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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, August 12, 2002 The Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word: Ezekiel 1:2-5,24-28 Psalm 148:1-2,11-14 Matthew 17:22-27 A reflection on today's Scripture. . . . "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" (Matthew 17:24) Two major truths are revealed in today's Gospel. Verses 22 and 23 teach us how salvation can be ours. When Jesus put our sins to death on the cross in His own human flesh, He removed the curse of sin from us and restored us to friendship with the Father. But although Christ won salvation for all humanity, we can make salvation ours and one day rise with Him only if we, through faith, live Christ's new life by abiding in God's truth and love. This means that we too must assume the cross, put our flesh to death (which means, putting our sins to death) and by the grace we receive from the Holy Spirit, learn to live pure and blameless lives. True faith requires that we be created anew in the image of Christ. This can be a painful process as we are shown our sins by the Holy Spirit and called to abandon our old ways, and by His power, assume God's ways. Since God made His glory known to us, His loving forgiveness won for us through the death of His Son, we, in turn, are to show forth His goodness and glory to the world. In doing so we serve to draw others to Him as we ourselves become citizens of His heavenly kingdom. However, there is a second lesson to be learned. We have heard the expression: "We must not be so heavenly minded as to be of no earthly use." This means we are also to be good citizens of this world, respectful of and obedient to civil authority and to laws, provided these do not impinge on our maintaining the divine law. In brief, Christ's disciples are to be "all around" good citizens. Blessed Redeemer, constantly remind us we are to reflect Your truth, justice and love. Though this world is passing away, may we rely constantly on Your grace to make it a better place. Amen. - Marie Bocko, ocds YOU CAN HELP to evangelize the Word of God: Please recommend our website to your friends and Catholic webmasters 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/[email protected] 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, August 12, 2002
