Day Nine: Friday, September 18, 2015

Theme: Mary proclaims the good news of Jesus

Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Lectionary: 447

Reading 1: 1 Timothy 6:2C-12

Beloved:Teach and urge these things.Whoever teaches something differentand does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christand the religious teachingis conceited, understanding nothing,and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds,who are deprived of the truth,supposing religion to be a means of gain.Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.For we brought nothing into the world,just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trapand into many foolish and harmful desires,which plunge them into ruin and destruction.For the love of money is the root of all evils,and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faithand have pierced themselves with many pains.

But you, man of God, avoid all this.Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion,faith, love, patience, and gentleness.Compete well for the faith.Lay hold of eternal life,to which you were called when you made the noble confessionin the presence of many witnesses.

Alleluia: See Matthew 11:25 R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 8:1-3

Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another,preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.Accompanying him were the Twelveand some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza,Susanna, and many otherswho provided for them out of their resources.

La Salette Scripture Reflection: Friday of the Twenty-Fourth Week Of The Year    

Luke 8:1-3: “He traveled through the towns, preaching and evangelizing the Kingdom of God.”

Brother Juniper once asked St. Francis, “Teach me to preach as eloquently as you. I am not good with words.” Francis replied, "I will teach you to preach more eloquently than I. Meet me tomorrow morning."

Brother Juniper dutifully met Francis early the next morning. To Juniper's surprise, they began walking. They walked through the marketplace, smiling at the laborers, the merchants, the children. They helped an old woman carry her wash up a set of stairs. They walked and walked. Finally, an exasperated Brother Juniper asked, "Francis, when will you teach me to preach?" Replied the Saint, “Why, we are preaching.”

In today's Gospel, Jesus invites us to practice what we preach – and to preach what we practice. What did

Mary preach at La Salette? Prayer, reconciliation, penance; come back regularly to the Lord's table; don't abuse Jesus's name. Mary's homily at La Salette was a true “parable in action” – a mother weeping over the sins of her children. Action parables are positive gestures without words. Often our actions shine forth better than our spoken words.

A Reflection Question: What do I “preach" by the way I live my daily life?