Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Today's Mass Readings November 5, 2008

It is an amazing God-incidence that we got these particular readings after last night's election results:

Father Bill's homily was focused on the fact that if we complain about the outcome of a situation then we are saying that we know better than God how things should work out. True Faith is to be able to accept whatever outcome happens without grumbling.

I wonder if I could get a fifteen minute window for grumbling? Then I think I would be okay.


Reading 1
Phil 2:12-18My beloved, obedient as you have always been,not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent,work out your salvation with fear and trembling.For God is the one who, for his good purpose,works in you both to desire and to work.Do everything without grumbling or questioning,that you may be blameless and innocent,children of God without blemishin the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,among whom you shine like lights in the world,as you hold on to the word of life,so that my boast for the day of Christ may bethat I did not run in vain or labor in vain.But, even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith,I rejoice and share my joy with all of you.In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.

Responsorial PsalmPs 27:1, 4, 13-14.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;whom should I fear?
RThe LORD is my life’s refuge;of whom should I be afraid?

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

One thing I ask of the LORD;this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORDall the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORDand contemplate his temple.

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORDin the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.


GospelLk 14:25-33
Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,and he turned and addressed them,“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters,and even his own life,he cannot be my disciple.Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after mecannot be my disciple.Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say,‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away,he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

Pax

2 comments:

Suzanne said...

Its all so interesting, isn't it?
We work for something counting on sometime in our lifetime seeing the cure. Well, sometimes we do and sometimes we don't and we didn't this time in the way that we really believed, yet God will win in the end. I feel a peace within myself in many ways, but there won't be peace here until mankind is willing to work for it with His Truth.
I've still got my own work to do to that end...everyone does.
Its ongoing...that is the part to remember. Then one day...in His time, we will celebrate in a beautiful way and won't have to stop to work against things that make no sense because finally...all will make perfect sense. :)

Unknown said...

If you look carefully at the words of the first reading I think that is what is being said to us:


that you may be blameless and innocent,children of God without blemishin the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,among whom you shine like lights in the world,as you hold on to the word of life,


We have to go on doing what we are called to do and living as we are called to live no matter how perverse and off the track the rest of the world gets.