9TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green)
Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 & 14
Teach me your ways, O Lord.
1st Reading: 2 Tim 2:8-15
Remember Christ Jesus, risen from the dead, Jesus, son of David, as preached in my gospel. For this gospel I labor, and even wear chains like an evildoer, but the word of God is not chained. And so, I bear everything, for the sake of the chosen people, that they, too, may obtain the salvation given to us, in Christ Jesus, and share eternal glory. This statement is true:
If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; If we endure with him, we shall reign with him;
If we deny him, he will also deny us; If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful for he cannot deny himself.
Remind your people of these things, and urge them, in the presence of God, not to fight over words, which does no good, but only ruins those who listen. Be for God, an active and proven minister, a blameless worker, correctly handling the word of truth.
Gospel: Mk 12:28-34
A teacher of the law had been listening to this discussion and admired how Jesus answered them. So he came up and asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?”
Jesus answered, “The first is: Hear, Israel! The Lord, our God, is One Lord; and you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. And after this comes a second commandment: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these two.”
The teacher of the law said to him, “Well spoken, Master; you are right when you say that he is one, and there is no other besides him. To love him with all our heart, with all our understanding and with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves is more important than any burnt offering or sacrifice.”
Jesus approved this answer and said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Reflections
You shall love your neighbor as yourself
Genuine love of God manifests itself in compassion and generosity toward one’s neighbors. One cannot claim to love God yet remain self-absorbed and indifferent to the needs of others. On the other hand, authentic love of neighbor unites and conforms one more closely to God. Care for one’s neighbor is a form of serving and worshiping the Lord who is present in everyone. Let us ask the grace to be able to see God in every neighbor, no matter how difficult the person might be, and to be charitable towards him or her as an act of love for God.
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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