Reading (EPH 4:1-6)
Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace; one Body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Responsorial Psalm (PS 24:1-2, 3-4AB, 5-6)
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, a reward from God his savior. Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel (LK 12:54-59)
Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”
Reflection
In today’s Gospel, Jesus urges us to use our intellect to understand what the right thing to do is, and do it! If we know that clouds mean rain, why do we refuse to deduce that sin will bring us to damnation, a painful time in purgatory, or in the best case, to more suffering here on earth? Jesus is urging us to settle (or not engage in) any type of argument, altercation, hatred or dispute; OR IT WILL HAVE BAD CONSEQUENCES FOR US… Jesus doesn’t lie, he is not manipulative, SUCH THINGS WILL HARM US; but above all, my fellow sinners, they will harm Jesus’ and Mary’s heart. Let’s stop that nonsense, it is evil.
Let’s learn from this instruction given by Jesus to Saint Faustina (her Diary, 1446): The Lord said to me “It should be of no concern to you how anyone else acts; you are to be My living reflection, through love and mercy”. I answered, "Lord, but they often take advantage of my goodness. " “That makes no difference, My daughter. That is no concern of yours. As for you, be always merciful toward other people, and especially toward sinners”. Saint Faustina, pray for us!
