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| Cardinal, pre-dawn of Papal Visit 16th Sept |
Friday, 29 October 2010
Friday of the Thirtieth week in Ordinary Time
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For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 14:1-6.
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Then he said to them, "Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?" But they were unable to answer his question.
From: Nivard ...
To: Donald ...
Sent: Thu, 28 October, 2010 20:15:18
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| Pharisees & Christ |
No matter how calculating, closed or downright treacherous we may become, Jesus reminds us of an absolute fact, namely, that any parent would rescue a son who had fallen into a cistern. The time or day of the week would be irrelevant. Christ wants us to recognize
an inalienable ‘decency’, that precedes all our machinations. The one
who began that ‘good work’ in us will continue to complete it. He will
do it all the way to our complete conversion to ‘the affection of Christ Jesus’.
Commentary of the day :
Blessed Guerric of Igny (c.1080-1157), Cistercian abbot
Jesus at table with the Pharisees
The world's eternal and invisible Creator, preparing to save humankind, which for long ages had been hindered by its subjection to the heavy law of death, deigned «in these last days» (Heb 1,2) to become man... that in his mercy he might redeem those who in justice he condemned. And so as to show the depth of his love for us, he not only became a man but a poor and humble man so that, by drawing near to us in his poverty, he might make us sharers in his riches (2Cor 8,9).
Blessed Guerric of Igny (c.1080-1157), Cistercian abbot
The world's eternal and invisible Creator, preparing to save humankind, which for long ages had been hindered by its subjection to the heavy law of death, deigned «in these last days» (Heb 1,2) to become man... that in his mercy he might redeem those who in justice he condemned. And so as to show the depth of his love for us, he not only became a man but a poor and humble man so that, by drawing near to us in his poverty, he might make us sharers in his riches (2Cor 8,9).
So poor did he become for our sake that he had nowhere to lay his
head: «Foxes have dens and the birds of the air have their nest, but the Son
of Man has nowhere to lay his head» (Mt 8,20).
This is the reason why he agreed to go and dine wherever he was invited, not out of an excessive enjoyment in eating but so that he could teach the way of salvation and stimulate faith. There he would fill the guests with light by his miracles and the servants, who were kept busy inside and were not free to go with him, would hear the words of salvation. Indeed, he despised no one and none were considered unworthy of his love because «he has mercy on all; he hates nothing of what he has made and takes care of them all» (Wsd 11,24).
So that he might carry out this work of salvation the Lord entered the house of an eminent Pharisee on the sabbath. The scribes and Pharisees watched him with the intention of calling him to account, so that if he were to cure the man with dropsy they could accuse him of breaking the Law and, if he did not, they could accuse him of blasphemy or inability...
This is the reason why he agreed to go and dine wherever he was invited, not out of an excessive enjoyment in eating but so that he could teach the way of salvation and stimulate faith. There he would fill the guests with light by his miracles and the servants, who were kept busy inside and were not free to go with him, would hear the words of salvation. Indeed, he despised no one and none were considered unworthy of his love because «he has mercy on all; he hates nothing of what he has made and takes care of them all» (Wsd 11,24).
So that he might carry out this work of salvation the Lord entered the house of an eminent Pharisee on the sabbath. The scribes and Pharisees watched him with the intention of calling him to account, so that if he were to cure the man with dropsy they could accuse him of breaking the Law and, if he did not, they could accuse him of blasphemy or inability...
By the pure light of his word of
truth they were to see the darkness of their deceit vanish away.
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