Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
October 14, 2021
Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 470
Reading I
Brothers and sisters:
Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
though testified to by the law and the prophets,
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
for all who believe.
For there is no distinction;
all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
They are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as an expiation,
through faith, by his Blood, to prove his righteousness
because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed,
through the forbearance of God–
to prove his righteousness in the present time,
that he might be righteous
and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out.
On what principle, that of works?
No, rather on the principle of faith.
For we consider that a person is justified by faith
apart from works of the law.
Does God belong to Jews alone?
Does he not belong to Gentiles, too?
Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one
and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith
and the uncircumcised through faith.
Responsorial Psalm
- (7) With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
Lord, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
Alleluia
- Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
The Lord said:
“Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute’
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.”
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Callistus I, pope and martyr
Reflection: THE JOY OF SALVATION
Paul explains what Christ did to make us right before God, He uses three words: (1) Justification by faith: God sees in us Jesus who takes our place before the Father. In this way we are made just: justified. (2) Sacrifice: Christ gave His life that we may live. He sacrificed Himself for our sins. (3) Redemption: The Latin word “emere” ('to buy') with the prefix 're' means 'to buy back'. This expression is used in the OT and NT. God does it out of love and being faithful to the promise He made to their forefathers. We are redeemed by the blood of Jesus. The 'Price' Christ 'paid' was the price of love.
Jesus tells the religious authorities that without justice, and love, the law becomes an empty and meaningless formula. Secondly, Jesus tells them that they have taken away the key to knowledge, as they were the official interpreters of the scriptures. They not only shut themselves, but they also hindered others from understanding God's word. They rejected the prophets, now Jesus too, who opens heaven to those who accept him as Lord and Saviour Let us give our lives to Jesus and accept Him as our Saviour, Lord, and God.