So let's talk about today's readings 9/28/09

[cheeto1]

September 28, 2009
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Reading 1
Zec 8:1-8

This word of the LORD of hosts came: Thus says the LORD of hosts:
I am intensely jealous for Zion,
stirred to jealous wrath for her.
Thus says the LORD:
I will return to Zion,
and I will dwell within Jerusalem;
Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city,
and the mountain of the LORD of hosts,
the holy mountain.
Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women,
each with staff in hand because of old age,
shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem.
The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Even if this should seem impossible
in the eyes of the remnant of this people,
shall it in those days be impossible in my eyes also,
says the LORD of hosts?
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Lo, I will rescue my people from the land of the rising sun,
and from the land of the setting sun.
I will bring them back to dwell within Jerusalem.
They shall be my people, and I will be their God,
with faithfulness and justice.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23

R. (17) The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the Lord:
“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die.”
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence.
That the name of the LORD may be declared in Zion;
and his praise, in Jerusalem,
When the peoples gather together,
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

Gospel
Lk 9:46-50

An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest.” Then John said in reply,
“Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company.”
Jesus said to him,
“Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

 

[cheeto1]

“The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets”
–Will there be a childhood for children? Will there be a place of peace and safety
for them? And for the elderly? Will they again be respected for their great age?
What if there was even one whole city in this world that respected and safeguarded
the childhood of children, and the dignity of old age?

“The nations shall revere your name, O LORD”
– Not ignore it, or ridicule it…

“For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest”
– Then how do we decide who is the least?

Today is the day of Wenceslaus, duke of Bohemia, and of
St. Lawrence Ruiz and companions

So what struck you about today’s readings? :bible1::twocents:

 

[rwoehmke]

I was thinking that the readings which were apparently written during the time of the Babylonian captivity looked forward not only to the restoration of Jerusalem and the Temple, but also hinted or pointed to the New Jerusalem of the book of Revelation. A time when all things will be made new.

 

[cheeto1]

…the readings…also hinted or pointed to the New Jerusalem of the book of Revelation. A time when all things will be made new.

Yes, thank you.
And God says its not impossible.

" Even if this should seem impossible
in the eyes of the remnant of this people,
shall it in those days be impossible in my eyes also,
says the LORD of hosts?"

 

[Beachcomber]

I was thinking about ‘who is least.’ I don’t think it’s our job to discern who the least is; but we should strive towards being the least. And that’s not in a false humility kind of way, either. That has always been the tricky thing–finding out what true humility is.

 

[cheeto1]

I don’t think it’s our job to discern who the least is

Well, it’s only our “job” if we want to know who the greatest is.
It was very interesting that Jesus took a little child, instead of someone diseased
or disabled. He didn’t take a Samaritan, or a tax collector. He didn’t take the
woman from the well. He didn’t take a “deranged” Pharisee, or someone possessed.
He didn’t take a slave. He chose a child, like the one who gave his entire food
supply to Jesus just because He asked. I’ve always known that children were
mysterious and important. To myself, I call them prophets of the most high God,
because they say and do the most amazing things, and they are so newly created.
I know I am being blessed when in the presence of a child. But – if Jesus were
choosing today, would He just choose any child, like He did back then?
Or is there someone different, in today’s society who is the new “least”?

 

[Beachcomber]

Hey, thank you, cheeto, for that perspective: we should know who the least is so we can know who the greatest is. That is very thought-provoking.

Also, your question at the end about whether there is today a new ‘least?’ I don’t have an answer right yet, so I’m going to reflect on this. Thanks!