“But if any one, yearning for greater possessions, and letting his desire become as boundless as a sea, has an insatiable greed for the streams of gain flowing in from every side, let him treat his disease by looking at the real sea. For as the sea does not exceed its boundary with the innumerable streams of water flowing into it, but remains at the same volume just as though it were receiving no new water from streams, in the same way human nature too, restricted by specific limits in the enjoyment of what comes to it, cannot enlarge its appetite to match the extent of its acquisitions; while the intake is endless, the capacity for enjoyment is kept within its set limit.(Homilies on Ecclesiastes, 289).”
‘words (λόγοι, logoi) of THE WORD (Του Λόγου, Tou Logou)’
ponders the Sacred Scriptures, the Sacred Liturgy,
Fathers of the Church and RCIA
as a response to the call for a New Evangelization
that by the grace of
God the Holy Spirit
all may encounter
God the Son, Jesus the Incarnate Word
and be drawn in love as adopted children to
God our Father Who is Merciful Love.
Voices ever ancient, ever new. Saturday-Week 17-2013
“John aroused Herod by his moral admonitions, not by any formal accusation. He wanted to correct, not to suppress. Herod, however, preferred to suppress rather than be reconciled. To those who are held captive, the freedom of the one innocent of wrongdoing becomes hateful. Virtue is undesirable to those who are immoral; holiness is abhorrent to those who are impious; chastity is an enemy to those who are impure; integrity is a hardship for those who are corrupt; frugality runs counter to those who are self-indulgent; mercy is intolerable to those who are cruel, as is loving-kindness to those who are pitiless and justice to those who are unjust. The Evangelist indicates this when he says, “John said to him, ‘It is not lawful for you to have the wife of your brother Philip.’” This is where John runs into trouble. He who admonishes those who are evil gives offense. He who repudiates wrongdoers runs into trouble. John was saying what was proper of the law, what was proper of justice, what was proper of salvation and what was proper certainly not of hatred but of love. And look at the reward he received from the ungodly for his loving concern (Sermons, 127).”
Universal Prayer or Prayer of the Faithful, Ordinary Time 2013, Week 18.
The Word of God leads us to offer these prayers in the Spirit to our Loving Father.
1. For the Church, the Body of Christ, “to guard against all greed.” That disciples of Jesus seek to be rich in only “what matters to God.” We pray …
2. For citizens of the world to put to death all ‘immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, lying and the greed that is idolatry.’ Let freedom from these addictions enable generous and loving service to all people in need. We pray …
3. For our parish and all Christians families to welcome the Word of God and become communities formed with docile hearts to do only Our Father’s will. We pray …
4. For all preparing to begin another year of learning. May all reap a bounteous harvest of Truth that serves the needs of all particularly those who have no opportunities for school. We pray …
5. For all the sick (especially …) [PAUSE]
May all who have died (especially …) live eternally with You: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We pray …
Father of all goodness,
be close to us and
hear the prayers of all who praise You.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
1. For the Church, the Body of Christ, “to guard against all greed.” That disciples of Jesus seek to be rich in only “what matters to God.” We pray …
2. For citizens of the world to put to death all ‘immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, lying and the greed that is idolatry.’ Let freedom from these addictions enable generous and loving service to all people in need. We pray …
3. For our parish and all Christians families to welcome the Word of God and become communities formed with docile hearts to do only Our Father’s will. We pray …
4. For all preparing to begin another year of learning. May all reap a bounteous harvest of Truth that serves the needs of all particularly those who have no opportunities for school. We pray …
5. For all the sick (especially …) [PAUSE]
May all who have died (especially …) live eternally with You: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We pray …
Father of all goodness,
be close to us and
hear the prayers of all who praise You.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Voices ever ancient, ever new. Friday-Week17-2013.
