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Introduction to 1 Peter[1]
The book of 1st Peter is a
General Epistle (Apostolic Letter). It was written to all believers in general.
The author is Peter who wrote it about 60 A.D. The key personalities are the
Apostle Peter, Silas, and Mark. Its purpose was to encourage suffering
Christians and to call them to personal holiness; Peter’s central focus is
persecution.
• Chapters 1-2, Peter addresses the
issue that believers are to live a life of personal holiness as God’s people,
even during times of suffering and persecution. He teaches that all Christians
are to expect suffering; it is normal and Scriptural for Christians to suffer
persecution and even imprisonment and death. Peter explains that our salvation
in Christ is secure and that He took our sin on the cross and, “for by His
wounds you were healed” (2:24).
• In chapters 3-5, Peter explains that
in living holy lives the believer is to, “sanctify Christ as Lord in your
hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give
an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence”
(3:15). A part of living a holy life is obeying the commands of Christ and
Peter claimed that we are obligated to preach the “Hope that is in you”.
He expounds that believers should not be surprised when persecution comes upon
them, “be on the alert” because Satan is continuously, “seeking whom
he may devour” (5:8). In addition, if the believer does suffer persecution,
they are to glorify God and entrust their souls to Him.
OCTOBER 11 Nineteenth Sun. aft Pentecost
(28th S. Ord. Time)
FEAST
OF THE DIVINE MATERNITY
1
Peter, Chapter 2, Verse 17
Give
honor to all, love the community, FEAR
God, honor the king.
We are
to be good citizens but God’s citizens first. We are to love our community.
One
recent change in the liturgy is in “Lord, I am not
worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed,” Catholics
have said this for decades, but due to translation changes those words have
been amended to, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” This expression of faith
makes me think of all those who are under my roof and are under my protection
but then I reflect further. I think of all those roofs I am under the church,
my work, my community and family. I am humbled and ask God to bless them all
not just myself. We are not alone we are a community of love.
Yes, it is true we have the freedom
Christ gave us; but to be truly free we must serve and give reverence to God,
esteem for everyone and committed love for our fellow Christians. We are to
honor those who are under our roof and those whose roof we are under.
To honor someone means we give
great attention to them and listen to them when they talk (put down the smart
phone). If they make a request or suggestion, we make every effort to do it. It
means you give them respect and high esteem; you treat them as being special
and of great worth. For indeed they are, did not our Lord die for them. Christ
asks us to go the extra mile with them; to accommodate them: out of honor. This
is the noble way we are to live.
In the movie Les
Misérables (1998 film), Liam Neeson plays, Jean Valjean, a man who
was arrested for stealing bread and after 19 years is released on parole.
However, no one is willing to allow him, a convict, to stay the night. Except
for Bishop Myriel, who kindly welcomes him into his home. Valjean explains to
Myriel that sleeping in a real bed will make him a new man. In the night,
Valjean, interrupted by Myriel while stealing his silverware, strikes him and
flees. When the police arrest Valjean, Myriel tells them that the silverware
was a gift and scolds Valjean for failing to take his candlesticks as well.
Myriel then reminds Valjean that he is to become a new man.[2]
Honor the King[3]
“If indeed ‘the just ordering of society and of the state is a central responsibility of politics,’ the Church ‘cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice.’” So writes Pope Francis, quoting Pope Benedict XVI. Our nation faces many political challenges that demand well-in-formed moral choices: The ongoing destruction of a million innocent human lives each year by:
·
abortion
·
Physician-assisted suicide
·
The redefinition of marriage
·
The excessive consumption of material goods and
the destruction of natural resources, harming the environment as well as the
poor
·
Deadly attacks on Christians and other religious
minorities throughout the world
·
Efforts to narrow the definition and exercise of
religious freedom
·
Economic policies that fail to prioritize the
needs of poor people, at home and abroad
·
A broken immigration system and a worldwide
refugee crisis
· Wars, terror, and violence that threaten every aspect of human life and dignity.
As Catholics, we are part of a community with profound teachings that help us consider challenges in public life, contribute to greater justice and peace for all people, and evaluate policy positions, party platforms, and candidates’ promises and actions in light of the Gospel in order to help build a better world.
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost[4]
Charity
for the eternal wedding feast
IN the Introit of the Mass God promises to hear the people who observe His law, and to help them in all their tribulations. “I am the salvation of the people, saith the Lord; in whatever tribulation they shall cry to Me, I will hear them, and I will be their Lord forever. Attend, O My people, to My law; incline your ears to the words of My mouth.”
Prayer.
O’almighty and merciful God graciously defend us from all that is hurtful, that, free in mind and body, we may with ready mind perform all that belongs to Thy service.
EPISTLE.
Eph. iv. 23-28.
