The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 21:17-29
Psalm 51:3-6, 11, 16
Matthew 5:43-48

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's First Reading we hear how the Lord rightfully planned to punish Ahab for his personal sinfulness and for leading others into sin. When Ahab learned what the Lord intended to do to him, he demonstrated great contrition and humility and was granted, so to speak, a "stay of execution."

Until the consequences of our sinfulness stares us in the face, we often stubbornly refuse to even acknowledge that there are consequences for transgressing God's commands and instead blindly prefer our own will and pleasure to the will of and pleasure of God.

It is always interesting to recognize that throughout history and perhaps even in our own personal circumstances, people have heard the wondrous Word of the Lord and have willfully chosen not to do as He commands. It's not as though we don't know what the Lord expects of us -- we just refuse to do it.

When that frightening moment of reckoning occurs -- and it always will, how quickly past pleasure fades and only the palpably justifiable wrath of the Lord will remain.

Remembering that I don't like to be scared, I caution myself not to be foolish and "pretend" as if it sometimes seems that God isn't paying any attention to our behavior. There will be, after all, that moment when we’ll have to answer for all our actions, be they good or evil. Pray let us not miss the opportunity for good; for even as we see in today's reading how the Lord is mindful of our guilt, He is also mindful of our good deeds and of His mercy.

Let's not waste any more time. Holy Scripture (Book of Deuteronomy) tells us that the Lord has set before us life or death, a choice. Let us choose the way of life.

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

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