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.

Thursday of the Thirty-second week in Ordinary Time

Today the Church celebrates : St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr (c.1580-1623) – Memorial

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Saint Isaac the Syrian : “The kingdom of God is among you.”

Book of Wisdom 7:22-30.8:1.

for Wisdom, the artificer of all, taught me. For in her is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, Manifold, subtle, agile, clear, unstained, certain, Not baneful, loving the good, keen, unhampered, beneficent, kindly, Firm, secure, tranquil, all-powerful, all-seeing, And pervading all spirits, though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle. For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion, and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity. For she is an aura of the might of God and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nought that is sullied enters into her. For she is the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness. And she, who is one, can do all things, and renews everything while herself perduring; And passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets. For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom. For she is fairer than the sun and surpasses every constellation of the stars. Compared to light, she takes precedence; for that, indeed, night supplants, but wickedness prevails not over Wisdom. Indeed, she reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well.

Psalms 119:89.90.91.130.135.175.

Your word, LORD, stands forever; it is firm as the heavens.
Through all generations your truth endures; fixed to stand firm like the earth.
By your edicts they stand firm to this day, for all things are your servants.
The revelation of your words sheds light, gives understanding to the simple.
Let your face shine upon your servant; teach me your laws.
Let me live to praise you; may your edicts give me help.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 17:20-25.

Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he said in reply, “The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the kingdom of God is among you.” Then he said to his disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, there he is,’ (or) ‘Look, here he is.’ Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be (in his day). But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB

Commentary of the day :

Saint Isaac the Syrian (7th Century), monk near Mosul
Ascetical Discourses, 1st part

“The kingdom of God is among you.”

The demons dread, but God and his angels desire the one who fervently seeks God day and night in his heart and repels far away the enemy’s attacks. The spiritual country of this person who is pure in soul is within himself: the sun that shines within him is the light of the Holy Trinity; the air breathed by the thoughts within him is the holy Spirit, the Comforter; and the holy angels abide with him. Their life, their joy, their gladness is Christ, light of the Father’s light. Such a one continually enjoys the contemplation of his soul, marvelling at the beauty he sees there, shining a hundred times more powerfully than the brightness of the sun.

This is Jerusalem. And it is «the Kingdom of God concealed within us», to use the Lord’s own words. This country is the cloud of the glory of God into which only pure hearts can enter to behold their Master’s face (Mt 5,8). Their understanding will be enlightened by the rays of his light.

Wednesday of the Thirty-second week in Ordinary Time
Book of Wisdom 6:2-11.
Hearken, you who are in power over the multitude and lord it over throngs of peoples!
Because authority was given you by the LORD and sovereignty by the Most High, who shall probe your works and scrutinize your counsels!
Because, though you were ministers of his kingdom, you judged not rightly, and did not keep the law, nor walk according to the will of God,
Terribly and swiftly shall he come against you, because judgment is stern for the exalted-
For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test.
For the Lord of all shows no partiality, nor does he fear greatness, Because he himself made the great as well as the small, and he provides for all alike;
but for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends.
To you, therefore, O princes, are my words addressed that you may learn wisdom and that you may not sin.
For those who keep the holy precepts hallowed shall be found holy, and those learned in them will have ready a response.
Desire therefore my words; long for them and you shall be instructed.

Psalms 82(81):3-4.6-7.
Defend the lowly and fatherless; render justice to the afflicted and needy.
Rescue the lowly and poor; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
I declare: “Gods though you be, offspring of the Most High all of you,
Yet like any mortal you shall die; like any prince you shall fall.”

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 17:11-19.
As he continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten lepers met (him). They stood at a distance from him
and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”
Commentary of the day : Saint Bernard
“Is there none but this foreigner?”