Catholic Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Tuesday, 9 September 2014Meditations: 1 Corinthians 6:1-4 And how dare you take each other to court! When you think you have been wronged, does it make any sense to go before a court that knows nothing of God’s ways instead of a family of Christians? The day is coming when the world is going to stand before a jury made up of followers of Jesus. If someday you are going to rule on the world’s fate, wouldn’t it be a good idea to practice on some of these smaller cases? Why, we’re even going to judge angels! So why not these everyday affairs? As these disagreements and wrongs surface, why would you ever entrust them to the judgment of people you don’t trust in any other way?
5-6 I say this as bluntly as I can to wake you up to the stupidity of what you’re doing. Is it possible that there isn’t one levelheaded person among you who can make fair decisions when disagreements and disputes come up? I don’t believe it. And here you are taking each other to court before people who don’t even believe in God! How can they render justice if they don’t believe in the God of justice?
7-8 These court cases are an ugly blot on your community. Wouldn’t it be far better to just take it, to let yourselves be wronged and forget it? All you’re doing is providing fuel for more wrong, more injustice, bringing more hurt to the people of your own spiritual family.
9-11 Don’t you realize that this is not the way to live? Unjust people who don’t care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it, don’t qualify as citizens in God’s kingdom. A number of you know from experience what I’m talking about, for not so long ago you were on that list. Since then, you’ve been cleaned up and given a fresh start by Jesus, our Master, our Messiah, and by our God present in us, the Spirit.
Saint Peter Claver, Priest
Do you not know? (1 Corinthians 6:3)
After confronting the Corinthians on immoral practices, Paul took dead aim at the lawsuits that were springing up between believers. Evidently, the members of the church there were finding it hard to resolve their disputes as brothers and sisters in Christ and were resorting instead to the Roman legal system. So Paul asked three times, “Do you not know … ?” to remind them of what life is supposed to be like when it is marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
What about you? Do you not know that the gospel is “the power of God for … salvation” (Romans 1:16)? Do you not know that you were “washed … sanctified … justified in the name of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 6:11)? Do you not know that you really can “put away” your “old self” and “put on the new self,” created to be like God (Ephesians 4:22, 24)?
Losing sight of the gospel not only waters down our experience of God’s presence; it also opens the door to other problems. One lapse can lead to another, until we wonder how it ever got so bad. Paul had to remind the Corinthians that they belonged to Christ not just so that they would have a more positive outlook but so that they would begin treating one another with respect. As far as Paul was concerned, if they started relying on the power of the Spirit rather than a secular legal system, they would find it much easier to resolve their disputes peacefully and lovingly.
This little episode from the Corinthian church tells us how much we need the Spirit. When we ask him to help keep us clear on the “Do you not know” truths of Christianity, our lives change. We develop a heavenly perspective that keeps us joyful in trouble. We naturally seek to be generous in our relationships. We find it easier to let go of grudges and to forgive as Jesus has forgiven us. The Holy Spirit wants to convince us that the gospel brings fullness of life, not just more of the same old life. So let’s lift our hearts to the Lord and ask for ongoing revelation of all that is ours in Christ.
“Thank you, Father, for revealing the gospel of power, of transformation, and of freedom. Give me grace to live in the fullness of this gospel and not wander from your promises.” Amen!
Psalms 149:1-4 Hallelujah!
Sing to God a brand-new song,
praise him in the company of all who love him.
Let all Israel celebrate their Sovereign Creator,
Zion’s children exult in their King.
Let them praise his name in dance;
strike up the band and make great music!
And why? Because God delights in his people,
festoons plain folk with salvation garlands!
5-9 Let true lovers break out in praise,
sing out from wherever they’re sitting,
Shout the high praises of God,
brandish their swords in the wild sword-dance—
A portent of vengeance on the God-defying nations,
a signal that punishment’s coming,
Their kings chained and hauled off to jail,
their leaders behind bars for good,
The judgment on them carried out to the letter
—and all who love God in the seat of honor!
Hallelujah!
Luke 6:The Twelve Apostles
12-16 At about that same time he climbed a mountain to pray. He was there all night in prayer before God. The next day he summoned his disciples; from them he selected twelve he designated as apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter,
Andrew, his brother,
James,
John,
Philip,
Bartholomew,
Matthew,
Thomas,
James, son of Alphaeus,
Simon, called the Zealot,
Judas, son of James,
Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
You’re Blessed
17-21 Coming down off the mountain with them, he stood on a plain surrounded by disciples, and was soon joined by a huge congregation from all over Judea and Jerusalem, even from the seaside towns of Tyre and Sidon. They had come both to hear him and to be cured of their ailments. Those disturbed by evil spirits were healed. Everyone was trying to touch him—so much energy surging from him, so many people healed! Then he spoke:
You’re blessed when you’ve lost it all.
God’s kingdom is there for the finding.
You’re blessed when you’re ravenously hungry.
Then you’re ready for the Messianic meal.
You’re blessed when the tears flow freely.
Joy comes with the morning.
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