Readings & Reflections: Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time & St. John Capistrano, October 23,2019

John was born in Capistrano, Italy in 1385 A.D. A proficient in civil and ecclesiastical law, at the age of twenty-nine John was named governor of Perugia, Italy. While attempting to broker peace in a regional war, he was captured and imprisoned. Saint Francis came to him in a dream and, upon his release, he embraced radical poverty as a Franciscan. He studied the art of preaching under Saint Bernardine of Siena. After one sermon, a hundred of his listeners applied to the Franciscans. He preached to great crowds throughout Europe before he was tapped to serve in a series of diplomatic roles for the Holy See. In his role as papal diplomat, John worked for the unity of East and West at the Council of Florence. At the age of seventy, he helped to plan a crusade against the Ottomans who threatened Belgrade, leading soldiers into battle under a standard bearing of the Holy Name of Jesus. He died in 1456 A.D., few months after inspiring and leading soldiers in a battle defending Belgrade against the Turks.

“Much will be required of the person entrusted with much.” Jesus is speaking about us, for “although you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient from the heart. You have become slaves of righteousness.” When will still more be demanded of us? “At an hour you do not expect.”

AMDG+

Opening Prayer

“Lord, you are faithful even when I fail. Help me to remain ever faithful to you and to not shrink back when I encounter difficulties. Make me diligent in the exercise of my responsibilities and wise and prudent in the use of my gifts, time and resources.” Amen.

Reading 1
Romans 6:12-18

Brothers and sisters:
Sin must not reign over your mortal bodies
so that you obey their desires.
And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin
as weapons for wickedness,
but present yourselves to God as raised from the dead to life
and the parts of your bodies to God
as weapons for righteousness.
For sin is not to have any power over you,
since you are not under the law but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law
but under grace? Of course not!
Do you not know that if you present yourselves
to someone as obedient slaves,
you are slaves of the one you obey,
either of sin, which leads to death,
or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
But thanks be to God that, although you were once slaves of sin,
you have become obedient from the heart
to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted.
Freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 124: 1B-3, 4-6, 7-8
R. (8a) Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Had not the LORD been with us,
let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us–
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive;
When their fury was inflamed against us.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept the raging waters.
Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave us
a prey to their teeth.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
We were rescued like a bird
from the fowlers’ snare;
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

Gospel
Lk 12:39-48

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Then Peter said,
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly.  Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Reflection 1 – The riches of Christ

Saint Paul preached to the Gentiles the “inscrutable riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3:8 God entrusted to him a task that did not end in his lifetime. It was handed down to all generations so that every man may have the chance of knowing our Lord Jesus and in Him achieve the fullness of life. God expected Saint Paul and all believers who shall follow after him, to contribute their fair share in expanding His kingdom so that every man may have the chance of knowing Him and experiencing His love through Christ which is beyond measure.

This job was entrusted to us when Jesus said: “Go into the world and proclaim the good news to all creation.” Luke 16:15   It is also stated in Acts 1:8: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, yes even to the ends of the earth.” And in Matthew 5:16, Jesus said: “Your light must shine before men so that they may see goodness in your acts and give praise to your heavenly Father.”

When we speak of stewardship, most often our focus is made on wealth, riches and anything that is tangible. But today God is speaking to us about the true kind of wealth, one that is not limited to currency, acreage, power and influence. One that neither moth nor rust can corrode nor thieves can break in and steal. He is speaking of the riches and the true wealth we all have in Christ and His Word.

Christ as God’s gift to us flows from the loving provision of the Father and our role is to be sensible, faithful stewards. God gave His all to us, even the gift of Himself. What have we done to God’s gift to us? What He has given to us for free, have we shared with God’s people or have we kept it within the enclosures of our selfish hearts? Have we done our share of opening up to the Spirit and allow His work in us so that our character may be formed according to Christ?

We are caretakers of God’s Word and it’s a great privilege to be counted among those who have been asked to be fruitful in His Name. With such privilege, comes our responsibility. What have we done for our Heavenly Father in terms of bringing His Word to the world and being His witness? Jesus reminds us today, “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”  

Let us conduct a self-examination and ask ourselves how we have allowed the Spirit to work in us.  The Spirit is calling us now to face ourselves while time is still in our favor.

We are accountable to our Heavenly Father. None of us can escape that fact. On judgment day all of us have to answer to our Lord.  Not just somebody else, but me and you.

