The WORD today reminds me of the danger of following my own interpretation, and not
that of God's.
I
remember riding the MRT, and one of the posters on the wall displayed their
KPIs or Key Performance Indicators. Some of the things i remember were
availability and customer satisfaction. Considering their performance as seen
in the news, I was surprised that they had almost 100% on these items.
When I read their interpretation of these items, I understood how it
came about. Availability for them is not the transport system being always up
and running, rather they measure it by not missing the first and last trip of
the train. On the other hand, customer satisfaction is not pleasant experience
of customers or riding public, but rather their ability to acknowledge
complaints within one week. Not to address complains or even work on complains,
just acknowledging them. This is similar to what Jesus was saying in the
gospel
Following our own interpretations of things can mislead
us and take us away from God
In the gospel, Scribes and Pharisees were contented with just how they
understand things. They give more importance
to what they know and not what is right. They focused on what they think is right and what will
work on their favor, instead of
being open to know and understand what is
the truth. Being focused and contented on our own
interpretation of things can lead us to do the wrong things, and is dangerous
to the soul
There is real danger in being comfortable
and accepting what works for us, what is advantageous for
us and not what God wants. It is easy to justify our actions, or inactions, by
the worldly value of what we can spare for God. Our own interpretation of
things can be used to justify wrong things that we do.
How
do I interpret things that are happening and God’s word? Do I take time to
really immerse myself and understand the context of what God wants to tell me?
Do I take time to read His word and get to know him more?
May we never be too proud
or too focused on just what we understand, especially on what works for us. May
we always pray for an open heart and open mind to seek God and see Him in
different things in life.
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. Sorry for the times I
do not make the effort to know you more. Sorry for the times I interpret things
the way i want to. Help me live right. May I never lose my focus on you. May I
never get too comfortable or too focused on things that will put me in an
advantage. May I always seek you in life. May I always be open and humble to be
corrected so I will know what you really want and intend for me to do. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
February 11 2020
«
Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 330
Lectionary: 330
Reading
1 1 KGS 8:22-23, 27-30
Solomon
stood before the altar of the LORD
in the presence of the whole community of Israel,
and stretching forth his hands toward heaven,
he said, “LORD, God of Israel,
there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below;
you keep your covenant of mercy with your servants
who are faithful to you with their whole heart.
in the presence of the whole community of Israel,
and stretching forth his hands toward heaven,
he said, “LORD, God of Israel,
there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below;
you keep your covenant of mercy with your servants
who are faithful to you with their whole heart.
“Can
it indeed be that God dwells on earth?
If the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain you,
how much less this temple which I have built!
Look kindly on the prayer and petition of your servant, O LORD, my God,
and listen to the cry of supplication which I, your servant,
utter before you this day.
May your eyes watch night and day over this temple,
the place where you have decreed you shall be honored;
may you heed the prayer which I, your servant, offer in this place.
Listen to the petitions of your servant and of your people Israel
which they offer in this place.
Listen from your heavenly dwelling and grant pardon.”
If the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain you,
how much less this temple which I have built!
Look kindly on the prayer and petition of your servant, O LORD, my God,
and listen to the cry of supplication which I, your servant,
utter before you this day.
May your eyes watch night and day over this temple,
the place where you have decreed you shall be honored;
may you heed the prayer which I, your servant, offer in this place.
Listen to the petitions of your servant and of your people Israel
which they offer in this place.
Listen from your heavenly dwelling and grant pardon.”
Responsorial
Psalm PS 84:3, 4, 5 AND 10, 11
R.
(2) How lovely is your dwelling
place, Lord, mighty God!
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young—
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
O God, behold our shield,
and look upon the face of your anointed.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
I had rather one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young—
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
O God, behold our shield,
and look upon the face of your anointed.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
I had rather one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Alleluia PS
119:36, 29B
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees;
and favor me with your law.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees;
and favor me with your law.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MK
7:1-13
When
the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem
gathered around Jesus,
they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals
with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
(For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,
do not eat without carefully washing their hands,
keeping the tradition of the elders.
And on coming from the marketplace
they do not eat without purifying themselves.
And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,
the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.)
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,
“Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders
but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”
He responded,
“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites,
as it is written:
gathered around Jesus,
they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals
with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
(For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,
do not eat without carefully washing their hands,
keeping the tradition of the elders.
And on coming from the marketplace
they do not eat without purifying themselves.
And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,
the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.)
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,
“Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders
but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”
He responded,
“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites,
as it is written:
This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
In vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.
but their hearts are far from me;
In vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.
You
disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
He went on to say,
“How well you have set aside the commandment of God
in order to uphold your tradition!
For Moses said,
Honor your father and your mother,
and Whoever curses father or mother shall die.
Yet you say,
‘If someone says to father or mother,
“Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’
(meaning, dedicated to God),
you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother.
You nullify the word of God
in favor of your tradition that you have handed on.
And you do many such things.”
He went on to say,
“How well you have set aside the commandment of God
in order to uphold your tradition!
For Moses said,
Honor your father and your mother,
and Whoever curses father or mother shall die.
Yet you say,
‘If someone says to father or mother,
“Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’
(meaning, dedicated to God),
you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother.
You nullify the word of God
in favor of your tradition that you have handed on.
And you do many such things.”
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