May 24, 2024 - Fri. of 7th Week in Ord. Time
May you continue to stretch yourself to uncomfortable new heights as you follow the lead of the Master-Teacher.
What impressed me the most in the Olympics is how the athletes make what they do seem so easy. The gymnasts are so graceful. The runners seem to just speed along with no effort. Yet, as you hear the “behind the scene” stories, one realizes how much work, pain, and falling they did to get to this point in their sport. They had to keep pushing themselves beyond their comfort limits. It took discipline, practice, determination, and thoughtful planning.
Jesus asks us to do the same – to go beyond our comfort limits, to reach to new heights, and to make it look grace-filled and easy. It will take discipline, practice, determination, and thoughtful planning on our part, but others will say, “See how that Christian really lives out her/his life in the pattern of Jesus.” Are you ready?
May you continue to stretch yourself to uncomfortable new heights as you follow the lead of the Master-Teacher.
What impressed me the most in the Olympics is how the athletes make what they do seem so easy. The gymnasts are so graceful. The runners seem to just speed along with no effort. Yet, as you hear the “behind the scene” stories, one realizes how much work, pain, and falling they did to get to this point in their sport. They had to keep pushing themselves beyond their comfort limits. It took discipline, practice, determination, and thoughtful planning.
Jesus asks us to do the same – to go beyond our comfort limits, to reach to new heights, and to make it look grace-filled and easy. It will take discipline, practice, determination, and thoughtful planning on our part, but others will say, “See how that Christian really lives out her/his life in the pattern of Jesus.” Are you ready?
Readings can be obtained from: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/052424.cfm
Saint Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi:
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-mary-magdalene-de-pazzi/
Readings: James 5: 9-12; Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 8-9, 11-12; Mark 10: 1-12
The standards that are presented in the readings today are quite high. We are being challenged to live in a way that most people would find quite extreme. Yet, being a disciple of the Lord Jesus is extreme – just as GOD is extreme. One of the dictionary definitions of “extreme” is “being the greatest or best or highest.” We are called to be extreme as our GOD is extreme. We are asked to be the best we can be in GOD’s eyes. In the First Reading we are presented a few different extremes that we should strive to reach. The psalm lists some of the qualities of GOD, qualities which we should strive to imitate. In the Gospel, Jesus lifts up the sanctity of marriage as something that should be the standard of the life of His married disciples.
In our First Reading, the first extreme or high standard we are being asked to seek is that of being non-judgmental. Yet, as humans, it is so easy to criticize others. We can find fault in others so easily, but at the same time we fail to see the same fault in ourselves. I remember once hearing that “the thing we are most critical of in others is the thing at which we fail the most.” As Jesus puts it in Matthew 7: 3-5 (Luke 6: 41-42): “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”
The next “GOoD News” or Gospel value that we are called to practice is that of edifying and building up one another, not tearing down and belittling them. St. James reminds us, echoing Jesus’ own words: “Do not condemn lest you be condemned.”
The next high mark that we should strive to meet is that of patience, especially in the face of hardship. St. James recalls the figure of Job who suffered great losses in his life, but never blamed GOD or complained. Yes, Job questioned, but he did not do so against GOD. How unlike Job we often are. Whenever things do not go our way, we start looking for someone at whom we can point the finger (or even give the “finger”). We are not willing to suffer any sort of difficulties, at least not without making everyone around us suffer also. Also, we need to realize that when we point the finger at another person, three fingers are pointing back at us.
The next high mark which we are asked to attain deals with our language. We are challenged to avoid swearing. Not only that, but also, we are asked to speak assertively by simply saying “Yes” when we agree And “No” when we disagree. We do not have to pad our answers, but we need to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4: 15). So often we hum and haw and do not say what we mean, or mean what we say. The extreme to which we are being challenged is to make our message clear, unambiguous, yet in a way that shows respect and courtesy to those to whom we speak.
The psalm speaks of a quality of GOD for which we should also strive: being merciful. Just as the LORD is merciful and gracious to us, so we should be to others. If GOD can forgive us our sins and failings (which are many), should we not extend the same forgiveness to others?
