Daily Mass Readings and Daily Meditation ”The Word Among Us”
Tuesday, 5 November 2013
Meditation: Romans 12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Messiah, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; 7 or service, let us give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with liberality; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. 10 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another; 11 not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 contributing to the needs of the holy ones; given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits.(Messianic WEB)
31st Week in Ordinary Time
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15)
This wonderful passage is full of advice for getting along with people: anticipate one another in showing honor. Exercise hospitality. Do not grow slack in zeal. Endure in affliction.
This may seem like a very demanding set of directions, but as in everything else, Jesus doesn’t just show us the way; he gives us the grace we need. Recall how he showed profound respect to everyone who approached him, from social outcasts to fault-finding officials. Even when he was weary, he cared for his followers, teaching them and miraculously feeding them. His desire to love as his Father loves never grew weary.
Even more important than Jesus’ example, however, is his presence in us through the Spirit. Christ makes it possible for us to love people beyond our natural inclinations. How? By helping us to know his mind and heart so that we can think and act with him.
On a natural level, we can often tell when another person is rejoicing or weeping. But Jesus wants to show us what fills him with joy and what grieves his heart.
Let’s start with what grieves the Lord. Like the master in today’s Gospel, he is sad when we’re too busy to accept his invitation to the banquet of life. His heart is heavy, too, when we put up obstacles that hold other people back from him: when we are selfish with our time, perhaps, or when we withhold forgiveness.
What makes him rejoice? He is thrilled when he sees us take even the smallest steps to set aside selfishness. He smiles every time we treat each other with respect—especially those we have a hard time loving. Every time we forgive a hurt or reach out to someone who is suffering or marginalized, his joy increases. He loves it when we are cheerful and encouraging or when we are generous. In other words, Jesus rejoices every time we love each other as he has loved us!
Let’s join our hearts with Jesus’ heart today. As we rejoice and grieve with him, our hearts will change. And as our hearts change, we will change the world!
“Jesus, I long to enter into your heart. Let me become your ambassador to a hurting world.”AMEN!
Psalm 131:A Song of Ascents. By David.
1 LORD, my heart isn’t haughty, nor my eyes lofty;
nor do I concern myself with great matters,
or things too wonderful for me.
2 Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with his mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 Israel, hope in the LORD,
from this time forward and forever more.(Messianic WEB)
Luke 14:15 When one of those who sat at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is he who will feast in God’s Kingdom!”
16 But he said to him, “A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many people. 17 He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’ 18 They all as one began to make excuses.
“The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please have me excused.’
19 “Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go try them out. Please have me excused.’
20 “Another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I can’t come.’
21 “That servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’
22 “The servant said, ‘Lord, it is done as you commanded, and there is still room.’
23 “The lord said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you that none of those men who were invited will taste of my supper.’”(Messianic WEB)
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