Daily Bread - October 2008

Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time (cont’d.)

Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin, doctor of the church

I will follow you wherever you go. What a generous statement. How often have we said it, or at least wished we could? Today’s readings urge us to have complete trust in God, as a young child trusts a beloved parent or grandparent who says, "We’re going on an exciting adventure. Parts of it will be difficult, possibly scary, but I’ll be here to take care of you, every step of the way. Trust me." Our lifelong adventure with God is learning to love all persons and creation itself as God loves: generously, patiently unconditionally. With St. Thérèse we pray, Lord, give us your love, for only then can we learn to love as you do. Mew

Guardian Angels

Go on your way; behold I am sending you like lambs among wolves. The call to follow Jesus is full of surprises. Our journey may not lead us to distant places, but surely we will experience the spiritual journey from self-centeredness to other centeredness to God-centeredness. All the way we are protected by those constant contacts with God: prayer, liturgy and the scriptures, the guidance of the church, the words of fellow believers — all sources of God’s guidance. Also, the scriptures tell us that God gives the angels charge over us to protect us from dangers to our life of grace. Let us thank God for all those who guide us to our final goal. Lord, guide my steps always on the Way that is you. Mew

Then Job answered [God]: Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you? How uncompromisingly the Book of Job puts us in our place. Yes, we human beings are the crown of God’s creation, the daughters and sons of God. Yet we are sometimes tempted to think that we are God. We have been given amazing powers to heal and prevent illness, to provide clean, safe water and nourishing food for all God’s children, and to challenge and control the forces of nature. Yet how un-Godlike and selfish we are in our priorities! We must learn to provide, in justice and charity, for the needs of all and the good of God’s earth, and to remember our place as God’s stewards. Teach me your ways, O Lord. Mew

Francis of Assisi, religious

Do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but … because your names are written in heaven. God wants to accomplish great things in and through us, but we must avoid the trap of taking credit when we are successful in doing the Lord’s work. The success is the Lord’s alone. If we wrongly take credit for the good times, we will be tempted to despair when things go badly — as sooner or later they will. Humble, realistic disciples rejoice in the Lord’s mercy and give thanks at being chosen to participate in spreading the Gospel. With St. Francis of Assisi we pray, My Lord, I am yours. You know I have nothing except what I have from you. Mew

Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

And who is my neighbor? Jesus might have countered the law scholar’s question with a rhetorical question of his own: "Who isn’t your neighbor?" Instead, Jesus tells the intriguing story of the Good Samaritan. As he describes the compassion, generosity and ongoing concern of neighborly love, the notion that anyone should be excluded evaporates. We are led to question whether anyone should be exempted from the duty to serve those in need; and we know that millions across the globe live in dire need today. May our love for God be fervent and so lead us to a healthy balance in self-care, care for those in our charge, and care for our brothers and sisters around the world. For the grace to be channels of God’s love, we pray. Ecw

Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. Jesus points out that Mary has chosen her part, and the implication is clear: so has Martha. Worry and anxiety don’t come out of nowhere. If we are alert, we can trace our spiritual and emotional condition back to our thoughts and, from there, examine the beliefs behind our thinking. Martha believes she should respond to Jesus through ordinary means: cooking, serving, being hospitable. But Mary perceives something radically new and wonderful in Jesus’ visit. The daily drudgery falls by the wayside as she breaks tradition to assume the position of disciple (then reserved for males. Which of my beliefs cause me anxiety and worry? Which engender serenity and contentment? For those afflicted with anxiety … for a deep, healing relationship with Jesus, we pray. Ecw

Give us each day our daily bread. For those with easy access to stores brimming with more than we need, this petition is likely to inspire gratitude. It may also move us to acknowledge needs and hungers beyond the physical that are not so easily met: the need for love and life-giving relationships; for a sense of purpose and belonging; for healing, forgiveness and inner peace; for beauty, honor, self-respect and joy. God provides us, day by day, with all that we need to live fully and well. As we trust God to sustain us through periods of privation, let us be open to the ways in which God may want to use us to fill the need of another. For gratitude, compassion and generosity, we pray. Ecw

And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Jesus prayed and exhorted his disciples to do likewise. But prayer is no magic formula for getting what we want. Rather, prayer is the intentional shifting of our attention to God, a humble entrance into the presence of our Maker. Prayer itself is sweet transcendence, relief from anxiety, where we surrender all worries and fears. In that surrender, we discern God’s will for us and gain greater clarity about what we truly need. Let us persevere in prayer, then, ever inviting the Holy Spirit into our hearts, always trusting God to protect, guide and bless us. For persistence in prayer and confidence in God’s provident wisdom and love, we pray. Ecw

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. The dangers of the world and the lure of evil are such that unless we are entrenched in the kingdom and involved in Jesus’ mission, we risk slipping unintentionally into working for the other side. Jesus amplifies this frightening prospect by describing an ousted unclean spirit that brings back "seven other spirits more wicked than itself" to dwell in the soul from which it has been exorcized. Perhaps the thought of demons we have wrangled with returning (with a vengeance) can jolt us out of complacency. May compassion for those who have yet to discover healing in Christ also renew our zeal for the kingdom. For a strong commitment to Christ, we pray. Ecw

Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it. In his blessing-reply to the woman who calls out from the crowd, Jesus points toward the multitude of graces that may yet come forth from the original blessing experienced by Mary. Through Mary, our God has become flesh and dwelt among us. Through the stories, teachings and example of One like us, and through the gift of his Holy Spirit, we are better able to hear the word of God and observe it. Let us rejoice today and every day in the Incarnation. For the grace to hear and observe the Word of God, we pray. Ecw

Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of the promise. We all fear failure and embarrassment and especially disappointing those who depend on our success. Even more, we live in trepidation of what we may actually be capable of if we achieve our potential. We dread the power of the possibility that we hold because we do not understand what demonstrating such competence means. We are scared of the expectations and responsibilities that such awesome promise holds. Most of us would rather go about our day-to-day existence in quiet obscurity. Yet we are not made for inconsequentiality. We are made for the greater glory of God, and with that comes amazing possibilities. We have been freed from the yoke of sin; we cannot be slaves to fear. For the courage to embrace the promise, we pray. Pr

For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. A large part of Christ’s legacy of love for us is our freedom, yet we daily relinquish this gift to various degrees. Christ has relieved the slavery of our sinfulness, but we readily submit to the chains of various masters — often with little or no fight. We yield to the repression of an impersonal and demanding society marked by consumerism and ambition. We submit to the bondage of fear, hatred and prejudice; we acquiesce to the weight of fatalism and despair. We think not of what Christ would do, but what others will think of us; we succumb repeatedly to expectations of a selfish world. However, there is promise in surrender. We simply do not give up; we give in to Christ. May our faith in Christ be unyielding, we pray. Pr

Teresa of Jesus, virgin and doctor of the church

If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. Much good comes from works of love and charity. These acts, if pure, are outpourings of the Spirit at work within us. It does not work in reverse, though. If our motivation to serve others is external, then our objective is likely deceitful, whether we recognize this or not. Paul reminds us of the vocation of the Spirit: It is fruit, not work. Obligation, guilt and desire for recognition are not fruit. They are weaknesses of the flesh, and, despite our best intentions, if the Spirit does not take the lead, only vice follows. That we may follow the Spirit on the unique path that God has for each of us, we pray. Pr

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing. Great contrast exists between the blessing of God for the many gifts we have received, enumerated in Ephesians, and the antagonism of the scribes and Pharisees plotting against Jesus in Luke. We hold this same contrast within ourselves. How ready are we to offer thanksgiving for our many blessings? How much quicker are we to question or lash out in frustration, anger or disbelief? We tend to acknowledge God’s plan for our lives only when we agree with it. We truly exalt God when we accept our blessings and our trials and thank the Lord for both. Lord, grant us the grace to place our trust in your will for us, we pray. Pr

Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr

Meanwhile, so many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. Between declining church attendance and the casual practice of those who profess to observe their faith, we have little risk of encountering crowds that flock to hear God’s word. How sad. We all know the energy of a full and enthusiastic congregation. We take much from the gifts of our fellow worshipers. Beyond what we receive from the presence of others, we desire the gift of God’s grace and protection for each other. Today’s Gospel reminds us that no one escapes God’s notice. Let’s take notice of our loved ones who have strayed from their faith and gently invite them home. That we may unite in faith, we pray. Pr

The kingdom of God is at hand for you. Yes, you! And me, and everyone, no exceptions. It’s a universal charge. Luke the Evangelist personally took up the call to make Christ known, paying particular attention to those this world considers lowly. He spread Christ’s message of equality in discipleship and in the kingdom. It’s a call to see Christ in everyone and to look for signs of the coming of the kingdom every day. That we may rejoice in the kingdom, we pray. Pr

One’s life does not consist of possessions. Most of us don’t build barns to hold our stuff. After our garages and attics and closets are full, we rent space. The self-storage industry claims over $22 billion in annual revenue and over 2 billion square feet rented out to storage. Self-storage is an apt name, for we give a little bit of ourselves to each thing we own — our time and energy to buy it, clean it, walk around it, store it, wonder what to do with it. And someday, someone we love will inherit all this. Lucky them. There’s only so much space in our closets. A home can hold a few beautiful and useful things. Too much, and it ceases to be beautiful or useful. The same is true for our hearts and minds. We can only hold so much. If our homes are cluttered, chances are our hearts and minds will be cluttered, too. Lord Jesus, help us to make room for you and those you place on our path today. Pbs

Should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared … blessed are those servants. The first disciples thought Jesus would return and take them away as this world ended. Luke is writing for a people for whom the parousia is far off — the second or third watch. As a church, we might be in that second or third watch of the night. As individuals, most of us don’t know the day or the hour, but we all know that the moment will come when we must look back on our lives, when someone we love will be taken from us. This is how we must live: fully alive, aware and prepared so that our regrets will be few and our memories joyful and satisfying. Lord Jesus, wake me up and help me seize this day. Pbs

