The Catholic Calendar for Friday, October 17, 2003
Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Ignatius of Antioch, bishop, martyr

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Romans 4:1-8
Psalm 32:1-2,5,11
Luke 12:1-7

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. (Luke 12:1)

What is "good"? Why are we here?

Answer one and you have answered the other!

God is all Good - and we are here to know, love and serve Him. So, how can anything be good if it is not in union with God?

Have you seen any "good" movies lately? Heard any "good" ideas? Ever yearned for "the good life"? So many things in our world are in the pretense of good, when in reality they are not. Why are we so quick to label as "good" that which is not? Is that not hypocrisy? Is that not the 'big lie'?

I am a hypocrite. I say I am good, but yet I sin. Woe is me, right? Could be -- but better to pray "Forgive me." Free me from my personal hypocrisy; forgive me of my sins, Lord. For if I really buy the 'big lie', I won't even ask for that forgiveness -- then truly, woe is me. Then my life in You will come to a grinding halt. I may still be 'here', but if You, O God, are not living and breathing within me, then I am merely going through the motions of life -- I'm nothing but a pretense of life and truth, which is hypocrisy.

Lead me, O Lord,
to Your Way,
Your Truth
and Your Life.
Amen

- Nancy Collingwood

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posted by joachim at 4:21 AM