31st Week: Oct 31st to Nov 5th
Oct 31:
The context: Jesus was invited to a dinner where
he noticed how the invitees were rushing for the best places. So, he used the
occasion as a teachable moment for the guests, then advised the host on the
motives behind one’s generosity and the criteria to be followed while inviting
guests for banquets. Jesus instructed him to “invite the poor, the maimed, the
lame, and the blind” in the community and obtain the blessing of God on the day
of the Last Judgment.
Life message: We need to check the motives behind all our acts of generosity to
assess if they are meritorious acts or not. If a generous act is done chiefly
out of sense of duty or obligation (as we pay our income tax because it is the
state’s law), or if we pay tithes in the parish mostly because it is God’s law,
we lose most of the merit. If a rationalized self-interest, like a future
reward in Heaven, is the only motive for our good action, we lose the merit of
the action once again. We lose the merit of an act of generosity if vainglory
or a desire for fame or for acknowledgement from others is the only motive
behind our generosity. That is why the Jewish rabbis used to advise their
disciples that in the best kind of giving, the giver should not know to whom he
is giving, and the receiver should not know from whom he is receiving. Pure
altruism with agápe love and overflowing charity are the motives God shows us
in His gifts to us, and He expects from us the same in all our acts of
generosity, charity and service to Him done to others. (Fr. Tony) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Nov 1 Tuesday: (All Saints Day)
The feast and its
objectives: All baptized Christians who have died and are now with God
in glory are considered saints. All Saints Day is intended to honor the memory
of countless unknown and uncanonized saints who have no feast days. Today we
thank God for giving ordinary men and women a share in His holiness and
Heavenly glory as a reward for their Faith. This feast is observed to teach us
to honor the saints, both by imitating their lives and by seeking their
intercession for us before Christ, the only mediator between God and man (I Tm
2:5). The Church reminds us today that God’s call for holiness is universal,
that all of us are called to live in His love and to make His love real in the
lives of those around us. Holiness is related to the word wholeness,
wholesomeness. We grow in holiness when we live wholesome lives of integrity,
truth, justice, charity, mercy, and compassion, sharing our blessings with
others.
Reasons why we honor the saints:
1- The saints put their trust in Christ and lived heroic
lives of Faith. St. Paul asks us to serve and honor such noble souls. In his
Epistles to the Corinthians, to the Philippians, and to Timothy, he advises
Christians to welcome, serve, and honor those who have put their trust in
Jesus. The saints enjoy Heavenly bliss as a reward for their Faith in Jesus.
Hence, they deserve our veneration.
2- The saints are our role models. They teach us by their
lives that Christ’s holy life of love, mercy, and unconditional forgiveness
can, and should be lived, with God’s grace, by ordinary people from all walks
of life and at all times.
3- The saints are our Heavenly mediators who intercede for
us before Jesus, the only mediator between God and us. (Jas 5:16-18, Ex 32:13,
Jer 15:1, Rv 8:3-4,). 4- The saints are the instruments that God uses to work
miracles at present, just as He used the staff of Moses (Ex), the bones of the
prophet Elisha (2Kgs 13:21), the towel of Paul (Acts 19:12), and the shadow of
Peter (Acts 5:15) to work miracles.
Life messages:
1) We need to accept the challenge to become saints. Jesus
exhorts us: “Be made perfect as your Heavenly Father is Perfect” (Mt 5:48). St.
Augustine asked: “If he and she can become saints, why can’t I?” (Si iste et
ista, cur non ego?).
2) We can take the short cuts practiced by three Teresas: i)
St. Teresa of Avila: Recharge your spiritual batteries every day by prayer,
namely, listening to God and talking to Him; ii) St. Therese of Lisieux:
Convert every action into prayer by offering it to God for His glory and for
the salvation of souls and by doing God’s will to the best of one’s ability;
iii) St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa): Do ordinary things with great
love.
Nov 2 Wednesday: (All Souls’ Day)
All Souls’ Day is a day specially set apart that we may
remember and pray for our dear ones who have gone for their eternal reward and
who are currently in a state of ongoing purification.
Ancient belief:
1) People of all religions have believed in the immortality
of the soul, and have prayed for the dead.
2) The Jews, for example, believed that there was a place of
temporary bondage from which the souls of the dead would receive their final
release. The Jewish catechism Talmud states that prayers for the dead will help
to bring greater rewards and blessings to them. Prayer for the souls of the
departed is retained by Orthodox Jews today, who recite a prayer known as the
Mourner’s Kaddish for eleven months after the death of a loved one so that
he/she may be purified.
