Today's ([Almost] Nov 7) Mass Readings.. (Purgatory? and.. [Who knows???])

[distracted]

Philippians 3:17-4:1:

Join with others in being imitators of me, Brothers and Sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us. For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame”. Their minds are occupied with earhtly things. But our citizenship is in Heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. Therfore, my Brothers and Sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, Beloved.

St. Luke 16:1-8:

Jesus said to his disciples, "A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. ***He summoned him ***and said, “What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’ The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.’ He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measurs of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fity.’ Then to another he said, 'And you, how much do you owe?” He replied, "One hundred measues of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note: write one for eighty.’ And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.

The 1st passage supports the notion that cleansing/purging is necessary to enter Heaven… because if we have not sufficiently allowed Christ to “change our glorified body to confrom to his glorified body” in this life… Again, God is merciful…

Also of interest: God summons those who are going astray… ALL of us… God desires all to be saved… So we can never blame our damnation on Him…

The 2nd one…??? I never did understand this one…

 

[CHRISTINE77]

Philippians 3:17-4:1:

Join with others in being imitators of me, Brothers and Sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us. For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame”. Their minds are occupied with earhtly things. But our citizenship is in Heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. Therfore, my Brothers and Sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, Beloved.

St. Luke 16:1-8:

Jesus said to his disciples, "A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. ***He summoned him ***and said, “What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’ The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.’ He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measurs of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fity.’ Then to another he said, 'And you, how much do you owe?” He replied, "One hundred measues of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note: write one for eighty.’ And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.

The 1st passage supports the notion that cleansing/purging is necessary to enter Heaven… because if we have not sufficiently allowed Christ to “change our glorified body to confrom to his glorified body” in this life… Again, God is merciful…

Also of interest: God summons those who are going astray… ALL of us… God desires all to be saved… So we can never blame our damnation on Him…

The 2nd one…??? I never did understand this one…

In response to Luke 16 - here is what I found:

After Jesus finished the parable of the Prodigal son, the Pharisees were still in the audience. “And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.” As a matter of fact, this verse also gives us a clue regarding the true emphasis of this parable; it’s money.

Now the parable itself: So, here’s the business manager for a wealthy man. Word gets back to the wealthy man that the business manager is doing a lousy job and is subsequently given his notice of termination rather than being fired on the spot. Fearing poverty, the business manager uses his last few days of authority to work a deal with debtors of the wealthy man with the intent of causing them to like him in case he needs a favor in the future when he is jobless. It turns out that the wealthy man is pleased with the manager’s negotiations of leniency and commends him for his actions, even though perhaps he was not privy to his manager’s motivations for doing so.

Jesus makes three main points in this parable:

1. Wealth should be used to help others, not stored up.
2. You can’t be trusted with eternal things if you don’t properly take care of worldly things.
3. You can’t be loyal to God and physical assets simultaneously.

There’s no question but that Jesus is addressing covetousness, compassion and loyalty; there’s also no question regarding the fact that he’s addressing these qualities with regard to these Jewish leaders who lacked compassion and loyalty but were very long on covetousness. The Jewish leaders are definitely portrayed as the unjust stewards.

bibletrack.org/cgi-bin/bible.pl?dy=15&mo=4

 

[distracted]

In response to Luke 16 - here is what I found:

After Jesus finished the parable of the Prodigal son, the Pharisees were still in the audience. “And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.” As a matter of fact, this verse also gives us a clue regarding the true emphasis of this parable; it’s money.

Now the parable itself: So, here’s the business manager for a wealthy man. Word gets back to the wealthy man that the business manager is doing a lousy job and is subsequently given his notice of termination rather than being fired on the spot. Fearing poverty, the business manager uses his last few days of authority to work a deal with debtors of the wealthy man with the intent of causing them to like him in case he needs a favor in the future when he is jobless. It turns out that the wealthy man is pleased with the manager’s negotiations of leniency and commends him for his actions, even though perhaps he was not privy to his manager’s motivations for doing so.

Jesus makes three main points in this parable:

1. Wealth should be used to help others, not stored up.
2. You can’t be trusted with eternal things if you don’t properly take care of worldly things.
3. You can’t be loyal to God and physical assets simultaneously.

There’s no question but that Jesus is addressing covetousness, compassion and loyalty; there’s also no question regarding the fact that he’s addressing these qualities with regard to these Jewish leaders who lacked compassion and loyalty but were very long on covetousness. The Jewish leaders are definitely portrayed as the unjust stewards.

bibletrack.org/cgi-bin/bible.pl?dy=15&mo=4

thanks… I always wondered about that passage…

Where did you get the explanation? From a priest??

 

[Reuben_J]

Philippians 3:17-4:1:

Join with others in being imitators of me, Brothers and Sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us. For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame”. Their minds are occupied with earhtly things. But our citizenship is in Heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. Therfore, my Brothers and Sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, Beloved.

St. Luke 16:1-8:

Jesus said to his disciples, "A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. ***He summoned him ***and said, “What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’ The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.’ He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measurs of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fity.’ Then to another he said, 'And you, how much do you owe?” He replied, "One hundred measues of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note: write one for eighty.’ And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.

The 1st passage supports the notion that cleansing/purging is necessary to enter Heaven… because if we have not sufficiently allowed Christ to “change our glorified body to confrom to his glorified body” in this life… Again, God is merciful…

Also of interest: God summons those who are going astray… ALL of us… God desires all to be saved… So we can never blame our damnation on Him…

The 2nd one…??? I never did understand this one…

In the first reading Paul rightly distinguishes the difference between the believing Christians and the unbelievers. The former model them in Christ Jesus while the latter follow their desire and human inclinations. In my own humanness, I identify with the latter and many times my own actions are driven by my carnal desire and human weaknesses.

I am reminded in this reading that I am NOT of this world. I do not belong in the category of non-believers. I belong to Jesus and my rightful place is in heaven. This fact needs to be driven into my head again and again and again because I would tend to forget it. The preoccupation of the things of the world very so often leads me to forget who I truly am.

Knowing that I am set aside for the glory of God, I therefore must act accordingly in this world and cling steadfastly to the calling of my God and refuse to be drawn whatsoever to the practice and the ideals of the world.

In the Gospel Jesus uses human shrewdness to demonstrate that in order to save ourselves and to secure our future we too must be clever. This need investment and we can use what is available to us to serve our purpose. This is also true in spiritual matter.

Therefore, how do I assure my spiritual future? Like the rich steward I need to put some investment too. One of the many things that I have personally done in my life is really to discard activities and thinking that are opposed to the way of the Lord. This somehow liberates me as I focus instead on Jesus and on prayers.

Amen.