November 4, 2013

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop
Lectionary: 485
Reading 1 ROM 11:29-36

This is a try interesting verse.  More than that, intriguing.

Brothers and sisters:
The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

St. Paul is here talking about the gifts and call of God to the Jews.  Those who were called by God received His irrevocable gift:

Hebrews 9:15

King James Version (KJV)

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Just as you once disobeyed God
but have now received mercy
because of their disobedience,

All mankind disobeyed God.  But God selected the Jews to show them mercy.  But they disobeyed Him.  So, because of their disobedience, God showed the Gentiles mercy.

so they have now disobeyed in order that,
by virtue of the mercy shown to you,
they too may now receive mercy.

And by the mercy shown to the Gentiles, God will also show mercy to the Jews.

For God delivered all to disobedience,
that he might have mercy upon all.

Therefore, God permitted all to disobey His Word in order that He might show mercy to all.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!

And this is a mystery which can't be penetrated by the unaided wisdom of man.  It must be aided by God's grace in order to be understood.

For who has known the mind of the Lord
or who has been his counselor?

God's wisdom is above all wisdom of men.  

Or who has given him anything
that he may be repaid?

And God owes nothing to any man.

For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To God be glory forever. Amen.

For God made everything.  And God is glorious for all time.

Responsorial Psalm PS 69:30-31, 33-34, 36

R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.
But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your saving help, O God, protect me.
I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.

R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”

R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
For God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah.
They shall dwell in the land and own it,
and the descendants of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall inhabit it.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

God loves us.  Know that God loves you.  Therefore call upon Him, love Him and He will answer you.  Praise God's name before all and God will praise you in the heavens.

Gospel LK 14:12-14

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.
He said to the host who invited him,
“When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Don't just give to those who will repay you.  But give to all people whether they can repay you or not.  For Scripture says:

Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.