the brightness of the divine light, it suffered the darkness of its condemnation. But yet it is enlightened by presence of its Redeemer, to see already the joys of inward light by desire, and to direct the footsteps of its good works in the way of life.

Gospel of the Day (Luke 17:26-37)

As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all.

So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

On that day, a person who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise a person in the field must not return to what was left behind.

Remember the wife of Lot.

Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.

I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left.

And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left."

They said to him in reply, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather."

***

Reflections:

God is waiting for the moment of our conversion

When I contemplate the threat hanging over the guilty in the time of Noah, I myself tremble who am equally guilty of shocking sins... Our Creator threatened the men of that time beforehand since he was waiting for the moment of their conversion. For us, too, there will be an end-time, unknown to us and hidden even from the angels (Mt 24,36). In that day Christ, who is Lord before all ages, will come to judge the earth, riding upon the clouds just as Daniel saw (7,13). Before that last hour falls upon us let us beseech Christ, crying: «Save all mankind from wrath by the love you bear for us, O Redeemer of the world»...

Mankind's Friend, seeing the wickedness prevailing at that time, said to Noah: «The end of all mortals has come before me (Gn 6,13) for the earth is full of lawlessness. You alone are just in all this age (Gn 7,1)... Therefore, take for yourself an imperishable wood and construct an ark...; it will bear the seed of future species like a womb. You will construct it like a house in the image of the Church... I will keep you safe within it, you who cry out to me in faith: 'Save all mankind from wrath through the love you bear for us, Redeemer of the world.'»

Skilfully the chosen one fulfilled his work...; he cried out in faith to those who had no faith: «Make haste! Come away from your sins; abandon your wickedness; repent! Wash away with your tears the stain on your souls; by faith be reconciled with the power of our God...» But those sons of rebellion were not converted. They added their hardness of heart to their perversity. From then on Noah begged God with tears: «As in former times you caused me to come forth from my mother's womb, save me once more in this assisting ark. For I am about to seal myself within this sort of tomb but when you call me I shall emerge by your power! I am about to prefigure through it even now the resurrection of all humankind when you save the righteous from fire as you will save me from the torrents of evil by rescuing me from the midst of evildoers, I who cry to you with faith, even to you the merciful Judge: «Save all mankind from wrath through the love you bear for us, Redeemer of the world.»

Gospel of the Day (Luke 17:20-25)

Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he said in reply, "The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, 'Look, here it is,' or, 'There it is.' For behold, the kingdom of God is among you."

Then he said to his disciples, "The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.

There will be those who will say to you, 'Look, there he is,' (or) 'Look, here he is.' Do not go off, do not run in pursuit.

For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be (in his day).

But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.

***

Reflections:

"The kingdom of God is among you"

For God's Word, through Whom all things were made, was Himself made flesh and dwelt on the earth of men. Thus He entered the world's history as a perfect man, taking that history up into Himself and summarizing it. He Himself revealed to us that "God is love" (1Jn 4:8) and at the same time taught us that the new command of love was the basic law of human perfection and hence of the world's transformation... Undergoing death itself for all of us sinners, He taught us by example that we too must shoulder that cross which the world and the flesh inflict upon those who search after peace and justice.

Appointed Lord by His resurrection and given plenary power in heaven and on earth, Christ is now at work in the hearts of men through the energy of His Holy Spirit, arousing not only a desire for the age to come, but by that very fact animating, purifying and strengthening those noble longings too by which the human family makes its life more human and strives to render the whole earth submissive to this goal. Now, the gifts of the Spirit are diverse: while He calls some to give clear witness to the desire for a heavenly home and to keep that desire green among the human family, He summons others to dedicate themselves to the earthly service of men and to make ready the material of the celestial realm by this ministry of theirs. Yet He frees all of them so that by putting aside love of self and bringing all earthly resources into the service of human life they can devote themselves to that future when humanity itself will become an offering accepted by God.

* * * * * * * * * *
Bring to fruition within us, O Lord,
the eucharist that has gathered us together;
through it you form within us, even in this life,
the love with which we shall love you for ever.
(Roman Missal, Postcommunion prayer for the First Sunday in Advent)

Gospel of the Day (Luke 17:11-19)

As he continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.

As he was entering a village, ten lepers met (him). They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"

And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going they were cleansed.

And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan.

Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?

Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"

Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."

***

Reflections:

"Where are the other nine?"

