1ST READING
Holiness
is not just for our spiritual lives. For holiness to be real, it has to
affect and guide every aspect of our lives. This is why the Gospel
always has a social dimension integral to it. We cannot seek holiness
without including the way we address the social issues of our day. We
cannot remain silent in the face of injustice. We must do more than
simply speak out against injustice; we must work to end it.
Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18
1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them: ‘Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.’ 11 You shall not steal. You shall not lie or speak falsely to one another. 12 You shall not swear falsely by my name, thus profaning the name of your God. I am the Lord. 13 You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor. You shall not withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer. 14 You shall not curse the deaf, or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the Lord. 15 You
shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment. Show neither
partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty, but judge your
fellow men justly. 16 You shall not go about spreading
slander among your kin; nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor’s life is at stake. I am the Lord. 17 You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove him, do not incur sin because of him. 18 Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”
P S A L M
Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15
R: Your words, Lord, are Spirit and Life.
7 [8] The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. (R) 8 [9] The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye. (R) 9 [10] The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the
Lord are true, all of them just. (R) 14 [15] Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart find favor before you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (R)
GOSPEL
Jesus
tells us quite explicitly that we have a duty to care for those who are
poor, in prison and so on. We cannot turn a blind eye to them, even if
they are guilty of injustice or anything else. We have a duty to love
and do what we can to improve the lives of all men and women, by virtue
of the fact of the universality of human dignity.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Matthew 25:31-46
31 Jesus
said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all
the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, 32 and
all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them
one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 Then the king will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” 37 Then the righteous will answer him and say, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 When did we see you a
stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?” 40 And
the king will say to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you
did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” 41 Then
he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you accursed, into
the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I
was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.” 44 Then they will answer and say, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?” 45 He will answer them, “Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one
of these least ones, you did not do for me.” 46 And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
think: We have a duty to love and do what we can to improve the lives of all men and women.
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 Ephesians 1-3
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