Friday of the Thirty-second week in Ordinary Time

Today the Church celebrates : St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin and Foundress (1850-1917) – Memorial,  St. Agostina Livia Pietrantoni, Virgin (1864-1894)

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Saint Benedict : « Awake O sleeper» (Ep 5,14)

Book of Wisdom 13:1-9.

For all men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of God, and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing him who is, and from studying the works did not discern the artisan; But either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circuit of the stars, or the mighty water, or the luminaries of heaven, the governors of the world, they considered gods. Now if out of joy in their beauty they thought them gods, let them know how far more excellent is the Lord than these; for the original source of beauty fashioned them. Or if they were struck by their might and energy, let them from these things realize how much more powerful is he who made them. For from the greatness and the beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen. But yet, for these the blame is less; For they indeed have gone astray perhaps, though they seek God and wish to find him. For they search busily among his works, but are distracted by what they see, because the things seen are fair. But again, not even these are pardonable. For if they so far succeeded in knowledge that they could speculate about the world, how did they not more quickly find its LORD?

Psalms 19(18):2-3.4-5.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky proclaims its builder’s craft.
One day to the next conveys that message; one night to the next imparts that knowledge.
There is no word or sound; no voice is heard;
Yet their report goes forth through all the earth, their message, to the ends of the world. God has pitched there a tent for the sun;

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 17:26-37.

As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all. So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, a person who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise a person in the field must not return to what was left behind. Remember the wife of Lot. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left.” They said to him in reply, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.”

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB

Commentary of the day :

Saint Benedict (480-547), monk
Rule, Prologue, 8-22

« Awake O sleeper» (Ep 5,14)

Up with us then at last, for Scripture arouses us saying: «Now is the hour for us to rise from sleep» (Rm 13,11).  Let us open our eyes to the divine light, and let us hear with attentive ears the warning that the divine voice cries daily to us : «Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts» (Ps 95[94],8). And again: «He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches» (Rv 2,7). And what does he say? «Come, children, hear me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord» (Ps 34[33],12). «Run while you have the light of life , lest the darkness of death overtake you» (Jn 12,35).

And the Lord, seeking his worker among the multitudes to whom he thus cries, says again: «Which of you desires life and would like to see prosperous days? (Ps 34[33],13)  And if hearing him you answer, “I am he,” God says to you: if you would have true and everlasting life, «keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek after peace and pursue it» (Ps 34[33],14-15). And when you have done these things, my eyes will be upon you and my ears open unto
your prayers. And before you call me, I shall say to you, “Lo, here I am” (Is 58,9).

What can be sweeter to us, dearest brethren, than this voice of our Lord inviting us? Behold in his loving mercy the Lord show us the way of life. Let us therefore gird our loins with faith and the performance of good deeds, and following the guidance of the gospel, walk in his paths so that we may merit to see him who has called us into his Kingdom (1Thes 2,12). For if we wish to live in the dwellings of his Kingdom, unless we run there with good deeds we shall not arrive.