3) Jesus and the apostles shared this belief and passed it
on to the early Church. “Remember us who have gone before you, in your
prayers,” is a petition often found inscribed on the walls of the Roman
catacombs (Lumen Gentium-50).
4) The liturgies of the Mass in various rites dating from
the early centuries of the Church include “Prayers for the Dead.”
5) The early Fathers of the Church encouraged this practice. Tertullian (A.D.
160-240) wrote about the anniversary Masses for the dead, advising widows to
pray for their husbands. St. Augustine remarked that he used to pray for his
deceased mother, remembering her request: “When I die, bury me anywhere you
like, but remember to pray for me at the altar” (St Augustine of Hippo,
Confessions, Book 11, Chapter 13 Sections 35-37).
6) The synods of Nicaea, Florence and Trent encouraged the
offering of prayers for the dead, citing Scriptural evidences to prove that
there is a place or state of purification for those who die with venial sins on
their souls.
7) Theological reason: According to Rv
21:27, “nothing unclean shall enter heaven.” Holy Scripture (Prv 24:16) also
teaches that even “the just sin seven times a day.” Since it would be contrary
to the mercy of God to punish such souls with venial sins in Hell, they are
seen as entering a place or state of purification, called Purgatory, which
combines God’s justice with His mercy. This teaching is also contained in the
doctrine of the Communion of Saints.
Biblical evidence:
1) II Mc 12:46 is the main Biblical text incorporating the
Jewish belief in the necessity of prayer and sacrifice for the dead. The
passage (II Mc 12:39-46) describes how Judas, the military commander, “took up
a collection from all his men, totaling about four pounds of silver and sent it
to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering” (II Mc 12: 43). The narrator
continues, “If he had not believed that the dead would be raised, it would have
been foolish and useless to pray for them.”
2) St. Paul seems to have shared this traditional Jewish
belief. At the death of his supporter Onesiphorus, he prayed: “May the Lord
grant him mercy on that Day” (II Tm 1:18). Other pertinent Bible texts: Mt
12:32, I Cor, 3:15, Zec 13:19, Sir 7:33.
The Church’s teaching: The Church’s official teaching on
Purgatory is plain and simple. There is a place or state of purification called
Purgatory, where souls undergoing purification can be helped by the prayers of
the faithful (Council of Trent). Some modern theologians suggest that the fire
of Purgatory is an intense, transforming encounter with Jesus Christ and His
fire of love. They also speak of Purgatory as an “instant” purification
immediately after death, varying in intensity from soul to soul, depending on
the state of each individual.
How do we help the “holy souls”? The Catechism of the
Catholic Church (CCC #1032) recommends prayer for the dead in conjunction with
the offering of the Eucharistic Sacrifice. It also encourages “almsgiving,
indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead.” Let us not
forget to pray for our dear departed, have Masses offered for them, visit their
graves, and make daily sacrifices for them. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Nov 3 Thursday: (St. Matin De Porres, Religious): For
a short biography, click here: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-martin-de-porres Lk
5:1-11: 1 While the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he was
standing by the lake of Gennesaret. 2 And he saw two boats by the lake; but the
fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one
of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the
land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had
ceased speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your
nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took
nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done
this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, 7
they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And
they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when
Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for
I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with
him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and
John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon,
“Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had
brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
The context: The scene is the Sea of Galilee
(Gennesaret in Greek and Tiberius in Latin). The story of the miraculous catch
of fish described in today’s Gospel is similar to the post-Resurrection
appearance of Jesus recounted in Jn 21:4-14. It is one of the “epiphany-call
stories” which direct our attention to the fact that Jesus had distinct
criteria for selecting people to be apostles. The reading challenges us to
examine our own personal calls to conversion and discipleship.
The miraculous catch followed by the call: After
teaching the crowd from a seat in the boat of Simon, Jesus said to him “Put out
into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master,
we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the
nets.” Simon and his companions were stunned by the biggest catch of their
lives. This event led Simon to acknowledge his unworthiness, as a sinner, even to
stand before the Divine Presence of Jesus. Impressed by Simon’s obedience and
confession of unworthiness, Jesus immediately invited Simon, Andrew, James and
John to become close disciples and so to “catch men” instead of fish.
Life Messages: 1) Our encounter with the
holiness of God needs to lead us to recognize our sinfulness. The Good News of
today’s Gospel is that our sinfulness — our pride and self-centeredness – does
not repel God. That is why we offer this Mass asking God’s pardon and
forgiveness, and why we receive Jesus in Holy Communion only after
acknowledging our unworthiness.
