The Church in Croatia

The Diocese of Požega published the liturgical readings and reflections for Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time. The readings are Ef 6, 10-20; Ps 143, 1. 2. 9-10; and Lk 13, 31-35.

The Gospel reading describes individuals approaching Jesus to warn him that Herod wants to kill him. Jesus responds by telling them to tell the fox that he will continue his work for today, tomorrow, and the day after. He also expresses a desire to gather his children as a hen gathers chicks under her wings.

A reflection from the book Živa Riječ compares the natural traits of animals to the message of the Gospel. It likens Herod to a fox and Jesus to a hen that wants to protect her chicks from danger.

Archbishop Mate Uzinić presented the Peaceful Rain initiative on October 27 at the Archdiocese of Rijeka in Croatia. The international and interreligious program encourages individuals of different faiths and convictions to engage in concrete actions for peace.

Archbishop Uzinić stated that peace is built through many small, specific acts in personal life, religious communities, workplaces, and educational institutions. He noted that while individuals cannot resolve global conflicts alone, they remain responsible for the personal contribution they can offer to peace.

The event included participation from several religious leaders. Grigorije Durić, metropolitan of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Germany, joined via video link. Aziz Hasanović, president of the Islamic Community in Croatia, also participated. Other attendees included Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, Dominican, and Melanie Ivančević, an evangelical deaconess.

Metropolitan Durić spoke about the importance of religious communities acting as agents of reconciliation to prevent the manipulation and demonization of others. Mufti Hasanović stated that remaining silent in current times is equivalent to identifying with evil, and he rejected the political use of religion.

The readings for the thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time include a passage from Exodus 22:20-26, Psalm 17, and 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10.

The Gospel reading from Matthew 22:34-40 describes a scholar of the law asking Jesus which commandment in the law is the greatest. Jesus responds that the first commandment is to love the Lord with all one's heart, soul, and mind, and the second is to love one's neighbor as oneself.