Category: Message of the Day
“Someone said to Him, ‘I will be Your follower wherever You go.’ ” –Luke 9:57 Mass Readings: September 28 First: Job 9:1-12,14-16; Resp: Psalm 88:10-15; Gospel: Luke 9:57-62 The essence of the Christian life is to follow Christ – not on our terms, but on His. In following Him, Jesus calls us to make a total, self-sacrificing commitment – not even to expect a roof over our heads (see Lk 9:58). He also expects an immediate commitment – no delays (see Lk 9:59-61). Finally, following Jesus is forever. When we put our hands to the plow and begin to work...
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“Why is light given to the toilers, and life to the bitter in spirit?” –Job 3:20 Mass Readings: September 27 First: Job 3:1-3,11-17,20-23; Resp: Psalm 88:2-8; Gospel: Luke 9:51-56 Nearly all of us can identify in some way with Job’s misery. Sometimes life is bitter (Jb 3:20) and full of drudgery (Jb 7:1). Relief eludes us (Jb 3:13), and death seems better than any hidden treasure the future could possibly hold (Jb 3:21). Then it gets worse. We “have forgotten what happiness is” (Lam 3:17; Jb 7:7). When life is no longer worth living, then we’ve forgotten what life really...
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“The Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power.’ ” –Job 1:12 Mass Readings: September 26 First: Job 1:6-22; Resp: Psalm 17:1-3,6-7; Gospel: Luke 9:46-50 Satan is the father of lies (Jn 8:44). He is the expert in tempting us. For example, he tried to get Job to say something “disrespectful of God” (Jb 1:22) and to curse God (Jb 2:9). Job, however, did not fall for Satan’s series of temptations. First, Satan had the Sabeans steal Job’s oxen and asses (Jb 1:14-15). In our economy, this would have been a theft of several thousand...
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“Between you and us there is fixed a great abyss, so that those who might wish to cross from here to you cannot do so, nor can anyone cross from your side to us.” –Luke 16:26 Mass Readings: September 25 First: Amos 6:1,4-7;Resp: Psalm 146:7-10; Second: 1 Timothy 6:11-16;Gospel: Luke 16:19-31 The rich man, traditionally known as Dives, spent eternity staring across a great chasm separating himself from the Lord (Lk 16:26). How ironic! Dives spent his lifetime constructing this chasm (or gulf) to isolate himself from the poor. Now this gulf, built day by day during his life, could...
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“You make an end of them in their sleep.” –Psalm 90:5 Mass Readings: September 24 First: Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:8; Resp: Psalm 90:3-6,12-14,17; Gospel: Luke 9:43-45 The author of Ecclesiastes, living centuries before the revelation of Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life (Jn 11:25), is naturally pessimistic about life. For example, he goes on and on about growing old. Then he speaks of death in six ways. Death is like going home, a snapped cord, a broken bowl, a shattered pitcher, a pulley fallen into a well, and dust returning to earth (Eccl 12:5-7). It isn’t enough for him to say that...
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