In commenting on Matthew 13:53 from today’s Mass Readings, Origen of Alexandria writes:
“We must therefore inquire whether by the expression “his own country” is meant Nazareth or Bethlehem. It might have been Nazareth, because of the saying “he shall be called a Nazarene.” Or it might have been Bethlehem, since he was born there. Furthermore, I wonder whether the Evangelists could have said “coming to Bethlehem” or “coming to Nazareth.” They have not done so but have named it more simply “his country.” This is because of something being declared in a mystic sense in the passage about his country — namely, the whole of Judea — in which he was dishonored. This is according to the saying “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country.” Jesus Christ was considered “a stumbling block to the Jews,” among whom he is persecuted even until now. But he was proclaimed among the Gentiles and believed in everywhere — for his word has run over the whole world. In his own country Jesus had no honor, but among those who were “strangers from the covenants,” the Gentiles, he is held in honor. But the Evangelists have not recorded what things he taught and spoke in their synagogue. All we know is that they were so great and of such a nature that all were astonished. Probably the things spoken were too elevated to be written down. Only let us note that he taught in their synagogue, not separating from it or disregarding it. (Commentary on Matthew, 10).”
Voices ever ancient, ever new. Thursday, Week 17, 2013
In commenting on Matthew 13:51 from today’s Readings, Saint Hilary of Poitiers writes:
“He spoke not to the crowds but to the disciples, and he gave fitting witness to those who understood the parables. He compared them with a householder, for they understood the teaching of his storeroom of things new and old. He referred to them as scribes because of their knowledge, for they understood the new and old things — that is, in the Gospels and in the law. He brought forth both of these on behalf of the same householder and from the same storeroom (On Matthew, 14).”
Today is the Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, and an excerpt of his writings is presented in today’s selection from the: Liturgy of the Hours: Office of Readings
Sunday. Ordinary Time 2013, Week 17
ANTIPHON (click for full Psalm)
God is in His holy place,
God Who unites those who dwell in His house;
He Himself give might and strength to His people (Psalm 68: 6-7, 36).
COLLECT
O God,
protector of those who hope in You,
without Whom nothing has firm foundation,
nothing is holy,
bestow in abundance your mercy upon us and grant that,
with You as our ruler and guide,
we may use the good things that pass in such a way as
to hold fast even now to those that ever endure.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen.
protector of those who hope in You,
without Whom nothing has firm foundation,
nothing is holy,
bestow in abundance your mercy upon us and grant that,
with You as our ruler and guide,
we may use the good things that pass in such a way as
to hold fast even now to those that ever endure.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM (click for full Psalm)
Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me. (Psalm 138:3).
SCRIPTURE EXCERPT (click for all Readings for this Sunday)
Jesus was praying in a certain place,
and when he had finished,
one of his disciples said to him,
“Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread and
forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test.” (Luke 11:1-4).”
and when he had finished,
one of his disciples said to him,
“Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread and
forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test.” (Luke 11:1-4).”
REFLECTION
“Matters which are so immense and so beyond humanity, so surpassing and exceeding our perishable nature that they are impossible for those of a rational and mortal class to comprehend, have, in the vast and immeasurable grace which is poured from God toward humanity, become, by the will of God, comprehensible through Jesus Christ, the minister of boundless grace to us, and through the collaborating Spirit.” This is how Origen of Alexandria – also known as Origen Adamantius, thus the original ‘man of steel’ – begins his treatise On Prayer (third century) that involves a constant reference to and commentary upon The Lord’s Prayer.
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| Rembrandt’s Face of Jesus |
Known for his prayerful and insightful commentaries on Sacred Scripture, Origen most probably would have composed this translation of the sacred prayer as the basis for his work:
“Father, let your name be hallowed,
let your Kingdom come.
Give us our supersubstantial (or superessential) bread daily.
And release us from our sins, as we ourselves release all indebted to us.
And do not bring us into testing.”
“Father, let your name be hallowed,
let your Kingdom come.
Give us our supersubstantial (or superessential) bread daily.
And release us from our sins, as we ourselves release all indebted to us.
And do not bring us into testing.”
