Sunday 8 October
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time First reading - Isaiah 5:1-7 “Let me sing to my friend the song of his love for his vineyard”. The whole story of salvation is the song of God’s love for us. The vineyard is taken care in a personal way. “He dug the soil, cleared it of stones and planted choice vines in it”. God takes care of us in a personal way. He calls us, He purifies us, and He fills us with graces, so that we can be instruments of His love. But often, we are not transmitting the love of God but our selfishness. This is expressed in the words of the Prophet. “He expected it to yield grapes, but sour grapes were all that it gave”. The sour grape of our selfishness is what we are producing after receiving all the graces. But still God is merciful, and He does not abandon us. Let’s reflect: Am I transmitting God’s love or my selfishness?
Saturday 7 October
Our Lady of the Rosary Saturday of week 26 in Ordinary Time First reading - Acts 1:12-14 “All these joined in continuous prayer, together with several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus,”. Today we are celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Rosary is more than a prayer. It’s the way of life. It’s the life with Mother Mary whom we see in the reading staying with the Apostles and others in prayer. Rosary reminds that Mother Mary is with us as she was with Jesus Christ. In Baptism we received the life of Jesus Christ. So, Mother Mary is accompanying us, who have the life of her son. She accompanies us in our journey. In order to understand this mystery, we go through the mysteries of the Rosary to see how she was with Jesus Christ. Rosary connects the moments in the history of salvation with our personal history. Rosary connects the events in the life of Christ with the events in our life. Life becomes a rosary as rosary brings to the life of Christ with Mother Mary. Let’s reflect: Am I reciting the Rosary to lead a life with Mother Mary?
Friday 6 October
Friday of week 26 in Ordinary Time Saint Bruno, Priest First reading - Baruch 1:15-22 The prophet is recognizing what happens to us when we sin and move away from the Lord. When we disobey the Lord, we are not listening to His voice in our heart, but we are following alien voices. God is our creator and liberator. His voice is deep in our heart. Listening to Him and following Him is like living in a land where milk and honey flow. But following alien voices we desert ourselves from the good to which we are called to. What is important is to recognize when we disobey the Lord. “Integrity belongs to the Lord our God”. The Lord always wants the best for us. He wants that we are always in the land flowing milk and honey. So, we can always run to Him to be part of His integrity by listening to His voice. Let’s reflect: Do I recognize when I don’t listen to the voice of the Lord?
Thursday 5 October
Thursday of week 26 in Ordinary Time Saint Faustina Kowalska, Religious First reading - Nehemiah 8:1-12 “Do not be sad: the joy of the Lord is your stronghold”. Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly and read the book from early morning till noon. The presence of the Law of the Lord is very enriching. The people of God listen to the reading of the Law with reverence. When Ezra opened the book all the people stood up, raised their hands, and answered, “Amen! Amen”. Then they bowed down and, face to the ground, prostrated themselves before the Lord. The gesture of the People of God is very indicative. It’s complete submission even before it’s being read. What comes from the Word of God, they are ready to accept. That is what we see in their gesture of prostration even before the reading. Then Ezra read from the Law of God, translating and giving the sense, so that the people understood what was read. From this, people started weeping. To this Ezra says, don’t be sad. The Joy of the Lord is your stronghold. The Lord is happy with you. The Lord loves you. Be happy and don’t be sad. Let’s reflect: What is my attitude towards the Word of God?