THURSDAY OF THE THIRTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, NOVEMBER 3, 2022

MASS READINGS:

A reading of the holy Gospel according to LK 15:1-10

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So Jesus addressed this parable to them. “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. “Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

REFLECTION

"The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus"

The Pharisees observed the law and they expected Jesus to do the same. . They had strict regulations about how they were to keep away from sinners. The Rabbinic law forbade them from associating with sinners less they become defiled. They were not to entrust money, have any business dealings with them, nor accompany them in travel, nor marry them, nor invite them as guests to their gatherings. So they were upset when they saw the tax collectors and sinners drawing near to listen to Jesus and Jesus sitting down and eating with them.

The sinners and outcasts wanted to hear the message of Jesus: mercy and love, friendship and a new life. Jesus insisted by way of the two parables, the importance of seeking the lost souls. He not only serves those who follow Him, but those hardened to the hearing of the Word of God.

Our priests do just that. They seek out sinners to enlighten them and tell them about the Word of God and how much He loves them. We need more of these priests; therefore, PAPA prays for their faithful work and their protection from the evil one. We pray for more new vocations for the priesthood. (see prayers in papamio.org)

Especially in the month of November, we look for saints who show us how to live our lives and how to serve the Lord. Today we celebrate St Martin de Porres.

St Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru, the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and a black ex slave. His mother gave him a Christian education. He became a pharmacist and a nurse.

As a person of mixed race, St Martin de Porres was not able to join a religious order. For doing menial work, the Dominicans allowed him to wear the Dominican habit. He worked hard in the kitchen, laundry, garden and eventually the infirmary. He eventually was ordained a Third Order of Saint Dominic. Brother Martin was not accepted by all and suffered the humiliation of insults, mockery and alienation because of his social background.

As a Dominican brother he served in the infirmary and took good care of the sick with a great deal of love. He had the gifts of bilocation, instant cures, spiritual and medical knowledge. He had a great devotion to the Holy Eucharist.

He did God's work of seeking and saving what was lost. He has been named the patron saint of those of mixed race.

God Bless You

"Everything, even

sweeping, scraping vegetables, weeding a garden, and waiting on the sick

could be a prayer,

if it were offered to God."

(St Martin de Porres)