24th Week in Ordinary Time
22nd September 2023 (Friday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 4
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 1 Timothy 6:2c-12
Beloved: Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Psalm 49:6-7, 8-10, 17-18, 19-20 (R. Matthew 5:3)
R/. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have revealed to little children the mysteries of the kingdom.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Luke 8:1-3
At that time: Jesus went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Highlight: Kingdom for all !
Guidlines: The Kingdom of God is not a confined territory, reserved only for a few. It is a domain open to all. Anyone can walk in there. It is also the mission of all who received the gift of faith{alertSuccess}
1. In the gospel, we find Jesus on his mission which is establishing the kingdom of God through preaching and healing. But mission for him was never a private affair or personal agenda. It was always the “Father’s affairs” and common and altruistic benefit. He never monopolized all doing as a solo performance. It was teamwork, a collaborative enterprise. His Twelve were always beside him.
2. Besides, as per today’s gospel, we also find some women disciples accompanying him and sustaining his team and his work with their means. What is praiseworthy is Jesus respected all, accepted all, and involved others in their due scope.
3. This participatory nature of Jesus’ mission can be a great indicator and corrective for our own times. This must make us check honestly the way we go about our ministries, our administration, and our style of functioning.
4. Why do we often find ministries becoming self-centred, saddled with self-interests and ulterior motives? Why does mission become a private enterprise with no scope for others? Why there is so much domination and manipulation? Why there are often divisions, discriminations, and conflicts, all in the name of doing one and the same mission?
5. How much mutual respect, acceptance, and collaboration is there in our working for God? Why still there is gender inequality and disparity, treating women with suspicion and prejudice?
6. It is one church and one mission. All have their due right and duty as well to be part of this one-believing community and work for the kingdom. But often we find so much gap between the “privileged and less privileged”, between those “closer to the church and distant from the church”, between those “gifted and capable and the ordinary and incompetent”, between “the important and the other insignificant”.
7. It is not that all would be given the same or equal roles and functions. The charisms are different, the needs are different, and the capacities are different. We understand this factual differentiation.
8. But what is blameworthy is discrimination in terms of importance and honour. In the house of God, in the mission of the kingdom, there is no disparity like ‘higher level or lower level’, ‘more important or less important. All are important and respectable.
Practice: The church will be more faithful and effective in its mission of spreading the kingdom of God if it consciously works against and eliminates the steep categories of division, and discrimination and learns to work in more unity and collaboration{alertSuccess}