25th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Eccl 11:9—12:8
Rejoice, O young man, while you are young and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes; Yet understand that as regards all this God will bring you to judgment. Ward off grief from your heart and put away trouble from your presence, though the dawn of youth is fleeting. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come And the years approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them; Before the sun is darkened, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, while the clouds return after the rain; When the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, And the grinders are idle because they are few, and they who look through the windows grow blind; When the doors to the street are shut, and the sound of the mill is low; When one waits for the chirp of a bird, but all the daughters of song are suppressed; And one fears heights, and perils in the street; When the almond tree blooms, and the locust grows sluggish and the caper berry is without effect, Because man goes to his lasting home, and mourners go about the streets; Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken, And the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the broken pulley falls into the well, And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, all things are vanity!
Gospel: Lk 9:43b-45
While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
THE SON OF MAN IS TO BE HANDED OVER: Again, Jesus calls the attention of his disciples to his passion; “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” But his disciples did not understand what he meant. It would have been a difficult pill to swallow. They have witnessed the great works he has been doing, he was bringing a sort of revolution that was appreciated by the poor, oppressed and outcasts. He taught with authority and challenged certain long-standing deviations from the spirit of the Law. Although most people would have misconceived the type of revolution he was bringing, his disciples were building more intimate relationship with him. This growing intimacy would have made the prophecy of betrayal inconceivable and so it skipped them. But as disciples of Christ today, how many times have we handed him over?
Prayer– Lord, help us with your grace that we may courageously face the cross and not betray you by our words or actions.
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PAYING ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD IN HUMILITY: Jesus is telling his disciples what is to happen to Him. However, being used to him speaking in parables, they neither understand nor ask him any question. This shows that, they may not be paying attention to what he is telling them. Jesus loves us in a unique way and that is how he speaks to us. He has a message to each one of us. How do we listen to His Word? Does it have some impact in our lives? We are called to pay attention to the Word of God that is delivered to us during Mass and also receive Him in the Holy Eucharist. When we are united with Him, we are ready to suffer with Him.
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TRUE DISCIPLE OF CHRIST: A disciple of Christ is not a person who is merely a baptized person, but the one who follows Him more closely until the end of his life. Jesus was already telling the disciples about His passion and death on the cross. Jesus also told them to follow carefully his teachings (Lk 9:44). The disciples did not understand the words of Jesus (Lk 9:45). They were surprised at the words of Jesus and they were afraid to ask him about the Cross. The same fear of the cross, sufferings and persecutions is there among the people today. Their faith in Jesus at times is set on His miracles and not on His person. The message of the Cross is the will of God for salvation. We need to know the message of God through Cross by His grace, which is the heart of our life of faith as Christians. Let us take our daily cross and follow Jesus (Lk 9:23) and let us the glory in the Cross of Christ (Gal 6: 14).
DAILY GOSPEL 