31ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 2 / (Green)
Ps 112:1b-2, 4-5, 9
Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
1st Reading: Rom 13:8-10
Do not be in debt to anyone. Let this be the only debt of one to another: Love. The one who loves his or her neighbor fulfills the law. For the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not covet, and whatever else, are summarized in this one: You will love your neighbor as yourself. Love cannot do the neighbor any harm; so love fulfills the whole law.
Gospel: Lk 14:25-33
One day, when large crowds were walking along with Jesus, he turned and said to them, “If you come to me, unwilling to sacrifice your love for your father and mother, your spouse and children, your brothers and sisters, and indeed yourself, you cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not follow me, carrying his own cross, cannot be my disciple.
Do you build a house without first sitting down to count the cost, to see whether you have enough to complete it? Otherwise, if you, have laid the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone will make fun of you: ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.‘
And when a king wages war against another king, does he go to fight without first sitting down to consider whether his ten thousand can stand against the twenty thousand of his opponent? And if not, while the other is still a long way off, he sends messengers for peace talks. In the same way, none of you may become my disciple, if he doesn‘t give up everything he has.
REFLECTION:
“Do not be in debt to anyone“ “The only debt of one to another is Love“ These passages must move one to a serious examination of conscience and of himself. St. Paul reminds us all, that nothing is more important than love. In fact this is the only thing God asks from us to “love one another“ (Jn. 15:17). “If you love me, you will do my commandment“ (Jn. 14:15). Blessed Teresa of Calcutta exhorts all: “It is not the effort that counts but the amount of love that one puts in his work.“ St. John of Cross says; “In the evening of our life, we shall be judged by love.“
The cost of discipleship is high. The conditions to follow Jesus are not easy. However, if one loves Jesus everything will be smooth. No one will refuse. Love conquers all.
Daily Reflection
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
Readings and Reflections
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