In our own day we see many people at prayer but, unfortunately, we see none of them turning back to give thanks to God... «Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?» As I think you will remember, it was in these words that our Savior complained about the lack of gratitude of the other nine lepers. We read that they knew well how to make «supplications, prayers, petitions» since they lifted up their voices, crying out: «Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!» But they lacked the fourth thing required by the apostle Paul: «thanksgiving» (1Tm 2,1) for they did not turn back nor give thanks to God.

We see still more in our own day people who implore God for what they lack but a mere handful who seem to be grateful for the blessings they have received. There is no harm in imploring him, but what causes God not to grant our prayers is his finding us lacking in gratitude. After all, perhaps it is even an act of mercy on his part to hold back from the ungrateful what they are asking for so that they may not be judged all the more rigorously on account of their ingratitude... For it is sometimes out of mercy that God holds back his mercy...

So you see that not all those who are healed of the leprosy of this world, I mean their manifest complaints, profit by their healing. Indeed, many are secretly afflicted with an ulcer worse than leprosy, all the more dangerous in that it is more interior. That is why it was right that the Savior of the world should ask where the other nine lepers were, since sinners avoid healing. So, too, after his sin, God questioned the first man: «Where are you?» (Gn 3,9).

Gospel of the Day (Luke 17:7-10)

Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here immediately and take your place at table'?

Would he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'?

Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?

So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"

***

Reflections:

'We are unprofitable servants'

Once I was a crude and ignorant exile who didn't even know how I would take care of myself in the future (cf Eccl 4,13 Vulg). This much I know for certain: «before I was afflicted» (Ps 119[118],67) I was like a stone stuck deep in a mud puddle. But then God, «the Mighty One» (Lk 1,49) came along and in his compassion reached down and pulled me out, raised me up, and placed me on top of a wall. Because of this I must proclaim my good news, I must pay God back in some way for all that he has done for me here on earth and what he will do in eternity-blessings no one can even imagine.

So listen to me well, all of you, «you who revere him, small and great» (Rv 19,5), especially you wealthy landowners so proud of your education, listen and consider this carefully: God chose foolish little me from among all of you who seem so wise and so expert in the law and so «mighty in word» (Lk 24,19). He picked ignorant Patrick ahead of all of you - even though I am not worthy - he picked me to «go forth in reverence and awe» (Heb 12,28)... The love of Christ carried me here to be a help to these people for the rest of my life, if I may be worthy, and to work for them with humility and in sincerity.

Because of my faith in the Trinity, I must choose to proclaim the gift of God and his everlasting help confidently and without fear, to make known his name everywhere, so that even after I die it might be a kind of spiritual legacy left behind for my brothers and sons, so many thousands I baptized for God.

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” What is worship? It is telling God you love Him. You can do this in song; you can do this in talking to God; you can do this when you are driving; you can do this in church.

Our first command is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our heart, and with all our strength. A great way to do this is to use music to express our love to God.

We can thank God for all that He has done for us — and we can praise Him for who He is. Praise Him for creating the world; Praise Him for His love, and His mercy, and His goodness.

Finally, When you listen to Christian worship music, you can sing quietly along in your hearts. Listen to the words; and let your thoughts go to God and how wonderful He is!

So this week, let us pray and

• Thank God for all He has done for you!
• Tell God how much you love Him

Someday in heaven we will all be worshipping and praising God together. What a wonderful day that will be — we can all see our King face to face. Thank you so much for your faithful prayers.

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” Psalm 100:4

Gospel of the Day (Luke 17:1-6)

He said to his disciples, "Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the person through whom they occur.

It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,' you should forgive him."

And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."

The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to (this) mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

***

Reflections:

"You should forgive him."

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1Cor 13,7).By this the apostle Paul showed that love can persevere steadfastly because it has learned to endure all things. And in another place he says: "Bear with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace" (Eph 4,2-3).

Neither unity nor peace can be preserved unless brothers cherish one another with mutual forbearance and preserve the bond of unity with patience as intermediary. How then will you be able to endure these things: not to swear or curse; not to seek again what has been taken away from you; on receiving a blow to offer the other cheek also to your assailant; to forgive your brother who offends you not only seventy times seven times, but all his offences without exception; to love your enemies; to pray for your adversaries and persecutors, if you do not have the steadfastness of patience and forbearance?

