TUESDAY OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, OCTOBER 12, 2021

MASS READINGS

A Reading from the Epistle of Paul to Rom 1:16-25

Brothers and sisters: I am not ashamed of the Gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek. For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous by faith will live.”

The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness. For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them. Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse; for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. While claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes.

Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

REFLECTION

"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever."

Who do we trust?

With so much information and misinformation in the world, do we keep a blind eye and follow the status quo of the news, whichever outlet we usually watch? Or are we sick of so much data that we simply stopped listening to the talking heads in the media?

One of the PAPA Principles is Critical Thinking. This is to put things into their proper context. We need to interpret the parable of our lives. Move from hearing, to listening, to understanding.

First thing: we will not think unless we have a problem. We try and try to find a solution, and we cannot eat or sleep unless we solve this problem. This is the reality of suffering.

There are at least 9 foundations of critical thinking. One is to know our own point of view. The frame of reference. We might have assumptions, opinions. These might not always be right. We need to discern these without emotion so we can find out if we are wrong. Then, correct the wrong.

If we don't stop to discern things, we will be lured into the lies of the world. We will believe anything we are told, and slowly start removing God further and further away from the center of our lives. Until we replace Him with any lie that might be convenient for us.

Many Catholics don't really think critically anymore, and have adopted the Protestant mindset, but are unaware of it.

This is how we have lost reverence in Church and for the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.

Prayer, spending time to know and love Our Lord, is the first step to counter our own errors and prejudices.

For over 15 months now, our spiritual director, Father Michael, has been teaching us the techniques of critical thinking, and true Catholic Bible study via Face ZBS.

This is a wonderful resource open to all that would like to learn more about our Catholic Faith. About Jesus Our Lord.

Come join us every Wednesday for our Zoom Face ZBS sessions. Just drop us a note in our PAPAMio website and we will let you know how.

God bless y'all!