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Gospel Reading for October 4, 2024 – Luke 10: 13-16
HEAR AND SEE
Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
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Woe to us who fail to HEAR AND SEE God in the very many ways he is present in our daily lives! Woe to us who do not realize that by being this way, we are REJECTING GOD! Some of us are too proud believing that we do not need God. What foolish pride! We cannot even survive this life without him!
St. Francis of Assisi, whose memorial the Church celebrates today, heard and saw so much more than a lot of people do. He HEARD AND SAW God in all of creation, and had great love for animals.
Let us ponder on this Canticle of St. Francis of Assisi –
Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
all praise is Yours, all glory,
all honour and all blessings.
To you alone, Most High,
do they belong, and no mortal lips
are worthy to pronounce Your Name.
Praised be You my Lord with all
Your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun,
who is the day through whom
You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant
with great splendour.
Of You Most High,
he bears the likeness.
Praised be You, my Lord,
through Sister Moon and the stars.
In the heavens you have made
them bright, precious and fair.
Praised be You, my Lord,
through Brothers Wind and Air,
and fair and stormy, all weather’s moods,
by which You cherish all that
You have made.
Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
so useful, humble, precious and pure.
Praised be You my Lord
through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night
and he is beautiful and
playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You my Lord
through our Sister, Mother Earth,
who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with
colored flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my Lord through
those who grant pardon for love of You
and bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace.
By You Most High, they will be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.
