October 16, 2013

Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 469
Reading 1 ROM 2:1-11

You, O man, are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment.
For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself,
since you, the judge, do the very same things.
We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true.
Do you suppose, then, you who judge those who engage in such things
and yet do them yourself,
that you will escape the judgment of God?

St. Paul chastises people who judge others as sinners.  Because we are all sinners and must remember, that God took pity on us and became man in order to save us from our sins.  

Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience
in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God
would lead you to repentance?

This is an echo of that which St. Peter also taught:

2 Peter 3:9
King James Version (KJV)
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

By your stubbornness and impenitent heart,
you are storing up wrath for yourself

Those who sin and do not repent are storing for themselves wrath.  This is the opposite of indulgences, where we store up for ourselves blessing:

Matthew 6:20

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

for the day of wrath and revelation
of the just judgment of God,
who will repay everyone according to his works,

To those who do good, God will repay with good.  To those who do evil, God will repay with evil:

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality
through perseverance in good works,

See Matt 25:31-46.  It is about the sheep and the goats.  And the sheep, those who are righteous and do good, they will be rewarded with eternal life.

but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth
and obey wickedness.

But the goats, those who are wicked and do evil, they will be rewarded with eternal punishment.

Yes, affliction and distress will come upon everyone
who does evil, Jew first and then Greek.
But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone
who does good, Jew first and then Greek.
There is no partiality with God.

God doesn't care if you are white, black, brown, American, Mexican, Japanese or whatever, if you don't obey His Commandments, you will be condemned.  And if you obey His Commandments, you will be saved.

Responsorial Psalm PS 62:2-3, 6-7, 9

R. (13b) Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.
Only in God is my soul at rest;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.

R. Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.
Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.

R. Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.
Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him;
God is our refuge!
R. Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.

Seek righteousness.  Do good. And you will be blessed.

Gospel LK 11:42-46

The Lord said:
“Woe to you Pharisees!
You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb,
but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.
These you should have done, without overlooking the others.

We all make these types of mistakes.  We go to Mass.  But we drive like mad men to get there and we run people off the road and we think we deserve our pew because we are owed these things because we go to Mass.

But that's not the point! The point is that we should learn to love our fellow man and tom humble ourselves.  Its not about us.  Its about the love of God and man. 

Woe to you Pharisees!
You love the seat of honor in synagogues
and greetings in marketplaces.
Woe to you!
You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.”

Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply,
“Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.”
And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law!
You impose on people burdens hard to carry,
but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”

Yeah, and we accuse everyone else of not doing enough.  Hey! They need to pay their tithes.  And they should train their child up to be a Priest.  And they should do this and they should to that.  But what do you do?  Besides complain that no one else is doing enough?