 
General Theme: The call to holiness General Objective: Each one can believe and live out the call to holiness Objective of the week: To realize how Jesus is encouraging us to achieve His happiness INTRODUCTION We continue our prayer during this week on THE CALL TO HOLINESS. The Chapter Three of Gaudete and Exsultate is entitled “In the light of the Master.” Pope Francis explains about The Beatitudes (Mt 5:3-12; Lk 6:20-23) related to holiness. Gaudete et Exsultate 64. The word “happy” or “blessed” thus becomes a synonym for “holy.” It expresses the fact that those faithful to God and his word, by their self-giving, gain true happiness. Gaudete et Exsultate 63. There can be any number of theories about what constitutes holiness, with various explanations and distinctions. Such reflection may be useful, but nothing is more enlightening than turning to Jesus’ words and seeing his way of teaching the truth. Jesus explained with great simplicity what it means to be holy when he gave us the Beatitudes (cf. Mt 5:3-12; Lk 6:20-23). The Beatitudes are like a Christian’s identity card. So, if anyone asks: “What must one do to be a good Christian?” the answer is clear. We have to do, each in our own way, what Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount. In the Beatitudes, we find a portrait of the Master, which we are called to reflect in our daily lives. We will pray on chapter III of Gaudete et Exsultate for two weeks. It may be a guide to assimilate and live in our daily life not only the Word of God but also the teaching of Pope Francis. For us, disciples of Jesus and Catholics, it is very necessary to listen to the voice of the Vicar of Christ. The titles of every day are also taken from Gaudete et Exsultate. Let us give thanks to God for this opportunity to get closer to Him. At the same time, we realize that this path to holiness entails daily options during our earthly life. (Note: In all our quotations from Gaudete et Exsultate we will write the abbreviation GE) MONDAY Going against the flow GE 65. Although Jesus’ words may strike us as poetic, they clearly run counter to the way things are usually done in our world. Even if we find Jesus’ message attractive, the world pushes us towards another way of living. The Beatitudes are in no way trite or undemanding, quite the opposite. We can only practice them if the Holy Spirit fills us with his power and frees us from our weakness, our selfishness, our complacency and our pride. GE 66. Let us listen once more to Jesus, with all the love and respect that the Master deserves. Let us allow his words to unsettle us, to challenge us and to demand a real change in the way we live. Otherwise, holiness will remain no more than an empty word. We turn now to the individual Beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew (cf. Mt 5:3-12). Romans 8:1-2,5-6; Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Galatians 5:1,13-17; It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. John 16:33; 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” The values of the world dictate us to go with the flow, of what is easy, comfortable and pleasurable. These worldly values shun us from the values of our Master, Jesus Christ who taught us to love unconditionally and to sacrifice. The call to holiness is a call to go against the flow. Our being blessed is a choice to live the Beatitudes in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. This choice is freedom Gal 5:5 and will set us free from worldly attachments/values that are opposed to the Holy Spirit. Jesus knows how difficult it is to live against the flow but He reminds us to be trusting and have confidence in Him in Jn 33:16 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
TUESDAY Being poor of heart: that is holiness Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” GE 67. The Gospel invites us to peer into the depths of our heart, to see where we find our security in life. Usually, the rich feel secure in their wealth, and think that, if that wealth is threatened, the whole meaning of their earthly life can collapse. Jesus himself tells us this in the parable of the rich fool: he speaks of a man who was sure of himself, yet foolish, for it did not dawn on him that he might die that very day (cf. Lk 12:16-21). GE 68. Wealth ensures nothing. Indeed, once we think we are rich, we can become so self-satisfied that we leave no room for God’s word, for the love of our brothers and sisters, or for the enjoyment of the most important things in life. In this way, we miss out on the greatest treasure of all. That is why Jesus calls blessed those who are poor in spirit, those who have a poor heart, for there the Lord can enter with his perennial newness. GE 70. Luke does not speak of poverty “of spirit” but simply of those who are “poor” (cf. Lk 6:20). In this way, he too invites us to live a plain and austere life. He calls us to share in the life of those most in need, the life lived by the Apostles, and ultimately to configure ourselves to Jesus who, though rich, “made himself poor” (2 Cor 8:9). Luke 12:16-21; 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” 1 Timothy 6:10-13; 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 2 Corinthians 9:6-12; 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”[a] 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Earthly wealth, while convenient, can lure us away from holiness. Wealth is a gift that God blesses us with, and as with all gifts, it gains value when being shared. Storing up wealth distances us from God and from others, as the more wealth is acquired, the more difficult it is to part, even when there is something to spare. The riches of the world hold little value in the eyes of God. But in generosity with a cheerful heart and without ulterior motives like fame, we are enriched with the spirit of love and compassion that brings us all the more closer to being holy.
