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What these passages tell us about God
What these passages tell us to do
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Reading 1 EPH 3:14-21
I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant youin accord withthe riches of his gloryto be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehendwith all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehendwith all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm PS 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19
R. (5b) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.Exult, you just, in the LORD; praise from the upright is fitting.Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
For upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the LORDthe earth is full.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever; the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness,To deliver themfrom death and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
For upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the LORDthe earth is full.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever; the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness,To deliver themfrom death and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Alleluia PHIL 3:8-9
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I consider all things so much rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I consider all things so much rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 12:49-53
"I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
"I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
1. Following Christ sometimes requires us to go through tough, conflict filled, situations/circumstances. It does, at some point or another—usually at multiple points—require us to give up peace, comfort, and other things that are desirable by earthly standards. (gospel, alleluia verse).
2. That is worth enduring because God’s inherent, ultimate, goodness—and His plans/purposes for/from us—surpass any earthly good. (first reading, psalm, implicit in the alleluia verse and gospel). That is why Jesus endured what He did. SeeHebrews 12:2-3. He told us that we will experience the same dynamic. John 15:20and John 16:20-22.
3. God gives us what we need to get through those sacrifices. He gives us “power through his Spirit in [our] inner sel[ves].” He gives us hope by reminding us and giving us glimpses of “the breadth and length and height and depth” of His goodness and love. (first reading). His eyes are upon us and He helps us through the difficulties involved in doing His will. (psalm).
4. So how do we access those helps, how do we get through the difficulties? Today’s readings give us several specific directions:
A. Pray. We should follow St. Paul’s example and “kneel before the Father.” (first reading). See also Philippians 4:6-7and James 1:5.
B. Thank and praise God for the graces/blessing He has given us and others, in the past and in the midst of what we are presently dealing with (psalm). That will get our mind off the immediate difficulty and give us hope. That’s probably why God also gives us that direction in Sirach 2:10-11.
C. “Hope for his kindness,” as today’s psalm tells us. Remember that good will come from the present sacrifice and will far outweigh the pain we experience to get there. (psalm, implicit in the alleluia verse and gospel). Accord, Hebrews 12:11, Romans 8:18, Sirach 2:8-9.
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