October 14, 2013

Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 467
Reading 1 ROM 1:1-7

Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus,

More often, we call ourselves "brothers of Christ" and "children of God".  But it is also correct to consider ourselves "servants" and "slaves" of the Lord.

called to be an Apostle and set apart for the Gospel of God,

An Apostle is one who is "sent".  The Apostles of Jesus Christ were sent by Jesus Christ to teach the Good News or the Gospel.  We normally count Twelve Apostles, because these are the Foundation of the Church.  But Jesus also selected Seventy others from His disciples (Luke 10:1).  And then, we also recognize the Church is Apostolic because Jesus Christ sent the Church to teach what He commands (Matt 28:19-20).

which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

Throughout the Old Testament there are prophecies of the Messiah.  But the most frequently remembered is from Isaiah 7:14.

the Gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh,
but established as Son of God in power
according to the Spirit of holiness
through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Scripture prophecies the resurrection of and coming of Christ in glory in

Psalm 16:9-11

King James Version (KJV)

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Through him we have received the grace of apostleship,
to bring about the obedience of faith,
for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles,
among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;
to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

And so, we are Apostles of the Church, called to bring the grace of God to the whole world.

Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1BCDE, 2-3AB, 3CD-4

R. (2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.

R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.

R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.

Christ is our salvation.  And He has appeared, manifest in the flesh, the image of all mighty God.

Gospel LK 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
“This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.

Jonah was in the belly of the beast for three days.  So, Jesus was in the belly of the earth for three days.

At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

Jonah reluctantly preached to the Ninevites and the Ninevites converted at his word.  God incarnate preached to the people of Israel and many of them refused to change their ways.  Therefore their condemnation is the greater.