Posts made in September, 2010

26 Sept. 2010 – Twenty Sixth Sunday

Posted by on Sep 26, 2010 in Sunday Reflections | 0 comments

Gospel : Luke 11 : 1 – 13 Year C There was a rich man ….at is gate there lay a poor man… It’s always the same contrast nowadays, as much for individuals as for nations. On the one hand, the rich with their lavish spending …. and at their gate, many poor people… more and more poor! Faced with this, one could easily have said : the world is badly made! The fault is not Your’s, Lord, because You have made this world so that people could live together as brothers, sharing the goods which You created in abundance. But mankind is full of egoism. He wants everything from himself. He does not want to listen to Moses and the Prophets”….. he doesn’t want to listen to You! You warn us against the dangers of riches. They close in on us and close our eyes to the needs of others. The rich, distinguished by there luxury clothing and sumptuous banquets no longer have time to look around them and to see the poor at their gate. They don’t do them any harm but they just don’t see them! These riches which blindfold me, is everything that distracts me and closes my heart to others, which prevents me from paying attention to them, from welcoming them and from sharing with them my bread, my friendship, my time…. Open me up to my brothers, Lord. Open my eyes, open my ears, open my heart!…Whether I have money, or none, I can offer a salute, a kindly look …. Open my eyes that I can see You in my brothers, whoever they may be…Open my ears so that I may listen to You, and that I can hear You “In Moses and the Prophets”, in Your Gospel …. Open my heart to Your love, to share it with whoever cries in distress or implores in...

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12 Sept. 2010 – Twenty Fourth Sunday

Posted by on Sep 12, 2010 in Sunday Reflections | 0 comments

Gospel : Luke 15 : 1 – 32 Year C Tax collectors and sinners were all coming to Jesus You had said : I did not come for the righteous, but for sinners. You illustrate this by Your attitude of mercy, by Your welcome for all. The Father sent You to reveal His Fatherly love to all. You do not demand a certificate of good conduct from those who come to You. Your first prediction in the synagogue at Nazareth was clear (Lk.4:18): The Spirit of the Lord has sent Me to bring the Good News to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives,….” These poor are those who lack love, who are captives of their moral misery. You come to free them, to give them the freedom of being children of God…. These poor, tax collectors and sinners, excluded from society, understood You; They came to Jesus to listen to Him. They are not coming as beggars, to ask for alms …. They come because they feel recognised, respected, loved…. they come to listen to You, to hear the Good News: God loves them and wants them near Him, with Him! This man welcomes sinners and eats with them! The “practicing” of those days are shocked by this …. but it is always the same! The explanations You give don’t go down well, they are unreasonable! Does a shepherd leave 99 sheep to go to look for just one …. and keep looking until he finds it? This doesn’t happen in real life! In the human field, yes, it is true, this would not be reasonable ….. But this particular Shepherd is You, Lord. Your love for everyone of us has gone “to the folly of the cross” (1Cor,1:18)! You tell us thus of the personal love of the Father for each one of His creatures. It is this same love for each one which made You abide in the Eucharist and give Yourself as food, so that we may have life to the full (Jn.10:10). Lord Jesus, give us a poor heart, to listen to You and to share with You the joy of being children of God …. let us be messengers of the love of the Father for all...

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5 September 2010 – Twenty Third Sunday

Posted by on Sep 5, 2010 in Sunday Reflections | 0 comments

Gospel : Luke 14 : 25 – 53 Year C Great crowds made their way to Jesus. The people of Palestine have heard about You. They come to see the marvellous things that You do. They have heard Your teaching which is not “like that of the scribes”. You have known human success, Lord. You have been able to see huge crowds searching for You. The crowds are thirsty for happiness, light. They are ready to run to whoever will provide them with what they await. But deception comes quickly, because humans cannot satisfy the deep desires of hearts. He turned and spoke to them: You do not seek Your own glory in making these beautiful promises to the crowds! Certainly You have told them, and You will tell them again, the Good News, the love of God for everyone. But You don’t hide the requirements of this love. You are in fact on the way towards your last journey to Jerusalem and You know what awaits You there: suffering, the cross, rejection by the same crowds which the leaders of the people will turn against You …. If anyone comes to Me … You are clear: it is not a peaceful human life that You suggest. How hard Your words seem! How demanding they are! You are aware of this, and, through two parables, You invite us to reflect well on this. You await from us, a free response, a response of love …. Yes, if You are so demanding, it is through love for us …. If You demand of everyone that they follow You, if You thus want to “empty” us of ourselves, it is to fill us more fully with Yourself, it is to let us share Your life…. You go up to Jerusalem. There, You will tell us how far love goes: to the cross! Let me not be afraid of Your love, Lord …. let me open my heart to You in all trust, and follow You even if the climb is...

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