I just returned from another funeral in Indiana. Unfortunately this took precedence over getting out my daily reflection.
—————————
In today’s gospel Jesus has some harsh words for the Scribes and Pharisees. These men devoted themselves to the study of the Law of Moses and considered themselves as experts in it. They divided the Ten Commandments into thousands of rules and regulations. By the time they had finished it is said that these rules took fifty volumes to contain them. In their misguided zeal, they required unnecessary and burdensome rules which obscured the important matters of religion, such as love of God and love of our neighbor. They put burdens on others while neglecting to show charity and love to the poor and the weak.
God is love and everything he does flows from his love for us. That is why Jesus calls the Pharisees and us to follow a different path, a path of love for our God and love for our neighbor. When we grow in love, we conform ourselves to become more like Christ. A contemplative monk grows in love different than a young father. A corporate executive conforms herself differently than someone living in a nursery home. It doesn’t matter if we are different as long as we try. Loving as Jesus loved doesn’t happen in a single moment or a single day, it takes a lifetime.
When we make sacrifices to enter into someone else’s life, we are loving as Jesus loves. We are choosing to see our neighbor as he sees them. Today Jesus invites us to “go and do likewise”.
DeColores, Deacon Doug
Join us in prayer!
We encourage you to join us as we recite the Holy Rosary every night at 8PM! On Wednesdays, we pray the rosary via Zoom with the rector and rectora.
Resources for those not able to attend Mass
Daily Readings in English and Spanish from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Prayers, readings for Mass, and additional spiritual readings are available at:
Magnificat publication, a spiritual guide that includes daily Mass: https://us.magnificat.net/free
“Give Us This Day” a digital file of their periodical, which includes daily Mass texts. Visit GUTD.net and select “Digital” in the upper right of the screen.