Daily Mass Readings and Daily Meditation ”The Word Among Us” Saturday, 26 October 2013

Daily Mass Readings and Daily Meditation ”The Word Among Us”

Saturday, 26 October 2013

Meditation: Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Messiah Yeshua, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.* 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yeshua made me free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh; 4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; 7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God’s Torah, neither indeed can it be. 8 Those who are in the flesh can’t please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Messiah, he is not his. 10 If Messiah is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him who raised up Yeshua from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Messiah Yeshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (Messianic WEB)

Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

As he brought to a conclusion his teaching on the power of the cross of Christ, St. Paul focused his attention on the fact that Jesus did not come to condemn us but to save us. Because of original sin, the world that Jesus entered has already stood condemned. But now, because of the power of Jesus’ atonement on the cross, that condemnation has been lifted. Everyone who believes and is baptized into Christ has the promise of eternal life. Through Jesus, we can all be released from guilt and worry, from anxiety and fear. This is the truly “good news” of the gospel message!

But Paul was quick to point out that while we are free from condemnation, we are still called to live a certain way. We need to pay attention to where we are setting our minds and hearts. When we set our minds on the flesh—the drives and desires of the fallen nature—we are like children rebelling against our parents. We can harm ourselves and those around us, often not even aware of the consequences of our decisions. But when we set our minds on the Spirit—on his power and grace and the command to live in love and justice—we experience the peace and security of knowing that we are under our Father’s loving care.

Life’s experiences make it clear that it is not always easy to walk in God’s will. It’s hard sometimes to obey the Spirit as he speaks to our consciences. It’s even hard sometimes to hear the Spirit and know what he is asking of us! That’s why we can take comfort in two truths.

First, it does get easier with practice as we build up habits of obedience, trust, and surrender. And second, God is not expecting us to be perfect. We have only to try our best to submit to the Spirit. We have only to repent humbly when we fall short.

God is not asking the impossible. He is on your side. He has removed all condemnation. All he wants is for you to come and learn his way of life.

“Jesus, I love you. By your Holy Spirit, open my eyes to the calling—and the grace—you have given me.” AMEN!

Psalm 24:A Psalm by David.

1 The earth is the LORD’s, with its fullness;

the world, and those who dwell therein.

2 For he has founded it on the seas,

and established it on the floods.

3 Who may ascend to the LORD’s hill?

Who may stand in his holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart;

who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood,

and has not sworn deceitfully.

5 He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,

righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 This is the generation of those who seek Him,

who seek your face—even Jacob.(Messianic WEB)

Luke 13:1 Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Yeshua answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3  I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. 4  Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem? 5  I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”

6 He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none. 7  He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why does it waste the soil?’ 8  He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it, and fertilize it. 9  If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’”(Messianic WEB)

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