The Catholic Calendar for Friday, July 2, 2004
   Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from Friday's Liturgy of the Word:
   Amos 8:4-6, 9-12
   Psalm 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131
   Matthew 9:9-13

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

There is no room for smugness in our lives as followers of Jesus Christ. Indeed, we must work out our salvation in fear and trembling. Especially because of our Baptism into death to sin, and our Confirmation in the Spirit of Truth. In today's readings, the righteous Chosen are "blasted" by an angry God (Amos), while the hated and despised tax collector, Matthew, is chosen to be one of the Twelve!

For those of us who pride ourselves on "doing it right", we need to daily examine our consciences for our behavior in the area of justice to the poor and marginalized, prayer for our enemies, and humility in the ways we walk before God.

This has nothing to do with living in light and joy, gratitude and love for God and for our neighbor. It gives us no excuse to be gloomy saints, bereft of a sense of humor or words of encouragement and hope. From another point of view, humility and awareness of our own shortcomings have everything to do with joy. It is precisely because of our reliance on God's grace, counsel, and strength, that we can afford to be joy-filled. It is because of our love that we need to be strict with ourselves and lenient in judging others.

God is always surprising us with the Gospel of His Son. He challenges us daily to live it more consistently, alert to the opportunities for acting as Jesus would have us act.

- Msgr. Paul E. Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)



posted by joachim at 5:04 AM