Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 09-07-05

The Sermon on the Mount

Fra Giovanni Angelico
1387-1455

She lives in Lousiana.

And is OK.

That is beautiful. Thank you!

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Meditation
Colossians 3:1-11

“She’s so heavenly-minded she’s no earthly good.” We can all picture this person: She spends hours reading Scripture, attending Mass, reciting rosaries and novenas. She regards recreation as self-indulgence and only grudgingly gives her body a minimum of food and exercise. After all, her real destination is heaven; life on earth is just something she has to endure. She manages to keep her home tidy and provide meals for her family, but there’s no room in her schedule for responding to the unexpected demands of a sick neighbor or friend in distress.

Such a person may feel she perfectly lives out Paul’s admonition, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). However, is it possible that she has missed a different dimension to the Christian life? God did not come to earth as an angel to rescue us from our sinful bodies. He came as a human being to transform us so that we could live a fully human existence on earth.

Jesus may be “seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1), but that’s because he has defeated the enemy of “life in abundance” (John 10:10). “Things that are on earth” doesn’t mean everything in this world. It means those things that are opposed to the reign of God: impurity, greed, anger, slander, lying, and divisiveness (Colossians 3:5,8-9,11). Unfortunately, many of these self-centered attitudes can coexist with external piety.

Paul’s remedy isn’t gradually allowing our sinful habits to fade but decisively putting to death whatever stands in the way of our relationship with Christ. Sometimes that obstacle may be paying too much attention to our bodies to the neglect of our spirits. But in other cases, the challenge is to cultivate our God-given talents and answer the cry of the poor and needy even as we develop our interior lives.

Whatever our current obstacle, it was put to death when we died with Christ in baptism. We are now clothed with Christ (Colossians 3:9-10). We possess his meekness, contentment, forgiveness, encouragement, and joy—all enumerated in the Beatitudes. We have inherited a life of joyful praise. It is ours here on earth, not only after we die and go to heaven.

“Incarnate One, you lived life on earth to the full. Help me to live the vibrant life of your kingdom here and now.”

Psalm 145:2-3,10-13; Luke 6:20-26

One Bread, One Body

<< Wednesday, September 7, 2005 >>

Colossians 3:1-11

Psalm 145

Luke 6:20-26

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LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS

“Woe to you rich, for your consolation is now.” —Luke 6:24

Most of you who read this live in dwellings with running water, indoor plumbing, electricity, and heating. Many of you have automobiles, refrigerators, and TVs. Some of you have dishwashers, computers, and air conditioning. A few of you have second homes, boats, and millions of dollars.

Jesus says: “Woe to you rich” (Lk 6:24). It’s so easy to shrug off His words and think, “He can’t be talking about me. I don’t have a dishwasher, and I don’t have a summer home.” Forget those comparisons. If we must compare, let’s compare ourselves to those Jesus addressed. Every one of those people walked a long distance to the “level stretch” by the mountain (Lk 6:17). No one had coolers full of ice and drinks. There were no bathrooms or vending machines. Nearly all of them slept on mats on the floor of what we would consider huts. Even the rich in the crowd and in that society couldn’t imagine in their wildest dreams the lifestyle most of us live today. Yet Jesus felt it was important for His first-century hearers to be warned of the woes of riches.

“I am about to give you some advice on this matter of rich and poor” (2 Cor 8:10). Jesus is the same today as on that day (Heb 13:8). By His standards, we are rich — and in danger of woe. Don’t disregard Jesus’ words. He is Lord and Judge. We must tremble at His word (Is 66:2). We must judge our lives by His words and standards, not by those of our culture.

Repent of not using your resources for the kingdom of God. Simplify your lives. Tithe and give alms, and “all will be wiped clean for you” (Lk 11:41).

Prayer: Jesus, though rich, You made Yourself poor for my sake (2 Cor 8:9). I give my finances, my lifestyle, my all to You.

Promise: “When Christ our Life appears, then you shall appear with Him in glory.” —Col 3:4

Praise: Timothy quit his paying job to work as a volunteer feeding and clothing the needy.

Here is a link to the Slovak Byzantine Catholic Church with seminarians singing the Beatitudes from the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in Slovak. It is a very heavy download for a dial-up account but fine for dsl and cable: Beatitudes in Slovak (Eastern Catholic)