Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Sunday, 23 February 2014
- Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Matthew 5: 38 “You have heard that it was said,
‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’[a] 39 But I tell you, don’t
resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to
him the other also. 40 If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have
your cloak also. 41 Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42
Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from
you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your
neighbor[b] and hate your enemy.’[c] 44 But I tell you, love your enemies,
bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those
who mistreat you and persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father
who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and
sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you,
what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you
only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax
collectors[d] do the same? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your
Father in heaven is perfect.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 5:38 Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21
b. Matthew 5:43 Leviticus 19:18
c. Matthew 5:43 not in the Bible, but see Qumran Manual of
Discipline Ix, 21-26
d. Matthew 5:47 NU reads “Gentiles” instead of “tax collectors”.
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Be perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
Perfect? Isn’t that impossible? Let’s take a look.
Before Jesus spoke these words, a workable system was already in
place: “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” (Deuteronomy 19:21). This system was
based on a kind of justice that helped to limit retribution. No double or
triple damage claims were allowed. I couldn’t kill someone if he simply stole
my camel. The most he would have to do is lose one of his camels to make
everything “even.” But Jesus wanted more than this equal-retribution approach.
He wanted mercy to become the law of the land.
This new standard can seem unfair because it involves turning
the other cheek, going an extra mile, and loving our enemies. We don’t always
do this with our family members; how are we supposed to do it with people who
hate us?
When we are at odds with someone, unforgiveness is usually at
the heart of the matter. So Jesus calls us to forgive. Of course, he doesn’t
expect us to feel the same amount of affection for everyone. But he does want
us to treat everyone, even our enemies and those who have hurt us, as God
treats them: with compassion, mercy, and patience. He wants us to pray for them
and to wish them well.
This kind of love not only releases grace to the other person;
it also releases God’s grace upon us. Recent psychological studies back this
up, in fact. They show that holding unforgiveness can lead to depression. It
can fill us with resentment, make us cynical, and even affect our physical
health. But people who practice forgiveness tend to be healthier and more at
peace. So the more we try to follow Jesus’ teaching, the more we benefit as
well!
Do you want to be perfect? Try your best to forgive. It may seem
impossible, but with God’s help, all things are possible.
“Lord, make me an instrument of your mercy and peace!” Amen!
Leviticus 19:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all
the congregation of the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘You shall be holy;
for I, Yahweh your God, am holy.
17 “‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall
surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
18 “‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against
the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am
Yahweh.
Psalm 103: By David.
1 Praise Yahweh, my soul!
All that is within me,
praise his holy name!
2 Praise Yahweh, my soul,
and don’t forget all
his benefits;
3 who forgives all your sins;
who heals all your
diseases;
4 who redeems your life from destruction;
who crowns you with
loving kindness and tender mercies;
8 Yahweh is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger, and
abundant in loving kindness.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
nor repaid us for our
iniquities.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed
our transgressions from us.
13 Like a father has compassion on his children,
so Yahweh has
compassion on those who fear him.
1 Corinthians 3: 16 Don’t you know that you are a
temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s
temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are.
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise
among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. 19 For
the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has
taken the wise in their craftiness.”[a] 20 And again, “The Lord knows the
reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.”[b] 21 Therefore let no one boast
in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or
the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All are
yours, 23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 3:19 Job 5:13
b. 1 Corinthians 3:20 Psalm 94:11
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:
(Leviticus 19:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all
the congregation of the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘You shall be holy;
for I, Yahweh your God, am holy.
17 “‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall
surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
18 “‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against
the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am
Yahweh.
Psalm 103: By David.
1 Praise Yahweh, my soul!
All that is within me,
praise his holy name!
2 Praise Yahweh, my soul,
and don’t forget all
his benefits;
3 who forgives all your sins;
who heals all your
diseases;
4 who redeems your life from destruction;
who crowns you with
loving kindness and tender mercies;
8 Yahweh is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger, and
abundant in loving kindness.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
nor repaid us for our
iniquities.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed
our transgressions from us.
13 Like a father has compassion on his children,
so Yahweh has
compassion on those who fear him.
1 Corinthians 3: 16 Don’t you know that you are a
temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s
temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are.
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise
among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. 19 For
the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has
taken the wise in their craftiness.”[a] 20 And again, “The Lord knows the
reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.”[b] 21 Therefore let no one boast
in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or
the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All are
yours, 23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 3:19 Job 5:13
b. 1 Corinthians 3:20 Psalm 94:11
Matthew 5: 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for
an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’[a] 39 But I tell you, don’t resist him who is
evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. 41
Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks
you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your
neighbor[b] and hate your enemy.’[c] 44 But I tell you, love your enemies,
bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those
who mistreat you and persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father
who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and
sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you,
what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you
only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax
collectors[d] do the same? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your
Father in heaven is perfect.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 5:38 Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21
b. Matthew 5:43 Leviticus 19:18
c. Matthew 5:43 not in the Bible, but see Qumran Manual of
Discipline Ix, 21-26
d. Matthew 5:47 NU reads “Gentiles” instead of “tax collectors”.)
1. In the first reading from Leviticus 19, the Lord commands us
to: “Be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy.” He then provides some commands
on how to be holy including: “You shall not bear hatred for your brother or
sister in your heart” and “You shall love your enemy as yourself.” How are you
doing in living up to these commands? What steps can you take to do better?
2. In the Responsorial Psalm, we hear these words regarding the
Lords forgiveness and mercy: “He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your
ills” and “He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and
compassion.” In what ways have you experienced the Lord’s forgiveness and
mercy?
3. In the second reading, St. Paul tells us that we are “the
temple of God” and “the Spirit of God dwells in you.” He goes on to say that
“the temple of God, which you are, is holy.” What role does the Holy Spirit,
the love of God poured into our hearts (Romans 5:5), play in how you love and
forgive others?
4. The Gospel reading presents us with these daunting commands:
“love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” In what way is it
necessary to personally know and experience the Lord’s love and forgiveness, in
order to love, forgive, and pray for those who have wronged you? How has this
impacted your own ability to forgive others as the Lord has forgiven you?
5. The meditation ends with these words: “Do you want to be
perfect? Try your best to forgive. It may seem impossible, but with God’s help,
all things are possible.” Jesus’ command to be perfect appears right after he
explains how to treat our enemies. Why do you think that how we treat our
enemies can help us move toward that daunting goal of perfection?
6. Take some time now to pray that you would experience more
deeply your heavenly Father’s transforming love and to pray for the grace to
forgive your enemies. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the
starting point.
“Lord, make me an instrument of your mercy and peace!” Amen!
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