More will be demanded of the person entrusted with more. Peter’s question refers to the passage we heard yesterday when Jesus spoke of a banquet. Peter wants to know if this reward is for the Twelve or all disciples. Jesus ignores the question and instead warns that more will be expected from those entrusted with more, that is, the leaders of the church. It is an understandable temptation to claim all the benefits of our position or talents and make light of the responsibilities. Yet we are not owners even of ourselves, but stewards, and all that we are is for the service of the kingdom. If we don’t serve, what we have will be taken from us. Lord Jesus, help us today to serve tirelessly so that tonight we may sleep, satisfied that we have been faithful servants. Pbs

Not peace, but division. Is anyone comfortable with this Gospel passage? My question belies the problem. We seek comfort from our religion, not challenge. We seek justification, assurance that the status quo — maybe with a few tweaks — is just fine. That nice is good enough and all that can reasonably be asked of us. One commentator suggests that faith in Jesus divides the eager from the contented. Perhaps the division is also within each of us, that part which longs for the easy life against that part which strives to be a true and worthy disciple. We can be the latter if we simply stop protecting the former. Lord Jesus, help us live today without regard for our own comfort. St. John of Capistrano, patron of military chaplains, protect those in harm’s way. Pbs

Live in a manner worthy of the call. Over and over again the Christian is exhorted to be humble, patient, gentle, kind, forgiving. Much of the teaching is counterintuitive. Pray for our enemies? And yet, given a little dispassionate thought, what other teaching makes more sense? Do we want to spend our precious time in court? Our precious lives on the battlefield? There must be another way, and it is as obvious as the signs of the weather to come. Today let’s remember Catholic writers who inform, inspire and encourage us to live good, holy lives. St. Anthony Claret, patron of the Catholic press, pray for us. Pbs

Repent! Bear fruit! Jesus is asked about two current events. Pilate had ordered the slaughter of several Jews while they were at prayer in the temple. And there was an accident in which 18 people were killed when a tower fell on them. Jesus responds that these tragic incidents should be a warning. Life is unpredictable, and we should ready ourselves now for the last day. The parable of the fig tree indicates Jesus’ longing for Israel to receive him and his teaching. For three years he ministered among them and still he hopes their final answer will be "Yes." Lord Jesus, today we say "Yes" to you, only "Yes." Pbs

Be kind to one another … forgiving one another as God has forgiven you. How painfully challenging it is to be kind and forgiving toward "wrong thinkers" who oppose me in my family, church or workplace. It’s often easier to fight because "I know I’m right; I must make him see the light," or to close my heart against someone because of what "she did to me, after all I’ve done for her." At such times it is best to remember that God has forgiven me more than I will ever be required to forgive, that our actions and demeanor often do more than our words to win over another, and that God has not commanded me to win, only to love. That my attitude toward others may always reflect God’s love. Mew

Simon and Jude, apostles (Feast)

You also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. I am a son or daughter of God, chosen and called by the grace of Christ. Yet I am also a sinner, struggling to have within me the mind of Jesus. Whenever I begin, I tend to fall, sharply reminded of my sins and shortcomings. Humility does not consist in denying my calling because I am unworthy, but rather in acknowledging that I am a work in progress. I must remember that while I am being built into God’s holy dwelling place, it is God who is the architect. I am just one of the bricks. Saints Simon and Jude, pray for us that we consent to be formed as God wills. Mew

Both you and they have a Master in heaven with whom there is no partiality. Sowing seeds of the kingdom begins where I myself am planted. God’s impartial, universal love must govern all my relationships. Do I command and demand before I honor and serve? Do my actions and attitudes show my family that I love them unselfishly, unconditionally, as Christ loves me? Am I an honest employee, giving a day’s work for a day’s pay? As an employer, do I provide a just wage and a safe workplace? Do I consider the effect my business may have on the global economy and ecology? Divine love is charity, and charity, it seems, begins at home. Lord, teach me how to love universally by learning how to love those close at home. Mew

Put on the armor of God that you may be able to resist on the evil day and … hold your ground. The paradox is as real today as it was in the first-century church: The will of God has triumphed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but the forces of evil are still present under various guises. We share in the victory of Jesus, yet we must continually fight against the lure of false gods, like consumerism, greed and violence, that tempt us to grasp an unjust share of the world’s goods, to exploit the poor and to abuse the earth’s resources. Lord Jesus, help us with your grace to triumph over those forces which oppose the kingdom of God. Mew

I am confident … that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it. Today is Halloween, or All Hallows Eve. The holiday began in pagan circles but was "baptized" with the coming of Christianity. Although it has pretty much deteriorated into an opportunity for young bandits, disguised as media-monsters, to hold up the neighbors for candy, the day once served to remind us that the forces of evil are a real and present danger to the body of Christ on earth. My wise Jesuit friend once remarked that we can’t appreciate the Good News until we confront the Bad News: We here on earth are under siege. Lord, give us strength and grace to fight our own demons. Mew