The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, September 7, 2004
Tuesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Corinthians 6:1-11
Psalm 149:1-6,9
Luke 6:12-19

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Most of us over the course of our lifetime make many significant decisions or choices such as our state in life, our career choice and where we choose to live. In addition, throughout any given day we make dozens of choices about smaller matters. Today's liturgical readings focus on choices.

In the first reading, St. Paul strongly urges that the people of his time look toward the saints for guidance rather than toward the courts of his day. He asks a question of them: "Is there not one reliable man among you to settle the differences between brothers?" (1 Cor. 6:5-6) His question points us toward the gospel reading of today and the example of Christ.

Christ, the Son of Man, had the awesome decision of choosing the twelve apostles, who would set the foundation of the Church for all time. The gospel states that in preparation for the decision, Christ "spent the whole night in prayer to God." (Luke 6:13) It's the beginning of that sentence, however, that is striking: "Now it was about this time that He went out to the hills to pray." (Luke 6:13)

Christ, though He was Son of God, showed us how to form a habit of prayer. Yes, there are decisions that can be made by men, in accordance to the dictates of one law or another; but God is the Source of all law and order. Should we not turn first to Him, the All-Knowing, for guidance?

- Joan of Jesus, OCDS
(jmurphy at utica dot edu)

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posted by joachim at 5:53 AM