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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, June 17, 2002 The Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word: 1 Kings 21:1-16 Psalm 5:2-3,5-7 Matthew 5:38-42 A reflection on today's Scripture. . . . "When someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well." (Mt.5:39) As we read in 1 Kings of Jezebel's plot to kill Naboth so her husband Ahab could take possession of his ancestral vineyard, we witness yet another episode in man's violent history. Hundreds of years later we see a similar plot against Christ who was sent by the Father to restore to Himself the vineyard (Israel) taken from Him by corrupt tenants. By killing the Son (the Lord and Savior of the world) these tenants thought to retain control of the vineyard; but in rejecting Christ, they deprived themselves and their nation of God's living Word, His love, truth and peace personified in Jesus. However, their rejection of Christ also resulted in "the true vine" being planted in Gentile nations where He could take root and bring forth much fruit for the Father. Still, after two thousand years of Christianity, widespread hatreds, violence and bloodshed persist. The cause of these horrors is man's "free will" choosing badly. Christ, through His death won us forgiveness of sin and restored man to friendship with the Father. Christ also sent us His Holy Spirit, God's living and active Grace, to guide and enable us to live a new life of love and peace. But if we truly desire to live this new and blessed life, we must first surrender our wills to God, consent to live in Christ, God's Word, and obey the promptings of His Holy Spirit. In brief, we are to cooperate with God in our regeneration, allow Him to put to death the old, sinful man and replace him with the holy one re-created in the image of Christ.. Today's Gospel explains a primary, essential step in gaining our new life. We are to willingly break the deadly cycle of doing violence in return for violence; for revenge always begets further revenge, and so peace will forever elude mankind. Loving Redeemer, pour out Your Spirit upon all humanity that we may see our sin as the source of all our sufferings and turn to You for healing. Amen. - Marie Bocko, ocds ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) YOU CAN HELP to evangelize the Word of God: Please recommend our website to your friends and Catholic webmasters. The meditations are in English & Spanish at http://www.borg.com/~joachim/DailyMeds.html (case sensitive). ARCHIVED Meditations: http://www.abcsoffaith.com/quiet/quietplace.html and at: http://www.mail-archive.com/dailymed%40saturn.nibcomp.com For ALL communications, including subscribe/unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (c)2002 The Way, The Truth, The Life. Permission granted to make reprints of the meditations or to post on any web page, except for profit. Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Psalms (c)1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Full text from the New American Bible: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm Lives of the Saints: http://www.christdesert.org/public_texts/martyrology/ |
Title: Meditation: Monday, June 17, 2002
