27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B, Year I)

Community Word:  True disciples of Jesus bear the nature and character of a child.

Theme:      We bear the nature and character of a child when we are one of heart and forebear with one another.

Promise:    “Blessed are you who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways.”(Ps 128:1)

Reflection:

Selflessness, mutual understanding, complete gift of self.  These are qualities demanded of good marriage, qualities that, founded on love, must be allowed to grow despite our human shortcomings. Marriage is not a competition between husband and wife,but a commitment requiring cooperation, collaboration, and caring presence.

Built on love and demonstrated through words and deeds, marriage is a complementary relationship between a man and a woman, ordained by God to live life together in harmony – “and the two shall be come one flesh.  So they are no longer two but one flesh” (Mk 10:8).  This is the original plan of God which in our weakness, we frustrate when we turn marriage into a competition.

Jesus reiterates the sacredness and indissolubility of marriage, as He explains what is ideal.  He sees marriage not only as a bond between man and woman, but also as a bond between the married couple and God. With God at the center, any marriage should conform to His original intent of a lifelong commitment. We will never go wrong if we remain faithful to God’s intention. Marriage and the family will always be relentlessly challenged by destructive forces that try to derail God’s plan.  Under the violence of attacks, the Christian family should always be mindful of the grace of the sacrament that binds them together.

We are called to live in harmony, to be of one heart and to encourage one another. Despite our shortcomings and weaknesses, let us strive to maintain a good relationship through mutual respect, understanding, and faithfulness.

Children are always presented as examples of the “little ones”. Why children?  Because they are powerless and vulnerable, they are able to trust and depend totally on others for their well-being and guidance. Jesus sees children as having unique qualities that can teach deep lessons to the rest of us, especially in how we relate to those we dislike and would rather reject. Jesus shows children reverence.  He lays hands on them and blesses them – “Then He embraced them and blessed them laying His hands on them,” (Mk 10:16).  It is the childlike humility and obedience of these “little ones” that we are asked to emulate in our Theme for this week – “We bear the nature and character of a child when we are one of heart and forbear with one another.”

Prayer 
Almighty God who ordained marriage to be a source of blessing, grant that with your fatherly love and care, our relationships may grow deeper, stronger, and more supportive of one another as time goes by. Fill our hearts with child-like love, trust and mutual respect, secure in your promise that life is a blessing, as we wait for the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ, the King. Amen.

Reflection Questions:
1.How do we live our life in fidelity to one another and, more importantly, to God?

2.What do you think Jesus wants us to do for our loved ones?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
October 4, 2015 (Sun)    Gn 2:18-24/Ps 128:1-2.3,4-5,6/Heb 2:9-11/Mk 10:2-16
October 5, 2015 (Mon)    Jon 1:1-2:1-2,11/Jon 2:3,4,5,8/Lk 10:25-37
October 6, 2015 (Tue)    Jon 3:1-10/Ps 130:1-2,3-4,7-8/Lk 10:38-42
October 7, 2015 (Wed)    Jon 4:1-11/Ps 86:3-4,5-6,9-10/Lk 11:1-4
October 8, 2015 (Thu)    Mal 3:13-20/Ps 1:1-2,3,4,6/Lk 11:5-13
October 9, 2015 (Fri)       Jl 1:13-15;2:1-2/Ps 9:2-3,6,16,8-9/Lk 11:15-26
October 10, 2015 (Sat)    Jl 4:12-21/Ps 97:1-2,5-6,11-12/Lk 11:27-28

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ.  Read your Bible daily!”

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