Let us open our hearts to the mighty action of the Spirit as accountability from a Christian perspective at the present time is not meant for punishment, but for growth in God’s grace.  How well have we cared for God’s people within our community?  How well have we shared Christ with others? How well have we all grown in His grace? Our goal is to become more like the One to whom we ultimately are to give our account.  Let us resolve to be faithful to our calling as His disciples and servants and bear fruit.

Direction

Bring God’s Word to friends and family, acquaintance and co- worker. Be a shining example of our Lord. Live in the Spirit and be transformed.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray that You will continue to use me as your vessel of love, mercy and healing despite my shortcomings and failure to be totally faithful to You. In Jesus, I pray Amen.

Reflection 2 – Preparation for a thief

The first section of today’s Gospel concerns preparation for a thief who comes unexpectedly. However, readiness for the Son of Man is not the same. Believers cannot ward off Jesus’ unexpected coming into their lives. The best preparation for Jesus’ arrival is a loving heart.

The second section begins with the good manager who is rewarded handsomely for taking proper care of his fellow slaves, providing food at the allotted times. He will be put in charge of all his master’s possessions. In Roman society then, a trustworthy slave might have more power than many masters who were not slaves. On the other hand, an irresponsible slave mistreats his fellow slaves during the master’s absence. While the first slave is generously rewarded for his fidelity, the second slave is “cut down” and reckoned with the unfaithful. Luke may be using this section to address the managers/leaders of Christ’s Church, who supply physical and spiritual food and drink to their fellow Christians. Woe to them if they misuse their office and ministry! Would their irresponsible actions indicate their loss of faith?

In his Pastoral Care, St. Gregory the Great described the good Church leader as someone “bounteous in giving of his own goods. He is quickly moved by a compassionate heart to forgive . . . In the affection of his own heart, he sympathizes with the frailties of others. He so rejoices in the good done by his neighbor as though the progress made were his own” (Part I, ch. 10).

Reflection 3 – Stewardship

Jesus teaches us today the importance of stewardship of his kingdom. He loved to tell stories and parables to explain his message. Here is a story of this day of becoming a true steward of his kingdom.

During World War II, when the Nazi armies were in almost every country of Europe, King Christian of Denmark resisted the Nazis. His country was quite small compared to powerful Germany, and the king knew he could not win on the battlefield, but he put up a valiant moral struggle. One day he observed a Nazi flag flying above one of his public buildings. He reminded the German commander that this was contrary to the treaty between the two nations and said, “The flag must be removed before twelve o’clock. Otherwise, I will send a soldier to remove it.” At five minutes before noon, the flag was still flying, and the king announced he was sending a soldier to take it down. “The soldier will be shot,” the Nazi officer said. Then King Christian calmly said, “I think I should tell you that I will be that soldier.”

King Christian was a good steward by giving his life for the love of his country, his treasure. To be a good steward is to be courageous even to give his own life for his treasure.

In the Gospel, Jesus teaches the value of stewardship. If much treasure has been given, much treasure will be expected; if only a little, then only a little will be expected. What is this treasure which God has entrusted to you and me? When God offers us his kingdom, he gives us a treasure beyond measure. The Lord himself is our treasure (Job 22:22-23) and the kingdom he offers us is a kingdom of peace, joy, and righteousness (Rom 4:17). The Lord offers us a relationship with him as his sons and daughters and the promise of eternal life as well. This treasure is of far greater value than any earthly treasure and more secure. But it’s possible to lose this treasure if we do not guard what has been entrusted to us by God. Is your treasure secure?

How can you secure your treasure? We can secure our treasure by our faithfulness as expressed in our commitment no matter how tough or difficult it gets. The Lord expects us to make good use of the gifts and graces he gives to us. The more he gives, the more he requires. The temptation while the Master is away is to put off for tomorrow what we know the Master expects us to do today. How can we counter-act this kind of attitude? It is only in faithfulness in little tasks and promises we make, then, we learn to be faithful in the bigger and more important responsibilities and tasks entrusted to us. Are you ready to give God an account of your stewardship?

Let us examine ourselves and pray, “Lord, you are faithful even when I fail. Help me to remain faithful to you and not to shrink back when I encounter difficulties. Make me diligent in the exercise of my responsibilities and wise and prudent in the use of my gifts, time and resources.”

Reflection 4 – Ready to answer the Lord when he draws near

What lesson can we draw from Jesus’ parable about a thief in the night and the parable about the master of the household who surprises his stewards with an unexpected visit? Both parables confront us with the possibility of losing everything we presently own and treasure and losing our the future inheritance as well.

