Tuesday TODAY'S READINGS:
DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE
The Secret Trail
"How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few." – Matthew 7:14
My husband and I love to travel but we prefer to be away from the crowd. So whenever we go some place, we choose sites where tourists would not normally go. One time we were on an island and we wanted to bike ride around it. But there were just too many tourists that it was nearly impossible to even get our bikes moving. Then I remembered a secret biking trail that a friend mentioned to us. We were hesitant at first but we were glad we took it. It was indeed a great trail where we enjoyed both the bike ride and the beauty of the island not normally seen by the crowd.
There are teachings of the church that restrain us from doing certain things. Premarital sex, contraception and abortion are just some of them. Some people may not have a problem engaging in these acts; after all, we have the freedom to choose how we live our lives. But where our choices lead us makes a lot of difference. We can follow the crowd but just because it is acceptable to many doesn't make a thing right. More than anything, it's a matter of following God.
The choices we make for our lives lead us to either the path to death or the path to eternal life. Jane Gonzales-Rauch (mjsg2468@yahoo.com)
21
REFLECTION:
Who do we please in the way we live our lives? Is it God or people?
Dear Lord, forgive me when I tend to follow the crowd. Send forth Your Spirit that will guide me to the right path. Amen.
Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top
COMPANION
1st READING
Not only has Abraham given up a lot of his wealth, he allows Lot first choice of the lands they have before them. Lot, of course, chooses the most fertile lands and leaves Abraham with mostly semi-arid desert. This only goes to show the continued depth of trust that Abraham has in the Lord's providence. He trusts that God will provide for his needs even if the lands he moves into are incapable of provision. Later we will see Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son at God's command! Is there a more faithful and trusting man in human history? Probably only Jesus and Mary outdo Abraham in faith.
Genesis 13:2, 5-18
2 Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. 5 Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support them if they stayed together; their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. 7 There were quarrels between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and
those of Lot's. (At this time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were occupying the land.) 8 So Abram said to Lot: "Let there be no strife between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land at your disposal? Please separate from me. If you prefer the left, I will go to the right; if you prefer the right, I will go to the left." 10 Lot looked about and saw how well watered the whole Jordan Plain was as far as Zoar, like the
LORD's own garden, or like Egypt. (This was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 Lot, therefore, chose for himself the whole Jordan Plain and set out eastward. Thus they separated from each other; 12 Abram stayed in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain, pitching his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the inhabitants of Sodom were very wicked in the sins they committed against the LORD. 14 After Lot had left, the LORD said to Abram: "Look about you, and from where you are, gaze to the north and south, east and west; 15 all the land that you see I will give to you and your descendants forever. 16 I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth; if anyone could count the dust of the earth, your descendants too might be counted. 17 Set forth and walk about in the land, through its length and breadth, for to
you I will give it." 18 Abram moved his tents and went on to settle near the terebinth of Mamre, which is at Hebron. There he built an altar to the LORD.
P S A L M
Psalms 15:2-3, 3-4, 5
R: He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
2 He who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart 3 and slanders not with his tongue. (R) Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; 4 by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the LORD; (R) 5 who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be disturbed. (R)
G O S P E L
We do not reflect enough upon this statement of truth that the road to perdition is wide and the one to righteousness is narrow and difficult. Yes, God is a generous God but the sin at work in the world places tremendous temptations before us all and we need to be realistic about this in terms of protecting ourselves from the temptations and providing ourselves with an environment that will foster faith and trust in God.
ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Matthew 7:6, 12-14
6 Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. 12 Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. 14 How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few."
Job 38-42
my reflections
t h i n k: The road to perdition is wide and the one to righteousness is narrow and difficult.
God's special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________
T O D A Y ' S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for:____________________________________
_______________________________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Job 38-42
Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top
SABBATH
THE TEACHER WHO REALLY GOES BEYOND
Three paragraphs, three separate lessons. Short as our Gospel passage today seems to be, it is nevertheless loaded with this combination of compact teachings from our Lord Jesus. (Incidentally, such an occurrence is possible, from the point of view of the behind-the-scenes work. The Gospel writers understandably took some liberty in making editorial arrangements.)
Perhaps we can take our pick among the three lessons. Now even just a quick glance at the passage will make us single out the one in the middle, the famous Golden Rule.
And to think that it isn't even an original teaching of Jesus Christ. Other wise men antedating Him in history or the major religions of the world have their own versions of it. Considering the variety of beliefs, languages and cultures, it is remarkable that the core teaching is the same.
Nevertheless, Jesus Christ couldn't have put it better as He did and there lies His originality: He actually made it a summary of "the law and the prophets" — that is, the Old Testament teaching in its entirety. With this background, therefore, we now appreciate even more Jesus as Teacher.
What is even more admirable is that He would always be the first to apply His own teaching to nobody else but Himself. Wasn't His own Passion and Death the result of His criticism and castigation of the scribes and Pharisees? He did to them what His enemies in turn did as well to Him, but more: they, the chief priests and the Romans, accused Him falsely, subjected Him to a mock trial, tortured, ridiculed and crucified Him. Whereas beneath the Golden Rule is an equal, tit-for-tat conduct, the excessive treatment Jesus got only goes to show the limitation or defect of this law.
No wonder our Lord, in His promulgation of the New Law, was never contented with staying at the minimum. His challenge was to go beyond w h a t i s m e r e l y stipulated, not to be satisfied with mere compliance with the lowest requirements. Jesus comes indeed as a teacher who really goes beyond! Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB
Reflection Question:
Do I walk my talk?
Lord Jesus, You gave us an example of what a good teacher is: one who applies to one's self his own teachings. Help me to become a good teacher like You. Amen.
St. Terence, pray for us.
Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top
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