Humbly rely upon God, intentionally seek after Him (readings for Feb. 28, 2019 annotated)

Key:

What these scriptures tell us about God

What these scriptures tell us to do

What these scriptures tell us to avoid

Commentary

Hyperlink

Reading 1 SIR 5:1-8

Rely not on your wealth; say not: "I have the power." Rely not on your strength in following the desires of your heart. Say not: "Who can prevail against me?" or, "Who will subdue me for my deeds?" for God will surely exact the punishment.

Say not: "I have sinned, yet what has befallen me?" for the Most High bides his time. Of forgiveness be not overconfident, adding sin upon sin. Say not: "Great is his mercy; my many sins he will forgive." For mercy and anger alike are with him; upon the wicked alights his wrath.

Delay not your conversion to the LORD, put it not off from day to day. For suddenly his wrath flames forth; at the time of vengeance you will be destroyed.

Rely not upon deceitful wealth, for it will be no help on the day of wrath.

This sounds a lot like the principles laid out in the scriptures collected in  Wisdom Principles—God Loves Humility and Hates Pride and  Wisdom Principles: Ill Gotten Gains Do Not Last.

Responsorial Psalm PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6

R. (40:5a) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, but delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade. Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Not so the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Alleluia SEE 1 THES 2:13

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 9:41-50

Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 

Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another."

What these scriptures tell us about God

God will surely exact the punishment.

the Most High bides his time. 

mercy and anger alike are with him; upon the wicked alights his wrath.

the LORD watches over the way of the just

What these scriptures tell us to do

hope in the Lord.
delights in the law of the LORD

meditates on his law day and night.hope in the Lord.
hope in the Lord

Receive the word of God

gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. 

if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off

if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out

Keep salt in yourselves 

What these scriptures tell us not to do

Rely not on your wealth; say not: "I have the power." 

Rely not on your strength in following the desires of your heart.

Say not: "Who can prevail against me?" or, "Who will subdue me for my deeds?" 

Say not: "I have sinned, yet what has befallen me?" 

Of forgiveness be not overconfident, adding sin upon sin. 

Say not: "Great is his mercy; my many sins he will forgive

Delay not your conversion to the LORD, put it not off from day to day

Rely not upon deceitful wealth

follows not the counsel of the wicked 

walks in the way of sinners

sits in the company of the insolent

causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin

becomes insipid

Actively Seeking God (readings for Feb, 27, 2019 annotated)

Key:

What these scriptures tell us about God

What these scriptures tell us to do

Commentary

Hyperlink

Reading 1 SIR 4:11-19

Wisdom breathes life into her children and admonishes those who seek her. He who loves her loves life; those who seek her will be embraced by the Lord. He who holds her fast inherits glory; wherever he dwells, the LORD bestows blessings. Those who serve her serve the Holy One; those wholove her the LORD loves. He who obeys her judges nations; he who hearkens to her dwells in her inmost chambers.

If one trusts her, he will possess her; his descendants too will inherit her. She walks with him as a stranger and at first she puts him to the test; fear and dread she brings upon him and tries him with her disciplineuntil she try him by her laws and trust his soul. Then she comes back to bring him happiness and reveal her secretsto them and she will heap upon him treasures of knowledge and an understanding of justice. But if he fails her, she will abandon him and deliver him into the hands of despoilers.

This sounds a lot like the principles set forth in Proverbs 2, Sirach 14:20-15:10 and James 1:25. See also the scriptures collected in Wisdom Principles: We Must Make Real Effort/Sacrifice to Receive All that God Offers, But It Is Well Worth It

Responsorial Psalm PS 119:165, 168, 171, 172, 174, 175

R. (165a)  O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
Those who love your law have great peace, and for them there is no stumbling block.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
I keep your precepts and your decrees, for all my ways are before you.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
My lips pour forth your praise, because you teach me your statutes.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
May my tongue sing of your promise, for all your commands are just.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
Let my soul live to praise you, and may your ordinances help me.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.

This sounds a lot like the dynamic described in the scriptures collected at Wisdom Principles: God’s Ways Give Security

Alleluia JN 14:6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 9:38-40

John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."

Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us."

What these readings tell us about God

Wisdom breathes life into her children

admonishes those who seek her.
those who seek her will be embraced by the Lord.
Those who serve her serve the Holy One

those who love her the LORD loves.
If one trusts her, he will possess her

at first she puts him to the test

tries him with her discipline

Then she comes back to bring him happiness and reveal her secrets

great peace have they who love your law.
Those who love your law have great peace

for them there is no stumbling block.
great peace have they who love your law.
great peace have they who love your law.
you teach me your statutes.
great peace have they who love your law.
all your commands are just.
great peace have they who love your law.
great peace have they who love your law.
your ordinances help me.
great peace have they who love your law.

I am the way and the truth and the life

no one comes to the Father except through me.
no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. 

whoever is not against us is for us."

