First Reading – Wisdom
11:22-12:2 ©
Responsorial Psalm –
Psalm 144(145):1-2, 8-11, 13b-14 ©
Second Reading – 2
Thessalonians 1:11-2:2 ©
Gospel Acclamation – Luke
19:38, 2:14
Alternative Acclamation –
John 3:16
The Gospel According to
Luke 19.1 - 10 ©
Listen
to the wisdom of the sage!
God,
the creator of the universe; God is the infinite and the eternal. God is
omnipresent, everywhere, God is not, not present in any space. God is
omniscient, God knows all things, not in the mode of abstract particulars, but
in the intimate made of being; God knows you as you know yourself. God is omnipotent,
this is not a reference to raw power, though all the power in the universe
belongs to God, but it means that God has the perfect ability to accomplish God’s
will.
Know
this:
What
is infinite, is infinitely greater than the entire sum of finite things and
beings.
The
spirit of God dwells in all things and beings, and God loves all in whom God’s
spirit dwells.
As
the prophet says:
“In
your sight the whole world is like a grain of dust that tips the scales, like a
drop of morning dew falling on the ground.
“Yet
you are merciful to all, because you can do all things and overlook our sins so
that we can repent.
“Yes,
you love all that exists, you hold nothing of what you have made in abhorrence,
for had you hated anything, you would not have formed it.
“You
spare all things because all things are yours, God, lover of life, you whose
imperishable spirit is in all.
“Little
by little you correct us all.
Pay
attention to the scripture and me mindful of where it falls into error.
The
psalmist is mistaken, when he refers to God as a king.
God
is not a king.
God
is the creator of the universe, God is present in all times and all places;
even in the deepest places of the human heart.
God
has made us free, and God does not intervene directly in human events. Do not
pray for God to do so, such prayers are mere vanities.
Contemplate
the vast power of God, and then contemplate the innumerable ways of God’s love
and mercy.
Listen
to the words of the apostle!
Be
mindful of the matters he wants to caution us about.
Pray
for your brothers and sisters, for your mother and father, for your sons and
daughters; pray for all your friends and family members, for their families and
most of all, pray for the stranger among you, for the alien in your midst, pray
for those who wish you harm, and for those who oppose your interests.
Pray
for them as God prays for them, in a spirit of love and humility. Pray that you
will find them worthy, and that they will find you worthy of love, just as God
does.
Do
not look for glories, pray for the peace of God.
Be
mindful!
Listen
to the words of the Apostle, there are many who call themselves Christians who
pretend to know the secrets of the universe or the path to God’s favor, they
preach on it even while they deviate from the
way Jesus taught us.
Call
out the false prophets among us, point out their false claims, do it in the
spirit God has given you, do it in the Spirit of truth.
As
you do so remember this, God is not king, or a lord.
The
creator of the universe does not wear a crown.
We
do not seek glory as we struggle on the way toward salvation. As we follow
Jesus we seek out the lowest of the low, we do not seek the highest heaven, we
seek to serve those in the deepest dark, returning them to the light of love.
Listen!
The
gift of life is not transactional. It is free. We do not have to ask for it,
just as we did not ask to be born, like true love, eternal life comes to us
without conditions.
God,
the creator of the universe, came to us in the person of Jesus. If you trust in
the teachings of Jesus you will find peace in this world, you will understand
that the things we endure here: pain and suffering, alienation and uncertainty,
hunger, disease and death, these are all temporary.
You
will see the world of light and life beyond the mortal veil.
There
is no condemnation in God, or in the ministry of Jesus. There is hope and love
and mercy.
Be
mindful and cleave to the truth.
No
one is condemned because they refuse to believe in the scriptures, or believe in
Christian doctrines, or the dogma of the church.
No
one is condemned by God no matter ho egregiously we err, God pours out the
divine love on all creation, God does so continuously.
There
is no magic power in a name or an article of belief, we are given a warning
because of this, if we are not able to trust in the way of Jesus, and trust is
the meaning of faith, if we are not able to trust in the way and we are
selfish, instead of giving; malicious instead of loving, harmful instead of
healing, then we will suffer in this world, even as we increase the suffering of
others.
Faith
in Jesus means liberation in the here and now, freedom in the present reality,
which is a blessing to everyone who finds it and to all whom they encounter.
Be
mindful.
Do
not judge. Make no assumptions about the piety of others.
Everyone
is a sinner, and everyone is good;
Everyone
loves, and is worthy of love.
That
is the whole of the gospel.
First Reading – Wisdom
11:22-12:2 ©
You Are Merciful to All, Because
You Love All That Exists
In
your sight, Lord, the whole world is like a grain of dust that tips the scales,
like a drop of morning dew falling on the ground.
Yet
you are merciful to all, because you can do all things and overlook men’s sins
so that they can repent.
Yes,
you love all that exists, you hold nothing of what you have made in abhorrence,
for had you hated anything, you would not have formed it.
And
how, had you not willed it, could a thing persist, how be conserved if not
called forth by you?
You
spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life, you whose
imperishable spirit is in all.
Little
by little, therefore, you correct those who offend, you admonish and remind
them of how they have sinned, so that they may abstain from evil and trust in
you, Lord.
Responsorial Psalm –
Psalm 144(145):1-2, 8-11, 13b-14 ©
I will bless your name
for ever, O God my King.
I
will give you glory, O God my king,
I will bless your name for ever.
I
will bless you day after day
and praise your name for ever.
I will bless your name
for ever, O God my King.
The
Lord is kind and full of compassion,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
How
good is the Lord to all,
compassionate to all his creatures.
I will bless your name
for ever, O God my King.
All
your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They
shall speak of the glory of your reign
and declare your might, O God.
I will bless your name
for ever, O God my King.
The
Lord is faithful in all his words
and loving in all his deeds.
The
Lord supports all who fall
and raises all who are bowed down.
I will bless your name
for ever, O God my King.
Second Reading – 2 Thessalonians
1:11-2:2 ©
The Name of Christ Will
be Glorified in You, and You in Him
We
pray continually that our God will make you worthy of his call, and by his
power fulfil all your desires for goodness and complete all that you have been
doing through faith; because in this way the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will
be glorified in you and you in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
To
turn now, brothers, to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we shall all
be gathered round him: please do not get excited too soon or alarmed by any
prediction or rumour or any letter claiming to come from us, implying that the
Day of the Lord has already arrived.
Gospel Acclamation – Luke
19:38, 2:14
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessings
on the King who comes, in the name of the Lord!
Peace
in heaven and glory in the highest heavens!
Alleluia!
Alternative Acclamation –
John 3:16
Alleluia, alleluia!
God
loved the world so much that he gave his only Son: everyone who believes in him has eternal
life.
Alleluia!
The Gospel According to
Luke 19.1 - 10 ©
Salvation Comes to the House
of Zacchaeus
Jesus
entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was
Zacchaeus made his appearance: he was one of the senior tax collectors and a
wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too
short and could not see him for the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a
sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus
reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry,
because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him
joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to
stay at a sinner’s house’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to
the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I
have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.’ And Jesus said
to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son
of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’
31st Sunday in
Ordinary Time (Year C)
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