The Catholic Calendar for Monday, August 22, 2005
The Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8b-10
Psalm 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b
Matthew 23:13-22

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's Gospel the Scribes and Pharisee's are severely condemned by Jesus. In part, He tells them that they make devils out of those they convert, who end up being twice as bad as they were before.

Jesus sees through what seems to be good, and calls the Scribes and Pharisees frauds. He knows the disposition of their hearts and their self-serving ways. It reminds me that unless our hearts are aligned with the Heart of Jesus and our intentions pure, then we too could be deceived; and what's more, we could deceive others as well.

How greatly should we fear being called a fraud on the Day of Judgment! Yet, without the continual action of grace in our lives, it isn’t an impossibility. We must live in allegiance to the Lord doing all for love of Him and our neighbor.

“Instruct me, Lord, in your way;
on an even path lead me.” (Psalm 27:11)

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

____________________

These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2005 The Way, The Truth, The Life