Fruits of the Spirit—Self Control

Galatians 5:22-23

The fruit of the Spirit is … self-control

Greek  words for "self-control" =  ἐγκράτεια from ἐγκρατής 

one who masters his desires and passions, esp. his sensual appetites

Having power over, possessed of, mastering, controlling, curbing, restraining, controlling oneself, temperate, continent

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred provokes disputes, but love excuses all offences.

Proverbs 10:19

A flood of words is never without fault; whoever controls the lips is wise.

Proverbs 12:16

Fools show their anger at once, but the prudent ignore an insult.

Proverbs 13:3

Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives; those who open wide their lips come to ruin.

Proverbs 14:29

Mastery of temper is high proof of intelligence, a quick temper makes folly worse than ever.

Proverbs 16:32

Better an equable person than a hero, someone with self-mastery than one who takes a city.

Proverbs 17:27

He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Proverbs 19:11

Good sense makes for self-control, and for pride in overlooking an offence.

Proverbs 21:23

 He who guards his mouth and his tongue,guards his soul from troubles.

Proverbs 25:28

A city breached and left defenseless are those who do not control their temper.

Proverbs 29:11

The fool blurts out every angry feeling, but the wise subdues and restrains them.

Wisdom 1:11

Restrain your tongue from finding fault

Sirach 1:22-24

The rage of the wicked cannot put him in the right, for the weight of his rage is his downfall. 23A patient person puts up with things until the right time comes: but his joy will break out in the end. 24Till the time comes he keeps his thoughts to himself, and many a lip will affirm how wise he is.

Sirach 5:12

If you understand the matter, give your neighbor an answer, if not, keep your hand over your mouth.

Sirach 18:30-19:3

Do not be governed by your passions, restrain your desires.

³¹If you allow yourself to satisfy your desires, this will make you the laughing-stock of your enemies.

³²Do not indulge in luxurious living, do not get involved in such society.

³³Do not beggar yourself by banqueting on credit when there is nothing in your pocket.

¹A drunken workman will never grow rich, and one who makes light of small matters will gradually sink.

²Wine and women corrupt intelligent men, the customer of whores loses all sense of shame.

³Grubs and worms will have him as their legacy, and the man who knows no shame will lose his life.

Sirach 20:5-7

There is the person who keeps quiet and is considered wise, another incurs hatred for talking too much.

⁶There is the person who keeps quiet, not knowing how to answer, another keeps quiet, knowing when to speak.

⁷The wise will keep quiet till the right moment

Sirach 21:11

Whoever keeps the Law will master his instincts; the fear of the Lord is made perfect in wisdom.

Sirach 21:25

The words of the wise are carefully weighed.

James 1:19-20

Remember this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to human anger; ²⁰God's saving justice is never served by human anger

God reaches out. We should too (Readings for July 25, 2018)

Key:

What these passages tell us about God

What these passages tell us to do

What these passages tell us not to do

Commentary

Reading 1 2 COR 4:7-15

Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke,we too believe and therefore speak, knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people
may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.

Responsorial Psalm PS 126:1BC-2AB, 2CD-3, 4-5, 6

R. (5) Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad indeed.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

Alleluia SEE JN 15:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 20:20-28

The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, "What do you wish?"

She answered him, "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom."

Jesus said in reply, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?"

They said to him, "We can."

He replied, "My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

1.   God continually reaches out to man, at great cost to Himself and His servants (first reading, gospel). As The Catechism puts it, “at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength.”

2.   God’s desire for that fellowship is so great that He subordinated Himself to us, coming to us as a servant (gospel). He exercises great power to bring that fellowship about, even after we have sinned (psalm, gospel).

3.   God wants us to do the same thing for others (alleluia verse, gospel). What are some specific ways to do that? The spiritual and corporal acts of mercy come to mind.  We can each do one or more of them every day.

4.   God gives us supernatural power to do those works. We experience that power when we summon the courage and patience to deal with difficult circumstances/people with a servant’s attitude. We can count on God to help us through those difficult circumstances and to deal properly with those difficult people (first reading).

Wonderful Love in Today’s Readings (July 24, 2018)

Key:

What these passages tell us about God

What these passages tell us to do

Commentary

 Reading 1 MI 7:14-15, 18-20

Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, that dwells apart in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old; as in the days when you came from the land of Egypt, show us wonderful signs.

Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sinfor the remnant of his inheritance; who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, and will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers
from days of old.

Responsorial Psalm PS 85:2-4, 5-6, 7-8

R. (8a) Lord, show us your mercy and love.
You have favored, O LORD, your land; you have brought back the captives of Jacob. You have forgiven the guilt of your people; you have covered all their sins.
You have withdrawn all your wrath; you have revoked your burning anger.
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.
Restore us, O God our savior, and abandon your displeasure against us.
Will you be ever angry with us, prolonging your anger to all generations?
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.
Will you not instead give us life; and shall not your people rejoice in you?
Show us, O LORD, your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.

Alleluia JN 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 12:46-50

WhileJesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you." But he said in reply to the one who told him, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother."

1.    Today’s readings wonderfully exemplify the truths summarized in the very first paragraph of the Catechism of The Catholic Church:

“God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Saviour. In his Son and through him, he invites men to become, in the Holy Spirit, his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life.” (emphasis assed.)

            That is consistent with the themes in this past Sunday's readings. 

2.    How do we respond to that wonderful love?

A.   “rejoice in” Him (psalm).

B.    “keep [His] word” (alleluia verse).

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C.     Do “the will of my heavenly Father” (gospel).

God reaches out to deliver and instruct us (readings for July 23, 2018)

Key:

What these passages tell us about God

What these passages tell us to do

What these passages tell us to avoid

Commentary

Reading 1 MI 6:1-4, 6-8

Hear what the LORD says:
Arise, present your plea before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice! Hear, O mountains, the plea of the LORD, pay attention, O foundations of the earth! For the LORD has a plea against his people, and he enters into trial with Israel.

O my people, what have I done to you, or how have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, from the place of slavery I released you; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow before God most high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriad streams of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my crime, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 

You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.

Responsorial Psalm PS 50:5-6, 8-9, 16BC-17, 21 AND 23

R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Gather my faithful ones before me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” And the heavens proclaim his justice; for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, for your burnt offerings are before me always. I take from your house no bullock, no goats out of your fold.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it? Or do you think that I am like yourself? I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes. He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Alleluia PS 95:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 12:38-42

Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.”

1.   God reaches out to deliver and instruct us. He gives us correction and direction.

2.   We should look, listen, for God’s instruction. 

3.   We should not let our preferences, predispositions, expectations, distract from, get in the way of, receiving His instruction.  That is one way that we can “walk humbly with [our] God.”

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4.   We should act on what He shows us. That is one way that that we “do the right.”