Friday 17 November 2023

Today is Friday 17 November, the feast of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, in the 32nd week of Ordinary time.

Ex Cathedra, directed by Jeffrey Skidmore, sing Dulce Jesus mio. “My sweet Jesus, look with mercy on my soul.” This is not the prayer of someone proud or haughty or self-satisfied, but of a person aware that they have weaknesses and shortcomings, aware that they cannot do without the help and the love and the mercy of God.

Yya1 Jesuchrixhto,
apuk1rui
ityaku niyausus1p1
ninait1 sobi.
Dulce Jesús mío,
mirad con piedad
mi alma perdida
por culpa mortal.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 17:26-37

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from heaven and destroyed all of them —it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left.’ Then they asked him, ‘Where, Lord?’ He said to them, ‘Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.’

Sometimes, our image of God can be inconsistent. Sometimes God seems kind and gentle and other times harsh and threatening. So, who is your God? Is your God ultimately loving, or not? . . .

One of the early Jesuits, Jerome Nadal, said that “The Good Spirit is gentle, even in reproach”. Have you experienced that kind of gentle, even in reproach?

With that in mind, listen again to the reading and give it the best interpretation you can. Jesus, who is gentle and humble in heart, is being very challenging. What does he want for those who are listening to him?

In these closing moments, bring to prayer whatever your image of God may be. You can be honest with God. You can be assured of a good hearing.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.