The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, October 3, 2001
The Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Nehemiah 2:1-8
Psalm 137:1-6
Luke 9:57-62
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
Today's First Reading and Responsorial Psalm speak of a well-known
human sentiment, that of longing. The exiled Jews longed for the way
things used to be. They mourned over the loss of the Temple in
Jerusalem and all that it represented to them.
Sometimes our longing and sense of loss are profound and very
understandable. Sometimes it is subtle and manifests itself in veiled
ways. In truth, as creatures made for and by God, our deepest longing
is for Him and only He can satisfy and fulfill our every need.
Sin has obscured this truth. Instead we seek love and happiness in a
myriad of other places and ways - never to be satisfied, never to be
fulfilled.
Anyone who has experienced the recent events in America, finds it
easy to identify with profound loss. And yet, haven't we all been
suffering from veiled loss and longing? Haven't tragic events just
brought them to the surface?
Let us thank God for the many graces we have received; even for the
possibility of difficult situations becoming the springboard for
better behavior, more respectful relationships, a more authentic
sense of the need for God in our lives.
We pray that the lessons of today and those of the historic biblical
past, will awaken in us the reality of who we are and the glory that
the Lord has promised for those who don't forget Him: those who put
their hand to the plow, and don't look back - those who are willing
to give up everything to be His follower. It is to them that He has
promised true happiness (the end of loss and mourning) and
everlasting life.
By the streams of Babylon
we sat and wept
when we remembered Sion. Ps 136(137):1 (Douay)
- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds
[Donna Raye is a member of the Order of Carmelites Discalced Secular
and has been writing for the Daily Meditations weekly since 1993.
She can be emailed at: [EMAIL PROTECTED]]
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