The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, July 11, 2004
The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Deuteronomy 30:10-14
Psalm 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34
Colossians 1:15-20
Luke 10:25-37

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

How often in our lives have we made what we might call an honest mistake by not having the right information? Most of the time we feel badly that what we’ve done or said or thought was incorrect and just as frequently most of us might have said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know...”

Today’s First Reading tells us how God prepared a people who would know His expectations and not fall into wrongdoing because of ignorance, not knowing right from wrong. Never intending to make it difficult for us to be holy, He gave us straightforward commandments and sent us His Son who would teach us how to live them in their fulness. So that we might never be bereft of His encouragement and forgiveness He entrusted to us through His Church the sacraments of His love and mercy.

There can be no excuses, bending of the truth, or clever manipulation of words. We must live God’s law authentically, all the time and in every situation. It must be close, in our hearts, ready for us to carry it out.

Who is my neighbor, the lawyer said to Jesus. Who is it I must love? The answer is simple, yet massive -- “Everyone!”

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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posted by joachim at 5:11 AM