Brethren: Be renewed in the spirit of your mind: and put on the new man, who, according to God, is created in justice, and holiness of truth. Wherefore, putting away lying, speak ye the truth every man with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. Be angry, and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your anger. Give not place to the devil. He that stole, let him now steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing, which is good, that he may have something to give to him that suffereth need.
Explanation.
The epistle of to-day particularly
concerns such as live in falsehood, hatred, anger, injustice, impurity, or
other sins. Perhaps we have often renewed our spirit at a jubilee, or a
mission, or a spiritual retreat; we seemed then to be converted, and to have
become new men, but how long did our spiritual renovation last? Alas, how soon
were we sinners again! We thought that, after making a general confession,
everything was done; instead of zealously using all means to preserve ourselves
in this happy state of spiritual renewal, we allowed ourselves once more to
resort to bad company and dangerous occasions, and gave ourselves up, as
before, to idleness and indulgence. When shall we be lastingly converted?
GOSPEL. Matt. xxii. 2-14.
At that time Jesus spoke to the chief priests and
Pharisees in parables, saying: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king, who
made a marriage for his son. And he sent his servants to call them that were
invited to the marriage: and they would not come. Again, he sent other
servants, saying: Tell them that were invited: Behold, I have prepared my dinner;
my beeves (plural form of beef) and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready:
come ye to the marriage. But they neglected, and went their ways, one to his
farm, and another to his merchandise. And the rest laid hands on his servants, and,
having treated them contumeliously, put them to death. But when the king had
heard of it, he was angry, and, sending his armies, he destroyed those
murderers, and burnt their city. Then he saith to his servants: The marriage
indeed is ready: but they that were invited were not worthy. Go ye therefore
into the highways; and as many as you shall find, call to the marriage. And his
servants going forth into the ways, gathered together all that they found, both
bad and good: and the marriage was filled with guests. And the king went in to
see the guests: and he saw there a man who had not on a wedding garment. And he
saith to him: Friend, how earnest thou in hither not having on a wedding
garment? But he was silent. Then the king said to the waiters: Bind his hands
and feet, and cast him into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.
Remark. ---This parable is, in many respects, the same as that for the Second
Sunday after Pentecost, and has the same meaning. See, therefore, the
explanation of that gospel; in addition to this, consider also the following
Explanation.
1. In the present parable the king is our heavenly
Father, Who has espoused His only-begotten Son to the Church. 2. The feast is
made up of the doctrines of the Gospel, the holy sacraments, with the other
means of salvation, and of eternal joys. 3. The servants sent to invite the
guests are the prophets, apostles, and disciples of Christ. 4. Those invited
are the Jews, who, despising the honor intended for them, put to death the
prophets and apostles. 5. In their place others, that is, the heathen, were
called from all quarters of the earth, who, having been in the broad road to
destruction, now occupy the place of the Jews in the marriage -feast of the
Church, and will one day occupy their place in heaven. 6. The wedding garment
signifies charity, which shows itself by good works; without this, faith avails
nothing. That the man without a wedding garment was silent when questioned by
the king shows us that no one will be able to excuse himself before God for not
having charity, since everyone may have it if he only ask it from God, and be
willing to practice it.
Aspiration.
I thank Thee, O Jesus, that, through Thy
incarnation, passion, and death, Thou hast gained for me eternal happiness;
give me also the wedding garment of charity, that I may be admitted to the
heavenly marriage-feast, and not be cast into the exterior darkness.
Lessons
of Consolation from the Joys of Heaven[5]
In what these joys consist, St.
Paul himself, though more than once caught up to heaven and allowed to see and
taste them, could not describe. He only says that eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath
prepared for them that love Him. In heaven all beauties, all delights, all
joys, are found in the highest and most perfect degree free from all evil, free
from all anxiety and disgust, and free from all fear of ever losing them. In a
word, in heaven man shall possess God Himself, the source of all joy and
happiness, and shall, with Him, enjoy God’s own happiness for all eternity. We
shall be like to Him (i. John iii. 2). Is there need of anything more to give
us the highest conception of heaven? How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of
hosts! My soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord, my heart and my
flesh have rejoiced in the living God (Ps. Ixxxiii). How weary of the world am
I when I contemplate heaven!
