Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter thirty-one, verses seven, eight, & nine;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-six, verses one & two, two & three, four & five, & six;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter five, verses one thru six;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter ten, verses forty-six thru fifty-two.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today in the Gospel passage we see Jesus’ mercy toward the blind man as a hallmark of his ministry. Jesus comes as healer, savior, inaugurator of the kingdom. He is the embodiment of hope. Jesus wanted to connect human suffering to the very source of life and health. The energy of God pours through him to the needy.Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Now, I realize a question may be forming in your mind: "Well, why doesn’t he simply cure everyone, then?" The answer is obviously wrapped up in the mystery of God’s will, but the important point is this: Jesus is healer in many senses, but ultimately in the sense that he heals us from sin and death, not only physical maladies. What appears historically in Jesus is an eschatological anticipation, a hint and foreshadowing of what is coming in God’s time and in his everlasting kingdom.
Video reflection by Father Claude Burns: Weekend Reflection with Father Pontifex.
Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.
Mass Journal: Week Forty-four
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:
Grace is the power of God alive within us. It heals the wounds that our sins have created & helps us to maintain moral balance. Grace helps us to persevere in the pursuit of virtue. It enlightens our minds to see & know which actions will help us become all God has created us to be. Grace inspires us to love what is good & shun what is evil. Grace is not a magical illusion. It is mystical & real.†
I come to Confession to reconcile with myself, with God, & with the community. Confession is not just a cleansing experience; it is also a strengthening experience. Confession is an opportunity for you & God to work together to forma-better-version-of-yourself. It also increases our desires for holiness, & that is a desire we should fan will all our energy.
Otherwise, 28 October would be the festival of Saints Simon & Jude, Apostles (floruit first century; the Zealot, the Cananean; A.K.A. Thaddeus): Apostles-link, Apostle-link Sierra & Wikipedia-link Sierra, & Apostle-link Juliett & Wikipedia-link Juliett; Wikipedia-link Apostles.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Abdias of Babylon, Bishop (floruit first century, also spelt Obadiah), one of the Seventy-two Disciples: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link LXXII.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Godwin of Stavelot, Abbot, O.S.B. (died circa 690): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Eadsige of Canterbury, Bishop, O.S.B. (died 1050, also spelt Eadsin): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Papal Quote o' the Day
"We know that we have no riches other than that which we have received. Therefore, we must dare to question those who are going astray or who are leading others astray on deadend streets of a closed individualism or of an indifference to essential values."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
"Jesus Christ alone is singularly to be loved, Who alone is found good & faithful above all friends."Deist Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Whereas the life & death of Socrates are the life & death of a wise man, the life & death of Christ are the life & death of a God."
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
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