Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Book of Isaiah, chapter twenty-five, verses six thru ten(a);
Psalm Twenty-three, verses one, two, & three(a); three(b) & four; five; & six;
The Letter to the Philippians, chapter four, verses twelve, thirteen, fourteen, nineteen, & twenty;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-two, verses one thru fourteen
(or, the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-two, verses one thru ten).
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today's Gospel likens the kingdom of heaven to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. Notice that the father (God the Father) is giving a banquet for his son (God the Son), whose bride is the Church. Jesus is the marriage of divinity and humanity—and we his followers are invited to join in the joy of this union.Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The joyful intimacy of the Father and Son is now offered to us to be shared. Listen to Isaiah to learn the details of this banquet: "On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines."
Now there is an edge to all of this. For it is the king who is doing the inviting and it is a wedding banquet for his son. We can see how terribly important it is to respond to the invitation of the King of kings.
We have heard the invitation of God to enter into intimacy with him, to make him the center of our lives, to be married to him in Christ—and often we find the most pathetic excuses not to respond.
Video reflection by Jeff Cavins: Encountering the Word.
Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D.: Breaking the Bread.
Bible Study—Proverbs in a Month
The Book of Proverbs, chapter fifteen (verses one thru thirty-three).
Commentary: II: First Collection of the Wisdom of Solomon (cont'd, 15:1-33).
Mass Journal: Week 42
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:
Repent is a powerful word. But what does it mean for you & me, here & now, more than two thousand years later? It means the same as it did to the people walking around the dusty pathways in their sandals, trying to inch closer to Jesus as He passed through their town or village. Repent means "to turn back to God." I find myself needing to turn back to God many times a day, in ways small & large. It is not a matter of guilt & it is not a shameful thing. It is simply tht at His side I am a better person—a better son, husband, father, brother, friend, employer, & citizen. Over time, I have also come to realize, quite painfully, that when I turn away from God I am also turning my back on my true self. Do you need to turn back to God today? Do you need to repent?
Otherwise, 15 October would be the festival of Saint Aurelia of Strasbourg, Virgin (floruit fourth century): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Severus of Trier, Bishop (died circa 455): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin & Doctor of the Church, O.C.D. (1515-1582, A.K.A. of Ávila), co-foundress of the Discalced Carmelites, formally the Order of the Discalced Carmelites of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel: Doctor-link ūna, Doctor-link duae, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link O.C.D.
Commentary: Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:
St. Teresa of Ávila was the founder of the Discalced Carmelites, which was a reform movement within the Carmelite Order. In her work of reform, she worked very closely with St. John of the Cross [14 December]. She wrote several important works, including her autobiography,Life of Teresa of Ávila, & her most influential work, The Interior Castle, in which she talks about the mystical life in terms of seven mansions. These mansions who the growth in intimacy between the believer & God. St. Teresa was the first woman ever to be declared a Doctor of the Church (1970).
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