5 Oct
Sun
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Is. 5:1-7
Ps. 80:9,12,13-14,15-16,19-20
Phil. 4:6-9
Mt. 21:33-43
(Ps Wk III)
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One of the graces of Vatican II was the clear and firm understanding that the gift of the Gospel was for all nations. Hence all nations would receive that gift according to the many previous gifts that God had bestowed on them, namely the many gifts inherent in their culture and civilization. Thus the Gospel would give new grace, new life, new vitality, new meaning, to all the predefining gifts that God had given to these cultures and civilizations. The Gospel would be a transforming grace not a destructive imposition. Though this doctrine came to the fore with Vatican II, the problem of inculturation has been there since the day Jesus left home in Nazareth to proclaim the Gospel.

Paul appeals to the enlightened humanism of his cultural background and that of his readers and lists the virtues that they would have recognized and appreciated, loved and praised namely truth, nobility, goodness, purity. He thus engages in pre-evangelization as a step towards inculturation, for he suggests that these virtues from their Greek cultural background would enable them to receive "the God of peace", the God of Christianity.



Lord Jesus, You are the Light: enlighten all our cultures with the radiance of Your truth so that, in peace and joy, we may discover in them the first seeds of Your Gospel.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That the Synod of Bishops may help the Pastors and theologians, the Catechists and promoters who are engaged in the service of the Word of God to courageously transmit the truth of faith in communion with the entire Church.
Elaboration

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