We see what happened in the case of Stephen. When he was being killed by the violence and stones of the Jews, he did not ask for vengeance but forgiveness for his murderers, saying: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7,60).

Gospel of the Day (Luke 16:1-8)

Then he also said to his disciples, "A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property.

He summoned him and said, 'What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.'

The steward said to himself, 'What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.

I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.'

He called in his master's debtors one by one. To the first he said, 'How much do you owe my master?'

He replied, 'One hundred measures of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.'

Then to another he said, 'And you, how much do you owe?' He replied, 'One hundred kors of wheat.' He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.' And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. "For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.

***

Reflections:

Living as a good steward of God's gifts

I have no idea what to write you from these parts [India and Sri Lanka] except this: the consolations bestowed by our Lord God to those who go among the pagans to convert them to the faith of Christ are so great that, if there is any joy to be had in this life, it is surely this. I've often heard it said to someone going about amongst these Christians: «Lord, do not give me so many consolations in this life! Yet since, in your infinite goodness and pity, you are giving them me, take me into your holy glory! For indeed, there is such great suffering in living without seeing you after you have shown yourself to your creature in this way». Ah! If only those who look for knowledge in study took as much trouble in looking for the consolations of the apostolate as they give day and night to the pursuit of knowledge! If only those joys that the scholar seeks in what he is learning he were to seek in making his neighbor feel what he is in need of to know and serve God, how much more consoled he would find himself to be and better prepared to give an account of himself when Christ returns and asks him: «Give me an account of your stewardship»...

I will end, asking our Lord God... to bring us together in his holy glory. And to obtain this blessing let us take as our intercessors and advocates all the holy souls of the region where I now am... I beg all these holy souls to obtain for us from our Lord God, for so long as we remain separated, the grace of feeling his holy will in the depth of our souls and of fulfilling it perfectly.

Gospel of the Day (Luke 15:1-10)

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

So to them he addressed this parable.

What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?

And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'

I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it?

And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.'

In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

***

Reflections:

Going after the lost sheep

In spite of me you undid all the wrong attachments that would have kept me away from you; you even undid all the healthy bonds that would have prevented me from becoming all yours one day... Your hand alone carried out the beginning, middle and end in all this. How good you are! It was needed in order to prepare my soul for truth; the devil is too much master of an unchaste soul to let it enter into truth; you would not be able, my God, to enter a soul in which the demon of squalid passions reigned as lord. But you wanted to enter mine, Oh good Shepherd, and so you cast out your enemy yourself.

I was distancing myself more and more from you, my Lord and my life. My life, too, was beginning to become a death, or rather it was already death in your sight. And yet, within that state of death, you upheld me... All faith had gone but my respect and esteem remained intact. You showed me further graces, O my God: you preserved the attraction for study in me, for serious reading, beautiful things, a revulsion for vice and ugliness. I did evil yet I neither approved nor loved it... You granted me that vague uneasiness of a bad conscience, which though it may be asleep is not altogether dead.

I have never felt that same sadness, lassitude, unease except then. Oh my God, was it then your gift? How far I was from doubting it! How good you are! And while, by this invention of your love, you prevented my soul from drowning altogether, you kept my body safe: for if I had died then I should have been in hell... Those dangers of the journey, great and various as they were, from which you enabled me to come out as if by a miracle! That unchanging health in the most unhealthy of places, in spite of such great fatigue! Oh my God, how your hand was upon me and how little I was aware of it! How you protected me! How you sheltered me under your wings when I did not even believe in your existence! And while you were thus protecting me time passed by, you judged that the time was approaching to draw me back into the fold.

Gospel of the Day (Luke 14:25-33)

Great crowds were traveling with him, and he turned and addressed them, If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion?

Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, 'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.'

Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?

But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.

In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.

***

Reflections:

"Everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple"

Ah! let us remain then very far from all that sparkles, let us love our littleness, let us love to feel nothing, then we shall be poor in spirit, and Jesus will come to look for us, and however far we may be, He will transform us in flames of love. Oh! How I would like to be able to make you understand what I feel! It is confidence, and nothing but confidence that must lead us to Love. Does not fear lead to Justice? (To the severe justice that people show to sinners but not the justice Jesus will have for those who love him.) Since we see the way, let us run together. Yes, I feel it, Jesus wills to give us the same graces; he wills to give us his Heaven gratuitously.

