ENCYCLICAL LETTER
FRATELLI TUTTI
OF THE HOLY FATHER
FRANCIS
ON THE FRATERNITY AND SOCIAL FRIENDSHIP
Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31-5:1; Luke 11:29-32
Our readings for today challenge us to look at the legitimacy of who we are and what is expected of us because of that. We are people of “the promise.” While Abraham has two “sets” of descendants, it is only those deceased from Isaac who have the legitimacy to be free as a result of the covenant with God and Abraham. The miracle of Isaac’s birth to a barren mother was a sign of the covenant – a promise made good. Paul is emphasizing that similarly, following Christ also sets us free. The other part of that original “deal” was to live according to God’s rules – we haven’t been so good about that. . . We want to have the benefits of the legitimate son (Isaac) and the promise but want to live by our own rules. So now Paul is telling us, we have the opportunity to be “free” again because of the promise of this Son. But . . . we must “stand firm.”
Isaiah 25:6-10a
Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
Matthew 22:1-14
In today’s readings, the theme of invitation draws us into the freedom that Jesus offers us.
The first reading from Isaiah promises the beleaguered people of Israel that not only will their lives be filled with food and comfort but “the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face.” This offered the hope that Israel would someday be able to say to God, “let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"
Luke 11:27-28
Jesus, as He usually does, expresses such a wonderful thought in a succinct fashion - Blest are those who hear the word of God, and keep it. He focuses on blessings, on positives. No damnation and hellfire here, just why good things happen to good people. Is this hearing and keeping hard stuff to do?
On 4 October, in the church of San Salvatore in Onda in Rome, the Pallottine family initiated the missionary month of the year 2020. The common prayer gathered representatives of the Pallottine General Governments, the Roman communities and lay members of the Union.
Luke 11:15-26
What are the obstacles to the fuller coming of God's Kingdom into our world? Frequently they are summarized as "the world, the flesh and the devil." "The world" stands for external cultural attitudes militating against living for God and others, such as secularism, individualism, materialism. "The flesh" stands for internal personal dividedness inhibiting our free response to the Spirit, such as the capital sins of pride, envy, anger, sloth, avarice, gluttony, lust. And "the devil" is, well, the devil, Satan. A formidable triad!
Luke 11:5-13
The passage in today’s gospel reading follows immediately upon St. Luke’s version of the Our Father. It seems to give further explanation of the disciples’ original petition of Jesus: “Lord, teach us how to pray.” I am struck by the stress on persistence in prayer. Jesus tells the story of the man who at midnight goes to ask a friend for loaves of bread because friends of his have come unexpectedly and he needs to feed them after their long journey.
The month of October each year is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary. This is primarily due to the fact that the liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated annually on October 7th. It was instituted to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary in gratitude for the protection that she gives the Church in answer to the praying of the Rosary by the faithful.
Saint of the day
SAINT MARY FAUSTINA KOWALSKA
Virgin
(1905-1938)
Sister Mary Faustina, an apostle of the Divine Mercy, belongs today to the group of the most popular and well-known saints of the Church. Through her the Lord Jesus communicates to the world the great message of God's mercy and reveals the pattern of Christian perfection based on trust in God and on the attitude of mercy toward one's neighbors.
Pope Francis Twitter Feed
The Holy See
Jubilee of the Canonisation
U.A.C.
Meditations
* Our Way of Life *
"Our diverse talents and abilities, our differences in culture, nationality and age are assets for the richness of the community. Although we may be engaged in a variety of ministries, we all share the common call to apostolic discipleship in a community of the Catholic Apostolate of St. Vincent Pallotti."(OWL, 91)
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"Christ, the Apostle of the Eternal Father, and his mission are central to our personal and community life, giving meaning and direction to our thinking, our spirituality, our prayer, action and suffering." (OWL, 19)
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"As a community of disciples we are gathered around Jesus, the Apostle of the Eternal Father. Like the first disciples, we want to be with Jesus, be sent out by him and return to him to evaluate our service in the light of his presence." (OWL, 88)
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"As Pallottines, it is our special charism to foster growth in faith and love among the laity, to awaken them to awareness of their apostolic call, and to cooperate with them in furthering the apostolic mission." (OWL, 21)
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"Our relationships with one another should be marked by a love that bears all, believes all and hopes for all, a love that is neither conceited nor jealous, which hurts no one, nor is embittered or resentful. It is never discouraged but remains patient and kind. It rejoices with others and shares their suffering. It is with this kind of love that we should help and support one another." (OWL, 90)