Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection October 09, 2024
Twenty-Seventh Week of Ordinary Time
09th October 2024 (Wednesday)
Psalter: Week 3
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14
Brethren: After fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Psalm 117:1, 2 (R. Mark 16:15)
R/. Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. You have received the spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 11:1-4
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples. And he said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Wednesday – Twenty-Seventh Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: An authentic prayer is not only praying with authentic expression and manner. It is more an authentic way of living
1. Today the word of God teaches us about true prayer. First of all, it becomes clear that prayer is not a matter of words but of heart and life. Praying is not about what words we are using, the standard of them, the knack of the right use of the words, or the effect of them.
2. We are not taking away the importance of the due words. We cannot be simply negligent and use any words. We should be well-prepared and use meaningful words. But here the point is that the expressions and formulations, the modulation or the techniques or the tactics of the effective presentation should not dominate and minimize the primacy of the spirit of prayer.
3. The selection and the presentation of our expression must be the tools and channels for communicating and transmitting the depth of experience and the power of the Spirit.
4. Thus, it is not our words but the Word that is most important. It is not the efficiency and the power of our communication or presentation but the efficacy and the power of God’s own Spirit communicating with us.
5. A good many times, human skill and medium of presentation are eclipsing the vitality of the depth and effect of the essence and the content. Ultimately, all our prayers must deepen our authenticity concerning God and others. It means, our prayers must make us more authentic. There is no true spirituality without authenticity.
6. It is in this context, the approach of Paul toward Peter and other Jewish Christians becomes relevant. He questions the inauthenticity and the double dealings of Peter and co. regarding the practice of circumcision and their dealing with the Gentiles. What is true faith without authenticity in our approach and dealing with others?
7. It is in this same context of authentic prayer that Jesus teaches the sublime prayer, ‘Our Father’. It is not just one of many prayers. It is the model of true prayer. It shows how our prayer must be, and what are the essential ingredients of it.
8. A prayer becomes authentic when there is a sense of family that holds God as our one Father. It must commit us to keep holy God’s name. This consists in striving to grow holy constantly and to spread His kingdom of love and justice.
9. Further, authentic prayer makes us content with the minimum. It makes us contrite to seek forgiveness from God and also forgive others magnanimously. It makes constant efforts to guard ourselves against the attacks of the evil one.
Practice: The whole aim of all our activities and devotions is to become more and more authentic in concrete life. There is no room for hypocrisy in true prayer