Dear Sister, how can you ask me if it is possible for you to love God as I love Him? ... My desires of martyrdom are nothing; they are not what give me the unlimited confidence that I feel in my heart. They are, to tell the truth, the spiritual riches that render one unjust, when one rests in them with complacence and when one believes they are something great... Ah! I really feel that... what pleases Him is that He sees me loving my littleness and my poverty, the blind hope that I have in His mercy .... That is my only treasure...

Oh, dear Sister, I beg you... understand that to love Jesus... the weaker one is, without desires or virtues, the more suited one is for the workings of this consuming and transforming Love. The desire alone to be a victim suffices, but we must consent to remain always poor and without strength, and this is the difficulty, for: "The truly poor in spirit, where do we find him? You must look for him from afar," said the psalmist. He does not say that you must look for him among great souls, but "from afar," that is to say in lowliness, in nothingness.

Gospel of the Day (Luke 14:15-24)

One of his fellow guests on hearing this said to him, "Blessed is the one who will dine in the kingdom of God."

He replied to him, "A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many.

When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, 'Come, everything is now ready.'

But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, 'I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.'

And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.'

And another said, 'I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.'

The servant went and reported this to his master. Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

The servant reported, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.'

The master then ordered the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled.

For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.'"

***

Reflections:

"'Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled"

Truly You are holy and most holy, and there are no bounds to the majesty of Your holiness. You are holy in all Your works, for with righteousness and true judgment You have ordered all things for us. For having made man by taking dust from the earth, and having honored him with Your own image, O God, You placed him in a garden of delight, promising him eternal life and the enjoyment of everlasting blessings in the observance of Your commandments. But when he disobeyed You, the true God who had created him, and was led astray by the deception of the serpent becoming subject to death through his own transgressions, You, O God, in Your righteous judgment, expelled him from paradise into this world, returning him to the earth from which he was taken.

Yet You provided for him the salvation of regeneration in Your Christ. For You did not forever reject Your creature whom You made, O Good One, nor did You forget the work of Your hands, but because of Your tender compassion, You visited him in various ways: You sent forth prophets; You performed mighty works by Your saints who in every generation have pleased You. You spoke to us by the mouth of Your servants the prophets, announcing to us the salvation which was to come; You gave us the law to help us; You appointed angels as guardians.

And when the fullness of time had come, You spoke to us through Your Son Himself, through whom You created the ages. He, being the splendor of Your glory and the image of Your being, upholding all things by the word of His power, thought it not robbery to be equal with You, God and Father. But, being God before all ages, He appeared on earth and lived with humankind. Becoming incarnate from a holy Virgin, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, conforming to the body of our lowliness, that He might change us in the likeness of the image of His glory (Heb 1,2-3; Phil 2, 6-7; 3,21).

For, since through man sin came into the world and through sin death, it pleased Your only begotten Son, who is in Your bosom, God and Father, born of a woman, the holy Theotokos and ever virgin Mary; born under the law, to condemn sin in His flesh, so that those who died in Adam may be brought to life in Him, Your Christ. He lived in this world, and gave us precepts of salvation. Releasing us from the delusions of idolatry, He guided us to the sure knowledge of You, the true God and Father. He acquired us for Himself, as His chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.

Jesus Christ is the light of the world. What does this mean?

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Jesus Christ shines light into our lives. Just as sunlight brightens up the day with warm colors, so Jesus brings joy and love and peace into our lives. Just as sunlight reveals things, so Jesus in His love reveals things so we can see clearly from God’s perspective what is true in our lives.

Just as light dispels darkness, so Jesus causes the dark things in our lives to flee. Someday in heaven, Jesus will be our true light. The Bible says heaven will “not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”

Finally, Jesus Christ is the light of the world because He, and He alone, is the true source of all that is good and righteous and holy in the world. God alone is the source of all that is good. If you have the light of Jesus shining in your life, then let that light bring joy, and truth, and healing, and revelation to you — and let that light shine into all the world around you! God wants us to be a clear windowpane so the light of Jesus shines through us to others.

So this week, can you please pray for

• The light of Jesus to shine through your life to at least one other person this week — and then email us and tell us about it!
  
• The light of Jesus to shine through all our websites so that millions of people will come to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord!

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your prayers. Only in heaven will you truly know how much your prayers have helped us at Global Media Outreach and how your prayers have touched the heart of God. God loves you so much! He loves to spend time with you.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12