Half the world is starving; the other half is on a diet.
We are not privileged because we deserve to be.
Privilege accepted should be responsibility accepted.
- Madeleine L'Engle
(Are you mindful of those less fortunate than yourself? How are you being called to be of assistance to them?)
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2 COR 3:15—4:1, 3-6; PS 85:9AB AND 10-14
MT 5:20-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother,
'Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."
Reflection on the Scriptures |
Today’s gospel reading from St. Matthew encourages us to forgive, show mercy and justice, and strive for our being made one in and with Christ. Matthew implies here the full importance of these virtues. Jesus speaks, quoting from Ten Commandments: “you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, You shall not kill . . . but I say whoever is angry with his brother (or sister) will
be liable to judgement” Jesus’ words encourage us to reconciliation. He goes on to note that If one is bringing his gift to the altar and remembers that his brother has something against him, he is to first be reconciled with the brother and then and only then offer the gift to the loving God.
Tom Shanahan, S.J.
Revelations of Divine Love
- by Julian of Norwich
Fourteenth Revelation, Chapter 59
“Jesus Christ that doeth Good against evil is our Very Mother: we have our Being of Him where the Ground of Motherhood beginneth,—with all the sweet Keeping by Love, that endlessly followeth.”
Our high Father, God Almighty, which is Being, He knew and loved us from afore any time: of which knowing, in His marvellous deep charity and the foreseeing counsel of all the blessed Trinity, He willed that the Second Person should become our Mother. Our Father [willeth], our Mother worketh, our good Lord the Holy Ghost confirmeth: and therefore it belongeth to us to love our God in whom we have our being: Him
reverently thanking and praising for our making, mightily praying to our Mother for mercy and pity, and to our Lord the Holy Ghost for help and grace.
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