1ST READING
There
is nothing unbalanced about what Paul says here regarding marriage and
celibacy when taken within the context of the issue he is addressing.
Paul believed that Jesus would probably come again in his lifetime.
Therefore evangelization was his key priority and anything that could
distract a person in this work was to be avoided. Hence, marriage should
be placed second in importance in the light of the imperative to
evangelize. This is still today a perfectly valid position to take if
one believes that God is giving you the grace of celibacy for His
Kingdom. One of the key gifts of celibacy is ready availability to serve
the Gospel wherever and whenever
needed.
1 Corinthians 7:25-31
25 Brothers
and sisters: In regard to virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord,
but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 So this is what I think best because of the present distress: that it is a good thing for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek a separation. Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife. 28 If
you marry, however, you do not sin, nor does an unmarried woman sin if
she marries; but such people will experience affliction in their earthly
life, and I would like to spare you that. 29 I tell you, brothers, the time is running out. From now on, let those having wives act as not having them, 30 those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning, 31 those using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away.
P S A L M
Psalm 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17
R: Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
10 [11] Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father’s house. 11 [12] So shall the king desire your beauty; for he is your lord, and you must worship him. (R) 13 [14] All glorious is the king’s daughter as she enters; her raiment is threaded with spun gold. 14 [15] In embroidered apparel she is borne in to the king; behind her
the virgins of her train are brought to you. (R) 15 [16] They are borne in with gladness and joy; they enter the palace of the king. 16 [17] The place of your fathers your sons shall have; you shall make them princes through all the land. (R)
GOSPEL
Jesus
teaches that we all have responsibilities towards one another. We
cannot expect to be absolved from them because of our titles or
positions in the work of the
Gospel. If we are wealthy, we have a duty to care for the poor. In
fact, Thomas Aquinas says that it is the private sector’s responsibility
to provide social welfare in a state, not the government’s. Yes, the
government needs to be ready to help in all situations, but the private
sector is and will always be wealthier than the government, except maybe
for the various forms of communist states.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Rejoice and leap for joy! Your reward will be great in heaven.
Luke 6:20-26
20 Raising his eyes toward his disciples he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. 21 Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed
are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and
denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice
and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in
heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. 24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. 26 Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”
think: Jesus teaches us that we all have responsibilities towards one another.
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 81-85
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