September 18, 2013

Wednesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time 
Lectionary: 445

Reading 1

First book of Timothy 3:14-16

Beloved:
I am writing you,
although I hope to visit you soon.
But if I should be delayed,
you should know how to behave in the household of God,
which is the Church of the living God,
the pillar and foundation of truth.

This is a great revelation.  St. Paul reveals that the Church is infallible.  

Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion,

The "mystery of devotion"?  I really don't know what that means.  But somehow it seems to relate to Jesus 

Who was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed to the Gentiles,
believed in throughout the world,
taken up in glory.

It is a great mystery that God came to us in the flesh and rose again by the spirit.  I'm surprised that he says that Jesus was believed in throughout the world.  It is almost as though he is anticipating a future time.  And Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father, thus, taken up in glory.

Responsorial Psalm PS 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (2) How great are the works of the Lord!

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.

R. How great are the works of the Lord!

Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.

R. How great are the works of the Lord!

He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
He has made known to his people the power of his works,
giving them the inheritance of the nations.

R. How great are the works of the Lord!

God's works are commonplace that people frequently take them for granted.  We, ourselves, are beautifully and wonderfully made.  But we see the commonplace things in the world and don't realize how much beautiful detail went into their design.  Pick up a leaf and look at it closely sometime.  How great are the works of the Lord!

Gospel LK 7:31-35

Jesus said to the crowds:
“To what shall I compare the people of this generation?
What are they like?
They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,

‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’

For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine,
and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said,
‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

The children of this generation are singing the same dirge to the Church.  Some Protestants complain that the Church is to authoritarian.  Others that the Church is not authoritarian enough.  In the end, they will all learn the error of their ways, when they see the Church come down from heaven, the City of God.