The thief in the night
Jesus’ story (parable) of the thief in the night brings home the necessity for constant watchfulness and being on guard to avert the danger of plunder and destruction, especially under the cover of darkness and secrecy! While no thief would announce his intention in advance, nor the time when he would strike, lack of vigilance would nonetheless invite disaster for those who are unprepared to keep their treasure and their lives secure at all times! The intruder strikes when he is least expected!

Guarding the treasure God’s has given us
What treasure does the Lord expect us to vigilantly guard in this present life? It is the treasure of the gifts he has won for us – the gift of salvation purchased by his blood on the cross which has ransomed us from slavery to sin, Satan, and death – and the gift of his Holy Spirit who works in and through us to make us a a new creation refashioned in the image of God. The Father and the Son through the gift of the Holy Spirit come to make their home with us. But we can ignore their presence, close our ears to their voice, or reject them through pride and unfaithfulness.

Satan comes like a thief in the night to rob us of our faith and to draw us away from God. He works with the world (that society which is opposed to God) and with our flesh (our sinful inclinations) to make us believe that we can find treasure and happiness apart from God and his will for our lives.

And we can deceive ourselves by putting off for tomorrow what must be done today. God offers us grace today to turn away from sin and rebellion. We must not presume that we can wait another day. The day of the Lord – when he returns again at the end of this present world – will come like a thief. We need to be spiritually alert and watchful at all times. The Lord comes to us – each and every day – to draw us to himself and to strengthen us in faith, hope, and love.

God rewards those who are faithful and wise 
Jesus ends his teaching on watchfulness and vigilance with another parable about a master and his servants (Matthew 24:.45-49). The storyline is similar. There is an element of surprise – the master suddenly returns home unexpectedly, probably from a long journey. He rewards one servant for his faithfulness to his master. He has performed his service dutifully and has done all that the master required of him.

He punishes the other servant who behaved wickedly. This servant was not only irresponsible – he was frequently absent from work and spent his master’s money by partying (eating and drinking) a lot with his friends. The wicked servant also abused his fellow workers with physical force and violence – probably to make them do the work he was supposed to do for his master. The master not only throws him out of his house (he fires him from his job!). He also throws him into the worst possible place – a prison of no return where there is nothing but torment and misery. Should we be surprised to see the master acting with such swift judgment? He rewards faithfulness with honor, blessing, and promotion, and he punishes unfaithfulness due to laziness and abuse with demotion, dishonor, and imprisonment.

Are you ready to meet the Lord?
The Lord Jesus calls us to be vigilant in watching for his return and to be ready to meet him when he calls us to himself. The Lord gives us his Holy Spirit so that we may have the wisdom, help, and strength we need to turn away from sin to embrace God’s way of love, justice, and holiness. The Lord’s warning of judgment causes dismay for those who are unprepared, but it brings joyful hope to those who eagerly wait for his return in glory. God’s judgment is good news for those who are ready to meet him. Their reward is God himself, the source of all truth, beauty, goodness, love and everlasting life.

“Lord Jesus, you have captured my heart for you. Make me strong in faith, steadfast in hope, and generous in love that I may seek to please you in all things and bring you glory.  May I always be watchful and ready to answer when you draw near.” – Read the source: http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/2019/oct23.htm

Reflection 5 – Use It Or Lose It

Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. –James 1:22

I once came across an article that was titled “National Geographic, The Doomsday Machine.” It humorously stated that National Geographic magazine will soon doom the American continent to a watery grave because no one ever throws it away. Issue after issue piles up in attics and basements all over America. In time, the accumulation of heavy paper will trigger earthquakes in California, sink coal-mining towns, and precipitate mud slides. Especially hard hit will be large cities where subscribers cluster.

This lighthearted idea has a serious spiritual counterpart in people who accumulate God’s Word in their minds. The tendency is to store up and file scriptural truth in our heads, but that isn’t enough. James reminded us that we must be doers of the Word, not just hearers (1:22). Jesus spoke of the need to put His words into practice (Lk. 12:41-48). Understanding the Scriptures makes us responsible to put its truths into action. It’s all too easy to have a “save it” rather than a “use it” attitude.

The Lord hasn’t made His Word available just to give us interesting reading. He’s preparing us for action. If we ignore this truth, we’ll find out on judgment day that taking God’s Word lightly carries weighty consequences.  — Mart De Haan

No truth of God stored in the mind
Will ever meet our needs
Until that truth gives birth to faith
And faith gives birth to deeds. –DJD

It’s a heavy responsibility to own a Bible (Source: Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries).

