GOD’S WORD
Monday, September 9, 2013 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Peter Claver Psalter: Week 3 Ps 62:6–7, 9
In God is my safety and my glory. 1st Reading: Col 1:24—2:3
At present I rejoice when I suffer for you; I complete in my own flesh what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of his body, which is the Church. For I am serving the Church since God entrusted to me the ministry to make the word of God fully known. I mean that mysterious plan that for centuries and generations remained secret, and which God has now revealed to his holy ones.
God willed to make known to them the riches and even the Glory that his mysterious plan reserved for the pagan nations: Christ is in you and you may hope God’s Glory.
This Christ we preach. We warn and teach everyone true wisdom, aiming to make everyone perfect in Christ. For this cause I labor and struggle with the energy of Christ working powerfully in me.
I want you to know how I strive for you, for those of Laodicea and for so many who have not met me personally. I pray that all may be encouraged. May you be established in love, that you may obtain all the riches of a full understanding and know the mystery of God, Christ himself. For in him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Gospel: Lk 6:6–11
On another Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and be- gan teaching. There was a man with a paralyzed right hand and the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees watched him: Would Jesus heal the man on the Sabbath? If he did, they could accuse him.
But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to the man, “Get up and stand in the middle.” Then he spoke to them, “I want to ask you: what is allowed by the Law on the Sabbath, to do good or to do harm, to save life or destroy it?” And Jesus looked around at them all.
Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored, becoming as whole as the other. But they were furious and began to discuss with one another how they could deal with Jesus. Reflection:
In the synagogue, the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely in order to find something to accuse him of.
Why do people go to church or places of worship? Evidently, it is to pray. However, there are times when you listen to some regular churchgoers and you cannot help wondering: Did they really go to worship God? For, once the service is over, they come to you and share with you everything they found wrong with the priest’s manner of doing the Mass or preaching the homily. They comment about latecomers. They criticize the faithful departed, those who leave before the Mass ends. They complain about the disorder caused by children and mourn the absence of youth at the Mass.They accuse the pastor for bringing up financial needs and forcing a second collection. And of course, the choir—wasn’t it terrible?
Why do I go to church?