Archive for September 14, 2013

September 15th 2013 – 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: September 14, 2013 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn

Seeking the Lost

Readings:
Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14
Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-10

 

The episode in today’s First Reading has been called “Israel’s original sin.” Freed from bondage, born as a people of God in the covenant at Sinai, Israel turned aside from His ways, fell to worshipping a golden calf.

Moses implores God’s mercy, as Jesus will later intercede for the whole human race, as He still pleads for sinners at God’s right hand and through the ministry of the Church.

Israel’s sin is the sin of the world. It is your sin and mine. Ransomed from death and made His children in Baptism, we fall prey to the idols of this world. We remain a “stiff-necked people,” resisting His will for us like an ox refuses the plowman’s yoke (see Jeremiah 7:26).

Like Israel, in our sin we push God away, reject our divine sonship. Once He called us “my people” (see Exodus 3:10; 6:7). But our sin makes us “no people,” people He should, in justice, disown (see Deuteronomy 32:21; 1 Peter 2:10).

Yet in His mercy, He is faithful to the covenant He swore by His own self in Jesus. In Jesus, God comes to Israel and to each of us – as a shepherd to seek the lost (see Ezekiel 34:11-16), to carry us back to the heavenly feast, the perpetual heritage promised long ago to Abraham’s children.

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” Paul cries in today’s Epistle. These are the happiest words the world has ever known. Because of Jesus, as Paul himself can testify, even the blasphemer and persecutor can seek His mercy.

As the sinners do in today’s Gospel, we draw near to listen to Him. In this Eucharist, we bring Him the acceptable sacrifice we sing of in today’s Psalm – our hearts, humbled and contrite.

In the company of His angels and saints, we rejoice that He has wiped out our offense, celebrate with Him – that we have turned from the evil way that we might live (see Ezekiel 18:23).

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 14, 2013 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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cross-victory

Growing up my Lord, I struggled to see how one man dying a morbid and cruel death on a cross would have any effect on the lives of people, let alone me.

Such is our faith my sweet Jesus that entering into a relationship with You is the key to opening the door to the depths of this great and wonderful mystery.  I am lost in the love of that adventure of discovering just how much You love us. You who left the 99 in heaven to come down in search of the one. In darkness You are the light that came searching for me.  When no sacrifice of man could atone for the grievous sin against You; You sacrificed Yourself that we may be saved. You conquered death so that we may live.

I know longer gaze upon You hung on the cross in morbid fear, but with great love and reverence. An everlasting memory of just how much You loved me first and always. Amen

(Feast of The Exaltation Of The Cross)

GOSPEL
John 3:13–17

Jesus said to Nicodemus:
“No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.