Homily from the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
“He [St. John Chrysostom] says this, ‘Let not anyone say to me those silly and in-contemptible words, “I don’t have time to read the Bible. I am stuck at the courthouse all day,” or “I am tied up with political affairs,” or “I am in an apprentice program (a.k.a. university)”, “I’ve got a wife,” “I’m raising kids,” “I am responsible for a household,” “I am a business man.” Or if people say this, “Reading the Bible isn’t for me, that’s for those monks over there.”‘ St. John Chrysostom says, ‘What are you saying, man?! It’s not your business to pay attention to the Bible because you are distracted by thousands of concerns? Then Bible reading belongs more to you than the monks! … It is more important for people living in the world than for monks to read the Bible, because they are behind their walls and they are kept safe. But you are on the front lines every single day of the week. You are the ones that are under attack by flaming arrows and spears. And so you need the Word of God absolutely more than anyone else.'”
Mass Readings from October 20, 2013:
Exodus 17:8-13
2 Timothy 3:14-4:2
Luke 18:1-8
