Daily Bread - September 2010
Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
Wed., Sept. 1: 1 Cor 3:1-9; Luke 4:38-44 I fed you milk, not solid food, because you were unable to take it. Mother’s milk is just the thing for the delicate, developing system of a newborn. It is foolish and dangerous to give a child solid food too soon. Likewise, in the spiritual life, initially we nurture inquirers into the faith with fellowship and the word. As they grow, thrive and hunger for more, we lead them to the sacraments of initiation: baptism, Eucharist and confirmation. Our spirit’s need for nourishment is ongoing. “Junk” for the soul abounds in the constant nattering of our media-saturated world, and it can leave us spiritually lethargic. Regular nourishment with the sacraments, prayer, Christian fellowship and service keep us strong and healthy in the Lord. For spiritual health and vitality, we pray. Ecw
Thurs., Sept. 2: 1 Cor 3:18-23; Luke 5:1-11 Let no one deceive himself. We value honesty, yet from time to time we deny truths that seem too difficult to face, too hard to admit. Like the Corinthians, we may harbor delusions that give us a false sense of self-esteem and a false self-image. Loss of such delusions is a good thing. Yet this is real loss, so once we’ve broken through our denial we’ll likely find the rest of the grief process set in motion — sorrow, anger and bargaining that move us toward grief’s happy end point: acceptance. Spiritual growth can be difficult, but in the end, a better understanding of our relationship to God — who is all-wise, all-knowing, loving and merciful beyond our comprehension — is a joyful discovery. For the humility to see ourselves and our God clearly, we pray. Ecw
Fri., Sept. 3: 1 Cor 4:1-5; Luke 5:33-39 St. Gregory the Great, pope and doctor of the church The old is good. The challenges of discipleship are many. Jesus calls us to conversion: to constant growth in faith, to change, evolution and renewal. This requires uncommon openness and trust. In addition to overcoming our own resistance to change by becoming “new wineskins,” we must deal with many who doggedly cling to the past and the ways of the past. “The old is good,” they insist, complacent and oblivious to the fact that every new age calls for an update of old ways. Gregory the Great responded to the chaos of the sixth century in Rome with wisdom, pastoral sensitivity, an eye to the future, and leadership that shaped the church for centuries to come. Through his intercession, may we be renewed to follow Jesus faithfully today. For openness and trust, we pray. Ecw
Sat., Sept. 4: 1 Cor 4:6b-15; Luke 6:1-5 The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus speaks to those who are overly scrupulous about keeping the Sabbath holy. His point is that the law does not supersede common sense or human need. But scrupulosity over the Sabbath is not a great problem in our day. Rather, the pendulum has swung, and many of us have grown lax about reserving this day for worship and rest. What common sense would Jesus recommend to us? Work, shopping and entertainment vie for our attention 24/7. Can we do a better job of limiting other activities so that we get to church on time and prepared for “full, conscious, active participation” in the celebration? How might we make more time to relish the experience as we go forth from it? For greater holiness, we pray. Ecw
Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
Mon., Sept. 6: 1 Cor 5:1-8; Luke 6:6-11 Labor Day (U.S.) Jesus heals on the Sabbath. Jesus heals, and his reward is death. Yet he does what he came on this earth to do, and he does it without hesitation, without second-guessing, without regard for the negative consequences to himself. Perhaps his perfect knowledge came from being so connected to the divine that he was not burdened with doubt. For us, discovering the work we are meant to do is less sure. We respond to appreciation and criticism, reward and punishment, and we lose sight of our vocation. As we celebrate Labor Day in the United States, we should give some thought to the work we value. We do not adequately acknowledge many who provide necessary services — caregivers in nursing homes, teachers of at-risk children, those who provide the hidden labors that keep us safe, fed and comfortable. For those who labor without reward and those who cannot find the work meant for them, we pray. Pbs
Tues., Sept. 7: 1 Cor 6:1-11; Luke 6:12-19 Jesus chose the Twelve. Why these twelve? They seem so ill-suited for the job, yet Jesus sees something in them that recommends them to his service. As a follow-up to yesterday’s Labor Day meditation, consider how important it is for one’s gifts to be noticed by the right person at the right time. This is perhaps the most significant job of the teacher, the counselor, the administrator, pastor or parent. Matching talent to task can make all the difference in an individual’s life and in the life of a community. Too often the very person in the position to do this important work is too busy about other matters that are, in the end, of lesser consequence. For the gift to recognize the gifts of others, we pray. Pbs