As Origen begins his commentary on The Lord’s Prayer, he is intrigued by the question posed by one of the disciples: “teach us to pray as John taught his disciples.” Jesus’ disciple would certainly know about prayer from the Synagogue experience. Psalms as well as the ritual prayers chanted on various festivals together with domestic feasts such as Passover gave Jewish people of Jesus’ day familiarity with prayer. The disciple then who asks about being schooled in Jesus’ way of prayer recognizes that there is something different about the way Jesus Himself prays. Origen notes: “Since the discussion of prayer is such a task that the illumination of the Father is needed, as well as the teaching of the firstborn Word and the inner working of the Spirit, so that it is possible to think and to speak worthily on such a topic, as a man (for of myself I do not claim capacity for prayer) I am entreating the Spirit before I begin to discuss prayer, so that a discourse which is full and spiritual might be granted to us, and that the prayers which are recorded in the Gospels may be clarified.” For Origen, a fundamental difference that marks the uniqueness of The Lord’s Prayer is its grounding in the life of the Divine Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. This Prayer is about communion flowing from a graced relationship providing the one who prays all that is needed for the relationship.
The Evangelist Luke’s recording of this ‘short prayer’ with its powerful imperative petitions does offer much for Christian living. We can begin to be schooled in the ways of prayer by voicing these words of Jesus slowly, giving time to reflect on the words we are using. The Catechism of the Catholic Church offers an in-depth commentary on The Lord’s Prayer as well. We call upon the Holy Spirit this day, for ‘we know not how to pray’ and ask for the grace to pray as Jesus did and be drawn into the depths of the Father’s love.
Universal Prayer or Prayer of the Faithful, Ordinary Time 2013, Week 17.
Jesus taught us how to pray. Grateful for the gift of prayer rooted in Baptism sealed in Confirmation and nourished in the Most Holy Eucharist, we lift our voices in petition to Our Father.
1. Jesus says, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name.’” For more intense living of the First Commandment to put no one or no thing before our loving Father. We pray …
2. Jesus says, “When you pray, say: ‘Your kingdom come.’” For the Kingdom, as preached and lived by Jesus, to be the basis for justice, peace and truth in all nations throughout the world. We pray …
3. Jesus says, “When you pray, say: ‘Give us each day our daily bread.’” For renewed reverence for Jesus, the Bread of Life. For intensified work that all may have daily bread and safe drinking water. We pray …
4. Jesus says, “When you pray, say: ‘Forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us’” For our parish to be a community of reconciliation and healing. For each of us to be instruments of forgiveness. We pray …
5. Jesus says, “When you pray, say: ‘do not subject us to the final test.’” May all the sick (especially …) be strengthen to carry the Cross … [PAUSE]
May all who have died (especially …) live eternally with You: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We pray …
God our Father,
from whom all good things come,
grant that we, who call on you in our need,
may at your prompting discern what is right,
and by your guidance do it.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
1. Jesus says, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name.’” For more intense living of the First Commandment to put no one or no thing before our loving Father. We pray …
2. Jesus says, “When you pray, say: ‘Your kingdom come.’” For the Kingdom, as preached and lived by Jesus, to be the basis for justice, peace and truth in all nations throughout the world. We pray …
3. Jesus says, “When you pray, say: ‘Give us each day our daily bread.’” For renewed reverence for Jesus, the Bread of Life. For intensified work that all may have daily bread and safe drinking water. We pray …
4. Jesus says, “When you pray, say: ‘Forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us’” For our parish to be a community of reconciliation and healing. For each of us to be instruments of forgiveness. We pray …
5. Jesus says, “When you pray, say: ‘do not subject us to the final test.’” May all the sick (especially …) be strengthen to carry the Cross … [PAUSE]
May all who have died (especially …) live eternally with You: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We pray …
God our Father,
from whom all good things come,
grant that we, who call on you in our need,
may at your prompting discern what is right,
and by your guidance do it.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
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