Daily Mass Readings for Thursday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years.
- First Reading (Cycle 1) - Romans 3:21-30: Paul argues that righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through the law. He emphasizes that all have sinned but can be justified by God's grace. Faith is the basis for justification, applicable to both Jews and Gentiles.
- First Reading (Cycle 2) - Ephesians 1:1-10: Paul addresses the faithful in Ephesus, stating they've been spiritually blessed and chosen by God. He emphasizes adoption through Jesus and mentions the forgiveness and wisdom granted through Christ.
- Responsorial Psalm (Cycle 1) - Psalm 130: In my desperation, I call to the LORD, begging for attention and forgiveness. Despite my sins, I place all my trust in His merciful and redemptive nature.
- Responsorial Psalm (Cycle 2) - Psalm 98: Celebrate the LORD's victories and justice with joyful songs and music. His salvation is known to all, deserving our praise from every corner of the earth.
- Gospel - Luke 11:47-54: Jesus condemns those who honor prophets while perpetuating the same injustices that led to the prophets' deaths. He warns that their actions will bring judgment upon them.
Themes for the Daily Mass Readings for Thursday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
- Hypocrisy Exposed: Jesus condemns the Pharisees for building tombs for prophets their ancestors killed. This theme points out the inconsistency in honoring prophets while perpetuating injustices.
- Responsibility for Blood: Jesus holds that generation accountable for the blood of all prophets. This theme highlights collective accountability for past and present wrongs.
- Escalation of Tension: The Pharisees and experts in law react by becoming hostile and seeking to trap Jesus in his words. This marks an escalation in the conflict between Jesus and religious leaders.
- Guarding Knowledge: Jesus criticizes experts in law for withholding the key to knowledge. This theme condemns those who restrict access to spiritual understanding.
Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.
Luke 11:52
Thoughts for Thursday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
In the gospel for Thursday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Luke 11:47-54, Jesus once again has harsh criticism of the scholars of the law. Instead of reaching out to the lost, they memorialize prophets whose words they ignore. He criticizes them for their hypocrisy, emphasizing that they are no different from those who persecuted the prophets.
The act of building tombs could be seen as a form of tokenism today. Many times, society acknowledges past injustices or praises historical figures but fails to address ongoing issues that are the modern equivalents of those injustices. Recognizing history is not enough if the underlying attitudes remain unchanged.
The lawyers are criticized for keeping the key to knowledge and not entering themselves, thus hindering others. In contemporary settings, this could be analogous to gatekeeping, where certain people hoard information or opportunities and make them inaccessible to others.
Jesus warns that the new generation is not necessarily absolved of the sins of their ancestors if they continue in the same patterns. This idea pushes us to examine how our actions today may be perpetuating old problems, be they social, moral, or even within our own families.
I have to think about if my religious practices and actions reach out to others or block the way. If I am only concerned with appearing "holy" and making others respect me, I am probably not focused on inviting the lost to join us. Evangelization must come from a place of humility.
The crux of this passage is the call to self-examination. We must scrutinize not just our actions but also the societal structures we're part of. Being a ‘good’ person in a flawed system requires more than just individual righteousness; it requires an active effort to better the system itself.
Prayer
Lord, let me truly honor those who have gone before me by spreading the Good News with humility. I am often lost and in need of rescue also. Amen.
Homilies and Reflections for Thursday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
Word On Fire: Reaching Out to the Lost
In this reflection for Thursday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time, In this reflection, Bishop Robert Barron discusses Jesus' strong criticism of the scholars of the Law as presented in the Gospel. According to Bishop Barron, Jesus serves as both the hand that God extends to sinners and a judge condemning actions contrary to God's will. Jesus calls out those who not only fail to embrace the knowledge and love of God but also block others from doing so. This serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the importance of not standing in the way of others seeking spiritual enlightenment.
USCCB Reflection: Defacing the Church
This USCCB video reflection for Thursday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time highlights a rising number of attacks on Catholic Church buildings. Vandalism includes defacing doors, windows, and stealing sacred objects. It emphasizes that these acts are meant to divert the Church from its mission: caring for their community and those in need. The key message is to remember Jesus' teachings and not lose sight of the church's purpose, even when faced with hostility. We must pray for those who commit these acts, inviting them into a path of understanding and forgiveness.
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