Daily Reflection – Jun 14, 2017
Wednesday 14 June 2017
First Reading:2 Corinthians 3:4-11
Responsorial Psalm:
Holy is the Lord our God.
Psalm 99:5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:17-19
Today’s Note: Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel Reading:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”
Reflection:
Our qualification comes from God. (2 Corinthians 3:5)
Akashi Kaikyō Bridge in Japan has the largest central span of any suspension bridge in the world. This elegant structure, which is held up by only two towers and a network of steel cables, can look dangerously fragile, but in reality it is incredibly strong. Although its supports seem so minimal, it can withstand 178 mph winds and earthquakes of up to 8.5 magnitude. Imagine the engineering genius that went into the making of this bridge!
Did you know that you are the result of an even more wondrous feat of engineering? In today’s first reading, St. Paul calls our attention to the incredible structure that God has been building in our lives. Everything that we are, everything that we do, all the forces that we withstand—it all gives evidence of how carefully God has crafted our foundation. Like a master builder, he has laid this foundation with great precision and fortified it with his own divine grace. What a marvel you are!
Here’s even more marvelous news: God isn’t done building you! Through the grace of his sacraments, he continues to make you stronger and steadier. Day after day, he infuses you with the gifts of his Holy Spirit so that you can withstand any gale force winds that might come against you. Through the witness and encouragement of other brothers and sisters in Christ, he continues to teach you how to adapt to the pressures of temptation without snapping or crumbling.
Take some time today to stand back and admire God’s handiwork. You are a marvel! You are far stronger than you think, far more flexible than you think, and far more capable than you think. You have “the strength for everything” in Christ, who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13)! So try not to give in to fear when you face challenges today. Instead, stand firm on the foundation God has poured for you. Pray for the situation, not in “self-confidence,” but “God-confidence.”
Remember, God has given you the perfect structure for the job he has assigned you to do. Christ is with you, he is in you, and he is more than able to work through you.
“Lord, thank you for all you have built in me. Give me confidence to use your gifts.”
