"STAY WITH US, LORD" (Luke 24:29)

1st Reading      Isaiah 66:18-21 Resp. Psalm     Ps. 117:1.2 (R. Mk. 16:15) 2nd Reading     Heb. 12:5-7.11-13 Gospel               Luke 13: 22-30 MADE PRIESTS, PROPHETS AND KINGS This 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, the first reading is from Isaiah 66:18-21. It is found in Third Isaiah (Isaiah 56-66), i.e. Trito-Isaiah. We are reading from the last sections of this Trito-Isaiah, and there is divine initiative to "gather all nations and tongues" (v. 18). Trito-Isaiah is believed to have been written by a disciple of the author of Deutero-Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55). The author of Trito-Isaiah sets his writing after the Babylonian exile, and hence, focuses on the post-exilic times. The passage in view, I believe, is set within an Old Testament missionary framework. God takes the initiative to gather all nations and tongues as a result of the dispersion brought by the Babylonian exile (c.598 BC - c.538 BC).  ...

  1st Reading          Jer. 38:4-6.8-10 Resp. Psalm         Ps. 40:2.3.4.18 (R.14b) 2nd Reading       Heb. 12: 1-4 Gospel                  Luke 12:49-53 WHO IS THE TRUE AND CREDIBLE WITNESS? Today is the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, and the Gospel passage from Luke 12:49-53 is one of the often disturbing utterances of Jesus which should not be taken literally. We shall attempt to decipher and unpack the meaning of those words. Before we delve into it, we need to be aware that the passage has a parallel in Matthew 10:34-36, with few textual differences.  The context within which Luke presents the narrative is the readiness of the servant. The preceding narrative (Lk. 12:35-48) and the succeeding narrative (Lk. 12: 54-59) set the tone for today's passage to be located within the context of the call to be ready. For Jesus to say that he has come to establish divisio...