28th Sunday of the Year (b)
Sunday 14th October: 28th Sunday of the Year. (b)
The first reading is from the Book of Wisdom. It is a reflection on the gift of wisdom itself, presented as the greatest gift anyone could receive. It is a most precious gift from God.
The second reading continues the series from the Letter to the Hebrews. God’s word is powerful It can penetrate to the deepest recesses of our being. It cuts through us and exposes what is wrong.
The Gospel passage presents a demanding word on wealth and discipleship. The rich young man seeks a simple way of entering heaven, since money is no problem to him. Jesus tells him money itself is a problem but then reassures him that God can save us all whatever wealth we may have.
Monday 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.
Tuesday 16th October: Tuesday of the 28th week of the year.
St. Paul writing to the Galatians, reminds them that Jesus freed us meant us to to remain free. This freedom, in faith, makes its power felt through love.
The Pharisees, not for the first time, try to trap Jesus through leg and thye way they use double standards in their lives.alism. He responds by highlighting their hypocrisy
Wednesday 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.
Thursday 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.
Friday 19th October: Friday of the 28th week of the year.
Paul continues his description of all that God has done for us. As a result, we should offer praise and thanks to God the Father through Jesus.
Again, the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees comes under attack. Jesus now begins to teach the disciples that they too must be on guard against the hypocrisy which is evident all around them.
Saturday 20th October: Saturday of the 28th week of the year.
Paul gives thanks to God in prayer for the belief and the love displayed by the Ephesians and stresses he will continue to pray for them. He prays that will come to understand more fully the faith they have received.
Jesus makes a solemn promise – if you remain loyal and witness to me, you will be granted a place in the kingdom of God’s love. Witnessing to Jesus can be dangerous but God will not desert those who try. He will be their comfort and their strength.
The light of God
Surrounds us;
The love of God
Enfolds us;
The power of God
Protects us;
The presence of God
Protects us;
The presence of God
Watches over us;
Wherever we are,
God is,
And all is well.