The Gospel readings speak of the sanctity of marriage. What is interesting here is a custom in some Jewish circles. When disagreements occurred in Jewish discussions, the closer to the beginning of the Bible one could find support for one’s opinion, the more valid the point. I guess it was presumed that the further down the historical chain, the more diluted the teaching might be. When Jesus is asked about divorce, He in turn asks the Pharisees what Moses said. (Remember that the first five books of the Bible are all attributed to Moses.) The Pharisees seemed happy that they could quote from Moses and respond that Moses permitted divorce. Jesus goes one step further and says what the creation accounts says about the union of husband and wife: “GOD made them male and female. . .what GOD has joined together, no one must separate.” The sanctity and unity of marriage is something for which we must work. The high standard is the life-long commitment of a man and woman who are joined together by GOD in holy matrimony. That is a standard that is not held too high in the world today, but one which we should lift up as a goal. Even Christians miss this mark, as we do with the other
marks that the Gospel places before us. That doesn’t mean we lower our standards, but that we do all we can to reach those standards, realizing as today’s psalm reminds us, “So surpassing is GOD’s kindness toward those who fear GOD. As far as east is from the west, so far has GOD put our transgression from us.” We also need to focus on family values as Pope Francis has done in Amoris Laetitia, in which he speaks firmly about the Catholic values of family life, but also dictates that we must treat all people with respect and dignity.
The challenges are place before us. They are not easy to attain, especially in our world today. We are called to be the best – the best person we can be. We are to strive to the highest level for ourselves as individuals. I don’t have to be better than someone else, only to be the best I can be. Yet, that is what it means to follow the Master-Teacher and live extreme lives.
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, ever loving and always challenging. Through Your GOoDness and love, You set high standards for us. Through the example of Your Son, You show us what it means to strive to do Your will. You ask us to live extreme lives – to be the best we can be. You also reassure us of Your mercy and kindness, always ready to forgive and forget. As we fall from the heights to which You call us, You pick us up and help us get going again. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, give us right counsel and the ability to be understanding of others and their failures. May we manifest patience, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Help us to be assertive and speak the truth in love. Give us the strength we need to support and build-up couples who are giving their all to live in a holy union as loving spouses. We give You all the glory and praise as we live out our relationship with You. We make this prayer in the name of Your Son Jesus, our Brother and Savior, our Master-Teacher Who is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, for ever and ever. Amen.
Song of the Day: Whatever You’re Doing by Real Sanctus:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZayut9i45M
Video of the Day: St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsdqSGbTr1g
© rjk, 12-15-22
Saint Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi:
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-mary-magdalene-de-pazzi/
Readings: James 5: 9-12; Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 8-9, 11-12; Mark 10: 1-12
The standards that are presented in the readings today are quite high. We are being challenged to live in a way that most people would find quite extreme. Yet, being a disciple of the Lord Jesus is extreme – just as GOD is extreme. One of the dictionary definitions of “extreme” is “being the greatest or best or highest.” We are called to be extreme as our GOD is extreme. We are asked to be the best we can be in GOD’s eyes. In the First Reading we are presented a few different extremes that we should strive to reach. The psalm lists some of the qualities of GOD, qualities which we should strive to imitate. In the Gospel, Jesus lifts up the sanctity of marriage as something that should be the standard of the life of His married disciples.
In our First Reading, the first extreme or high standard we are being asked to seek is that of being non-judgmental. Yet, as humans, it is so easy to criticize others. We can find fault in others so easily, but at the same time we fail to see the same fault in ourselves. I remember once hearing that “the thing we are most critical of in others is the thing at which we fail the most.” As Jesus puts it in Matthew 7: 3-5 (Luke 6: 41-42): “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”
The next “GOoD News” or Gospel value that we are called to practice is that of edifying and building up one another, not tearing down and belittling them. St. James reminds us, echoing Jesus’ own words: “Do not condemn lest you be condemned.”
