Greetings on this the Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Rom 1:1-7; PS 98:1bcde, 2-3ab, 3cd-4; Lk 11:29-32
Notes: The beauty and elegance of sacred scripture really shows itself this morning.
Consider how last week we used Jonah, Joel and Malachi the Prophets to express the moral dimension of our difficulties. Each first reading from the old testament called us to consider the moral nature of our failures to worship sincerely and to act justly with one’s neighbors.
Then yesterday’s Sunday Mass, the book of Wisdom (attributed to Solomon) is the prayer for the greatest gift, wisdom.
Today, Monday, in the gospel portion, Jesus wants us to see even more deeply.
- Jonah is a sign to the Ninevites.
- Jesus is a sign to them (us).
- Solomon sought wisdom.
- Jesus is even greater than Solomon and Solomon’s wisdom.
Jesus is enlightening us that the entire Old Testament as a Sign of himself.
First reading
Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, Apostle and set apart for the Gospel says:
You are called to be holy.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Responsorial Psalm
The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
Alleluia Verse
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
Gospel Portion
We live in a privileged age.
We can say this on every level and every dimension.
- Wealth.
- Health.
- Food, water, wine.
- Travel and communications.
- Education and natural wisdom.
- Science and the Arts.
- Spiritual knowledge that surpasses any other age and all ages combined.
AND.
We must know we will be judged according to that reality.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here.
You are called to be holy.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 