Entrusted With More

Minute Meditations A Love Story Modern minds are often shocked to find out that the Catholic Church does not teach that Genesis 1--11 has to be necessarily believed as scientific truth. It's allegory. That being said, we are called to believe its truth about God as Creator of all, being made in His image, original sin, and its effects, etc. It's a love story, not a science textbook. — from Tweet Inspiration St. Viator He was a lector in the Church where St. Justus presided in Lyons. St. Justus died about the year 390, and St. Viator survived him only a few weeks. He is named in the Roman Martyrology on October 21, and the translation of their bodies together to Lyons on September 2nd and buried in the church of the Machabees. more on St. Justus (pretty interesting) http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=246 Patron Saint of: Catechists Daily Prayer - 2015-10-21 Presence Dear Lord, help me to be open to you for this time as I put aside the cares of this world. Fill my mind with your peace, Your Love. Freedom Lord, you created me to live in freedom. Mostly I take this gift for granted. Inspire me to live in the freedom you intended, with a heart untroubled and with complete trust in You. Consciousness At this moment Lord I turn my thoughts to you. I will leave aside my chores and preoccupations. I will take rest and refreshment in your presence Lord. The Word of God Reading 1 Rom 6:12-18 Brothers and sisters: Sin must not reign over your mortal bodies so that you obey their desires. And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin as weapons for wickedness, but present yourselves to God as raised from the dead to life and the parts of your bodies to God as weapons for righteousness. For sin is not to have any power over you, since you are not under the law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Of course not! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, although you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient from the heart to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted. Freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. Responsorial Psalm PS 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8 R. (8a) Our help is in the name of the Lord. Had not the LORD been with us, let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us-- When men rose up against us, then would they have swallowed us alive; When their fury was inflamed against us. R. Our help is in the name of the Lord. Then would the waters have overwhelmed us; The torrent would have swept over us; over us then would have swept the raging waters. Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave us a prey to their teeth. R. Our help is in the name of the Lord. We were rescued like a bird from the fowlers' snare; Broken was the snare, and we were freed. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. R. Our help is in the name of the Lord. Alleluia Mt 24:42a, 44 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Stay awake! For you do not know when the Son of Man will come. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 12:39-48 Jesus said to his disciples: "Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." Then Peter said, "Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?" And the Lord replied, "Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant's master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more." - - - Some thoughts on today's scripture Disturbing events, like a robbery, catching us by surprise, affects us deeply. If only I had taken precautions and paid attention. We often blame ourselves for not having been alert enough. Today we are reminded to pay attention to the importance of our lives and to avoid waking up when it's too late. Conversation What feelings are rising in me as I pray and reflect on God's Word? I imagine Jesus himself sitting or standing near me and open my heart to him. Conclusion I thank God for these few moments we have spent alone together and for any insights I may have been given concerning the text. Meditation: Romans 6:12-18 View NAB Reading at USCCB.org Subscriber? Login to view archives. 29th Week in Ordinary Time Although you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient from the heart to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted. (Romans 6:17) Scripture uses many images to explain God's relationship with his people: we are a body, and he is the head; we are an army, and he is our King; we are a family, and he is our Father. One that shows up in today's reading tells us that we are the servants, and he is our master. So imagine yourself today in an old-fashioned stately home, perhaps like the one depicted in the television show Downton Abbey. The master is good, and he wants his house to be a place of peace and generosity, where guests are honored and he is able to be about his good work. The work that his servants provide is essential, but he doesn't just want them to work hard; their well-being has an impact on him and the way he wants his house to be run. When the servants gossip or vie for the more respected position, it creates an atmosphere of mistrust and bickering. When they are lazy, the standard of service slips, and they begin to resent one another, perhaps even coming to blows. And when they don't know each other well, the house feels cold and inhospitable. But when the servants work together as a team, they enjoy their work more. When they are quick to serve not only the master but each other, a spirit of warm camaraderie arises, and the servants' quarters are filled with laughter and kind words, which the master loves. People love to come and visit this house. Think of an environment in which you serve alongside fellow servants of God. It could be in your parish, in some kind of community project, or among your own family. Now think of your place there. How do you treat your fellow servants? Could you do more to support them in their work? Think of how far a kind word or a patient attitude can go to strengthening your "team." Even small acts of kindness to those you serve alongside can deepen your relationship with them. Every little thing you do can help make the Master's house—this creation—a warm, hospitable place for all! "Lord, show me how I can care for my fellow servants more faithfully. I want to make our home shine with your love!" Psalm 124:1-8 Luke 12:39-48 Podcast Page: http://hipcast.com/podcast/HSCbhfHx my2cents: St. Peter asks our Heavenly Lord ""Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?"  Consider the importance of this question.  Because we like to deflect the message, pass the ball to someone else instead of running with it.  We like to pass the message along without letting it sink in.  We like the message for that other person, but not for self, because we "are good".  Not so.  I was pondering last night, what I would ask that person that called our father in our parish a bad name this week, and the thought hit me, and I would ask them "if you could change anybody in the church...who would it be?".  It is a rhetorical question.  It is a question for all of us to reflect.  Many would say immediately who they would change, but this is pride talking.  A prideless person would say that "I must change".  I must serve. I must be awake.  St. Justus today was said to have taken a wild man that had slashed many people with a sword and hurt many, perhaps even killed some, and when this bishop caught him, this Father, he protected him from the mob until his trial came, then he released the man, and the man was caught by the mob on the way to court, beaten and killed.  The bishop agonized the death and did penance for the rest of his life.  Nowadays, who does that?  Who catches the savage man and holds them in love, mercy, and protection?  Sitting in a grand jury once, we debated over the case of a couple that killed a man.  I thought to myself, and felt in my heart "these poor people are possessed! who in the world is going to help them?"  Off to prison, away from the public they go.  And we are now to focus on our souls and eternity.  I want you to consider the severe beatings we deserve for our sins.  I want you to consider the beatings our Lord Jesus took.  We don't have to live in sin.  We don't have to die from Him forever.  Staying awake means to live with Him in love, grace, charity, and holiness.  This is a life of giving.  Last night a brother offered to give money for this and that in a Knights meeting, and we joked about his givingness and he replied "I have alot of repenting to do".  It felt good to see the love of God.  It takes a strong man to love the savage.  And that man loves to the end of time and then beyond.  That man was and is Jesus forever.  Remain in Him and He will remain in you.  The body of Christ is in you.  With Him all things are possible. adrian Subscribe to the Going4th mailing list.

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