October 25, 2013

Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 477
Reading 1 ROM 7:18-25A

Brothers and sisters:
I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh.

The world, the flesh and the devil are our enemies where temptations dwell.  St. Paul is talking about our human nature which is fallen and frequently tends to sin.

The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.

We are all ready, willing and able to do good.  But actually bringing it about is the problem.

For I do not do the good I want,
but I do the evil I do not want.

Even when intending to do good, we do something which causes pain and frustration to all involved.

Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it,
but sin that dwells in me.

However, if we do commit sin, unwillingly, then it is not our fault.

So, then, I discover the principle
that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.

Then, we know that when we want to do right, Evil, that is to say, the Devil, is there to tempt us to do wrong.

For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self,
but I see in my members another principle
at war with the law of my mind,
taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

And so, sin and righteousness are always at war within us.  

Miserable one that I am!
Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

But if we follow Christ, we will be delivered from sin and led to eternal life.

Responsorial Psalm PS 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94

R. (68b) Lord, teach me your statutes.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge,
for in your commands I trust.

R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
You are good and bountiful;
teach me your statutes.

R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.

R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.

R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Never will I forget your precepts,
for through them you give me life.

R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.

R. Lord, teach me your statutes.

The Wisdom of God is not understood by our own natural powers.  We need to pray to God that He give us the Holy Spirit so that we can understand His righteous will.

Gospel LK 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds,
“When you see a cloud rising in the west
you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;
and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south
you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.
You hypocrites!
You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;
why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

Christ came preaching and producing signs and miracles.  But the Jews would not accept that their visitation was at hand.

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,
make an effort to settle the matter on the way;
otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,
and the judge hand you over to the constable,
and the constable throw you into prison.
I say to you, you will not be released
until you have paid the last penny.”

Judgment is coming.  God's judgment is coming whether it is at the point of our death or at the end of time.  Therefore, before we come before the Just Judge, let us make peace with all men so that we can present ourselves holy and without blemish (Hebrews 12:14).