Readings for Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Gn 13:2, 5-18
The blessings of the Lord follow Abram and Lot as they return to the north from the Negeb. With prosperity comes crowding of the herds so they agree to move apart with Lot moving toward the east (near Sodom) and Abram staying in Canaan. God again tells Abram that the land is for him and his decedents.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Psalm 15 is a didactic song instructing the faithful to follow God’s precepts and explaining that these actions lead to God’s support and grace.
Gospel Mt 7:6, 12-14
This selection contains three popular saying of the Lord contained within the body of the Sermon on the Mount. The “pearls before swine” saying has been somewhat problematic for scholars. It probably refers to proclaiming the Gospel to those who reject it most strenuously – the scribes and Pharisees. This is followed by a shortened passage exposing the “Golden Rule”. The passage concludes with the analogy of the “narrow gate”. The narrow gate refers here to following the precepts of the Lord and keeping the discipline of the faith. These precepts form a boundary for actions – “How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.”
Reflection:
How many times in the psalms have we heard the psalmist lament that his enemies encamp around him. He looks to the left and to the right but does not find help for his cause. That is the sort of image the Lord gives us with his description of the narrow gate. The Church has faithfully provided precepts and laws that guide the actions of the faithful and provides a compass for making moral decisions in our daily lives. The path is straight forward but it is narrow.
How often do we step off the edge? How frequently do we find ourselves saying “Well, just this once I can skip Mass” or “I can’t fast when I am required to attend a business lunch.” Or perhaps it is less clear cut. Perhaps it’s walking past the person in need because “I know I should help that person, I just don’t have the time right now.” Or even more problematic – “I know my brother is in rough financial shape but loaning him money would mean I could not play golf this month.” That is when the edges of the narrow path become harder to see.
We reflected yesterday about separating our love for the person from our detestation of the evil committed. Today we are reminded that our lives are a series of choices. We can choose to follow the narrow path, bounded by God’s injunction that we love one another and love Him, or we can follow a much broader path where we only love ourselves and do only those things that are good for us.
Today let us pray that our eyes are clear as they see the path before us. We ask God for the strength to stay firmly on the path, the narrow path that leads to eternal life. Though enemies surround us and temptations reach for us from all sides, we ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to keep us rooted in our love for Christ and our eyes fixed firmly on Him.
Pax
[1] After Links Expire
[2] “Temple of Preah Khan” Photo provided by http://www.downtheroad.org/ the Ongoing Global Bicycle Touring Adventure
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Gn 13:2, 5-18
The blessings of the Lord follow Abram and Lot as they return to the north from the Negeb. With prosperity comes crowding of the herds so they agree to move apart with Lot moving toward the east (near Sodom) and Abram staying in Canaan. God again tells Abram that the land is for him and his decedents.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Psalm 15 is a didactic song instructing the faithful to follow God’s precepts and explaining that these actions lead to God’s support and grace.
Gospel Mt 7:6, 12-14
This selection contains three popular saying of the Lord contained within the body of the Sermon on the Mount. The “pearls before swine” saying has been somewhat problematic for scholars. It probably refers to proclaiming the Gospel to those who reject it most strenuously – the scribes and Pharisees. This is followed by a shortened passage exposing the “Golden Rule”. The passage concludes with the analogy of the “narrow gate”. The narrow gate refers here to following the precepts of the Lord and keeping the discipline of the faith. These precepts form a boundary for actions – “How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.”
Reflection:
How many times in the psalms have we heard the psalmist lament that his enemies encamp around him. He looks to the left and to the right but does not find help for his cause. That is the sort of image the Lord gives us with his description of the narrow gate. The Church has faithfully provided precepts and laws that guide the actions of the faithful and provides a compass for making moral decisions in our daily lives. The path is straight forward but it is narrow.
How often do we step off the edge? How frequently do we find ourselves saying “Well, just this once I can skip Mass” or “I can’t fast when I am required to attend a business lunch.” Or perhaps it is less clear cut. Perhaps it’s walking past the person in need because “I know I should help that person, I just don’t have the time right now.” Or even more problematic – “I know my brother is in rough financial shape but loaning him money would mean I could not play golf this month.” That is when the edges of the narrow path become harder to see.
We reflected yesterday about separating our love for the person from our detestation of the evil committed. Today we are reminded that our lives are a series of choices. We can choose to follow the narrow path, bounded by God’s injunction that we love one another and love Him, or we can follow a much broader path where we only love ourselves and do only those things that are good for us.
Today let us pray that our eyes are clear as they see the path before us. We ask God for the strength to stay firmly on the path, the narrow path that leads to eternal life. Though enemies surround us and temptations reach for us from all sides, we ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to keep us rooted in our love for Christ and our eyes fixed firmly on Him.
Pax
[1] After Links Expire
[2] “Temple of Preah Khan” Photo provided by http://www.downtheroad.org/ the Ongoing Global Bicycle Touring Adventure
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