What these readings tell us to do

seek her
loves her 

seek her 

holds her fast 

serve her 

love her 

obeys her 

hearkens to her 

trusts her

love your law

keep your precepts and your decrees

love your law

pour forth your praise

love your law

love your law

your law is my delight

love your law

praise you

God is exceedingly merciful, we must follow His example (readings for Feb. 24, 2019 annotated) 

Key

What these scriptures tell us about God

What these scriptures tell us to do

What these scriptures tell us not to do

Commentary

Reading 1 1 SM 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23

In those days, Saul went down to the desert of Ziph with three thousand picked men of Israel, to search for David in the desert of Ziph.  So David and Abishai went among Saul’s soldiers by night and found Saul lying asleep within the barricade, with his spear thrust into the ground at his head and Abner and his men sleeping around him.

Abishai whispered to David: “God has delivered your enemy into your grasp this day. Let me nail him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I will not need a second thrust!”

But David said to Abishai, “Do not harm him, for who can lay hands on the LORD’s anointed and remain unpunished?” So David took the spear and the water jug from their place at Saul’s head, and they got away without anyone’s seeing or knowing or awakening. All remained asleep, because the LORD had put them into a deep slumber.

Going across to an opposite slope, David stood on a remote hilltop at a great distance from Abner, son of Ner, and the troops. He said: “Here is the king’s spear. Let an attendant come over to get it. The LORD will reward each man for his justice and faithfulness.Today, though the LORD delivered you into my grasp, I would not harm the LORD’s anointed.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13

R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name.Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion onthose who fear him.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Reading 2 1 COR 15:45-49
It is written, the first man, Adam, became a living being, the last Adam a life-giving spirit. But the spiritual was not first; rather the natural and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, earthly; the second man, from heaven. As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly, and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.

Alleluia JN 13:34

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples:
“To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you,
what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.Forgive and you will be forgiven.Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” 

What these scriptures tell us about God:

The LORD will reward each man for his justice and faithfulness.

The Lord is kind and merciful.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction

crowns you with kindness and compassion.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD

slow to anger

abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us

nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion onthose who fear him.
The Lord is kind and merciful

I have loved you
love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Stop judging and you will not be judged
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. 

For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.

How can you follow God’s example in these things? 

How can you get help doing that? Check out Hebrews 4:14-16, Hebrews 12:2-3, Philippians 4:6-7, and 1 Peter 5:6-7.    

What these scriptures tell us to do:

Bless the LORD

all my being, bless his holy name.Bless the LORD, O my soul

love one another as I have loved you.

love your enemies

do good to those who hate you
bless those who curse you

pray for those who mistreat you

To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well

from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic

Give to everyone who asks of you

from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back

Do to others as you would have them do to you

love your enemies and do good to them

lend expecting nothing back

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Stop judging 
Stop condemning 
Forgive 
Give

In what areas of your life are these things most needed? 

Who is God brining to your mind as you read this?

What these scriptures tell us not to do

Do not harm

Focus on God, Not Humans or Circumstances (Readings for Feb. 17, 2019, annotated)

Key:

What these scriptures tell us about God

What these passages tell us to do

What these passages tell us not to do

Commentary

Reading 1 JER 17:5-8

Thus says the LORD:

Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a barren bush in the desert that enjoys no change of season, but stands in a lava waste, a salt and empty earth.

Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: it fears not the heat when it comes; its leaves stay green; in the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit.

Accord: John 15:1-11;Colossians 2:6-7.   

Responsorial Psalm PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6 

R. (40:5a) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked, nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, but delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade. Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Not so the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away. For the LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Reading 2 1 COR 15:12, 16-20

Brothers and sisters: If Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Alleluia LK 6:23AB

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Rejoice and be glad; your reward will be great in heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 6:17, 20-26

Jesus came down with the twelve and stood on a stretch of level ground with a great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon.

And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

What these scriptures tell us about God

Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD

the LORD watches over the way of the just

Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

your reward will be great in heaven.

Jesus came down with the twelve and stood on a stretch of level ground with a great crowd

Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. 

your reward will be great in heaven. 

What these scriptures tell us to do

trusts in the LORD

whose hope is the LORD 

stretches out its roots to the stream

fears not the heat when it comes

 still bears fruit.

hope in the Lord.
follows not the counsel of the wicked

delights in the law of the LORD

meditates on his law day and night.
hope in the Lord.
yields its fruit in due season,
hope in the Lord.
hope in the Lord.

Rejoice and be glad

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!

What these scriptures tell us not to do

trusts in human beings

seeks his strength in flesh
heart turns away from the LORD

walks in the way of sinners

sits in the company of the insolent

you have received your consolation
who are filled now

who laugh now

when all speak well of you

Commentary

Accord: John 15:1-11;Colossians 2:6-7.