BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD A LECTIO DIVINA Approach to the Weekday Liturgy CYCLE 2 ORDINARY TIME: WEEK 10-18 Tenth Week in Ordinary Time (n. 64) Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time (n. 65) Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (n. 66) Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time (n. 67) Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time (n. 68) Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time (n. 69) Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time (n. 70) Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time (n. 71) Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time (n. 72) Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang, PDDM *** Text of the Cover Page ends here. *** A Lectio Divina Approach to the Weekday Liturgy: Cycle 2 BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (n. 64) ORDINARY SEASON: WEEK 10 MONDAY: TENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME “JESUS SAVIOR: He Shows the Way of Beatitudes … He Shows the Power of God’s Word” BIBLE READINGS I Kgs 17:1-6 // Mt 5:1-12 I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO A. Gospel Reading (Mt 5:1-12): “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” In today’s Gospel episode (Mt 5:1-12) Jesus proclaims the Beatitudes which are a “summary” of the meaning of Christian discipleship. In the Beatitudes, Jesus – the new Moses teaching on the new mountain of revelation - offers us the foundations of the law of the Kingdom. He shows us the path of Christian perfection. The Beatitudes are a description of Christ as well as a portrait of the ideal Christian. In order to experience fully God’s beatitudes, the Christian disciples are called to live intensely the life of Jesus, as one who is poor, lowly, merciful, single-hearted, peaceful, persecuted, sorrowful, hungry and thirsty for holiness. The following story illustrates the spirit of the Beatitudes in a modern setting (cf. Dale Galloway in Stories for the Heart, ed. Alice Gray, Sisters: Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 1996, p. 65). Little Chad was a shy, quiet young fella. One day he came home and told his mother he’d like to make a valentine for everyone in his class. Her heart sank. She thought, “I wish he wouldn’t do that!” because she had watched the children when they walked home from school. Her Chad was always behind them. They laughed and hung on to each other and talked to each other. But Chad was never included. Nevertheless, she decided she would go along with her son. So she purchased the paper and glue and crayons. For three whole weeks, night after night, Chad painstakingly made thirty-five valentines. Valentine’s Day dawned, and Chad was beside himself with excitement! He carefully stacked them up, put them in a bag, and bolted out the door. His mom decided to bake him his favorite cookies and serve them nice and warm with a cool glass of milk when he came home from school. She just knew he would be disappointed … maybe that would ease the pain a little. It hurt to think that he wouldn’t get many valentines – maybe none at all. That afternoon she had the cookies and milk on the table. When she heard the children outside, she looked out the window. Sure enough here they came, laughing and having the best time. And, as always, there was Chad in the rear. He walked a little faster than usual. She fully expected him to burst into tears as soon as he got inside. His arms were empty, she noticed, and when the door opened she choked back the tears. “Mommy has some warm cookies and milk for you.” But he hardly heard her words. He just marched right on by, his face aglow, and all he could say was: “Not a one … not a one.” And then he added, “I didn’t forget a one, not a single one!” B. First Reading (I Kgs 17:1-6): “Elijah stands before the Lord God of Israel.” Today’s Old Testament reading (I Kgs 17:1-6) depicts a prophet named Elijah, from Tishbe in Gilead, confronting King Ahab of Israel with the power of God’s word. Ahab is one of the most notorious kings of the Northern Kingdom. His father King Omri aroused the anger of the Lord God by his sins and by leading the people into sin and idolatry. But his son, King Ahab, surpassed him in wickedness. Ahab sinned against the Lord more than his predecessors. He married the Baal-worshipping Jezebel of Sidon. He built a temple to Baal in Samaria and made an altar for the idol and put it in the temple. He did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than all the kings before him. The prophet Elijah suddenly appears and announces to King Ahab the coming of a drought. Speaking in the name of the Lord, he tells the idolatrous king that there will be no dew or rain – so vital for the fertility of the parched land of Israel – for the next two or three years until he says so. Elijah’s claim is a challenge to Ahab and Jezebel who follow Baal as the god of fertility. Elijah asserts that the word of God he proclaims will be fulfilled. The prophet Elijah is depicted, moreover as faithful to God’s word. He obeys God’s command to take refuge by Cherith Brook where there is water and ravens bring him bread and meat every morning and every evening. The drought experienced in various parts of the world evokes the image of the drought that plagued Israel during the time of King Ahab, who reigned from 874 B.C. to 853 B.C. Instead of being defiant and recalcitrant like Ahab, we need to present ourselves humbly before God in the face of this natural calamity. The following prayer is very significant (cf. “Prayer for Rain” from the National Catholic Rural Life Conference: Rural Life Prayer Book) Almighty God, we are in need of rain. We realize now, looking up into the clear, blue sky, what a marvel even the least drop of rain really is. To think that so much water can really fall out of the sky, which now is empty and clear! We place our trust in you. We are sure that you know our needs. But you want us to ask you anyway, to show you that we know we are dependent on you. Look to our dry hills and fields, dear God, and bless them with the living blessing of soft rain. Then the land will rejoice and rivers will sing your praises, and the hearts of all will be made glad. Amen. II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO 1. What are our experiences of joy and difficulty in living out the Beatitudes? Among the Beatitudes mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew, which ones challenge us with greater intensity today? 2. What is our response when confronted with the challenge and power of the word of God? Are we defiant and resistant; or do we respond with grace and humility? III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO Jesus poor, help us to be poor in spirit and to trust in your divine assistance and strength that the kingdom of Heaven may be ours. Jesus, man of sorrows, help us to mourn and to surrender to the divine will that our grief may be transformed into joy and consolation. Jesus, most gentle, help us to be meek and humble that peace may reign in our hearts and upon the earth. Jesus, yearning for love, help us to hunger and thirst for holiness that we may satisfy our deepest longings. O most merciful Jesus, help us to be merciful that we may relish your mercy and compassion. Jesus, chaste and loving, help us to be pure and single-hearted that we may see God in the daily events of our life and be admitted into his eternal Kingdom. Jesus, our peace, help us to be peacemakers that we may build a world of harmony and beauty and be called children of God. Jesus Savior, help us to welcome persecution for the sake of justice that we may be rewarded greatly in heaven. Jesus, Risen Lord, make us the people of the beatitudes. Help us to trust in the power of your Word. You live and reign, forever and ever. Amen. *** Loving Father, Creator God, your word is refreshing, life-giving and efficacious. We long for your word to take root in our hearts and bear abundant fruits. Let our thirst for eternal life be quenched by the living water that gushes from the wounded side of your Son Jesus Christ. We give you glory and praise, now and forever. Amen. IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it. “Your reward will be great in heaven.” (Mt 5:12) // “He did as the Lord had commanded.” (I Kgs 17:5) V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO Give thanks to the Lord for the gift of the Beatitudes in the Church. Choose a Beatitude as a moral-spiritual program and try to live this out in a more intense way this week. // Pay special attention to the word of God proclaimed in the liturgy. See what you can do for the victims of drought in various parts of the world. *** %%% *** %%% *** %%% *** TUESDAY: TENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME “JESUS SAVIOR: He Calls Us to be the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World … We Trust in His Word” BIBLE READINGS I Kgs 17:7-16 // Mt 5:13-16 I.