28th Sunday of the Year (c)
This Week’s Liturgy Calendar.
Ordinary Season of the Year. (c)
Weekdays – Year 1
Sunday 13th October: 28th Sunday of the Year. (c)
The first reading is from the second Book of the Kings. Naaman was a powerful man, a commander in the Syrian army. As such he was a gentile, a non Jew. He contracted leprosy and as a result of following the advice of Elisha he is cured. As a result he acknowledges the God of Israel as the one true God.
The second reading continues the passages from St. Paul’s second Letter to Timothy. He warns him of the difficulties and hardships he will encounter as he tries to carry out his role as a disciple. He reminds him, that through Baptism, the obligation of perseverance and faithfulness is laid upon him.
The Gospel passage is from St. Luke. It is the moving story of ten lepers being cured but only one, a Samaritan, a non Jew, returning to give thanks. It highlights how Jesus reaches out to all races. His love cannot be constrained.
Monday 14th October: Monday of 28th week of the year.
Over the next few weeks the first reading comes from one of St. Paul’s most challenging letter –the Letter to the Romans. In the introduction today, Paul presents his credentials as an apostle. He stresses how he was specially chosen to bring the Good News about Jesus the Son of God who died and rose again for our sins.
Reminding his listeners of the story of Jonah, which we heard last week, Jesus challenges the lack of faith and the immoral living of the people. There is someone greater for them to listen to and accept but they refuse.
Tuesday 15th October: Memorial of St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila).
St. Teresa was born in 1515 and her devotion to prayer began with her childhood studies of the lives of the saints. More or less against her father’s wishes, she entered the Carmelite Convent in Avila when she was about twenty. As a result of illness she had to return home but later returned to the convent where she began to devote herself to an intense life of prayer. The convent had relaxed rules that she thought were too relaxed and so she set about reforming them. Many of the sisters did not want to change and she experienced many challenges and difficulties over the years. Despite this, she founded seventeen new convents during her lifetime. She died in 1582.
Wednesday 16th October: Wednesday of 28th week of the year.
Paul is now into the detail of his Letter to the Romans. All of us need salvation because all of us are sinners. So it is important that we do not judge others. The reward of eternal life will be given by God to those who are trying to do good.
Jesus continues his attack on the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the lawyers. This theme is reflected in the Gospel readings of the next few days.
Thursday 17th October: Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch.
St. Ignatius was bishop of Antioch in Syria. Towards the beginning of the second century, he was taken as prisoner to Rome where he suffered martyrdom in the year 107. On his journey to Rome, he visited some communities and wrote letters to the Christian communities in Asia Minor warning them to be on guard against the heretics and urging them to remain united in faith.
Friday 18th October: Feast of St. Luke.
Luke was a gentile, a fellow worker of Paul, a medical man. He is the author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. He accompanied Paul on his second and third missionary journeys and ended up in Rome where Paul was imprisoned. He died at the age of 84 and is the patron saint of doctors. He is also the patron saint of painters because it is said he painted an icon of Our Lady.
Saturday 19th October: Saturday of 28th week of the year.
Paul makes a connection with Abraham in the first reading today. Even though old he believed in the promise made by the Lord that he would become the father of many nations. Paul stresses the faith of Abraham.
Jesus, having attacked the Pharisees so vehemently, makes a solemn promise. Any one who commits themselves to him will be saved and will be given guidance and strength to follow Jesus.
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.
