A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 9, n. 46)
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – October 9, 2011 *
“He Will Supply!”
BIBLE READINGS
Is 25:6-10a // Phil 4:12-14, 19-20 // Mt 22:1-14
(N.B. Series 9 of BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy of Year A from the perspective of the Second Reading. For reflections on the Sunday liturgy of Year A based on the Gospel reading, please scroll up to the “ARCHIVES” above and open Series 3. For reflections based on the Old Testament reading, open Series 6.)
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
This Sunday’s Old Testament reading (Is 25:6-10a) depicts salvation as a feast of rich food and choice wines. The luscious feast that the Lord of hosts prepares on the holy mountain is the symbol of eternal happiness.
Harold Buetow remarks: “Isaiah’s image of salvation is the fulfillment of our deepest longings: the absence of hunger, mourning, death and shame. Sadly, the vision is to some extent unrealizable in this life. God’s party of juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines opens up to a deeper meaning. It is the Day of the Lord, which was the messianic hope of God’s people about which Isaiah wrote those beautiful words.”
The Gospel reading (Mt 22:1-14) contains a parable which likens the kingdom of heaven to a wedding banquet to which all are graciously invited. Some have rejected the invitation; others have accepted. But admission to the feast is not enough. We must fully commit to celebrate. It is necessary to don the wedding garment, a symbol for repentance and turning of the heart in faith to the Lord. Participation in the feast requires living lives worthy of the Gospel.
In the Second Reading (Phil 4: 12-14, 19-20), the following words of Saint Paul can be linked to the imagery of banquet and feasting: “In every circumstance and in all things, I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” He is able to cope with every circumstance having been nourished by the bread of the Word and having supped at the Lord’s Table. Saint Paul is ready for anything because it is the Lord who strengthens him. Indeed, his deep participation at the Lord’s Table has prepared him to relish abundance and feasting as well as to endure hunger and various difficulties in times of scarcity.
Mary Ehle comments: “In this passage, Paul is thankful that the Philippians have shared in his suffering while he was in prison … While Paul strongly desired to be self-sufficient as a missionary and support himself through his own work, he humbly accepted gifts as he engaged in his missionary work. The reading concludes with Paul’s statement of faith that God will also provide for the people of his dearly beloved community at Philippi … Paul then offers a doxology of praise to God for his generous riches in Christ Jesus – an example to the Philippians and us of how we are to be thankful for all that we receive to strengthen us in faith and life.”
The following short account of Aurora de la Cruz, a Maryknoll Missionary, beautifully illustrates what Saint Paul has experienced: that God is generous and will supply our need (“Missioner’s Tale” in MARYKNOLL, September-October 2011, p. 1-11).
The scattered atolls of the Marshall Islands, where I served as a Maryknoll Sister for 12 years, are surrounded by the great Pacific Ocean waters, yet there’s not a drop to drink unless it rains. In the outer islands we collected rainwater in cement cisterns, which we used for drinking and cooking for ourselves and for the students in our mission schools. Most of our neighbors could afford only empty kerosene drums and other small containers for catching rain water. During times of drought we had to be very careful with whatever rainwater we have collected.
One day during a drought, not wanting to use our scarce drinking water, I tried to quench my thirst by getting a big knife to open a coconut and drink its water. But no matter how hard I tried, I could not open the coconut.
Just as I was feeling sorry for myself, a young boy walked by. Seeing my struggle, he took the knife and with a few strokes, opened the coconut. With great thanksgiving, I understood the words of Jesus: “I was thirsty and you gave me to drink.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
What is the personal significance for us of Isaiah’s prophecy that the Lord will prepare a feast and wipe away the tears from every face?
Are we ready to join the wedding feast of God’s kingdom? How do we prepare and celebrate?
Like Saint Paul, have we learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry? Do we trust in God’s graciousness and that he will supply whatever we need?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Leader: Almighty God,
we thank you for the luscious feast of rich food and choice wines,
symbol of messianic salvation.
We thank you for inviting us
to the wedding feast of the heavenly kingdom.
We wish to celebrate with joy in your presence.
Give us the grace to celebrate worthily
the fullness of salvation that your Son Jesus Christ won for us.
Like Saint Paul,
fully nourish us with the bread of the Word
and strengthen us with new life at the Eucharistic Table
that we may be able to live in all circumstances.
Help us to relish abundance
and to be gracious in scarcity and poverty.
We put our trust in you
and yearn for your glorious riches in Christ Jesus,
who lives and reigns now and forever.
Assembly: Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“My God will supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (cf. Phil 4:19)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
ACTION PLAN: Pray for greater receptivity and full, conscious and active participation of the faithful in the Sunday liturgy. By your acts of justice, compassion and concern for the needy in today’s deeply distressed socio-economic situation, enable them to participate more deeply in the Lord’s feast of the kingdom.
ACTION PLAN: That we may truly be a celebrating faith community, make an effort to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the PDDM website (www.pddm.us) for the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR: A Weekly Pastoral Tool (Year A, vol. 7, # 46).
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US