Greetings on this the Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Dn 7:2-14; Dn 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81; Lk 21:29-33
Notes: EDITORIAL CONTENT TODAY. We are in the last week of the liturgical year. From Christ the King until Saturday morning our focus is the end times which are of two natures: personal and global. Each of us has an ‘end time’ we call advanced old age and death. All of us come to the End of the Age.
Pope Francis is aging and in poor health. He has attempted to get us to see more clearly and deeply the beatific life. Most of us really have no idea what he is saying. Many are outright frightened by Pope Francis. I fear the Church will never again pick a Jesuit for Pope. Jesuits confuse us, the challenge is too great and our spirit is too timid. Still, the Holy Spirit has spoken. Most recently he has had to reduce the spiritual horizon to one we will accept not the one we should aspire to as noted in these recent actions. He has had to address the extremes at the expense of the vision.
Too Far
Vatican draws line on women’s ordination and homosexuality in new letter to German bishops
The Vatican has informed German bishops in writing that the ordination of women and changes in the Church’s teaching on homosexuality cannot be subjects of discussion in the upcoming meetings with delegates of the German Synodal Way in Rome.
Not Far Enough
Pope Francis asks theologians to ‘demasculinize’ the church
“There is something I don’t like about you, if you excuse my honesty,” said Pope Francis, pointing out that there were only five women among the 30-plus theologians. “We need to move forward on this! Women have a way of reflecting on theology that is different from us men,” he added.
Looking Back Ten Years Ago
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis laid out the priorities of his pontificate during his installation Mass today, urging the princes, presidents, sheiks and thousands of ordinary people attending to protect the environment, the weakest and the poorest and to let tenderness “open up a horizon of hope.”
and finally: “Everything evil, wrong, weak and unhealthy that comes to light serves as a forceful reminder of our need to die to a way of living, thinking and acting that does not reflect the Gospel. Only by dying to a certain mentality will we be able to make room for the newness that the Spirit constantly awakens in the heart of the Church,” he said.
Summary
In today’s reflection I took the time to editorialize the current events in Rome. The Spirit of the LORD speaks and time passes. We are given the choices of listening and acting in concert with the spoken word which is spoken anew every day or we can complain and ignore the inspiration of the Spirit.
“To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’ (Matt 11:16-17).
Reflection
My editorial has been the reflection.
Personal Reflection
Pope Francis will always remain an enigma to me. But I trust the Holy Spirit that the Spirit of the LORD is speaking and I don’t understand. I have my own Babel of bias and ignorance. But that is the point, isn’t it?
First Reading
One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Responsorial
Give glory and eternal praise to him!
(From the second reading of the Sunday Morning of the First Week of the LOTH).
Gospel Acclamation
Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.
Gospel
Jesus told his disciples a parable. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry