7TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green)
Ps 49:14-15ab, 15cd-16, 17-18, 19-20
Blessed are the poor in spirit;
the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
1st Reading: Jas 5:1-6
So, now, for what concerns the rich, cry and weep, for the misfortunes that are coming upon you. Your riches are rotting, and your clothes, eaten up by the moths. Your silver and gold have rusted, and their rust grows into a witness against you. It will consume your flesh, like fire, for having piled up riches, in these, the last days.
You deceived the workers who harvested your fields, but, now, their wages cry out to the heavens. The reapers’ complaints have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You lived in luxury and pleasure in this world, thus, fattening yourselves for the day of slaughter. You have easily condemned, and killed the innocent since they offered no resistance.
Gospel: Mk 9:41-50
If anyone gives you a drink of water because you belong to Christ and bear his name, truly, I say to you, he will not go without reward.
If anyone should cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble and sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a great millstone around his neck.
If your hand makes you fall into sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life without a hand, than with two hands to go to hell, to the fire that never goes out. And if your foot makes you fall into sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life without a foot, than with both feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye makes you fall into sin, tear it out! It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, keeping both eyes, to be thrown into hell, where the worms that eat them never die, and the fire never goes out. The fi re itself will preserve them.
Salt is a good thing; but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.
Reflections
If your hand makes you fall into sin, cut it off
James not only mocked the rich for placing their trust in their wealth that will not endure, but for exploiting the poor in order to further enrich themselves. Strong words indeed!
In contrast, we strive for material blessings that are honestly gained. We pledge to live a life of integrity. We commit to treat our workers humanely. And we shun exploitation of the earth. Lofty ideals indeed!
But what use is being a Christian, proclaiming to be a follower of Jesus Christ, if we will not strive — with the aid of grace — for what God has called us to be.
Daily Reflection 2018
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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
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