Reflection 6 – The struggle of our spiritual life

In Romans 6:12-18, Paul speaks about the power of sin. He refers not simply to individual acts but to sin as though it were a foreign power or virus inside us with its own momentum which we cannot control. Even though we are baptized into the Lord Jesus, the residual effects of the extracted power of sin remain in us.  They are somewhat like the phantom feelings that remain when a limb is removed. The battle between sin and grace continues in our bodies and lives. Much like a habit that we think we have under control, we find that it surfaces again when we least expect it. We are constantly reminded of the holding power of sin. Baptism does not immunize us from those residual effects. For this reason, our prayer life and spiritual life need constant attention not only because old tendencies tend to resurface but also because special moments of grace-filled revelation can come unexpectedly as well. What shall we do then for our spiritual life?

In his sermon, St. Augustine of Hippo wrote: “Once and for all, a short rule is laid down for you: Love, and do what you will. If you keep silence, do it out of love. If you cry out, do it out of love. If you refrain from punishing, do it out of love… Let the root of love be within. From such a root nothing but good can come.” As St. Paul points out that freed by grace and the gift of Christ’s resurrection, we are slaves no longer of sin, but of justice. To the extent that we manifest that grace in our daily lives, our actions will reflect the love and justice from which they spring.

For Paul, love and justice always involves more than the individual and his or her relationship with God. It is the believing community that passes on the gospel, beliefs and traditions through which we have been freed of our sins and set on a path of justice. And may we discern those specific ways in which we are called to love and do what we will for the sake of justice and on behalf of the powerless, the forgotten, and those without hope.

Let us always hope that the Lord comes to us unexpectedly even in crisis. It really is a warning against our complacency to do God’s will as His faithful servant as the subject of today’s gospel (Lk 12:39-48). Such admonition of Jesus is necessary not because the Holy Spirit is weak but because, unlike the Lord, we are not completely transparent to God’s power. We have pocket of resistance in our lives. This is the reason why we become the battleground and a place of struggle.

The fact that we experience the struggle of the spiritual life is not a sign of failure but of success. Those who are totally closed to God’s Spirit have given up the struggle. (Source: Rev. Joseph Krempa. Daily Homilies. Vol. I. New York: Alba House, 1985, pp. 201-202; Anthony J. Schulte. Weekday Homily Helps. Ohio: St. Anthony Messenger Press, October 21, 2009).

Reflection 7 – The Son of Man will come

Jesus teaches his disciples to be ready for our encounter with him at the moment of death and to be ready for his second coming.

Yesterday we listened to Jesus compare his disciples to servants waiting for the master’s return from a marriage feast. The servants who are vigilant and welcome the master are seated at table and served by the master when he returns. When Jesus knocks at the door, we must open the door to him.

Just like the householder does not know when a thief may strike, we do not know the day or the hour of Jesus’ return. Saint Cyril of Alexandria interprets the three watches of the night to three stages in our lives: childhood, youth-adulthood and old age. “The first of these, in which we are still children, is not called to account by God but is deemed worthy of pardon, because of the innocence as yet of the mind and the weakness of the understanding. The second and the third – the periods of adulthood and old age – owe obedience and piety of life to God, according to his good pleasure. Whoever is found watching and well-belted, whether by change he is still young or has arrived at old age, shall be blessed. For he will be counted worthy of attaining to Christ’s promise” (Commentary on Luke, Homily 92)

Today, Jesus compares the apostles to domestic servants who are charged with various duties in the household of God’s kingdom. The royal tasks entrusted to them must be fulfilled diligently before Christ’s sudden return (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 133). Unfaithful stewards neglect their duties and are punished. To whom much is given, much will be required.

In short, watchfulness, diligence, service, fidelity leads to the joy of heaven; carelessness, laziness, greed and infidelity leads to punishment for sin.

Saint Paul exemplifies the characteristics of the good and faithful servant. He is watchful and allows himself to be guided by the Holy Spirit. He is diligent, even working to sustain himself and not burden the Christian communities with whom he stays. He serves tirelessly and sees his life as being for the service of the Gospel. Today, he calls his ministry “stewardship”, since it has been entrusted to him by God and given to him for the benefit of the people he serves. Finally, he is faithful, faithful to Christ and to the mission he has been given.

Not only is Paul a steward of the mysteries of God, he is a minister and servant (diakonos). Paul serves the Gentile Christians by communicating to them the mysteries of salvation, mysteries revealed to the Apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit. This plan of salvation includes the Gentiles, who, in Jesus Christ and through the Gospel, have been made coheirs of the promises made to Israel and members of the Body of Christ. This inheritance is eternal life.

