Law

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/022315.cfm) reminds me how important it is to follow God’s Word.

Knowing and following the law is important, and breaking them would have consequences. They say that ignorance of the law in not an excuse for breaking the law. Regardless if you know the law or not, you would be punished for breaking them. This is true to the natural, man made laws as it is for God given laws.

The first reading tells us what God does not want. He tells us what we should stop doing to please him. And in the gospel, Jesus takes us further and tells us that whatever good we do to others, we are doing to him. And as such, would have eternal rewards in heaven.

God is alive in others.

In the first reading, God told Moses what we should not do to others. And in the gospel, Jesus tells us how we should treat others. Others. Whatever we do to others, we do it to God. God is fully alive in others. God is not concerned merely with our actions, but the reason behind them. How we treat others and what we do to others are just manifestations of our inner state. If our heart is full of love and concern, it will naturally radiate to others and we will help others, but if the heart is full of hate and evil, then we will treat others bad.

The psalmist tells us that God’s words are spirit and life. As such, we know we will be rewarded (or punished) based on how we treat his words.

In the gospel, God rewarded those who treated others right, and punished those who don’t. God does not base the consequence from our actions, but rather our heart. Our heart would determine where we would spend eternity in, as it overflows with whatever is in it – good or evil. May we learn to fill our hearts with good, with God, so we can share him with others and spend eternity with him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for the reminder today. Lord, come into my life and into my heart. Cleanse me and purify me. I ask that you send your love, your healing, your grace and gentleness in my heart. Fill me, so I may in turn share you to and with others and make you happy. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

-------------------------------------

February 23, 2015

Monday of the First Week of Lent

Lectionary: 224

Reading 1 Lv 19:1-2, 11-18

The LORD said to Moses,

“Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them:

Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.

“You shall not steal.

You shall not lie or speak falsely to one another.

You shall not swear falsely by my name,

thus profaning the name of your God.

I am the LORD.

“You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor.

You shall not withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer.

You shall not curse the deaf,

or put a stumbling block in front of the blind,

but you shall fear your God.

I am the LORD.

“You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment.

Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty,

but judge your fellow men justly.

You shall not go about spreading slander among your kin;

nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor’s life is at stake.

I am the LORD.

“You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart.

Though you may have to reprove him,

do not incur sin because of him.

Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen.

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

I am the LORD.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R. (John 6:63b) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The law of the LORD is perfect,

refreshing the soul.

The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,

giving wisdom to the simple.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The precepts of the LORD are right,

rejoicing the heart.

The command of the LORD is clear,

enlightening the eye.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever;

The ordinances of the LORD are true,

all of them just.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart

find favor before you,

O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Verse Before the Gospel 2 Cor 6:2

bBehold, now is a very acceptable time;

behold, now is the day of salvation.

Gospel Mt 25:31-46

Jesus said to his disciples:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory,

and all the angels with him,

he will sit upon his glorious throne,

and all the nations will be assembled before him.

And he will separate them one from another,

as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Then the king will say to those on his right,

‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father.

Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me food,

I was thirsty and you gave me drink,

a stranger and you welcomed me,

naked and you clothed me,

ill and you cared for me,

in prison and you visited me.’

Then the righteous will answer him and say,

‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,

or thirsty and give you drink?

When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,

or naked and clothe you?

When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’

And the king will say to them in reply,

‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did

for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Then he will say to those on his left,

‘Depart from me, you accursed,

into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.

For I was hungry and you gave me no food,

I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

a stranger and you gave me no welcome,

naked and you gave me no clothing,

ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’

Then they will answer and say,

‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty

or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,

and not minister to your needs?’

He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you,

what you did not do for one of these least ones,

you did not do for me.’

And these will go off to eternal punishment,

but the righteous to eternal life.”