The Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wisdom 6:12-16; Psalm 62; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13

Our first reading from the Book of Wisdom speaks about wisdom and how it is to be found by those who seek her. We know that Christ is the Wisdom of God and those who seek him will find him. As the first reading speaks of seeking wisdom so the Psalm speaks of seeking God. The gospel reminds us that we do not know when the Lord will call us from this life and so we must always be ready, not like the foolish bridesmaids in the parable who forget to bring extra oil for their lamps and who were left out of the banquet.

In the second reading, St Paul tells us that those who have died in Christ have gone to God and therefore we should not grieve for them. This promise is also made to us but only if we die in Christ.

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; Psalm 45; 1Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17; John 2:13-22

In the first reading from Ezekiel we read how a stream flowed from the Temple and gave life in abundance wherever it flowed. If we look at the distance from the Temple as a timeline then we see that over time the river grows to become a great torrent with the Temple being Christ. What is in the river could be seen as the members of the Church and what is on the banks as those who come into contact with members of the Church. Whether the people be in the river or on the bank, all receive life from the river. In the second reading St Paul reminds us that we are all God’s temple through the Spirit which has been given to us and therefore we must preserve this temple and strengthen it in the faith. The Temple is not just a stone building but it is each and every one of us who has God within them. In the gospel we see Jesus driving out of the Temple those who had dishonoured it. The Church is the house of God and it is the source of life for us and that is what we celebrate today. It is our duty to build up the Church of God – the church within each of us and the church as the unity and gathering of all who believe in Christ.

The Thirty-second Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Titus 2:1-8, 11-14; Psalm 36; Luke 17:7-10

St Paul speaks in the first reading from his letter to St Titus about how we should behave and act as Christians. We do this because of the glory which we are awaiting and which will be given us by Christ, though we do not know when. Paul also reminds Titus that the example of his own life in Crete will be very important for the growth of the faith there. The Psalm continues Paul’s theme. We are reminded by Christ in the Gospel that we are servants of God and that really we should not expect praise for living as Christians because, in so living, we are simply doing our duty. Yet there are those who do it simply to earn the praise of others and the Lord knows this and will not accept it.

The Thirty-second Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Titus 3:1-7; Psalm 22; Luke 17:11-19

St Paul continues to offer us a blueprint for living in the first reading from his letter to St Titus – his appointed leader of the Christian community in Crete. He also tells us that it was the compassion of God which saved us and nothing we ourselves had done when he sent his Son in to the world. We have the story of the ten lepers in our Gospel passage for today. Only one man returned to thank Christ for the gift of health which Christ had given him and by this act of faith he was saved. How often do we stop to thank God for all that we have received? The greatest act of thanksgiving we could make would be to live righteously in keeping with the Gospel.

The Thirty-second Thursday in Ordinary Time

Philemon 7-20; Psalm 145; Luke 17:20-25

Our last section from St Paul this year comes from his letter to Philemon, a young well-to-do Christian who is a close friend of Paul, about Onesimus – Philemon’s slave. He is asking Philemon to receive Onesimus back – not as a slave – but as a brother. Whatever our status or our role in life we are all brothers and sisters in the Gospel and equal in the eyes of the Lord. In the Gospel, Jesus tells the Pharisees that the kingdom is already with them though they have failed to see or realise it. He also tells his disciples that he is to suffer and be rejected. Still today, he suffers and is rejected when people reject his Gospel and his Church.

The Thirty-second Friday in Ordinary Time

2 John 4-9; Psalm 118; Luke 17:26-37

Today we turn from the letters of St Paul to the second letter of St John to an unknown Christian community. In the text, John reminds us of the great commandment to love one another. We are also told to be wary of those who teach a false gospel – all we need is to be found in the Gospel we have already received. We are reminded by Christ in the Gospel text from St Luke, that we know not when our time will come to an end and that we, like Noah and Lot, must heed the word of God today and be converted.

All Carmelite Saints

Readings:

Romans 8:28-35, 37-39; Psalm 23; Matthew 5:1-12

Today we remember all those members of the Carmelite Family whose heroic lives have pointed the way to heaven for us and who have been recognised as saints and blesseds. Our first reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans speaks of how God wants all people to become true images of his own divine Son. All those he intends for this have been called by him and with them he shares his glory. If we too believe then we will follow the example of how the saints lived their lives, in fidelity to the gospel message of Jesus Christ. In this way, we too will share the Father’s glory in eternity.

The Gospel text from St Matthew gives the account of the Sermon on the Mount, specifically the Beatitudes. The text reminds us that the Lord is with us and that those who suffer rejection, or humiliation, or even death, for the sake of the Kingdom will enjoy life in the Kingdom. Far from being downcast at being ill-treated for the sake of the Gospel, the people are to be happy because they will be rewarded for their faithfulness. The saints would have been aware of this text and would no doubt have taken great courage from its message and so have won the crown of righteousness.