Wed., Sept. 8: Mic 5:1-4a or Rom 8:28-30; Matt 1:1-16, 18-23 The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Consider the women of the genealogy of Jesus: Tamar, who gave birth to twins after lying with her father-in-law; Rahab, the prostitute; Ruth, the foreigner; Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, who bore David’s son Solomon; and Mary, with child before marriage to Joseph. God’s ways are not our ways. Sometimes they don’t even seem like God’s ways — or our idea of God’s ways. God doesn’t always choose the decorous, the seemly, the ones we deem worthy. For eyes to see as God sees, hearts to love as God loves, we pray. Pbs
Thurs., Sept. 9: 1 Cor 8:1b-7, 11-13; Luke 6:27-38 St. Peter Claver, priest If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. Peter Claver lived this Gospel as a self-described “slave of the Negroes forever,” or slave of the slaves. The young Jesuit was sent as a missionary from his home in Spain to the New World, where, for the rest of his life, he ministered to the slaves who were brought into Cartagena. Ten thousand slaves a year came through this port city from West Africa, and the conditions on the ships were unspeakable. His most famous quote, “We must speak to them with our hands before we try to speak to them with our lips,” is evidence of his understanding that living the Gospel is less talk and more action. For the grace to act like a saint, we pray. Pbs
Fri., Sept. 10: 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22b-27; Luke 6:39-42 Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? We all know the answer to that question. Noting the failures of others demands nothing of us. Noting our own failures demands at least that we be more patient with others, and at most that we — gasp! — change. And yet, what liberation there is when we finally take responsibility for the consequences of our actions or when we simply take charge of our own happiness. Many never get to that point and remain unhappy and obliviously unaware of what to do about it, preferring instead that rather pitiful pleasure we experience when we whine about the imperfections of others: Pitiful indeed. For clear-sightedness and the courage to change, we pray. Pbs
Sat., Sept. 11: 1 Cor 10:14-22; Luke 6:43-49 Every tree is known by its own fruit. A child may hurt another child, break something or make a mess and, when confronted, whine, “It was on accident.” (I finally figured out that on accident is the opposite of on purpose.) The child who learns to take responsibility for what may have happened on accident has made an important step toward growing up. Otherwise, they are likely to become the sort of adult for whom there is a serious disconnect between their intentions and their efforts, their dreams and their reality. Such an adult is bearing rotten fruit and, eventually, even by those who love them dearly, will be avoided as a rotten tree. For the grace of growing up, we pray. Pbs
Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Mon., Sept. 13: 1 Cor 11:17-26, 33; Luke 7:1-10 St. John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor of the church Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you. The centurion seeking healing for his slave models Jesus’ own impartial ministry. In this company, neither the slave nor the centurion holds much societal value, and the centurion has no sense of entitlement, just faith. He doesn’t see the worth of the dying man as merely his slave. He acknowledges the man’s love of his nation and his service in building the synagogue — attributes that credit both men and serve the greater good. The centurion also doesn’t separate himself from his slave when he recognizes how he, as a gentile, is deemed unclean to host a Jew. The centurion puts himself in a socially awkward position to advocate for another with even less “right” to seek the Lord’s healing. In his modest request, he shows that seeking the Lord and trusting in his healing power are what make us worthy — not wealth, position or nationality. Lord, may we minister to all your children with equal compassion, we pray. PR
Tues., Sept. 14: Num 21:4-9; Phil 2:6-11; John 3:13-17 Exaltation of the Holy Cross He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Our faith contains many paradoxes. It’s understandable to struggle with the coupling of death and eternal life. In today’s world of self-promotion, it’s even harder to comprehend the joining of humility with glory. If we look upon the cross with the perpetual mindset of Good Friday, then we’ll never have a handle on why Jesus takes on our very flesh to conquer death. We will always remain perplexed about the idea of Jesus emptying himself in order to be exalted. We must, therefore, be Easter people. We cannot wait forever at the foot of the cross. We must offer ourselves in joyful service. For life everlasting, we pray. PR
Wed., Sept. 15: 1 Cor 12:31–13:13; John 19:25-27 or Luke 2:33-35 Our Lady of Sorrows … and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Mary’s glorious distinction as the mother of our Lord came with immeasurable pain. Through her humble and obedient yes, Mary became the Christ-bearer, but she likewise carried the ache of watching Jesus endure mockery, scorn and crucifixion. From Simeon’s bittersweet blessing to the agony at the foot of the cross, Mary knew deep, human suffering. She could not fully know how he would triumph. She simply trusted that he would. No wonder, in our moments of deepest despair, we ask Mary to intercede on our behalf to her beloved Son. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. PR
