Bible Diary for October 2nd – 8th

October 2
Sunday

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Guardian Angels

1st Reading: Is 5:1–7
Let me sing for my beloved the love song of my beloved about his vineyard.

My beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up, cleared the stones, and planted the choicest vines. He built there a watchtower and hewed out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only wild grapes.

Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more was there to do that I have not done for my vineyard? Good grapes was the yield I expected, why did it yield only sour grapes?

Now I will let you know what I am going to do with my vineyard: I will remove its hedge and it will be burned; I will break down its wall and it will be trampled on. I will make it a wasteland, I will neither prune nor hoe it, and briers and thorns will grow there. I command the clouds, as well, not to send rain on it.

The vineyard of Yahweh Sabaoth is the people of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant vine. He looked for justice, but found bloodshed; He looked for righteousness but heard cries of distress.

Ps 80:9, 12, 13–14, 15–16, 19–20
The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

2nd Reading: Phil 4:6–9
Brothers and sisters, do not be anxious about anything. In everything resort to prayer and supplication together with thanksgiving and bring your requests before God. Then the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with whatever is truthful, holy, just, pure, lovely and noble. Be mindful of whatever deserves praise and admiration. Put into practice what you have learned from me, what I passed on to you, what you heard from me or saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

Gospel: Mt 21:33–43
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders, “There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a hole for the winepress, built a watchtower, leased the vineyard to tenants and then went to a distant country. When harvest time came, the landowner sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the harvest. But the tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another and stoned another.

“Again the owner sent more servants, but they were treated in the same way.

“Finally, he sent his son, thinking: ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they thought: ‘This is the one who is to inherit the vineyard. Let us kill him and his inheritance will be ours.’ So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“Now, what will the owner of the vineyard do with the tenants when he comes?” They said to him, “He will bring those evil to an evil end, and lease the vineyard to others who will pay him in due time.”

And Jesus replied, “Have you never read what the Scriptures say? The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; and we marvel at it. Therefore I say to you: the kingdom of heaven will be taken from you and given to a people who will yield a harvest.”

REFLECTION
The kingdom of heaven will be taken from you and given to a people who will yield a harvest. God expects a good return for what He has given us. He just means business! God has invested Himself so much in us. We have to give Him a just accounting. Let us be transparent and accountable with our words and actions today as good and faithful stewards.

October 3
Monday

27th Week in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Jon 1:1—2:1–2, 11
The word of Yahweh came to Jonah, son of Amittai, “Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach against it, because I have known its wickedness.” But Jonah decided to flee from Yahweh and go to Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, found a ship bound for Tarshish, and paid the fare. Then he boarded it and went into the hold of the ship, journeying with them to Tarshish, far away from Yahweh.

Yahweh stirred up a storm wind on the sea, so there was a sea tempest, which threatened to destroy the ship. The sailors took fright, and each cried out to his own god. To lighten the ship, they threw its cargo into the sea.

Meanwhile Jonah had gone into the hold of the ship, where he lay fast asleep. The captain came upon him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god. Perhaps he will be mindful of us and will not allow us to die here.”

The sailors said to each other, “Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this disaster.” So they did, and the lot fell on Jonah.

They questioned him, “So you are responsible for this evil that has come upon us? Tell us where you are from. What is your country, your nationality?” And Jonah told them his story, “I am a Hebrew and I worship Yahweh, God of heaven who made the sea and the land….”

As they knew that he was fleeing from Yahweh, the sailors were seized with great fear and said to him, “What a terrible thing have you done!” “What shall we do with you now to make the sea calm down?” The sea was growing more and more agitated.

He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. It will quiet down, for I know it is because of me that this storm has come.”

The sailors, however, still did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea had grown much rougher than before. Then they called on Yahweh, “O Yahweh, do not let us perish for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us guilty of shedding innocent blood. For you, Yahweh, have done this as you have thought right.” They took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm again. At this the men were seized with great fear of Yahweh. They offered a sacrifice to Yahweh and made vows to him.

Yahweh provided a large fish which swallowed Jonah. He remained in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights.

Then Yahweh gave his command to the fish, and it belched out Jonah onto dry land.

Gospel: Lk 10:25–37
A teacher of the Law came and began putting Jesus to the test. And he said, “Master, what shall I do to receive eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What is written in the Scripture? How do you understand it?” The man answered, “It is written: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus replied, “What a good answer! Do this and you shall live.” The man wanted to keep up appearances, so he replied, “Who is my neighbor?”

Jesus then said, “There was a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.

It happened that a priest was going along that road and saw the man, but passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite saw the man and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, too, was going that way, and when he came upon the man, he was moved with compassion. He went over to him and treated his wounds with oil and wine and wrapped them with bandages. Then he put him on his own mount and brought him to an inn where he took care of him.

The next day he had to set off, but he gave two silver coins to the innkeeper and told him: ‘Take care of him and whatever you spend on him, I will repay when I come back.’”

Jesus then asked, “Which of these three, do you think, made himself neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The teacher of the Law answered, “the one who had mercy on him.” And Jesus said, “Go then and do the same.”

