The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Saturday, October 24, 2015

The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Saturday, October 24, 2015

Meditation: Luke 13:1 Just then, some people came to tell Yeshua about the men from the Galil whom Pilate had slaughtered even while they were slaughtering animals for sacrifice. 2 His answer to them was, “Do you think that just because they died so horribly, these folks from the Galil were worse sinners than all the others from the Galil? 3 No, I tell you. Rather, unless you turn to God from your sins, you will all die as they did!

4 “Or what about those eighteen people who died when the tower at Shiloach fell on them? Do you think they were worse offenders than all the other people living in Yerushalayim? 5 No, I tell you. Rather, unless you turn from your sins, you will all die similarly.”

6 Then Yeshua gave this illustration: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit but didn’t find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘Here, I’ve come looking for fruit on this fig tree for three years now without finding any. Cut it down — why let it go on using up the soil?’ 8 But he answered, ‘Sir, leave it alone one more year. I’ll dig around it and put manure on it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; if not, you will have it cut down then.’”

Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop (Optional Memorial)
He came in search of fruit.(Luke 13:6)
The flashing lights in your rearview mirror catch your eye. Then your heart sinks. A police car is behind you, signaling for you to pull over to the side of the road. As you put down your window, you are face-to-face with an officer who demands your identification and informs you that your infraction is serious. While he is checking your papers, you fear the worst. Then, with a mixture of authority and kindness, you hear him say the sweetest words: “I’m just going to give you a warning.” You drive off elated, having promised the officer that you will change your ways and adhere to the speed limit.
In a sense, Jesus is issuing a warning to his followers as he explains about the recent tragic deaths of fellow Jews. Mind you, he isn’t saying that they died because of their lack of faith. Rather, he is giving a solemn reminder of everyone’s vulnerability to death. None of us know when our lives will end. We all run the risk of being snatched away unexpectedly while we are busy pursuing our plans. And so Jesus is asking us to be sure that we are ready to greet him, whenever our time comes.
So while we still have the gift of life, let’s make it a point to lift our eyes from a task-driven life to a life centered on Jesus and his calling. Why delay?
Jesus isn’t looking primarily for our remorse; he’s looking for our love. For he knows that only love will produce long-lasting changes: his love for us and our love for him in return. He knows that the more time we spend soaking in his love, the more love we will have for one another, the more we will find comfort in his teachings, and the more we will find ourselves bearing fruit for him and his Church. So don’t be so speedy! Keep pace with the Lord. Take his Holy Spirit as your companion and guide, and he will make you more and more fruitful.
“Jesus, direct my life in the way of love. Orient me in love. Fill me with your Spirit, who is love! Lord, I want to bear fruit for you!” Amen!
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is no longer any condemnation awaiting those who are in union with the Messiah Yeshua. 2 Why? Because the Torah of the Spirit, which produces this life in union with Messiah Yeshua, has set me free from the “Torah” of sin and death. 3 For what the Torah could not do by itself, because it lacked the power to make the old nature cooperate, God did by sending his own Son as a human being with a nature like our own sinful one [but without sin]. God did this in order to deal with sin, and in so doing he executed the punishment against sin in human nature, 4 so that the just requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us who do not run our lives according to what our old nature wants but according to what the Spirit wants. 5 For those who identify with their old nature set their minds on the things of the old nature, but those who identify with the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 Having one’s mind controlled by the old nature is death, but having one’s mind controlled by the Spirit is life and shalom. 7 For the mind controlled by the old nature is hostile to God, because it does not submit itself to God’s Torah — indeed, it cannot. 8 Thus, those who identify with their old nature cannot please God.

9 But you, you do not identify with your old nature but with the Spirit — provided the Spirit of God is living inside you, for anyone who doesn’t have the Spirit of the Messiah doesn’t belong to him. 10 However, if the Messiah is in you, then, on the one hand, the body is dead because of sin; but, on the other hand, the Spirit is giving life because God considers you righteous. 11 And if the Spirit of the One who raised Yeshua from the dead is living in you, then the One who raised the Messiah Yeshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.

Psalm 24:(0) By David. A psalm:

(1) The earth is Adonai’s, with all that is in it,

the world and those who live there;

2 for he set its foundations on the seas

and established it on the rivers.

3 Who may go up to the mountain of Adonai?

Who can stand in his holy place?

4 Those with clean hands and pure hearts,

who don’t make vanities the purpose of their lives

or swear oaths just to deceive.

5 They will receive a blessing from Adonai

and justice from God, who saves them.

6 Such is the character of those who seek him,

of Ya‘akov, who seeks your face. (Selah)

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