The Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wisdom 7:7-11; Psalm 89; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30

In our first reading today from the Book of Wisdom, the author is speaking about Wisdom as the greatest possession of all. He compares gold, silver and other precious objects to Wisdom and finds them to be insignificant. Christ has often been seen as the personification of Old Testament Wisdom and so in the first reading we can see that Christ is the greatest possession of all. In our gospel we have the theme of possessions. Christ tells the rich young man who comes to him that he must give up all he has if he is to inherit eternal life. We all need certain possessions and material goods if we are to live a relatively comfortable life but we must never place them before the Lord because they too will prove to be a block to Christian living and to eternal life. Christ is the greatest possession of all and he must be the only possession that we may strive for. The text also tells us that we must give to the poor because all of our possessions are a gift from God and should be shared with those who are less fortunate so that they too may realise the presence of God in their lives.

In our second reading from the letter to the Hebrews, the author tells us that the word of God is alive and active. Many people feel that religious belief and the Scriptures are a collection of old, dry words but not for the author. Christ is the Word of God and is very much alive and active in the lives of those who believe in him.

Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31-5:1; Psalm 112; Luke 11:29-32

In our first reading from the letter to the Galatians we continue St Paul’s explanation of how we have been freed from the Jewish Laws and given the path of faith by Christ. Paul talks about Abraham’s slave wife, Hagar and her child, Ishmael, who – for Paul’s purposes – represent the Jewish people, and Abraham’s free wife, Sarah and her child, Isaac, who represent Christians. Paul says that we have been born free in the waters of baptism because our slavery to sin has been broken by Christ. In the Gospel the people are asking Jesus for a sign to prove that he is the Messiah. He doesn’t give them a sign but reminds them of Jonah, telling them that they have something greater than Jonah in their midst.

Feast of St Teresa of Avila, Virgin & Doctor of the Church

Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada was born in Avila, Spain, in 1515. She entered the Carmelites and made great progress in the way of perfection and was granted mystical revelations. At this time religious life in Spain, and across Europe, was in much need of reform and Teresa began this work with the monastery in which she was living. She also founded other monasteries under her strict reform and enlisted John of the Cross to reform the male branch of the Order of Carmelites. After her death, the reform she began eventually separated from the Carmelite Order to become the Order of Discalced Carmelites. She wrote a number of books which brought her to the attention of the Inquisition but which she persevered in writing and which demonstrate her profound insight into prayer. For Teresa, prayer was a conversation with a close friend, and this can be seen in her many references to Christ. Her letters also show a tremendous humanity while gently bringing people back into line. Her best-known works are The Way of Perfection and The Interior Castle. She died at Alba in 1582 and was canonized in 1622. Her writings have earned her the title of Doctor of the Church.

Readings:

Wisdom 7:7-14 or Romans 8:14-17, 26-27; Psalm 83; John 7:14-18, 37-39a or John 4:5-15a

There are two possible first readings for today and both speak about prayer. The reading from the Book of Wisdom speaks about praying for and receiving understanding, and about the importance of wisdom and the goodness which wisdom brings. St Teresa of Jesus had a very close relationship with the Lord which she developed through an incredible life of prayer with him. Through that she gained an insight into the life of prayer for each of us and taught us that prayer is simply a conversation with a close friend – a phrase which makes prayer easier for so many people.

The alternative text from the letter to the Romans speaks about the Holy Spirit being there to help us in our weakness, a Spirit which has been given to each of us by God. At times prayer is difficult for us but with the Spirit moving in us we are able to pray and to speak personally with God.

In the gospel text, Jesus tells us that the words which he speaks and uses to teach are not his own words as a human but come from God in heaven and can therefore be trusted. The Jews had expressed astonishment that Jesus could say such things given his apparent lack of education. Many said the same of St Teresa in her day, and yet she is a Doctor of the Church and the teaching she has left us was inspired by God. The key teaching for us is to listen to God in the silence of our hearts and the words of scripture, and to live out the life of faith at every moment.

In the alternative gospel text, we see the encounter between Jesus and the woman at the well. She listens to Jesus despite the obstacles which society had placed between a Jewish man and a Samaritan woman, and through that listening she came to believe in Jesus.

Galatians 5:18-25; Psalm 1; Luke 11:42-46

In our last section from his letter to the Gentile Christians in Galatia, St Paul tells us that we should always live with the Holy Spirit guiding our lives. If we live by our own will then we only fall into sin. Paul tells us of the vices found in living by the flesh and the contrasting virtues found in living a life in the Spirit. Jesus, in the Gospel, admonishes Pharisees and lawyers for putting obstacles before the people so that they cannot truly worship the Lord, especially when those things place the Pharisees themselves in elevated positions before the people.

Ephesians 1:1-10; Psalm 97; Luke 11:47-54

We begin reading from St Paul’s letter to the Christian community at the large seaport of Ephesus which he wrote while in prison in Rome between 61 and 63 AD. In today’s passage Paul tells us that God had a secret plan from the beginning of Creation and that that plan has now been revealed. It is a plan for all things to be united under Christ who shed his blood that we might be saved. Again in the Gospel from St Luke, Jesus is rebuking the officials for their hypocrisy because it prevents the people from reaching closer union with God. That union was destined from Creation and set in place by Christ.

Memorial of St Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop & Martyr

Not very much is known about Ignatius except that in old age he was sent to Rome to be martyred with other Christians. On the long journey to Rome he wrote several letters to various Churches as did St Paul, and these letters are among the most important documents of the ancient Church. He died in 107 when he was thrown to the lions.

Feast of St Luke the Evangelist

Luke was from Antioch and was a physician when he met St Paul and joined him on his travels. He wrote the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel which bears his name but beyond that nothing is known of his life.

Readings

2Timothy 4:10-17; Psalm 144; Luke 10:1-9

In our first reading from his second letter to St Timothy, St Paul tells Timothy that he has nobody with him now except Luke. The evangelist was a companion of Paul in the latter’s second and third missionary journeys. Paul also tells of an occasion when he had to defend himself and only God was there to support him. In the gospel, the Lord sends out seventy-two disciples to preach and cure in his name. We are all reminded that we each have a role to play in the spread of the Gospel. Tradition at one time thought Luke was a member of this seventy-two.

Ephesians 1:15-23; Psalm 8; Luke 12:8-12

In our first reading St Paul speaks to us today of the glories which lie in wait for the faithful. All of this is in Christ who has been made head of the Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that if we reject him in the presence of others then he will reject us in the presence of the Father. To help us to stand faithful he has given us the Holy Spirit to be our strength and protection. To deny Jesus is not simply done in word but also by failing to act as Christians in the sight of others. The rejection of Christ is also the rejection of our hope.