Feast
of the Divine Maternity[6]
“On this occasion the heavenly Lady
was full of the Holy Ghost and moreover bore within Her, as His Mother, the
Divine Word, who proceeds from the Father and the Holy Ghost. Saint Joseph
received special enlightenment and the plenitude of divine graces, and
altogether renewed in fervor of spirit he said:
“Blessed art Thou, Lady, among all women,
fortunate and preferred before all nations and generations. May the Creator of
heaven and earth be extolled with eternal praise, since from his exalted kingly
throne He has looked upon Thee and chosen Thee for his dwelling place and in
Thee alone has fulfilled the ancient promises made to the Patriarchs and
Prophets. Let all generations bless Him: for in no one has He magnified his
name as He has done in thy humility; and me, the most insignificant of the
living, He has in his divine condescension selected for thy servant.” In these
words of praise and benediction Saint Joseph was enlightened by the Holy Ghost,
in the same manner as Saint Elizabeth, when she responded to the salutation of
Our Queen and Mistress. The light and inspiration received by the most holy
spouse was wonderfully adapted to his dignity and office. The heavenly Lady,
upon hearing the words of the holy man, answered in the words of the
Magnificat, as She had done on her visit to Saint Elizabeth, and She added
other canticles. She was all aflame in ecstasy and was raised from the earth in
a globe of light, which surrounded Her and transfigured Her with the gifts of
glory. At this heavenly vision Saint Joseph was filled with admiration and
unspeakable delight; for never had he seen his most blessed Spouse in such
eminence of glory and perfection. Now he beheld Her with a full and clear
understanding, since all the integrity and purity of the Princess of heaven and
mystery of her dignity manifested themselves to him. He saw and recognized in
her virginal womb the humanity of the infant God and the union of the two
natures of the Word. With profound humility and reverence, he adored Him and
recognized Him as his Redeemer, offering himself to his majesty. The Lord
looked upon him in benevolence and kindness as upon no other man, for He
accepted him as his foster-father and conferred upon him that title. In
accordance with this dignity, He gifted him with that plenitude of science and
heavenly gifts which Christian piety can and must acknowledge.
International
Day of the Girl
International Day of the
Girl aims to recognize girls' rights and the unique challenges that they face
around the world. Every day, young girls everywhere face challenges
involving their rights, access to education, inequality, discrimination, domestic violence and child
marriage. Gender inequality is so prevalent in the world that the United
Nations introduced a Gender Inequality Index (GII) to measure gender disparity
in countries.
Day of the Girl Facts & Quotes
·
It is estimated that over 100 million women from
the world are missing. Female infanticide and selective abortion are still
commonly practiced in Asia and have led to uneven ratios of men and women all
over Asia.
·
In India, there are laws that prevent expecting
mothers from finding out the sex of the baby due to selective abortions and
discrimination against baby girls.
·
One-third of girls in the developing world are
married before the age of 18, increasing the risk of HIV, unwanted pregnancy
and discontinued education.
·
To call woman the weaker sex is a libel; it is
man's injustice to woman. If by strength is meant brute strength, then, indeed,
is woman less brute than man. If by strength is meant moral power, then woman
is immeasurably man's superior. Has she not greater intuition, is she not more
self-sacrificing, has she not greater powers of endurance, has she not greater
courage? Without her, man could not be. If nonviolence is the law of our being,
the future is with woman. Who can make a more effective appeal to the heart than
woman? - Mahatma Ghandi
Day of the Girl Top Events and
Things to Do
·
Get active for girls on social media. Use one of
UNICEF's recommended social networking hashtags: #dayofthe girl,
#mylifeat15, #girl4president and #girlhero!
·
Take out a girl in your life (your daughter,
niece, granddaughter, family friend). Take her out to do her favorite activity
on her special day.
· Watch movies that empower young girls and portray strong female characters.
1) Brave (2012)
2) Bend it like Beckham (2002)
3) Anne of Green Gables (1985)
4) Mulan (1998)
· Attend one of many events held nationally and internationally. Look for an event organized in your local community by schools and girl clubs, if not attend the online event. The online event involves sharing baby photos of yourself (if you're a girl), or daughters, sisters and other girl family members and discuss your/their dreams while growing up.
Words of Wisdom from a Superman[7]
Although he never planned
it that way, Christopher Reeve[8]
became a hero for our time. His legacy of determination, commitment, compassion
and courage continues to inspire men and women across the globe. Playing the
role of Superman in the movies he became, to many of us, “The Man of Steel.”
When a riding accident changed his life forever, we cried, and we worried… but
somehow knew the super man within would prevail. And he did. The way he lived,
and the amazing way he spoke about living, became a powerful source of
motivation and inspiration for people living with paralysis and
disabilities. His words have touched all our hearts. We share some of our
favorite Christopher Reeve quotes.
·
What is a Hero? "I think a hero is an
ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of
overwhelming obstacles."
·
Once
you choose hope anything is possible.
·
"Either
you decide to stay in the shallow end of the pool, or you go out in the ocean."
·
"If
I can laugh, I can live."
·
"You've
got to give more than you take."
Daily Devotions
·
Today in honor of the
Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day to God. To honor God REST: no
shopping after 3pm till Monday. Don’t forget the internet.
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make reparations
to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
[1] https://biblehub.com/summary/1_peter/1.htm
[3]http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/upload/The-Challenge-of-Forming-Consciences-for-Faithful-Citizenship-Part-1.pdf
[4]Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.
[5]Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.
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