Day 26
29th Thursday in ordinary time, 26 October 2023
Feast: St. Lucian and St. Marcian
Reading: Rom. 6:19-23
Gospel: Luke 12:49-53
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Romans 6:23)
Having freedom doesn’t mean we can do anything as we wish. As the children of God, we have been freed from sin (cf. Rom. 6:18). Humans are made of flesh and spirit. The Apostle Paul reminds us that those who are in the flesh can not please God (cf. Rom. 8:8). Sin makes us weak, and when we are slaves of sin, we are separated from God, as we are ashamed of our sins. But the Apostle Paul also reminds us of the paradox dwelling in human beings, which is the good will versus bad will; spirit versus flesh. Often we like to do good will as our hearts take delight in the law of God. Yet, the other members of our body are at war with the law of our mind and take us captive to the law of sin (cf. Rom. 7:21-22).
Here God is present. He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to redeem our sins, so as to make us enter the new life. We are freed from sins. We are no more slaves to sin, but slaves to God. As a slave to God, we receive the fruit that brings us to sanctification and the gift of God, which is eternal life. However, we have another question to answer after being freed, what will we do with that freedom? Do we really appreciate and make good use of that freedom?
Freedom is not just a condition where our physical movement is not confined. Freedom is essentially an inner attitude that is free from pressure and confinement, including invisible confinement. Restraint and obstacles could block us, yet what determines is how we, the free people, respond to them. Let’s reflect on the militancy of the apostles most of them were unschooled, yet brave to face the pressure of the rulers – the scholars and elders, who threatened, intimidated, and arrested them. They remained strong, and rejoiced in maintaining their faith in God. They continued to be brave and joyful witnesses to Jesus. This is an example of true freedom.
The courage to bear witness is the characteristic of Christians. Parrhesia, a Greek word, can be interpreted as courage, unreservedness, and resoluteness. This is the preaching style of the apostles in the Acts. Parrhesia is a gift of the Holy Spirit which the apostles received on the Pentecost. It is the Holy Spirit who made them courageously bear witness to Jesus, our Saviour. It is the joyful testimony that reflects our freedom as the missionaries of God.
Our mission today: to be grateful for God’s grace by staying away from sin so that we are able to do His mission freely.
(Budi Ingelina – National Bureau of Pontifical Mission Society)
DAILY DEDICATED PRAYER
Lord, our Father, I present my today prayer, thought, word, work, joy and sorrow in the unity with Your Son, Jesus Christ, who always presents Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit animating Jesus, also be my guidance and strength today so that I am ready to be the witness of Your love.
Together with St. Mary, Mother of Jesus and the Church, in particular I present my prayer for our Pope and apostle prayer of Indonesian Church of this month:
For the Synod
We pray for the Church, that she may adopt listening and dialogue as a lifestyle at every level, and allow herself to be guided by the Holy Spirit towards the peripheries of the world.
For the Empowerment
We pray that the empowerment activists are blessed with perseverance, tenacity and creativity in assisting small communities to meet their needs and increase their welfare.
Amen.
MISSIONARY ROSARY
Luminous Mysteries
1. The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:16-17)
Prayer is intended for the continent of Asia (yellow beads)
Lord Father and Mary Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all nations, we pray for the light of Your love for the continent of Asia. Thousand of cases are revealed, and drug trafficking is increasingly becoming a concern. Humans are poisoned with false pleasure and waste Your given grace of life. O Merciful Father, free the lost souls. Illuminate their hearts to find a path returning to You. May education on the danger of drugs and the way to avoid bad relationships be continuously promoted to raise the awareness of society, especially young people. Keep law enforcers away from selfishness and greed, so they can honestly and strictly fight against the drug for the sake of a healthy society. Through our Lord, JesusChrist, and Saviour. Amen.
Mary Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all Nations, pray and protect us, your children!
2. The Wedding of Cana
“At the request of Mary, His mother, Jesus overcame the lack of wine. That what Jesus did […] This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.” (John 2:11)
Prayer is intended for the continent of Australia & Oceania (blue beads)
Lord Father and Mary Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all nations, bless the continent of Australia and Oceania so they can love nature, the source of their food and life. Show them to gratefully maintain and care for what You have granted for their lives. Keep them away from selfishness, desire to control, and temptation of greed that leads to exploitation. Bless the nature conservation efforts in Oceania, especially to prevent the loss of biodiversity. May love and respect for nature encourage everybody to take concrete action to maintain the beauty and sustainability of nature. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, and Saviour. Amen.
Mary Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all Nations, pray and protect us, your children!
3. The proclamation of the Kingdom of God
“Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” (Mat. 4:17.23)
Prayer is intended for the continent of Europe (white beads)
Lord Father and Mary Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all nations, send Your Holy Spirit to the continent of Europe. Guide each heart to Your calling with joy. Rise the Spirit of vocation and apostolic spirit among the priests, nuns, and all members of Your church. May the missionaries, lay people and ecclesiastical groups be united and work together to regenerate the spirit of faith in this continent. Ignite the cold heart and light the path, so that those lost people can find Your way back. Grant wisdom to the authorities for them to value and care for the religious heritage that has now been turned into places of entertainment. May Catholic churches on the continent of Europe rise and develop for the glory of Your name. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, and Saviour. Amen.
Mary Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all Nations, pray and protect us, your children!
4. The Transfiguration
“And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Matt. 17:2.5)
Prayer is intended for the continent of America (red beads)
Lord Father and Mary Mother of Evangelization, of all nations, we pray for Your mercy, especially for the continent of America. Technology advancement and development have an impact on the rising level of stress and living demand. It has caused anxiety, depression, and mental issues. Through the presence of the experts, heal the hurt and raise the broken spirit. Remove the darkness and ignite Your light of hope. Especially to young people, guard their faith and life, so they may resist the temptations of modern life, especially not to forget You. May the advances in technology and communication be utilized by the influencers to share good news, and social media become positive means to maintain mental health and promote life. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, and Saviour. Amen.
Mary Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all Nations, pray and protect us, your children!
5. The institution of the Eucharist
“And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.” (Mark 14:22-24)
Prayer is intended for the continent of Africa (green beads)
Lord Father and Mary Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all nations, we pray for peace on the continent of Africa. Conflict and violence have urged people to flee, leaving their hometowns. As You protected Your Son in the exile, also protect them in their way. Suffice them on the foreign land, so that they can survive physically, and mentally and keep their faith that You will not abandon them. Grow love and a sense of humanity, so more people would become the broken Bread and be shared to ease others’ sufferings. May the root of crime; the supply of weapons and explosives, be stopped soon so the continent of Africa can become a safe and peaceful place again. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ,and Saviour. Amen.
Mary Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all Nations, pray and protect us, your children!
Situs Resmi Karya Misi Kepausan Indonesia (KMKI) 