WEDNESDAY Reacting with meekness and humility: that is holiness Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” GE 71. These are strong words in a world that from the beginning has been a place of conflict, disputes and enmity on all sides, where we constantly pigeonhole others on the basis of their ideas, their customs and even their way of speaking or dressing. Ultimately, it is the reign of pride and vanity, where each person thinks he or she has the right to dominate others. Nonetheless, impossible as it may seem, Jesus proposes a different way of doing things: the way of meekness. This is what we see him doing with his disciples. GE 72. Christ says: “Learn from me; for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt 11:29). If we are constantly upset and impatient with others, we will end up drained and weary. But if we regard the faults and limitations of others with tenderness and meekness, without an air of superiority, we can actually help them and stop wasting our energy on useless complaining. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux tells us that “perfect charity consists in putting up with others’ mistakes, and not being scandalized by their faults.” GE 74. Meekness is yet another expression of the interior poverty of those who put their trust in God alone. Indeed, in the Bible the same word – anawim – usually refers both to the poor and to the meek. Someone might object: “If I am that meek, they will think that I am an idiot, a fool or a weakling.” At times they may, but so be it. It is always better to be meek, for then our deepest desires will be fulfilled. The meek “shall inherit the earth,” for they will see God’s promises accomplished in their lives. In every situation, the meek put their hope in the Lord, and those who hope for him shall possess the land… and enjoy the fullness of peace (cf. Ps 37:9.11). For his part, the Lord trusts in them: “This is the one to whom I will look, to the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at my word” (Is 66:2). GE 73. Paul speaks of meekness as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (cf. Gal 5:23). He suggests that, if a wrongful action of one of our brothers or sisters troubles us, we should try to correct them, but “with a spirit of meekness,” since “you too could be tempted” (Gal 6:1). Even when we defend our faith and convictions, we are to do so “with meekness” (cf. 1 Pet 3:16). Our enemies too are to be treated “with meekness” (2 Tim 2:25). In the Church we have often erred by not embracing this demand of God’s word. Galatians 6:1 Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit, looking to yourself, so that you also may not be tempted. Ephesians 4:1-3 I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. 1 Peter 3:15-16 15 Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 A slave of the Lord should not quarrel, but should be gentle with everyone, able to teach, tolerant, correcting opponents with kindness. It may be that God will grant them repentance that leads to knowledge of the truth, and that they may return to their senses out of the devil’s snare,where they are entrapped by him, for his will. Pope Francis said that the terms poor and meek are synonyms. He also affirms that Jesus was poor and meek during his earthly life. What is the benefit of being poor and meek? The spiritually poor person acknowledges that he/she is a creature God is his/her Creator. He/she depends on Him and accepts his guidance, knowing that He wants the best for each one of us. To be meek leads us to a committed fraternal love. A meek person accepts others as they are with their good actions and their shortcomings or wrongdoings. In the passage of 2 Tim 2:24-25 we are encouraged to be patient, to correct others gently because we believe that God is giving to each one of us many opportunities to repent and to come to know the truth. Our hope is founded on the unconditional love of God who wants each one to turn always back to Him. THURSDAY Knowing how to mourn with others: that is holiness Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” GE 75. The world tells us exactly the opposite: entertainment, pleasure, diversion and escape make for a good life. The worldly person ignores problems of sickness or sorrow in the family or all around him; he averts his gaze. The world has no desire to mourn; it would rather disregard painful situations, cover them up or hide them. Much energy is expended on fleeing from situations of suffering in the belief that reality can be concealed. But the cross can never be absent. GE 76. A person who sees things as they truly are and sympathizes with pain and sorrow is capable of touching life’s depths and finding authentic happiness. He or she is consoled, not by the world but by Jesus. Such persons are unafraid to share in the suffering of others; they do not flee from painful situations. They discover the meaning of life by coming to the aid of those who suffer, understanding their anguish and bringing relief. They sense that the other is flesh of our flesh, and are not afraid to draw near, even to touch their wounds. They feel compassion for others in such a way that all distance vanishes. In this way they can embrace Saint Paul’s exhortation: “Weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15). 