Lectionary: 435
Reading 1
1 cor 4:1-5
Brothers and sisters:
Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ
and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Now it is of course required of stewards
that they be found trustworthy.
It does not concern me in the least
that I be judged by you or any human tribunal;
I do not even pass judgment on myself;
I am not conscious of anything against me,
but I do not thereby stand acquitted;
the one who judges me is the Lord.
Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time,
until the Lord comes,
for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness
and will manifest the motives of our hearts,
and then everyone will receive praise from God.
Responsorial Psalm
ps 37:3-4, 5-6, 27-28, 39-40
R. (39a) The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart’s requests.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Turn from evil and do good,
that you may abide forever;
For the LORD loves what is right,
and forsakes not his faithful ones.
Criminals are destroyed
and the posterity of the wicked is cut off.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Gospel
lk 5:33-39
The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,
“The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers,
and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same;
but yours eat and drink.”
Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast
while the bridegroom is with them?
But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
then they will fast in those days.”
And he also told them a parable.
“No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.
Otherwise, he will tear the new
and the piece from it will not match the old cloak.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins,
and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.
Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.
And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new,
for he says, ‘The old is good.’”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: JUDGMENT DAYS
"It matters little to me whether you or any human court pass judgment on me." –1 Corinthians 4:3
Does it matter to you if other people judge you? To most people, it matters a lot. Some become angry, resentful, rebellious, and unforgiving when they are judged. Others compromise their principles and let themselves be manipulated when they feel they are being judged. However, it should matter little to Christians whether or not they are judged or even taken to court (1 Cor 4:3).
Do you judge yourself? In Western society, we have been programmed to analyze and psychoanalyze ourselves indefinitely. We are an extremely introspective culture. We think about our thinking and constantly check how we feel. God's Word teaches us not to judge ourselves (1 Cor 4:3). We should be God-centered rather than self-centered.
Are you very aware that you'll be judged by God at your death and on Judgment Day? We will all be judged not only on our commissions but on our omissions, and not only on our actions but on our motives. The Lord "will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and manifest the intentions of hearts" (1 Cor 4:5). "We should have confidence on the day of judgment" (1 Jn 4:17).
Many times our minds are on what others think of us or on what we think of ourselves. We should not be concerned about these things, but about what God thinks of us. To be a Christian means to be a fool for Christ (1 Cor 4:10), to die to self (Lk 9:23), and to live for Christ alone.
PRAYER: Father, when I hear the word "judgmental," may I think of Judgment Day.
PROMISE: "When the days come that the Groom is removed from their midst, they will surely fast in those days." –Lk 5:35
PRAISE: Tim and Sharon home-school their five children and lead a Catholic home-school support group. Each year, the Lord inspires several families to begin home-schooling through their ministry.
Be an inspiration, kindly Share.
No comments:
Post a Comment