REFLECTION
Who would not be moved by the sight of a wounded man lying unconscious in the middle of the road? The Levite and the priest, being men of God, most probably also took pity at the sight of the condition of the robbed man. Nevertheless, their compassion did not bring them to a more noble means of extending their hands to their neighbor. The Samaritan on the other hand did not only pity the robbed man, but moved with compassion, he extended his hands. Who would not be moved at the sight of hungry street children begging in the street, or the many old people abandoned by their children, or those who are victims of calamities?

October 4
Tuesday

27th Week in Ordinary Time

St. Francis of Assisi

1st Reading: Jon 3:1–10
The word of Yahweh came to Jonah a second time: “Go to Nineveh, the great city, and announce to them the message I give you.”

In obedience to the word of Yahweh, Jonah went to Nineveh. It was a very large city, and it took three days just to cross it. So Jonah walked a single day’s journey and began proclaiming, “Forty days more and Nineveh will be destroyed.”

The people of the city believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

Upon hearing the news, the king of Nineveh got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes. He issued a proclamation throughout Nineveh:

“By the decree of the king and his nobles, no people or beasts, herd or flock, will taste anything; neither will they eat nor drink. But let people and beasts be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call aloud to God, turn from his evil ways and violence. Who knows? God may yet relent, turn from his fierce anger and spare us.”

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened upon them.

Ps 130:1b–2, 3–4ab, 7–8
If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Gospel: Lk 10:38–42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he entered a village and a woman called Martha welcomed him to her house. She had a sister named Mary who sat down at the Lord’s feet to listen to his words. Martha, meanwhile, was busy with all the serving and finally she said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the serving?”

But the Lord answered, “Martha, Martha, you worry and are troubled about many things, whereas only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.”

REFLECTION
The noise of the world can be deafening because of its increasing volume. People especially the young are getting confused not knowing where or what to listen. Answers to life’s questions are being offered by television, radio, internet, newspapers, politicians, entertainers, peer group, people from different sectors. The volume of the sound is coupled with the rushing of people trying to beat the time and deadlines in work. At the end of the day, people are tired and restless. But did we choose the “better part?” It’s time to slow down, decrease the volume of the world and like Mary, sit down at the Lord’s feet and listen to Him. When was the last time we turned off everything, opened the Bible and prayed?

October 5
Wednesday

27th Week in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Jon 4:1–11
Jonah was greatly displeased at this, and he was indignant. He prayed to Yahweh and said, “O Yahweh, is this not what I said when I was yet in my own country? This is why I fled to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and full of love, and you relent from imposing terrible punishment. I beseech you now, Yahweh, to take my life, for now it is better for me to die than to live.” But Yahweh replied, “What right have you to be angry?”

Jonah then left the city. He went to a place east of it, built himself a shelter and sat under its shade to wait and see what would happen to Nineveh. Then Yahweh God provided a castor-oil plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade over his head and to ease his discomfort. Jonah was very happy about the plant.

But the next day, at dawn, God sent a worm which attacked the plant and made it wither. When the sun rose, God sent a scorching east wind; the sun blazed down upon Jonah’s head, and he grew faint. His death wish returned and he said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

Then God asked Jonah, “Do you have a right to be angry about the castor-oil plant?” Jonah answered, “I am right to be angry enough to wish to die.”

Yahweh said, “You are concerned about a plant which cost you no labor to make it grow. Overnight it sprang up, and overnight it perished. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot distinguish right from left and they have many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned for such a great city?”

Ps 86:3–4, 5–6, 9–10
Lord, you are merciful and gracious.

Gospel: Lk 11:1–4
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” And Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say this:

Father, hallowed be your name, may your kingdom come, give us each day the kind of bread we need, and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive all who do us wrong, and do not bring us to the test.”

REFLECTION
The disciples saw how John the Baptist and the rabbis taught their disciples how to pray. But they found something different in Jesus. The prayer “Our Father, “ as we know it today, is not a formula prayer that Jesus learned. It was a product of his intimate relationship with the Father, of his experience of communion with the Father. And he is teaching us the same: to draw this prayer from our experience of the loving presence of the Father. Most of the times when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we find it mechanical, almost automatic, just blurting out words, but the Lord is urging us today to find meaning in this prayer because it is a product of a relationship with the Father. It is the “art of living the presence of God.”

October 6
Thursday

27th Week in Ordinary Time

St. Bruno

Bl. Marie-Rose Durocher

1st Reading: Mal 3:13-20b
You have defied me in word, says the LORD, yet you ask, “What have we spoken against you?” You have said, “It is vain to serve God, and what do we profit by keeping his command, and going about in penitential dress in awe of the LORD of hosts?

Rather must we call the proud blessed; for indeed evildoers prosper, and even tempt God with impunity.” Then they who fear the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened attentively; And a record book was written before him of those who fear the LORD and trust in his name.

And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, my own special possession, on the day I take action. And I will have compassion on them, as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.

Then you will again see the distinction between the just and the wicked; Between the one who serves God, and the one who does not serve him. For lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, And the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts. But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays

Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

Gospel: Lk 11: 5-13
Jesus said to his disciples: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,” and he says in reply from within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.”

