Daily Reflection – Feb 12, 2017

Sunday 12 February 2017

First Reading: Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20
Responsorial Psalm:
Happy are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Psalm 118(119):1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:6-10
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:17-37

Today’s Note: Sixth Sunday 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.
I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you,
whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment;
and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin;
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’
will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.

“You have heard that it was said,
You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin,
tear it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin,
cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

“It was also said,
Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.
But I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife – unless the marriage is unlawful –
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all;
not by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’
Anything more is from the evil one.”

Reflection:

We speak God’s wisdom . . . for our glory. (1 Corinthians 2:7)

St. Paul had a special talent for packing a lot of information into a few sentences, and today’s second reading is no exception. So let’s try to unpack these verses.

First, Paul uses the word “mystery” to explain God’s plan. We usually use the word “mystery” to describe something beyond our comprehension, something we can’t explain. But that’s not what Paul means. He is speaking about something concealed, not confounding. And that mystery is God’s plan to save us through his Son, Jesus.

Paul goes on to say that what was once concealed has now been made known, but many failed to accept it. For them, the gospel has become either a “stumbling block” or “foolishness” (1 Corinthians 1:23).

But that’s not us! The mystery of God’s plan has been revealed to us—through the Scriptures, through the Church, and, most powerfully, through Jesus himself.

Paul goes on to say that this mystery, this plan of God, is so grand that it includes God’s desire to glorify us.

Think of the kind of transformation that lies behind these words. Whether Paul is speaking about our being glorified once we reach heaven or our being changed into God’s image while on earth, the key words are “for our glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7). What an amazing promise!

Only one response can match such a wonderful plan: to offer the Lord our hearts in worship and praise every day. So don’t let these words slip by too quickly when you hear them proclaimed at Mass today. Take them into your heart, and treasure them all day long. Fix this truth in your heart today, and let it fill you with wonder. You are destined to be—and you are becoming—glorious and magnificent. You are becoming holy. Not only that, but you are going to be great and awesome in heaven—no matter how small and insignificant you may feel here on earth.

“Jesus, I rejoice in the mystery of your plan. Thank you, Lord, for offering me a share in your glory!”