Striving to follow & serve the Lord (Readings for March 3, 2019 annotated)

Key:

What the scriptures tell us about God

What these scriptures tell us to do

What these scriptures tell us not to do

Commentary

Hyperlink to more resources

Reading 1 Sirach 27:4-7 

When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do one's faults when one speaks.
As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace, so in tribulation is the test of the just.
The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had; so too does one's speech disclose the bent of one's mind. Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested.

Responsorial Psalm 92:2-3, 13-16 

R. (cf. 2a) Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praise to your name, Most High, to proclaim your kindness at dawn and your faithfulness throughout the night.
R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
The just one shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow. They that are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
They shall bear fruit even in old age; vigorous and sturdy shall they be, Declaring how just is the LORD, my rock, in whom there is no wrong.
R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

Reading 2 1 Corinthians 15:54-58

Brothers and sisters:
When this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about: Death is swallowed up in victory.Where, O death, is your victory?Where, O death, is your sting?The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Alleluia Philippians 2:15-16 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 6:39-45 

Jesus told his disciples a parable, "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.

Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,' when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite!  Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother's eye.

"A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thorn bushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks."

What the scriptures tell us about God

your kindness

your faithfulness throughout the night
They that are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God
how just is the LORD

my rock

in whom there is no wrong

God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ
in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
No disciple is superior to the teacher

What these scriptures tell us to do

give thanks 

give thanks to the LORD

sing praise 

proclaim your kindness at dawn 

give thanks 
The just one 

planted in the house of the LORD 

give thanks 
bear fruit even in old age

Declaring how just is the LORD

give thanks 

be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord

knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain
Shine like lights in the world

hold on to the word of life

when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher
Remove the wooden beam from your eye first

A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good

What these scriptures tell us not to do

Praise no one before he speaks

not perceive the wooden beam in your own

How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,' when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?

Commentary

Todays readings stress themes similar to those set out in the scriptures collected in Wisdom Principles: We Must Make Real Effort/Sacrifice to Receive All that God Offers, But It Is Well Worth Itand the dynamic discussed in Christians as God's Employees: A Loose Paraphrase of 2 Peter 1:3-11 

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