2 Corinthians 1:3-7; 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. Isaiah 61:2; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, Isaiah 35:4; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Romans 12:15-16; 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited. To be holy is to go beyond our comfort zone to unite with Christ. Blessed are we when we face our sufferings with faith and trust in God, because it is the time to witness God's loving mercy and compassion working within us. As Jesus helps us, we too are invited by Jesus to share His love to others to let them feel that they are not left and abandoned. St. Paul says: "He helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to help others using the same help that we have received from God." (2 Cor. 4) To mourn with others is one of the Beatitudes taught by Jesus that teaches us to be sensitive to the needs of others and to be of service to them for life is full of struggles, confusions, and temptations. We are fortunate when we give ourselves selflessly to those who need our care and attention. This is the moment that they can experience the love of Jesus and at the same time our moment of holiness where we become a little Jesus to others. Jesus is calling us to live in holiness not to fear taking the risk of helping others but to be Christ-centered. Let us offer our shoulders to cry on, our hearts to sympathize, and our ears to listen to them. Make Jesus become flesh in us so that they may feel loved, accepted and understood as St. Paul says: "Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Have the same concern for everyone. (Rom.12:15-16)
FRIDAY Hungering and thirsting for righteousness: that is holiness Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” GE 77 Hunger and thirst are intense experiences, since they involve basic needs and our instinct for survival. There are those who desire justice and yearn for righteousness with similar intensity. Jesus says that they will be satisfied, for sooner or later justice will come. We can cooperate to make that possible, even if we may not always see the fruit of our efforts. GE 78 Jesus offers a justice other than that of the world, so often marred by petty interests and manipulated in various ways. Experience shows how easy it is to become mired in corruption, ensnared in the daily politics of quid pro quo, where everything becomes business. How many people suffer injustice, standing by powerlessly while others divvy up the good things of this life. Some give up fighting for real justice and opt to follow in the train of the winners. This has nothing to do with the hunger and thirst for justice that Jesus praises. GE 79. True justice comes about in people’s lives when they themselves are just in their decisions; it is expressed in their pursuit of justice for the poor and the weak. While it is true that the word “justice” can be a synonym for faithfulness to God’s will in every aspect of our life, if we give the word too general a meaning, we forget that it is shown especially in justice towards those who are most vulnerable: “Seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow” (Is 1:17). Isaiah 1:17; Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.[a] Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 56:1-2; This is what the Lord says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. 2 Blessed is the one who does this— the person who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps their hands from doing any evil.” Ephesians 5:1-2,8-10; 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. Matthew 6:19-21; 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Jesus is consistent in His love for the poor, deprived, and those who suffered injustice. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and for the things of God are blessed because they are pursuing holiness. To hunger and thirst for God is at the very root of our being. It is the way God made us. When there is no hunger and thirst for the presence of God, it is an indicator that something is wrong spiritually. In contrast to our worldly desires that leave us longing and hungry for more, our satisfaction in Christ only increases with our hunger and thirst for Him. The more we seek first the kingdom of God, the more we will be fulfilled by His goodness, the more we become just and the more it leads us to holiness.
SUNDAY 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 1st Reading: Dn 12:1-3
Psalm Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11 2nd Reading: Heb 10:11-14, 18 Gospel: Mk 13:24-32
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About the Guidelines SheetThe Guidelines sheet is a prayer guide with the Word of God to help us journey together and be one in our weekly prayer as one community. This contains daily passages from scriptures together with reflections focused on a common theme and intention for the week. Archives
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