Thurs., Sept. 16: 1 Cor 15:1-11; Luke 7:36-50 She stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. The gift of forgiveness is a great blessing, especially when we recognize our wrongdoing and seek wholeness. The outpouring of love the sinful woman demonstrates at Jesus’ mercy shows her sincerely repentant nature. Her actions stand in stark contrast to the speech of the Pharisee, who readily points out her sinfulness but lacks the ability to see his own hypocrisy. When we seek the Lord’s compassion for our sinfulness, our actions should speak to our genuine desire for contrition and our gratitude to our loving Lord. Lord, speak the words of forgiveness we cry out to hear, we pray. PR
Fri., Sept. 17: 1 Cor 15:12-20; Luke 8:1-3 St. Robert Bellarmine, bishop and doctor of the church Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities. As Jesus proclaims the good news, the company that shares his itinerant ministry reflects the inclusive nature of his preaching. Even Galilean women walk alongside the apostles and witness firsthand the radical nature of Jesus’ message. They are, no doubt, a ragtag bunch — once possessed, afflicted, rejected, avoided or outcast. And they’re also very blessed — called, chosen, privileged to accompany Jesus to Jerusalem and to share in his death and resurrection. What a beautiful image for us as church today: a collection of misfits longing to be healed, listening to the word of the Lord and walking beside him in his teaching. Lord, give us the grace to accompany you as you spread the good news of salvation, we pray. PR
Sat., Sept. 18: 1 Cor 15:35-37, 42-49; Luke 8:4-15 The seed is the word of God. We cannot expect our faith to grow if we don’t nurture it. We likewise cannot expect to form a deep and lasting faith without basing it in scripture. We have the inspired word and eyewitness accounts to direct our beliefs. What better way to develop a lifelong relationship with Jesus than to listen to his voice and meditate on his word? People and relationships can change, but the word of God is forever. We need to allow the word to fill our being and to guide us to an enduring connection with the author of life. Lord, let your word take root in us, we pray. PR
Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Mon., Sept. 20: Prov 3:27-34; Luke 8:16-18 No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. We are to be a light to the world, a world still often in darkness. What can we do each day so that others will see the face of Jesus? One thing might be to erase hypocrisy in our attitudes toward others. Or we could serve others more patiently and without judgment. Finally, we could treat all people as brothers and sisters, with equal respect and dignity. This would be a good start and surely a reflection of the Light. O Lord, show us new ways to be the light in our daily lives, we pray. PC
Tues., Sept. 21: Eph 4:1-7, 11-13; Matt 9:9-13 Matthew, apostle and evangelist Go and learn the meaning of the words: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ Jesus says this to the Pharisees after they have questioned him about eating with sinners — in particular, Matthew, a tax collector, who has just unconditionally responded to Jesus’ call. Obviously, because the Pharisees strictly keep the letter of the law, they believe they are not sinners. But even though they repeat prescribed words and perform ritual actions, Jesus tells them they do not understand the meaning of the words of the prophets. An act of mercy is superior to the temple sacrifices. This must have been a hard lesson to those so caught up in external piety and superficial practices. O Lord, help us to respond quickly and completely to your call, as Matthew did, we pray. PC
Wed., Sept. 22: Prov 30:5-9; Luke 9:1-6 Give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the food I need. This profound prayer runs a bit countercultural in today’s society. In his wisdom, though, the writer realizes that if he has riches, he will come to believe he has earned them, he deserves them, he has the “right” to do with them whatever he wishes. The writer is fearful that he will refuse to see the Lord’s generosity in providing these riches and will deny him. Likewise, he fears that if he is very poor, in need of the basics of life, he will be tempted to steal, and thereby profane the name of God. All he asks for is simply what he needs. O Lord, in this world gifted with abundance, teach us to take only what we need. PC
Thurs., Sept. 23: Eccl 1:2-11; Luke 9:7-9 The sun rises and the sun goes down; then it presses on to the place where it rises. This familiar line from Ecclesiastes, made even more famous by Hemingway, reminds us of the cycle of life. One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays. All rivers go to the sea, yet never does the sea become full. These striking insights show us the paradoxical nature of God’s plan. What will our generation contribute? Or will we destroy? Will we respect and nurture creation so that other generations will be able to follow ours? These are questions that no other generation has had to ask, and our answers will have a lasting effect on the quality of life for our children’s children. O Lord, help us protect what you have given, we pray. PC
