Frederick, Maryland,
United States - Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Friday, 4 April 2014 -
Catholic Meditations
Meditations: Book of
Wisdom 2:1 For, not thinking rightly,
they said among themselves:
“Brief and troubled is
our lifetime;
there is no remedy for
our dying,
nor is anyone known to
have come back from Hades.
12 Let us lie in wait
for the righteous one, because he is annoying to us;
he opposes our actions,
Reproaches us for
transgressions of the law
and charges us with
violations of our training.
13 He professes to have
knowledge of God
and styles himself a
child of the LORD.
14 To us he is the
censure of our thoughts;
merely to see him is a
hardship for us,
15 Because his life is
not like that of others,
and different are his
ways.
16 He judges us debased;
he holds aloof from our
paths as from things impure.
He calls blest the
destiny of the righteous
and boasts that God is
his Father.
17 Let us see whether his
words be true;
let us find out what
will happen to him in the end.
18 For if the righteous
one is the son of God, God will help him
and deliver him from the
hand of his foes.
19 With violence and
torture let us put him to the test
that we may have proof
of his gentleness
and try his patience.
20 Let us condemn him to
a shameful death;
for according to his own
words, God will take care of him.”
21 These were their
thoughts, but they erred;
for their wickedness
blinded them,
22 And they did not know
the hidden counsels of God;
neither did they count
on a recompense for holiness
nor discern the innocent
souls’ reward.
Saint Isidore, Bishop
and Doctor of the Church
Merely to see him is a
hardship for us. (Wisdom 2:14)
Have you ever looked in
one of those funny, curvy mirrors that distort your image? If you move one way,
you look squat and fat. If you move in another direction, you are tall and thin
with oversized feet.
Sometimes, you might
actually buy a cheap mirror that is distorted just enough to make you look tall
and slender. Unfortunately, when you look in a more properly calibrated mirror,
the truth can be a little off-putting! Some people might even get angry at the
perfected mirror, even though what it shows them is closer to reality.
Today’s reading from the
Book of Wisdom tells us how Jesus would come as the perfect mirror for all of
us. He would do this by showing us his own deep and abiding love for us.
Looking at such purity and humility, we can’t help but be confronted with our
own faults and failings. And at times, that confrontation can cause us to react
harshly or defensively.
Throughout the New
Testament, you see different people’s reactions to the image of themselves they
saw in Jesus. Some immediately repented and began to live a more pure life.
Others were so disturbed that they tried to destroy him so that they wouldn’t
have to be confronted with their sins again.
Sadly, the ones who
responded this way missed a major part of Jesus’ reflection: his mercy. Jesus
knows us through and through, and he still loves us. His grace is endless and
always available, ready to help us if we ask. He loves us so much that he can
watch us sin, still see our potential, and offer to set us on the path that
leads us back to him and his heavenly home.
Today, think of how you
feel when you come face-to-face with the truth about yourself in the Sacrament
of Reconciliation. Remember that even though you may sin, you are still God’s
“very good” creation (Genesis 1:31), filled with the potential to do so much
good. Let God’s vision for you lift you up and move you to repentance. Let his
grace help you look in the mirror with joy, not anger.
“Lord, show me my true
reflection, and give me the courage and patience to respond to your love. Come
and make me into a mirror of your own goodness.” Amen.
Psalm 34:17 The
righteous cry, and Yahweh hears,
and delivers them out of all their
troubles.
18 Yahweh is near to
those who have a broken heart,
and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
19 Many are the
afflictions of the righteous,
but Yahweh delivers him out of them all.
20 He protects all of
his bones.
Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall kill the
wicked.
Those who hate the righteous shall be
condemned.
23 The LORD is the
redeemer of the souls of his servants;
and none are condemned
who take refuge in him.
John 7:1 After these
things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn’t walk in Judea, because
the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths,
was at hand.
10 But when his brothers
had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in
secret.
25 Therefore some of
them of Jerusalem said, “Isn’t this he whom they seek to kill? 26 Behold, he
speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed
know that this is truly the Christ? 27 However we know where this man comes
from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.”
28 Jesus therefore cried
out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know me, and know where I am
from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don’t
know. 29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.”
30 They sought therefore
to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.
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