15 November, 2012
Thursday of Week 32; St. Albert the Great
FIRST READING
Philemon 7-20
Beloved:
I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed by you, brother. Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ to order you to do what is proper, I rather urge you out of love, being as I am, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus. I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, who was once useless to you but is now useful to both you and me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the Gospel, but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary. Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord. So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me. And if he has done you any injustice or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay. May I not tell you that you owe me your very self. Yes, brother, may I profit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 146:7, 8-9a, 9bc-10
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets captives free.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind. The LORD raises up those who were bowed down; the LORD loves the just. The LORD protects strangers.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. The LORD shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
ALLELUIA
John 15:5
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord: whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Luke 17:20-25
Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”
Then he said to his disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’ Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.”
REFLECTIONS:
What can lightning tell us about the coming of the
Lord and his kingdom? The Jews is Jesus' time were watching in great anticipation
for some sign which would indicate when the Messiah would appear to establish
the kingdom of God. The Pharisees' question on this matter was intended
to test Jesus since they did not accept him as the Messiah. Jesus surprised
them with the answer that the kingdom or reign of God was already here!
Jesus spoke of the coming of God's kingdom as both a present event and
an event which would be manifested at the end of time. The "Day of the
Lord" was understood in the Old Testament as the time when God would manifest
his glory and power and overthrow the enemies of his people, Israel. The
prophet Amos declared that the "Day" also meant judgment for Israel as
well as the nations (Amos 5:18-20). The prophet Joel proclaimed that at
this "Day" those who truly repented would be saved, while those who remained
enemies of the Lord, whether Jew or Gentile, would be punished (see Joel
2).
Why did Jesus associate lightning with the "Day of the Lord"? In the
arrid climate of Palestine, storms were infrequent and seasonal. They often
appeared suddenly or unexpectedly, seemingly out of nowhere, covering everthing
in thick darkness. With little or no warning lightning filled the sky with
its piercing flashes of flaming light. Its power struck terror and awe
in those who tried to flee from its presence. Jesus warned the Pharisees
that the "Son of man" (a title for the Messiah given in the Book of Daniel
7:13-15) would come in like manner, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, on
the clouds of heaven to bring God's judgment on the "Day of the Lord".
No special sign will be needed to announce his appearance. Nor will his
presence and power be veiled or hidden, but all will recognize him as clearly
as the lightning in the sky.
Jesus identified himself with the "Day of the Lord". "Son of man" was
understood as a Messianic title for the one who would come not only to
establish God's kingdom but who would come as Judge of the living as well
as the dead. Jesus points to his second coming when he will return to complete
the work of restoration and final judgment. While we do not know the time
of his return, we will not mistake it when it happens. It will be apparent
to all, both believers and non-believers as well. When the Pharisees asked
Jesus what sign would indicate the "Day of the Lord", Jesus replied that
only one sign would point to that day and that sign was Jesus himself.
Jesus surprised the Jews of his time by announcing that God's kingdom was
already present among them in his very person the Son of God sent from
the Father to redeem the world from sin and destruction. In Jesus we see
the power and the glory of God's kingdom. His divine power overthrew the
powers of darkness and sin. Jesus knew that the only way to victory was
through the cross. On that cross he defeated death and canceled the debt
of our sins. The victory of his cross opens the way for us to become citizens
of God's kingdom. Do you seek the coming of God's kingdom with joyful hope?
"Lord Jesus Christ, may your kingdom come and my your will be done on
earth as it is in heaven. Be the Ruler of my heart and the Master of my
life that I may always live in the freedom of your love and truth."
No comments:
Post a Comment