The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/021217.cfm)
reminds me that God wants me to have higher standards as I live for
Him.
In
some schools, there is an honors class. The brightest students of the batch are
gathered in one class. Usually, teachers expect more from them. They have more
difficult examinations, homework and projects. Sometimes, they have different
or more advanced lessons too. This is why participants in competitions are
usually taken from this class.
God wants us to be in this
class as well - on our spiritual life.
In
the gospel, Jesus tells us that God wants more from us. Like the students in
the honors class, we are subjected to the same things as all human beings.
However, just as the expectations from the honor students are higher, God also expects more from us who are following Him. God
expects more from his children.
Killing is bad, we all know
that. But in the gospel, Jesus tells us that even just getting angry is bad –
because it can eventually grow into something more, which could eventually lead
into killing. God wants a higher standard for us, that instead of just not
killing, we should not allow ourselves to be tempted into even thinking of
that. This is not just with killing – it is true with other aspects of our
lives as well, with our prayer life, almsgiving, forgiveness, chastity, and
concern for others.
In the gospel, we also see that
before offering anything to God, we should first reconcile with others who we
have conflict with. This means that God wants us to come to him clean and in the best possible state we
can. God is more concerned with our heart rather
than our offering to him. We can fast and offer sacrifices, but if we
hold grudges against others, if we keep ill feelings, and if we withhold
expressions of love to others, then our fasting will not be as pleasing to
him. Again, higher standards for us, his children.
May we be inspired to have
higher standards of living for God, and be up for the challenge of
living it. Just as the students in the honors class are usually sent to
competitions, may we be ready and willing to prepare, so God can send us to
spread his love and kingdom on earth.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another day to
experience your love. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder.
Lord, sorry for the times I do not follow this. Sorry for being lazy and
complacent. Lord, I ask that you help me live in a way you want me to. Help me
live with higher standards, not to show that I am better than others, but to
tell you just how much I love you. Help me be ready and willing to go the extra
mile, to do the extra actions, so my life would be more pleasing to you. Help
me and use me to build your kingdom on earth. amen.
Blessed
Sunday!
In
Christ,
-g-
February 12, 2017
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 76
Reading 1 Sir 15:15-20
if you trust in God, you too shall live;
he has set before you fire and water
to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand.
Before man are life and death, good and evil,
whichever he chooses shall be given him.
Immense is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is mighty in power, and all-seeing.
The eyes of God are on those who fear him;
he understands man's every deed.
No one does he command to act unjustly,
to none does he give license to sin.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
You have commanded that your precepts
be diligently kept.
Oh, that I might be firm in the ways
of keeping your statutes!
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Be good to your servant, that I may live
and keep your words.
Open my eyes, that I may consider
the wonders of your law.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes,
that I may exactly observe them.
Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Reading 2 1 Cor 2:6-10
We speak a wisdom to those who are mature,
not a wisdom of this age,
nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away.
Rather, we speak God's wisdom, mysterious, hidden,
which God predetermined before the ages for our glory,
and which none of the rulers of this age knew;
for, if they had known it,
they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written:
What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard,
and what has not entered the human heart,
what God has prepared for those who love him,
this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.
For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.
Alleluia cF. mt 11:25
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 5:17-37
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter 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.
"You have heard that it was said,
You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin,
tear it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin,
cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.
"It was also said,
Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.
But I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife - unless the marriage is unlawful -
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
"Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all;
not by heaven, for it is God's throne;
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.'
Anything more is from the evil one."
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