September 30, 2004 - Thursday, 26th Week in Ordinary Time
ST. JEROME, Priest

MISSIONARY AND POOR

Readings:
Job 19:21-27; Ps 27:7–8a, 8b–9abc, 13–14; Lk 10:1-12

Introduction

The scholar St. Jerome translated most of the Bible from the original languages into Latin and revised some parts already translated to make them more understandable. His immense work opened the scriptures to the parts of Europe that spoke Latin. He fought al his life against his difficult character. He can still inspire us today to love the word of God… and to live it.

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
you continue speaking your word to us today.
as St. Jerome loved it.
Like him,
may we understand it in your way,
keep your word faithfully in word and deed,
and pass it on to those who are with us
and who will come after us.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction:
       Nothing can destroy the faith of Job in God. Notwithstanding all his suffering, he knows that God lives and is his Redeemer. Job remains convinced that God does not want to crush people.

First Reading: Jb 19:21–27

Job said:
Pity me, pity me, O you my friends,
for the hand of God has struck me!
Why do you hound me as though you were divine,
and insatiably prey upon me?
Oh, would that my words were written down!
Would that they were inscribed in a record:
That with an iron chisel and with lead
they were cut in the rock forever!
But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives,
and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust;
Whom I myself shall see:
my own eyes, not another’s, shall behold him,
And from my flesh I shall see God;
my inmost being is consumed with longing.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 27:7–8a, 8b–9abc, 13–14

R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord
in the land of the living.

Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call;
have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord
in the land of the living.

Your presence, O LORD, I seek.
Hide not your face from me;
do not in anger repel your servant.
You are my helper: cast me not off.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord
in the land of the living.

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord
in the land of the living.

Gospel Introduction:
       Few people are impressed by the fact that a bishop lives a life of poverty in a big palace or that priests or sisters are sober and restrained in their personal living when they use rich and powerful means and institutions to bring God to people. Missionaries, however dedicated and serving they may be, are not very convincing and have a hard time to build community if they import powerful means from outside. When Jesus sends out his missionaries to evangelize the poor, he wants them to be, like him, poor among the poor. True, evangelical poverty is an ideal not easy to attain. But does it still move us?

Gospel Reading: Lk 10:1-12

The Lord appointed seventy-two other disciples and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place, where he himself was to go. And he said to them, "The harvest is rich, but the workers are few. So you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest. Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Set off without purse or bag or sandals; and do not stop at the homes of those you know.
"Whatever house you enter, first bless them saying: 'Peace to this house.' If a friend of peace lives there, the peace shall rest upon that person. But if not, the blessing will return to you. Stay in that house eating and drinking at their table, for the worker deserves to be paid. Do not move from house to house.

"When they welcome you in any town, eat what they offer you. Heal the sick who are there and say to them: 'The kingdom of God has drawn near to you.'

"But in any town where you are not welcome, go to the marketplace and proclaim: Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off and leave with you. But know and be sure that the kingdom of God had come to you.' I tell you that on the Judgment Day it will be better for Sodom than for this town."

Commentary

"I am sending you out like lambs among wolves." Jesus had a right to say this because he himself was like a lamb among wolves (see January 3). The Christian Gospel proclaims that the deepest wisdom is hidden in suffering. This is not to love suffering for itself, but to understand that "power is made perfect in weakness" (2Cor 12:9).

It is very paradoxical. Any deep teaching is full of paradox. The English word "suffer" originally meant "to allow." To suffer is to allow the pain of life of reach me. It is natural to try to avoid pain, but when it comes my way I should let it reach me. Otherwise I will develop a hard outer layer of insensitivity. When we see people who have done this we are inclined to say: suffering has made them hard and bitter. But it hasn't. It is their rejection of suffering that has done so. Life doesn't make people hard; it's the denial of life that makes them hard.

Hard outer shells go with inner mushiness. You often find that people with hard exteriors are the very ones whose inner lives are full of self-indulgence and self-pity. This has none of the openness or possibilities of growth that genuine suffering has. One of the things we learn as we grow older is the difference between neurotic self-inflicted suffering and genuine suffering. "By their fruits you shall know them." Even by the skin of their fruits you shall know them.

Intentions

- For missionaries, that they may go to the people to whom they are sent humbly and with a poverty of means, we pray:

- For evangelizers, that they may respectfully discover whatever good there is in the hearts and minds of people and their culture, we pray:

- For the young Churches, that they may be deeply rooted in their own people as communities of faith and love that enrich the whole Church, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Loving Father,
your word has become our food in Jesus Christ.
He makes us one with you.
Through him, give us your strength
to enlighten our minds and to guide us
that we may put your words into practice
and follow your living Word,
your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
you have made a covenant with us,
a union of life and love,
and you want the whole of creation to share in it.
You speak to us and to the world
your liberating word.
God, may we be the answer to your word,
not only by what we say,
but in everything we are and do.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Blessing

There is a large harvest waiting. The peace of God's kingdom is to be brought to many. Church, go on your way. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

TOP