The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Saints Cosmas and Damian, martyrs

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13
Psalm 119:1, 27, 30, 34, 35, 44
Luke 8:19-21

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today’s responsorial Psalm there is a phrase that is interesting to consider. It is, “The way of truth I have chosen.” It reminds me that as a follower of Jesus I have recognized the truth of His precepts and have “chosen” to follow them.

The idea of choosing and on what level and to what degree is the subject of my musing. First of all to recognize that I have made a choice and am not being forced, helps me to more readily embrace my choice and be satisfied with it.

Secondly, the level of my decision, be it rightfully and actively informed vs. a thoughtless, habitual reaction, is another consideration. The extent I have invested something into the choice portends the extent of my adherence with it, the degree I am committed to it.

The final consideration is, do I take the necessary steps to make as sure as I can that all my thoughts, words and actions are consistent with what I have chosen? This is a serious question and requires a serious response!

There is an energetic and joy-filled Charismatic song that reminds me of all this, and it helps me. The words are, “I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.”

Perhaps we can incorporate it into our daily prayers so that we can hear ourselves making again a commitment, a choice. “I have decided to follow Jesus,” I have decided to seek and proclaim by my life, His truth.

“No turning back, no turning back!”

- Donna Nelson, OCDS
(drn3rd at hughes dot net)