1ST READING
The
principle at stake here is that when interpreting the law and how it
should be applied in a given situation, make sure that you are primarily
guided by the call of true love. Even if you know that what you are
doing is morally correct, if it would scandalize others and then cause
them to sin because they cannot align their consciences with that truth,
then we should avoid scandalizing the person to the point of refraining
to act, provided that such is not sinful in itself.
1 Corinthians 8:1-7, 11-13
1 Brothers and sisters: Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up. 2 If anyone supposes he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if one loves God, one is known by him. 4 So about the eating of meat sacrificed to idols: we know that there is no idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5 Indeed,
even though there are so-called gods in heaven and on earth (there are, to be sure, many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet
for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things are and for
whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are
and through whom we exist. 7 But
not all have this knowledge. There are some who have been so used to
idolatry up until now that, when they eat meat sacrificed to idols,
their conscience, which is weak, is defiled. 11 Thus through your knowledge, the weak person is brought to
destruction, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 When you sin in this way against your brothers and wound their consciences, weak as they are, you are sinning against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause my brother to sin.
P S A L M
Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14, 23-24
R: Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
1 O Lord, you have probed me and you know me; 2 you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. 3 My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. (R) 13 Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. 14 I give
you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works. (R) 23 Probe me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts. 24 See if my way is crooked, and lead me in the way of old. (R)
GOSPEL
This
is what true love boils down to — loving others even when there is
little or no hope of being loved in return. A number of times in the
Scriptures, this dynamic is made to give witness to the depth of God’s
love for us in that He sent Jesus to die for us even while we were still
sinners (Romans 5; John 3:16; 1 John). This is an incredibly powerful
argument because we know its corollary is true, namely that we are
inclined to do a good deed in return for another good deed.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.
Luke 6:27-38
27 Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 To
the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well,
and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your
tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it
back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. 34 If
you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is
that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount.
35 But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and
lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will
be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful
and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful. 37 Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. 38 Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your
lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
think: This is what true love boils down to — loving others even when there is little or no hope of being loved in return.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Psalm 86-90
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