26th Week in the Ordinary Time - Saturday (Year II)
1st October 2022 (Saturday)
The only way - Loving surrender!
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Reading of the Day
For more certainity the Readings are posted from the Catholic Lectionary {alertInfo}
First Reading: Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17
Job answered the Lord and said: that you can do all things, I know and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes." And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. And after this Job lived for one hundred forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. And Job died, an old man, and full of days.
Psalm 119:66, 71, 91, 125, 130 (R. 135ab)
Response: O Lord, let your face shine forth on your servant.
for I trust in your commands. Response
that I might learn your statutes. Response
though I am humbled, you are just. Response
for all things are your servants. Response
then I shall know your decrees. Response
and understanding to the simple. Response
Gospel Reading: Luke 10:17-24
At that time: The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."
As we are celebrating the Feast of Teresa of Child Jesus, Today's Reflection is based on feast day, therefore Please read the following reading before reading the reflection{alertInfo}
First Reading: Isaiah 66:10-14c
"Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her; that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance." For thus says the Lord: "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bones shall flourish like the grass; and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants."
Psalm Psalm 131:1, 2, 3
Response: Keep my soul in peace at your side, O Lord.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:1-5
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me."
Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertSuccess}
Main Theme: The only way - Loving surrender!
Indicative: One becomes great not by holding big offices or positions but by nurturing a big heart even to do small, insignificant, and ordinary things. Real greatness is a matter of the heart{alertWarning}
1. On October 01, we venerate St Therese of child Jesus. In India, this day is celebrated as a grand feast because she is venerated as the patroness of missions. This looks odd because we know that she never stepped out of her convent to work in the missions. She was just doing the normal duties of her house and community.
2. But why this privileged honour to her, placing her above many missionaries who worked and work tirelessly in the missions? The reason is quite simple: she lived the spirit of mission. The church makes it very clear that mission is not necessarily the place or location of our work; a missionary is not necessarily one who works only in some village conditions, may be remote, without much convenience or facility or connectivity or advantages of modernity.
3. It is not merely the place of work but the spirit of doing that work and way of living. Therese of the child Jesus was truly a missionary on the mission of love. It was a mission of love for God in prayer and surrender. It was a mission of cheer and charity toward her sisters. It was a mission of immense patience and forbearance toward all especially those who were unkind to her.
4. It was a mission of benevolence and sacrifice, magnanimity and generosity. It was a mission of gentleness and tenderness even toward those who would be rude and hurtful toward her. It was a mission of humility and self-abnegation even toward those who would be arrogant and highhanded toward her.
5. She would give only a smile even to those who would frown at her. She would do good even to those who may hurt and harm her. She would be extra kind, especially toward those who were unkind and uncharitable toward her. She would speak more graciously and appreciatively of those who criticise and blame her.
6. Rightly, as she herself exclaimed, her “vocation was to love”. It was that unconditional, intense, unbounded, and selfless love for Jesus that overflowed into an incessant chain of good gestures and actions in charity and holy acts of devotion and sanctity.
7. This was her “little way”. It was little because it was nothing extraordinary, nothing showy, nothing that drew any special attention and applause. It was the little way of doing only little things like a little child with innocence and purity, love and surrender. She perfectly became a little child, given as a model for all to follow.
Imperative: God does not expect from us big and spectacular performances or actions. All that He wants from us is a loving and surrendered heart that does everything as pursuit of holiness and goodness{alertWarning}
Video Reflection
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