The WORD today reminds me that we all sin, and as we
experience God's goodness and forgiveness, we should also pass it on to others.
There
was one time when we had dinner in a restaurant and I was not very happy with
the service. The staff were not friendly and were not readily available to
help. During that time, before paying the bill, I initially thought of not
leaving the usual tip because of their bad service. However, for some reason, I
was reminded that God is generous, and that I myself do not deserve all the
blessings I have been receiving, but God blesses me anyway…so eventually I
decided to pass God’s goodness and blessings to others even if I felt they did
not deserve it.
God
is generous.
In
the first reading, we see that all of us sin and are deprived of the glory of
God. This is true. No matter how good we appear to be, or how good we think we
are, we still sin. All of us. and because of that, we fall short of God’s
glory. However, God is generous. It is by God’s grace that we are justified. It
is by God’s generosity and goodness that we still experience his abundant
blessings – even if we do not deserve it.
We
should pay it forward.
We
should do our best to live right, to live pleasing to God. And I believe one of
the best ways of thanking God is by paying it forward – of blessing others with
his blessings, of being good to others, of making his love more real and more
alive through our life and our works.
Do
I realize that God is generous? Do I realize that I sin and hurt him? How do I
show my gratitude to and love for Him?
May
we realize how generous God is, and may it move us to pass God’s goodness to
others.
Father
God,
Thank
you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance
to love and serve you, thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the many
times I sin and hurt you. Sorry for the many times I do things my way. Help me
live right. Help me live pleasing to you. I promise to do my best to pay your
goodness forward. I promise to do my best to share your blessings and your love
to others – especially to those whom I feel do not deserve it. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
October 17 2019
October 16 | October
18 »
Memorial of Saint Ignatius of
Antioch, Bishop and Martyr
Lectionary: 470
Lectionary: 470
Reading
1 ROM 3:21-30
Brothers
and sisters:
Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
though testified to by the law and the prophets,
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
for all who believe.
For there is no distinction;
all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
They are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as an expiation,
through faith, by his Blood, to prove his righteousness
because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed,
through the forbearance of God–
to prove his righteousness in the present time,
that he might be righteous
and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out.
On what principle, that of works?
No, rather on the principle of faith.
For we consider that a person is justified by faith
apart from works of the law.
Does God belong to Jews alone?
Does he not belong to Gentiles, too?
Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one
and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith
and the uncircumcised through faith.
Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
though testified to by the law and the prophets,
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
for all who believe.
For there is no distinction;
all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
They are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as an expiation,
through faith, by his Blood, to prove his righteousness
because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed,
through the forbearance of God–
to prove his righteousness in the present time,
that he might be righteous
and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out.
On what principle, that of works?
No, rather on the principle of faith.
For we consider that a person is justified by faith
apart from works of the law.
Does God belong to Jews alone?
Does he not belong to Gentiles, too?
Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one
and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith
and the uncircumcised through faith.
Responsorial
Psalm PS
130:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6AB
R.
(7) With the Lord there is mercy,
and fullness of redemption.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
Lord, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
Lord, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
Alleluia JN
14:6
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK
11:47-54
The
Lord said:
"Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
'I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute'
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter."
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
"Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
'I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute'
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter."
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
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