Key:
What these passages tell us about God
What these passages tell us to do
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Reading 1 EPH 4:1-6
I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace;
one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Responsorial Psalm PS 24:1-2, 3-4AB, 5-6
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded itupon the seas and established itupon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded itupon the seas and established itupon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Alleluia SEE MT 11:25
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 12:54-59
“When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable,
and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”
“When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable,
and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”
We live in divisive times. Our secular politics are increasingly, and sometimes intentionally, strained. That division sadly carries over among the faithful. Today’s readings plainly tell us that we must be instruments of reconciliation, and tell us how to do that.
1. We must be humble in our own bearing and gentle with others. That requires patience with others, particularly others we disagree with. (first reading). This tracks what Jesus told us in Matthew 5:38-48.
2. This requires real effort; our natural reaction is to separate ourselves from or dismiss people/ideas we disagree with. Today’s readings tell us that we must intentionally seek to overcome that reaction. The first reading speaks of “strivingto preserve [] unity,’ and the gospel tells us to “make aneffort” to resolve differences (emphasis added). That sounds a lot like the effort Jesus described in Matthew 5:39-41.
3. How do we do that? Today’s readings give us two specific directions:
A. “[J]udge for yourselves what is right.” Avoid influences that inflame; cut out media that stokes division. Turn off Fox News, MSNBC and similarly partisan media (and their counterparts in your country if you are reading this outside the U.S.).
B. Focus instead on God. Follow the suggestion of today’s psalm and “seek[] the face of the God of Jacob.” Prayer brings peace. As the alleluia verse tells us, God will reveal His peace if we approach him. An even more effective approach is to get busy actively serving God by serving your fellow man. Psalm 37well summarizes these dynamics.
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