I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish?

Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

REFLECTION
Jonah knew God’s nature. He knew that if he preached repentance to the people of Nineveh, they would repent and God would spare them. So, when Jonah was finally willing to do as he was told and preach repentance, they did repent! The king ordered everyone to fast, put on sackcloth and beg for forgiveness. Thankfully, God felt sorry for Nineveh and spared its people. He was able to use Jonah to deliver a message, despite Jonah’s unwillingness and distaste for the task. Imagine all the lives spared by one willing voice. Think of all, who would have perished if God’s voice had not been heard.

This same issue is with us today. God’s mercy and salvation is for everyone, not just those we think deserve Him. Many of us are afraid to talk about our faith. We don’t want to look foolish or be unpopular. We’re afraid of standing out and being different. So many aren’t saved or have never been told the good news, simply because we Christians have been too fearful to tell it. We have no way of knowing what someone will decide about Christ; we only have the obligation to tell people about Him.

October 7
Friday

27th Week in Ordinary Time

Our Lady of the Rosary

1st Reading: Jl 1:13–15; 2:1–2
Gird yourselves, O priests, and weep; mourn, O ministers of the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God! For the house of your God is deprived of grain and drink offering.

Proclaim a fast, call an assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land into the house of your God, and cry out to Yahweh, “What a dreadful day—the day of Yahweh that draws near and comes as ruin from the Almighty!”

Blow the trumpet in Zion, sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all dwellers in the land tremble, for the day of Yahweh is coming.

Yes, the day is fast approaching—a day of gloom and darkness, a day of clouds and blackness.

A vast and mighty army comes, like dawn spreading over the mountain, such as has never occurred before nor will happen again in the future.

Ps 9:2–3, 6 and 16, 8–9
The Lord will judge the world with justice.

Gospel: Lk 11:15–26
When Jesus was casting out a devil some of the people said, “He drives out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the chief of the demons.” So others wanted to put him to the test by asking him for a heavenly sign. But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every nation divided by civil war is on the road to ruin, and will fall. If Satan also is divided, his empire is coming to an end. How can you say that I drive out demons by calling upon Beelzebul? If I drive them out by Beelzebul, by whom do your fellow members drive out demons? They will be your judges, then.

“But suppose I drive out demons by the finger of God; would not this mean that the kingdom of God has come upon you? As long as the strong and armed man guards his house, his goods are safe. But when a stronger one attacks and overcomes him, the challenger takes away all the weapons he relied on and disposes of his spoils. “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me, scatters.

“When the evil spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through dry lands looking for a resting place. And finding none, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ When it comes, it finds the house swept and everything in order. Then it goes to fetch seven other spirits even worse than itself. They move in and settle there, so that the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

REFLECTION
Inability to listen brings division. We see divided families, divided nations, and divided communities, not because of cultural differences or diversity of religion but because of the inability to listen. Beelzebul sows division and scatters people because they will not listen. People need someone whom they can listen to. Jesus saw that need when he looked at them with pity for they were like sheep without shepherd. Without a shepherd, the sheep knows not where to go. People will be scattered when they don’t listen to the word of God. In our society where everybody wants to talk and no one wants to listen, we pray that the Lord will send us people who will make us gathered and not scattered.

October 8
Saturday

27th Week in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Jl 4:12–21
Rise up, O peoples, and come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, nations.

Bring a sickle for the harvest is ripe; come and tread for the winepress is full and the vats overflow, so great is their wickedness!

Multitudes and more multitudes in the Valley of Verdict! The day of Yahweh is near in the Valley of Verdict! The sun and the moon become dark, the stars lose their radiance. Yahweh roars from Zion and raises his voice from Jerusalem; heaven and earth are shaken. Indeed Yahweh is a refuge for his people, a strong-hold for the Israelites. You will know that I am Yahweh, your God, dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain. Jerusalem will be a holy place, and foreigners will never pass through there again.

On that day the mountains shall drip wine and the hills flow with milk; all the streams of Judah will run with water and a fountain will spring from the House of Yahweh, and water the valley of Shittim.

On the other hand, Egypt will be devastated and Edom will become a deserted wasteland because they committed violence against Judah, and shed innocent blood in their country. But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem through all generations. And I shall avenge their blood and not leave it unpunished, for Yahweh dwells in Zion.

Ps 97:1–2, 5–6, 11–12
Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

Gospel: Lk 11:27–28
As Jesus was speaking, a woman spoke from the crowd and said to him, “Blessed is the one who bore you and nursed you!” Jesus replied, “Surely blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it as well.”

REFLECTION
Truly, blessed are you Mary for you bore and nursed Jesus! But more than bearing and nursing Jesus, Mary filled her heart with the experience of the Divine. She pondered everything in her heart. Mary is teaching us to encounter Jesus, how to discover God in our experiences, how to uncover the divine in the midst of our confusion, in our search for meaning. And that is to keep these things in our hearts; to ponder the Word, Jesus in our hearts. Only a heart who knows how to ponder and listen can make sense of the divine.