8TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Justin, martyr
Psalter: Week 4 / (Red)
Ps 96:10, 11-12, 13
The Lord comes to judge the earth.
1st Reading: 1 P 4:7-13
The end of all things is near; keep your minds calm and sober for prayer. Above all, let your love for one another be sincere, for love covers a multitude of sins. Welcome one another into your houses without complaining. Serve one another with the gifts each of you received, thus becoming good managers of the varied graces of God. If you speak, deliver the word of God; if you have a special ministry, let it be seen as God’s power, so that, in everything, God may be glorified, in Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
My dear people, do not be surprised at the testing, by fire, which is taking place among you, as though something strange were happening to you. Instead, you should be glad to share in the sufferings of Christ, because, on the day his glory is revealed, you will also fully rejoice.
Gospel: Mk 11:11-26*
So Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. (…)
The next day, when they were leaving Bethany, he felt hungry. In the distance, he noticed a fig tree covered with leaves; so he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. Then Jesus said to the fig tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit!” And his disciples heard these words.
When they reached Jerusalem, Jesus went to the temple, and began to drive away all the people he saw buying and selling there. (…)
(…) “Does not God say in the Scriptures: My house will be called a House of Prayer for all the nations? But you have turned it into a den of thieves.”
(…) Early next morning as they walked along the road, the disciples saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter then said to him, “Master, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered.” And Jesus replied, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and have no doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will happen, it will be done for you. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it shall be done for you. And when you stand to pray, if you have anything against anyone, forgive, so that your heavenly Father may also forgive your sins.”
Reflections
Let your love for one another be sincere,
For love covers a multitude of sins
Peter instructs the members of the Church in Jerusalem to serve one another by using the charisms God has given them for the good of the community and, by doing so, glorify the Lord. In stark contrast, we are presented the image of a fig tree that does not utilize its gifts and its potential for doing good. We are also presented the negative image of the moneychangers and dove sellers who use their talents and skills for selfish purposes. We pray for the grace to use all the Lord has given us in service of others.
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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