Fri., Sept. 24: Eccl 3:1-11; Luke 9:18-22 There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. Thus begins the poetic listing in Ecclesiastes of the stages in our lives as individuals and as members of the larger community. Each of us will experience mourning, weeping, uprooting, losing, even hating. What Jesus shows us, though, is that we can lessen that suffering for one another by living the beatitudes and bringing healing and blessing to the downhearted. We can, as a community of believers, mitigate the suffering caused by natural disasters that will inevitably occur. We have the power to turn tears into dancing, to bring peace to our families and nations, to build a more equitable society, but only if we seek God’s help in these endeavors. O Lord, for the strength and determination to carry on your work, we pray. PC
Sat., Sept. 25: Eccl 11:9–12:8; Luke 9:43b-45 Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. The writer of Ecclesiastes encourages the youth to enjoy life while he can because old age and the suffering that accompanies it will soon follow. He presents stunning metaphors to reveal the frailty of the body, as one by one senses and limbs begin to fail until the dust of the body returns to the earth and the life breath returns to God, who gave it. This realization may encourage us to be open to additional opportunities to live more fully, to serve more completely, to forgive more quickly, to work for justice more diligently, to pray wholeheartedly. O Lord, for those suffering from the ill effects of aging, we pray. PC
Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Mon., Sept. 27: Job 1:6-22; Luke 9:46-50 St. Vincent de Paul, priest The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord! All is gift. We’ve heard this said, and we want to believe it. But could we respond, as Job does, to the loss of all we have — our possessions, our family, our health — with praise of the Lord? Job’s devotion to the Lord is apparent in his detachment from worldly things. Detachment, devotion to God, and a heart for the poor marked the spirituality of St. Vincent de Paul. Vincent, patron of all charitable societies, has brought many together to live and work communally in service to others. Let us pray today for Vincentians, for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, for the Daughters of Charity and for all who are committed to charitable work. For hearts devoted to God in service to the poor, we pray. Ecw
Tues., Sept. 28: Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23; Luke 9:51-56 Perish the day on which I was born, the night when they said, ‘The child is a boy!’ Most of us have known a time when life seemed meaningless, our very existence absurd. Sadly, too many do not come successfully through such existential musings. Too many try to mask or escape their pain and emptiness with drugs, alcohol or self-destructive behavior. Job models the way through such dark nights. He raises his profound, perplexing questions, but he doesn’t try to answer them on his own. He considers what his friends, fellow believers, have to say; and most importantly, he listens to his own heart and to what God says to him in it. Today, let us pray for those who live in the darkness of despair. For hope for the hopeless, we pray. Ecw
Wed., Sept. 29: Dan 7:9-14 or Rev 12:7-12; John 1:47-51 Feast of Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, archangels You will see greater things than this. Angels are among the most mysterious of God’s creatures, pure spirits charged with leading, guiding and protecting us. Since we can’t see them, we may relegate them to the ranks of fairies and other make-believe beings. But the scriptures refer to angels often, and Jesus himself spoke of them. If we are among those who think little of the angels and the services they provide, today’s feast can remind us, if nothing else, that there are many marvels beyond what we have thus far experienced. And the next time we tell ourselves we’re “lucky,” we might humbly acknowledge that all of our help is from heaven. For heavenly guidance and protection, we pray. Ecw
Thurs., Sept. 30: Job 19:21-27; Luke 10:1-12 St. Jerome, priest and doctor of the church The kingdom of God is at hand for you. Luke highlights the missionary work of Jesus’ disciples. The number 72 (at the time, the number of known nations) suggests the disciples are to carry the message everywhere. They go ahead of Jesus as his heralds, to prepare the ground in which Jesus will plant the seed. They are to go with courage, as lambs among wolves, with complete trust that God will provide for them, confidently imparting God’s peace to all. They carry an exciting and urgent message: What you have longed for, the kingdom of God, is here, at the very doorstep! Let us take Jesus’ instructions to heart as we go forth into this day. For the zeal, courage, trust and peace of faithful disciples, we pray. Ecw
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