|
|
The loving service which God sends His people into the world to render includes both evangelism and social action, for each is in itself an authentic expression of love, and neither needs the other to justify it.
- John R. W. Stott (1921-2011)
(An old saying has it that a Christian should have the Bible in one hand, and a newspaper in the other. God calls us to different responses through both. How do you experience this in your life?)
|
|
|
Ez 18:21-28; Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8
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.
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.”
USCCB lectionary
|
Reflection on the Scripture
|
“My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, You will not spurn.” —Psalm 51:19
When the Lord called Jonah to preach repentance to the Ninevites, Jonah disobeyed and ran away to Tarshish. After spending three days in the belly of a whale, Jonah reconsidered and went to Nineveh. He obeyed God, but according to the letter of the law, not its spirit (see 2 Cor 3:6). His heart wasn’t in it. He didn’t want the Ninevites to repent and be saved.
We sometimes obey God when our hearts are not in it. Some don’t commit adultery only because they fear the consequences or don’t have the opportunity. They’re obeying the letter of the law but not its spirit. God’s Word says: “Like a eunuch lusting for intimacy with a maiden is he who does right under compulsion” (Sir 20:3).
Many people go to church on Sunday only because it’s their “Sunday obligation.” This is good, but the Lord calls us to a deep personal relationship with Him. Many businesses avoid expressing racism because they don’t want to be taken to court or get bad publicity, while the CEOs of these businesses remain prejudiced.
T.S. Eliot said: “The greatest treason is to do the right thing for the wrong reason” (Murder in the Cathedral). Obey both the letter and spirit of the law.
Prayer: Father, may my love for You motivate my every action and decision (2 Cor 5:14).
Promise: “A heart contrite and humbled, O God, You will not spurn.” —Ps 51:19
Presentation Ministries
|
|
|
Abandonment to Divine Providence
- by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
BOOK II,
CHAPTER IV. CONCERNING THE ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY THE FATHERLY PROVIDENCE OF GOD TO THOSE SOULS WHO HAVE ABANDONED THEMSELVES TO HIM
SECTION VI. A supernatural prudence
The soul, in the state of abandonment, does not fear its enemies, but finds in them useful helps.
I fear more my own action and that of my friends than that of my enemies. There is no prudence so great as that which offers no resistance to enemies, and which opposes to them only a simple abandonment. This is to run before the wind, and as there is nothing else to be done, to keep quiet and peaceful. There is nothing that is more entirely opposed to worldly prudence than simplicity; it turns aside all
schemes without comprehending them, without so much as a thought about them. The divine action makes the soul take such just measures as to surprise those who want to take it by surprise themselves. It profits by all their efforts, and is raised by the very things that are done to lower it. They are the galley slaves who bring the ship into port with hard rowing. All obstacles turn to the good of this soul, and by allowing its enemies a free hand, it obtains a continual service, so sufficing
that all it has to fear is lest it should itself take part in a work of which God would be principal, and His enemies the agents, and in which it has nothing to do but to peacefully observe the work of God, and to follow with simplicity the attractions He gives it. The supernatural prudence of the Divine Spirit, the principle of these attractions, infallibly attains its end; and the precise circumstances of each event are so applied to the soul, without its perception, that everything opposed to
them cannot fail to be destroyed.
|
|
Paperback, Hardback, Kindle
|
|
Please support this outreach with a tax-deductible donation.
|
|
|
