October 9, Saturday

TWENTY-SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

WORDS BECOME DEEDS

      The prophets, like Joel today, do not speak of the day of judgment as an unqualified day of vengeance and punishment; hope is there, for the prophecy is a warning to seek conversion. If God’s people change their ways, God will be merciful and restore them.

      In the gospel, a woman admires Jesus, and with perhaps a hint of jealousy, she exclaims that indeed the mother of Jesus must be a fortunate woman to have such a son. Jesus’ answer goes deeper, to a deeper motherhood, for those who bear Jesus, the Word of God in their hearts and their lives: those therefore who bring forth Jesus in faith.

 

First Reading: Joel 4:12-21

Announce this to the godless nations: Prepare for battle!

Soldiers at attention!

Present arms! Advance!

Turn your shovels into swords, turn your hoes into spears.

Let the weak one throw out his chest and say, “I’m tough, I’m a fighter.”

Hurry up, pagans! Wherever you are, get a move on!

Get your act together.

Prepare to be shattered by God!

Let the pagan nations set out for Judgment Valley.

There I’ll take my place at the bench

and judge all the surrounding nations.

“Swing the sickle —

the harvest is ready. Stomp on the grapes— the winepress is full.

The wine vats are full, overflowing with vintage evil.

 “Mass confusion, mob uproar — in decision Valley!

God’s Judgment day has arrived in decision Valley.

 “The sky turns black,

sun and moon go dark, stars burn out.

God roars from Zion, shouts from Jerusalem.

Earth and sky quake in terror.

But God is a safe hiding place,

a granite safe house for the children of Israel.

Then you’ll know for sure that I’m your God,

Living in Zion,

my sacred mountain.

Jerusalem will be a sacred city, posted: ‘NO TRESPASSING.’

 

Gospel: Luke 11:27-28

While he was saying these things, some woman lifted her voice above the murmur of the crowd: “Blessed the womb that carried you, and the breasts at which you nursed!”

Jesus commented, “Even more blessed are those who hear God’s Word and guard it with their lives!”

 

Prayer

Lord our God,
your Son was born into this world
from the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We praise you for your goodness
but we also ask this of you:
Let your Son be born in us in faith,
in our lives: in our words, our thoughts,
our attitudes and all we do.
And then, out of the fullness in us,
may we share him with those around us
as the Lord who belongs to all
now and for ever. Amen.