1ST READING
The world will seek to distract us from our focus on faith, saying that it is not scientific and that we (the world) know better. Yes, we can explain the scientific realities much better than we could 2,000 years ago, but this does not mean that we have also plumbed the depths of the meaning of life per se, or many of the experiences associated with it, such as suffering and death.
Wisdom 9:13-18 (Micah 5:1-4 or Romans 8:28-30)
13 Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what our Lord intends? 14 For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. 15 For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. 16 And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out? 17 Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your Holy Spirit from on high? 18 And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.
P S A L M
Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17 (or Psalm 13:6, 6)
R: In every age, O Lord , you have been our refuge.
3 You turn man back to dust, saying, “Return, O children of men.” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night. (R) 5 You make an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass, 6 which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades. (R) 12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. 13 Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! (R) 14 Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. 17 And may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands! (R)
2nd READING
We do not accept the legitimacy of slavery today as people did 2,000 years ago. Yes, there are still pockets of slavery today but this is against the better wisdom and understanding of our humanity and the dignity of the human person. Should Jesus have spoken out against slavery more specifically? Maybe He could have done so, but would it have made much of a difference? He had a particular mission to expose slavery to sin and to deal with that.
Philemon 9-10, 12-17
9 I, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus, 10 urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary. 15 Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord . 17 So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
GOSPEL
Does Jesus want us to hate our family and friends? No. However, He wants us to put serving in His Kingdom over and above any allegiance we might have to family or friends. It is the truth of the Kingdom of God that is paramount. As disciples of Jesus, we need to ensure our decisions are measured against the yardstick of the truths of the Kingdom and not anything else.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Let your face shine upon your servant; and teach me your laws.
Luke 14:25-33 (or Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23 ) 25 Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, 26 “If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? 29 Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him 30 and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ 31 Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 32 But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 33 In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”
think: Jesus wants us to put serving in His Kingdom over and above any allegiance we might have to family and friends.
GOSPEL PSALM
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today_
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Jeremiah 27-30
SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
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SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
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HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
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