“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes” (Mt 21:42).
Communion Connection –
A cornerstone joins two walls and is foundational to an entire structure. By its nature it relates to something beyond itself; the very term infers that there are two or more pieces that depend on it. And so it is with our cornerstone, Jesus Christ. The Trinity couldn’t “be” without Him; the Church couldn’t “be” without Him, and we couldn’t “be” without Him. He connects us to one another, and is foundational to who we are as children of God. Indeed He was rejected, but that is not the essential point or end of His story, nor ours.
Additional Catholic Resources:
Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron: Click Here
Order of Carmelites Lectio: Click
Families with Children LinC-ing Resource: Loyola Press Family LinC-ing Resource
12 October 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“ ‘Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests" (Mt 22:9-10).
Communion Connection –
“Go.” That’s the first word and command in this Scripture verse. And then, “invite.” The mission of Jesus – and our mission – is never about staying alone by ourselves. Certainly there are times of prayer when we sit “beside restful waters,” and He “refreshes our soul.” But inevitably Jesus sends us back out again, just as the Father sends Him; and He asks that we go specifically to bring others in. We have a feast before our very eyes, and who wants to feast alone? It’s meant to be shared. But if we don’t go and invite, the others won’t even know that it’s there for them!
Additional Catholic Resources:
-Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/the-wedding-feast/942/
Order of Carmelites Lectio http://ocarm.org/en/content/lectio/lectio-28th-sunday-ordinary-time-0
Families with Children LinC-ing Resource: Loyola Press Family LinC-ing Resource
19 October 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“He said to them, ‘Whose image is this and whose inscription?’ They replied, ‘Caesar's.’ At that he said to them, ‘Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God’” (Mt 22:20-21).
Communion Connection –
Jesus recognized the value of civil authority and institutions. But his answer goes beyond this dimension, indicating what is truly important: to give to God what is already his. Just as the image of the Emperor is on the Roman coin, so too has the image of God been imprinted on the heart of every person: he created us in his image and likeness (see Gn 1:26). We therefore belong to him and must return to him. Only to him should be given the total and exclusive tribute of our lives. What is most important is not paying the taxes due to the Roman Emperor, but giving to God our own lives and our own hearts.
Additional Catholic Resources:
Word of Life – http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2005/10/01/commento-di-chiara-lubich-alla-parola-di-vita-del-mese-di-ottobre-2005/
Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/caesar-and-god/943/
26 October 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment’“(Mt 22:36-38).
Communion Connection –
How should we live this commandment of Jesus? Certainly by cultivating a relationship of friendship with God, but above all, by doing what he wants. Our attitude towards God, like that of Jesus, will be that of always being turned toward the Father, listening to him, in obedience, in order to carry out his work — that alone and nothing else. To accomplish this, we are asked to be radical in our choices and way of life, because we cannot give less than everything to God. It means doing whatever he asks of us well and completely. Living his will and conforming ourselves to it will often require burning our own will, sacrificing anything we have in our heart or mind that does not concern the present moment. Speaking, listening, helping someone, studying, praying, sleeping, living his will without wandering off; carrying out actions that are complete, whole, perfect, with all our heart, soul and mind; having only one motive for everything we do — love — so that we can say, in every moment of the day: “Yes, my God, in this moment, in this action, I love you with all my heart, with all my being.” This is the only way we can say that we love God, that we reciprocate his being love toward us.