The next high mark that we should strive to meet is that of patience, especially in the face of hardship. St. James recalls the figure of Job who suffered great losses in his life, but never blamed GOD or complained. Yes, Job questioned, but he did not do so against GOD. How unlike Job we often are. Whenever things do not go our way, we start looking for someone at whom we can point the finger (or even give the “finger”). We are not willing to suffer any sort of difficulties, at least not without making everyone around us suffer also. Also, we need to realize that when we point the finger at another person, three fingers are pointing back at us.
The next high mark which we are asked to attain deals with our language. We are challenged to avoid swearing. Not only that, but also, we are asked to speak assertively by simply saying “Yes” when we agree And “No” when we disagree. We do not have to pad our answers, but we need to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4: 15). So often we hum and haw and do not say what we mean, or mean what we say. The extreme to which we are being challenged is to make our message clear, unambiguous, yet in a way that shows respect and courtesy to those to whom we speak.
The psalm speaks of a quality of GOD for which we should also strive: being merciful. Just as the LORD is merciful and gracious to us, so we should be to others. If GOD can forgive us our sins and failings (which are many), should we not extend the same forgiveness to others?
The Gospel readings speak of the sanctity of marriage. What is interesting here is a custom in some Jewish circles. When disagreements occurred in Jewish discussions, the closer to the beginning of the Bible one could find support for one’s opinion, the more valid the point. I guess it was presumed that the further down the historical chain, the more diluted the teaching might be. When Jesus is asked about divorce, He in turn asks the Pharisees what Moses said. (Remember that the first five books of the Bible are all attributed to Moses.) The Pharisees seemed happy that they could quote from Moses and respond that Moses permitted divorce. Jesus goes one step further and says what the creation accounts says about the union of husband and wife: “GOD made them male and female. . .what GOD has joined together, no one must separate.” The sanctity and unity of marriage is something for which we must work. The high standard is the life-long commitment of a man and woman who are joined together by GOD in holy matrimony. That is a standard that is not held too high in the world today, but one which we should lift up as a goal. Even Christians miss this mark, as we do with the other
marks that the Gospel places before us. That doesn’t mean we lower our standards, but that we do all we can to reach those standards, realizing as today’s psalm reminds us, “So surpassing is GOD’s kindness toward those who fear GOD. As far as east is from the west, so far has GOD put our transgression from us.” We also need to focus on family values as Pope Francis has done in Amoris Laetitia, in which he speaks firmly about the Catholic values of family life, but also dictates that we must treat all people with respect and dignity.
The challenges are place before us. They are not easy to attain, especially in our world today. We are called to be the best – the best person we can be. We are to strive to the highest level for ourselves as individuals. I don’t have to be better than someone else, only to be the best I can be. Yet, that is what it means to follow the Master-Teacher and live extreme lives.
- The personal question/action for today: Which standards presented in the Gospels and other writings of the New Testament do I struggle to attain? What is the biggest obstacle to my reaching out to the extremes presented by Jesus? How can I help others strive for the high measures to which the Lord Jesus calls all of His disciples, but at the same time reassure others of GOD’s merciful and forgiving love?
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, ever loving and always challenging. Through Your GOoDness and love, You set high standards for us. Through the example of Your Son, You show us what it means to strive to do Your will. You ask us to live extreme lives – to be the best we can be. You also reassure us of Your mercy and kindness, always ready to forgive and forget. As we fall from the heights to which You call us, You pick us up and help us get going again. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, give us right counsel and the ability to be understanding of others and their failures. May we manifest patience, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Help us to be assertive and speak the truth in love. Give us the strength we need to support and build-up couples who are giving their all to live in a holy union as loving spouses. We give You all the glory and praise as we live out our relationship with You. We make this prayer in the name of Your Son Jesus, our Brother and Savior, our Master-Teacher Who is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, for ever and ever. Amen.
Song of the Day: Whatever You’re Doing by Real Sanctus:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZayut9i45M
Video of the Day: St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsdqSGbTr1g
© rjk, 12-15-22