25th Sunday of the Year (c)
This Week’s Liturgy Calendar.
Ordinary Season of the Year. (c)
Weekdays – Year 1
Sunday 22nd September: 25th Sunday of the Year. (c)
The first reading is from the Prophet Amos. In modern language he would be described not just as a prophet but as a great champion of social justice. He constantly spoke out against the oppression of the poor, as well as any system which denied them any hope of obtaining justice. In today’s passage, he condemns the break down between true worship and the proper treatment of people especially by dishonest practices of those who should know better. They are threatened with divine judgement.
The second reading is from the first Letter of St. Paul to Timothy. Paul is reminding Timothy that we should pray for everyone but especially those who hold public office
The Gospel from St. Luke is a parable in which Jesus presents us with the example of a shrewd man of the world. We should follow his commitment but not his principles.
Monday 23rd September: Memorial of St. Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)
Fransesco Forgione, the future Padre Pio, was born on 25th May 1887 in Pietrelcina, Southern Italy. At the age of fifteen he entered the Capuchin novitiate at Morcone and was ordained at the age of 23. Due to his frail health, he lived outwith the monastic community, always wearing the distinctive habit. He was sent to San Giovanni Rotondo for a short stay. In fact he spent the rest of his life there. In September 1918, the signs of the stigmata appeared after he had celebrated Mass. These wounds bled continually for fifty years and caused him acute physical pain. Despite this, he made himself available to thousands of people who came to him seeking advice and confession. He died on 23rd September 1968 and was canonised by Pope John Paul on 16th June 2002.
Tuesday 24th September: Tuesday of 25th week of the year.
Over the new three weeks on the Ordinary weekdays we read from various authors who wrote after the end of the Babylonian Exile. The first group returned home in 537 b.c. but the rebuilding of the Temple was to take many years. Eventually the King allowed money from the state to be used to help and a great celebration took place to mark its completion.
The relatives of Jesus come looking for him but Jesus uses the opportunity to highlight that anyone who tries to follow him is his brother and sister.
Wednesday 25th September: Wednesday of 25th week of the year.
Ezra’s prayer is a genuine confession of sin, but it is also meant to emphasise the seriousness of the situation. The exiles were the Chosen people. In the past they had turned from their commitment – now they had a second chance.
Jesus trusts his apostles now and sends them out, giving them power over all devils and to cure diseases. They went out proclaiming the Good News and healing everywhere.
Thursday 26th September: Thursday of 25th week of the year.
Earlier in the week we heard about the rebuilding of the Temple. Haggai, the author of today’s passage, encouraged the people to work as hard as possible to complete the building of the Temple and not to be always finding excuses to sit back and do nothing.
Too many people are getting worried about Jeus and what he is saying and doing. Even Herod falls in to that category.
Friday 27th September: Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul
Vincent was born in Gascogny in France in 1580. He was ordained a priest and eventually settled in Paris where he spent the rest of his life, looking after the poor. In 1633, he gathered a group of like-minded men around him, which would become the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians). Along with Louise de Marillac he founded the Daughters of Charity who engaged in works of charity and care among the poor also. They preached parish missions and worked in the seminaries. Vincent died in 1660. He is venerated as the patron of all charitable societies.
Saturday 28th September: Saturday of 25th week of the year
Zechariah was the second prophet for the Israelites after the Exile. We hear him telling the Jews not to build walls around Jerusalem yet as its population was going to increase.
Yesterday we heard the Apostles, through Peter, make their act of faith in Jesus. Now we hear how they find it difficult to accept that the Messiah is going to suffer and die before rising from the dead.
Lord,
Send us out into our world
To help bear one another’s crosses
And to share one another’s joys
So that we may not simply admire your Son
For having born his cross, suffered and died for us,
But follow him on the road that leads to life and glory
We ask this
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
