Reading 1
Rom 4:1-8
Brothers and sisters:
What can we say that Abraham found,
our ancestor according to the flesh?
Indeed, if Abraham was justified on the basis of his works,
he has reason to boast;
but this was not so in the sight of God.
For what does the Scripture say?
Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
A worker's wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due.
But when one does not work,
yet believes in the one who justifies the ungodly,
his faith is credited as righteousness.
So also David declares the blessedness of the person
to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven
and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 32:1b-2, 5, 11
R. (see 7) I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, "I confess my faults to the LORD,"
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just;
exult, all you upright of heart.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Gospel
Lk 12:1-7
At that time:
So many people were crowding together
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
"Beware of the leaven'that is, the hypocrisy'of the Pharisees.
"There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows."
Meditation: Luke 12:1-7
Beware.” (Luke 12:1)
Hypocrisy, unbelief, unspoken judgments, hatred, resentment, lust, every kind of base desire—all will be brought to light and shouted from the rooftops (Luke 12:3). (Have a nice day!) It’s enough to ruin your day just thinking about it. But the truth is, we all carry around secrets, hoping that they will never be revealed. Like Adam and Eve, we all try to hide the things that make us feel ashamed and guilty.
But Jesus, the Good Shepherd, came bringing good news, not bad. And today’s good news is this: You are precious in God’s sight. “You are worth more than many sparrows” (Luke 12:7). If God knows and values every single sparrow, sold five for roughly one cent each, how much more does he know and care for you! He loves you so much, and values you so dearly, that you never need to keep your “hidden” self from him. He knows you through and through— and still he loves you with an everlasting love.
So don’t be afraid of God. Never. Instead, get to know him. Spend time with him. When you are at Mass, thank him for welcoming you into his house and into his presence. Listen eagerly to his word in Scripture. If you don’t understand it, ask his Spirit to help you. In the quiet time after Communion, ask the Father to give you a taste of his love. He delights in answering those requests, because he delights in you.
As you come to know God and
his love for you more and more deeply, that love will drive out fear (1 John 4:18). You will still “beware,” but not with the anxiety of one who is living a hidden life. Instead, you will be wary, on the lookout for anything in your heart that threatens your relationship with him. And when you find something, you will want to bring it into his light immediately rather than try to keep it hidden. You will want to deal with it now, in the light of his love, rather than have it published abroad at the end.
So let God show you how much he can do for you—and how gently and lovingly he will do it. You have great worth in his eyes!
“Father, replace my shame and fear with your great love for me.”
No comments:
Post a Comment