2) With Jesus, the seemingly impossible becomes possible. Today’s Gospel
passage tells us an important truth about how God works in and through us for
His glory. God chooses ordinary people – people like you and me – as His
ambassadors. He uses the ordinary circumstances of our daily lives and our
responses. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Nov 4 Friday: (St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop)
For a short biography, click here: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-charles-borromeo Luke
16:1-8: 1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a
steward, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. 2
And he called him and said to him, `What is this that I hear about you? Turn in
the account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ 3 And the
steward said to himself, `What shall I do, since my master is taking the
stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to
beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that people may receive me into their
houses when I am put out of the stewardship.’ 5 So, summoning his master’s
debtors one by one, he said to the first, `How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He
said, `A hundred measures of oil.’ And he said to him, `Take your bill, and sit
down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, `And how much do you
owe?’ He said, `A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, `Take your bill,
and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest steward for his
shrewdness; for the sons of this world are shrewder in dealing with their own
generation than the sons of light.
The context: In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us the strange
parable of a steward who was a rascal to teach us that serving God is a
full-time job, not a part-time job or a spare-time hobby. Jesus also teaches us
that, in matters spiritual and eternal, we should use the same ingenuity and
planning which business people show in the business world. The parable
challenges us to use our blessings — time, talents, health, and wealth — wisely
and shrewdly, so that they will count for our reward in eternity. We are on the
right road only if we use our earthly wealth to attain our Heavenly goal. The
parable: In the parable, Jesus tells us how the slave-steward of an absentee
landlord, caught red-handed in misappropriating his master’s wealth,
ingeniously cheated his master by his unjust manipulation of the master’s
business clients. His tricks were intended to make him the friend of his
master’s debtors and gave him the prospect of becoming rich by working for them
(or blackmailing them?) when he was fired by his master from the stewardship.
Life messages: 1) We need to be faithful in the little things of life:
As Saint John Chrysostom said, “Faithfulness in little things is a big thing.”
Our future opportunities in the eternal service of God largely depend on our
stewardship in handling the little opportunities we have had on earth. As
Mother Teresa used to recommend, “Do little things with great love.”
2) We have to act shrewdly, trusting in the power and
assistance of God. Let us make use of our resources — like Hope in God’s
justice, Faith in God’s assistance, and Trust in God’s grace, celebrating the
Mass and the Sacraments as sources of Divine grace and prayerfully studying the
Holy Bible as the word of God for daily meditation.
3) Let us remember that as God’s stewards we need to be
prepared to give an account of our lives at any time (Fr. Tony) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Nov 5 Saturday: Lk 16:9-15: 9 And I tell you,
make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it
fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations. 10 “He who is faithful
in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very
little is dishonest also in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the
unrighteous mammon, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have
not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is
your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one
and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You
cannot serve God and mammon.” 14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard
all this, and they scoffed at him. 15 But he said to them, “You are those who
justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts; for what is exalted
among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
The context: After telling the parable of the rascally
steward as an example of shrewdness and as a warning against using unjust means
for gain, Jesus advises his listeners to make friends with the poor by
almsgiving and to be faithful and honest in the little things entrusted to them
by God.
The teaching: Jesus advises his followers to imitate the
shrewd steward who used money generously to make friends for himself. Jesus
suggests that his disciples should show their generosity and mercy by
almsgiving: “sell your possessions and give alms” (Luke 12:33). The recipients
immediately become friends of the kind donor. It is God’s generosity which
makes one rich, and, hence, the money we have is unrighteous in the sense that
it is unearned and undeserved. So, God expects us to be generous stewards of
His generous blessings. Generosity curtails our natural greed, making
almsgiving an act of thanksgiving to God for His generosity. Then Jesus tells
us that what we get in Heaven will depend on how we have used the things of the
earth and on how faithful we have been in the little things entrusted to us. A
slave is the exclusive property of his master, and our Master, God, is the most
exclusive of masters. So, serving Him cannot be a part-time job or spare-time
hobby; it is full-time job. Finally, Jesus warns the Pharisees that material
prosperity is not a sure sign of one’s goodness and God’s blessing, but a sign
of God’s mercy and generosity.
Life messages: 1) We need to share our blessings with others. Since all our
blessings are God’s generous loans to us, we need to be equally generous with
others. 2) We need to serve God full-time: Since God owns us totally, we are
expected to be at His service doing His holy will all the time. Hence, there is
no such thing as a part-time Christian. (Fr. Tony) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
