NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE YEAR
MONDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE YEAR (Matt.17-22-27) Scholars are not sure what tax is intended. There are many possibilities. No matter which one what does come out is just the plain old common sense which Jesus exhibits. Throughout the Gospels this comes out time and time again, faith inspired common sense. Faith inspired because it lifts us up to the realm of God. It is looking at reality through the eyes of God and trying to the best of our ability to come to a wise decision. This is why praying for the gift of wisdom is so important. “common sense” can not be based simply on the practical but on the will of God.
TUESDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE YEAR (Matt.18:1-5,10,12-14) The 18th Chapter of Matthew concerns itself with relationships within the community. It answers the question: how are we to deal with one another? Becoming like a child puts self imposed limitations on our way of acting. Inside the community, this attitude prevents us from being ambitious for authority, and prevents us from misusing any authority we may have. To go after the stray sometimes demands a great deal of trust in the “99.” We have to trust them enough to take care of themselves for a short period of time. This has implications in forming a mature Christian community.
WEDNESDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE YEAR (Matt.18:15-20) “Do not be judgmental” is a two edged statement. On the one hand, to judge the state of someone’s soul is only the work of God. However, we can judge acts. There is a right and a wrong, good and bad. We are being asked not to be afraid to make these judgments. But they must be made in love. They should be healing and they must be made with reconciliation in mind. We are our brother and sister’s keepers. This should not be done without prayerful discerning. And only in those matters which are important to the life of the community.
THURSDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE YEAR (Matt.18:21-19:1) Reflection on the gift given should compel us to give the gift. Forgiveness is the free gift which God gives to all. It has a responsibility. It cannot be held onto; it must be shared. Without forgiveness the fabric of society would fall apart. We are too weak and fragile and we all make mistakes. Without forgiveness, all we would have would be brokenness. Forgiveness makes things well again. To forgive is not a one shot thing, it is a path which must be walked. We must walk it not once but many times.
FRIDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE YEAR (Matt.9:3-12) Marriage is sacred because it is created by God. In this day when TV, movies and the way people mistreat this great gift, the followers of Christ are called to be true witnesses of how holy marriage is.
A sense of mutual trust, the need for forgiveness, and the desire to share a life dream are all essential to live marriage. Each one of these demands is a dying to self, so that we can live for the other. The “I” must be used less and less, the “we” more and more.
SATURDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE YEAR (Matt.19:13-15) Jesus was unique among ancient teachers in receiving children. They were considered insignificant, and were legally not even persons. Truly, they were the marginalized. The action of the disciples was predictable, they were acting as men of their times. It was only in listening to the voice of the Lord that the insignificant became important. We see the “children” all around us. The poor, the handicapped, those without talents. We see them in the faces of those whom society has forgotten. We have to listen to the voice of the Lord, or they will always remain non-important.
MONDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE YEAR (Matt.17-22-27) Scholars are not sure what tax is intended. There are many possibilities. No matter which one what does come out is just the plain old common sense which Jesus exhibits. Throughout the Gospels this comes out time and time again, faith inspired common sense. Faith inspired because it lifts us up to the realm of God. It is looking at reality through the eyes of God and trying to the best of our ability to come to a wise decision. This is why praying for the gift of wisdom is so important. “common sense” can not be based simply on the practical but on the will of God.
TUESDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE YEAR (Matt.18:1-5,10,12-14) The 18th Chapter of Matthew concerns itself with relationships within the community. It answers the question: how are we to deal with one another? Becoming like a child puts self imposed limitations on our way of acting. Inside the community, this attitude prevents us from being ambitious for authority, and prevents us from misusing any authority we may have. To go after the stray sometimes demands a great deal of trust in the “99.” We have to trust them enough to take care of themselves for a short period of time. This has implications in forming a mature Christian community.
WEDNESDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE YEAR (Matt.18:15-20) “Do not be judgmental” is a two edged statement. On the one hand, to judge the state of someone’s soul is only the work of God. However, we can judge acts. There is a right and a wrong, good and bad. We are being asked not to be afraid to make these judgments. But they must be made in love. They should be healing and they must be made with reconciliation in mind. We are our brother and sister’s keepers. This should not be done without prayerful discerning. And only in those matters which are important to the life of the community.
THURSDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE YEAR (Matt.18:21-19:1) Reflection on the gift given should compel us to give the gift. Forgiveness is the free gift which God gives to all. It has a responsibility. It cannot be held onto; it must be shared. Without forgiveness the fabric of society would fall apart. We are too weak and fragile and we all make mistakes. Without forgiveness, all we would have would be brokenness. Forgiveness makes things well again. To forgive is not a one shot thing, it is a path which must be walked. We must walk it not once but many times.
FRIDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE YEAR (Matt.9:3-12) Marriage is sacred because it is created by God. In this day when TV, movies and the way people mistreat this great gift, the followers of Christ are called to be true witnesses of how holy marriage is.
A sense of mutual trust, the need for forgiveness, and the desire to share a life dream are all essential to live marriage. Each one of these demands is a dying to self, so that we can live for the other. The “I” must be used less and less, the “we” more and more.
SATURDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE YEAR (Matt.19:13-15) Jesus was unique among ancient teachers in receiving children. They were considered insignificant, and were legally not even persons. Truly, they were the marginalized. The action of the disciples was predictable, they were acting as men of their times. It was only in listening to the voice of the Lord that the insignificant became important. We see the “children” all around us. The poor, the handicapped, those without talents. We see them in the faces of those whom society has forgotten. We have to listen to the voice of the Lord, or they will always remain non-important.
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