In the seventeenth century Jesuit missionaries from France lived among the Huron and were killed in what is now Canada and New York. Isaac Jogues returned after mutilation and was martyred at Ossernenon; John de Brébeuf died with steadfast prayer. The United States keeps their obligatory memorial on 19 October, a hard memory of both grace and blood on this land. Ask today for a mission that learns the language of the other, and for a faith that will not curse those who do harm.
Original – Prayer on Fire.
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Gospel
Mass Lectionary · Gospel
Luke 12:13–21
Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
But he said to him, “Man, who has appointed me as judge or arbitrator over you?”
So he said to them: “Be cautious and wary of all avarice. For a person’s life is not found in the abundance of the things that he possesses.”
Then he spoke to them using a comparison, saying: “The fertile land of a certain wealthy man produced crops.
And he thought within himself, saying: ‘What should I do? For I have nowhere to gather together my crops.’
And he said: ‘This is what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build larger ones. And into these, I will gather all the things that have been grown for me, as well as my goods.
And I will say to my soul: Soul, you have many goods, stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, and be cheerful.’
But God said to him: ‘Foolish one, this very night they require your soul of you. To whom, then, will those things belong, which you have prepared?’
So it is with him who stores up for himself, and is not wealthy with God.”
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Prayer on Fire Gospel Lesson
A man in the crowd tries to recruit Jesus as a judge against his brother over an inheritance. He refuses. Who made me a divider over you?
Where this sits
This follows the teaching on fear and public confession. Someone wants a useful Jesus.
The barn
The fight is ordinary covetousness looking for a holy referee. Life does not consist in abundance. The rich man is not a criminal. The crop is real and the plan is sensible. That is why it cuts. He speaks only to himself and calls his soul secure for many years. That night the soul is required. Fool is the verdict on a life that became rich in goods and not rich toward God.
What to take
Planning is not the sin. A life aimed only at storing is. Death does not negotiate with the barn.
Original – Prayer on Fire
Gospel of the Day · Text: Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV) · Mass Lectionary · Gospel
The Mass of Saints John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, and companions may also use this Gospel. (Luke 9:23–26)
Optional memorial Gospel
Luke 9:23–26
Then he said to everyone: “If anyone is willing to come after me: let him deny himself, and take up his cross every day, and follow me.
For whoever will have saved his life, will lose it. Yet whoever will have lost his life for my sake, will save it.
For how does it benefit a man, if he were to gain the whole world, yet lose himself, or cause himself harm?
For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words: of him the Son of man will be ashamed, when he will have arrived in his majesty and that of his Father and of the holy Angels.
Not the weekday Gospel of the day · Text: Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV) · Luke 9:23–26
