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Please Note: Once again, most of us have experienced severe email problems
over the past few days, due to the recent virus/worm problems. Remember that
you can always find the recent meditations as well as new ones up to two
days in advance at the website. Email seems to be more vulnerable than other
internet traffic; so, if important messages or advisories are needed, we'll
post them on the website. In other words, do not depend on email for
everything!
Be sure to WATCH for an unfolding story about UNICEF on our website today.
- Joachim Nelson, ocds
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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, February 18, 2001
The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Samuel 26:2,7-9,12-13,22-23
Psalm 103:1-4,8,10,12-13
1 Corinthians 15:45-49
Luke 6:27-38
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
"He redeems your life from destruction . . ."
Psalm 103 joyfully proclaims God's great love for us. Only through
our acceptance of, and generous response to that love, can we hope to
fulfill Christ's difficult commands in today's Gospel. By ourselves
we cannot unconditionally and consistently love as God does;
inevitably human love is tainted by varying degrees of self interest.
Our hope is that we can grow in God's love by always choosing to do
His will and asking for His grace to do it. We see this process at
work in today's first reading when David spares his enemy's life,
King Saul's, at a moment when he found the king and his army in a
deep sleep and completely vulnerable. Love is not an emotion; it is
an unshakeable resolution to always do the "good" God teaches.
Today throughout the world there are many "hot spots" where peoples,
tribes and nations have ceaselessly fought one another over many
generations. Each faction works to defeat, annihilate its "enemy;"
and as the struggles continue and more atrocities are committed,
hatred grows. After an attack each side re-arms and regroups to again
destroy, torture, kill, pillage and rape. What horrific folly, when
Christ has given us the means, the ability to peacefully resolve our
differences.
It is a deadly pride that refuses to admit any wrong-thinking or
doing, that insists on gaining an ascendancy over others which
rejects God's Living Word. Preferring murder and mayhem over humility
and love, we walk the path to death rather than life.
Merciful Lord,
teach us humility and love,
that we may by your grace,
change the course of history for the better. Amen.
- Marie L. Bocko, OCDS ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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