Daily Readings September 7, 2012

Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 435

Reading 1 from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians
1 Cor 4:1-5

Brothers and sisters:Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christand stewards of the mysteries of God.

With regards to the leaders of the Church, St. Paul says that they are now the servants of Christ and the stewards of the mysteries of God.

As to the term, "servants of Christ".   I believe this is a reference to the Priesthood.  They are the priests of Christ.

As to the term "stewards of the mysteries of God."  I believe this is a reference to the Sacraments, which means "Sacred or Holy things".  It is also reference to the knowledge of the deep things of God:

1 Corinthians 2:10
King James Version (KJV)
¹⁰ But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

It is the Catholic Church which teaches the Wisdom of God:

Ephesians 3:10
King James Version (KJV)
¹⁰ To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Now it is of course required of stewards
that they be found trustworthy.
It does not concern me in the least
that I be judged by you or any human tribunal;
I do not even pass judgment on myself;
I am not conscious of anything against me,
but I do not thereby stand acquitted;
the one who judges me is the Lord.

I use this verse frequently to counter those folks who ask me if I'm saved.  When they do, I point them to this verse and ask them why they are trying to get me to judge myself?  The Lord is my Judge.  Not they nor I.

Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time,until the Lord comes,for he will bring to light what is hidden in darknessand will manifest the motives of our hearts,and then everyone will receive praise from God.

Amen!  That is why the Catholic Church teaches us to refrain judgement.  In the end, we will all stand before the Judgement seat of Christ, Protestant or Catholic.  And it is God who will judge what we have done in the body.  Not whether we claimed our own salvation by faith alone.

Romans 14:10
King James Version (KJV)
¹⁰ But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 37:3-4, 5-6, 27-28, 39-40

Response. (39a) The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart's requests.

R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.

R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Turn from evil and do good,
that you may abide forever;
For the LORD loves what is right,
and forsakes not his faithful ones.
Criminals are destroyed
and the posterity of the wicked is cut off.

R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Salvation of the just.  Doing good is the key to being saved by God.  Protestants call it working for our salvation.  Be that as it may, if you don't do good, God won't give you eternal life:

Romans 2:7
King James Version (KJV)
⁷ To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Lk 5:33-39

The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,"The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers,and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same;but yours eat and drink."

The Pharisees questioned Jesus because His disciples did not fast as did the disciples of John and those of the Pharisees.

Jesus answered them, "Can you make the wedding guests fastwhile the bridegroom is with them?But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them,then they will fast in those days."

Jesus responded, "My disciples will not fast until the day that I am gone."

And he also told them a parable."No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.Otherwise, he will tear the newand the piece from it will not match the old cloak.

Then He gave them a metaphorical lesson.  He said, no one tears a new item of clothing to fix an old worn one.  By tearing the new one they destroy it and the piece they have taken off the new one will not match the old, the damage will still show.

Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins,and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.

He also said, no one will take make wine with a used wineskin.  The used wineskin is stretched and weakened and when the new wine ferments, the gases will cause the wineskin to burst.  And both the wine will be spilled and the skin will be ruined.

Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new,for he says, 'The old is good.'"

But instead, we pour new wine into a fresh wineskin and no one who has been drinking old wine desires new.   For the old wine is good.

This parable is puzzling and I have found no other verse to explain it.  But I believe it means this.

1.  Jesus did not come to patch up the Old Covenant.  He came to fulfill it and establish a New.
2.  The Jews will not accept the New Covenant.  For the most part, they would reject it.
3.  The New Covenant will be put into the New Wineskins.  The Gentiles.

Sincerely,

De Maria