Read the source: http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/daily-homily-the-son-of-man-will-come

Reflection 8 – Eternally busy servanthood

“It is within the everyday world that you, the laity, must bear witness to God’s Kingdom; through you the Church’s mission is fulfilled by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Council taught that the specific task of the laity is precisely this: to “seek the Kingdom of God by engaging to the plan of God.” You are called to live in the world, to engage in secular professions and occupations, to live in those ordinary circumstances of family life and life in society from which is woven the very web of your existence. You are called by God himself to exercise your proper functions according to the spirit of the Gospel and to work for the sanctification of the world from within, in the manner of leaven. In this way you can make Christ known to others, especially by the witness of your lives. It is for you as lay people to direct all temporal affairs to the praise of the Creator and Redeemer.

“The temporal order of which the Council speaks is vast. It encompasses the social, cultural, intellectual, political, and economic life in which all of you rightly participate. As lay men and women actively engaged in this temporal order, you are being called by Christ to sanctify the world and to transform it. This is true of all work, however exalted or humble, but it is especially urgent for those whom circumstances and special talent have placed in positions of leadership or influence: men and women in public service, education, business, science, social communications, and the arts. AsCatholic lay people you have an important moral and cultural contribution of service to make to the life of your country. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much (Lk 12.48). These words of Christ apply not only to the sharing of material wealth or personal talents, but also to the sharing of one’s faith” (Source: St. John Paul II, Magnificat, Vol. 16, No.8, October 2014, pp. 317-318).

Reflection 11 – St. John of Capistrano (1386-1456 A.D.)

It has been said the Christian saints are the world’s greatest optimists. Not blind to the existence and consequences of evil, they base their confidence on the power of Christ’s redemption. The power of conversion through Christ extends not only to sinful people but also to calamitous events.

Imagine being born in the 14th century. One-third of the population and nearly 40 percent of the clergy were wiped out by the bubonic plague. The Western Schism split the Church with two or three claimants to the Holy See at one time. England and France were at war. The city-states of Italy were constantly in conflict. No wonder that gloom dominated the spirit of the culture and the times.

John Capistrano was born in 1386. His education was thorough. His talents and success were great. When he was 26 he was made governor of Perugia. Imprisoned after a battle against the Malatestas, he resolved to change his way of life completely. At the age of 30 he entered the Franciscan novitiate and was ordained a priest four years later.

His preaching attracted great throngs at a time of religious apathy and confusion. He and 12 Franciscan brethren were received in the countries of central Europe as angels of God. They were instrumental in reviving a dying faith and devotion.

The Franciscan Order itself was in turmoil over the interpretation and observance of the Rule of St. Francis. Through John’s tireless efforts and his expertise in law, the heretical Fraticelli were suppressed and the “Spirituals” were freed from interference in their stricter observance.

He helped bring about a reunion with the Greek and Armenian Churches, unfortunately only a brief arrangement.

When the Turks captured Constantinople in 1453, he was commissioned to preach a crusade for the defense of Europe. Gaining little response in Bavaria and Austria, he decided to concentrate his efforts in Hungary. He led the army to Belgrade. Under the great General John Hunyadi, they gained an overwhelming victory, and the siege of Belgrade was lifted. Worn out by his superhuman efforts, Capistrano was an easy prey to an infection after the battle. He died October 23, 1456.

Comment:

John Hofer, a biographer of John Capistrano, recalls a Brussels organization named after the saint. Seeking to solve life problems in a fully Christian spirit, its motto was: “Initiative, Organization, Activity.” These three words characterized John’s life. He was not one to sit around, ever. His deep Christian optimism drove him to battle problems at all levels with the confidence engendered by a deep faith in Christ.

Quote:

On the saint’s tomb in the Austrian town of Villach, the governor had this message inscribed: “This tomb holds John, by birth of Capistrano, a man worthy of all praise, defender and promoter of the faith, guardian of the Church, zealous protector of his Order, an ornament to all the world, lover of truth and religious justice, mirror of life, surest guide in doctrine; praised by countless tongues, he reigns blessed in heaven.” That is a fitting epitaph for a real and successful optimist.

Patron Saint of: Judges

Read the source:   http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1177

SAINT OF THE DAY
Catholic saints are holy people and human people who lived extraordinary lives. Each saint the Church honors responded to God’s invitation to use his or her unique gifts. God calls each one of us to be a saint. Click here to receive Saint of the Day in your email.

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