Saturday - June 17, 2017
To obtain the protection of our Blessed Lady in our most urgent wants, it is very useful to say sixty-three times, after the fashion of a Rosary, "Virgin Mary, Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me."
~~St. Philip Neri
TODAY'S READINGS
June 17, 2017
Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 364
Reading 12 COR 5:14-21
Brothers and sisters:The love of Christ impels us,
once we have come to the conviction that one died for all;
therefore, all have died.
He indeed died for all,
so that those who live might no longer live for themselves
but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh;
even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh,
yet now we know him so no longer.
So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.
And all this is from God,
who has reconciled us to himself through Christ
and given us the ministry of reconciliation,
namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
not counting their trespasses against them
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
So we are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Responsorial PsalmPS 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
AlleluiaPS 119:36A, 29B
R. Alleluia, alleluia.Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees;
and favor me with your law.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 5:33-37
Jesus said to his disciples:"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all;
not by heaven, for it is God's throne;
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.'
Anything more is from the Evil One."
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Why is it so difficult for us
to simply say yes or no?
Why is it so difficult for us to simply say yes or no? Perhaps because we like the ambiguity of not having to follow through with what we say. Or maybe because it’s easier to put off a tough decision for a later time. We may flirt with tendencies towards deceitfulness and not want others to know our true intentions.
Whatever the reason, God expects His children to be clear cut with their words. We aren’t to wade in the subtle grey areas of ambiguity with our words. Rather we are to be people who speak plainly, clearly, and truthfully so that we aren’t condemned by our own words.
This type of swearing isn’t about using profanity although scripture clearly condemns using coarse language especially among believers. Swearing in this scripture is about making oaths or promises to others. Why would believers need to make promises if we are living righteous lives?
Having the urge to swear reveals someone who may feel they have to prove themselves to others. Perhaps they have a sordid past of not telling the truth and other people find it difficult to trust them. There’s really only one remedy to this: begin a life of truthfulness. Confess your past failings and seek forgiveness. Know that you are a new creature in Christ Jesus and not limited to the failings of your past.
One day we will have to give an account for our broken promises—wouldn’t it be easier to live and speak words of integrity? When we speak the truth in love, our righteous actions will speak volumes to those who depend on us. Honor is given to God when His people keep their word and judgment is deferred.
Paul wrote about how the people in the world speak “in the same breath…both ‘Yes, yes’ and ‘No, no’ (2 Corinthians 1:17). We expect this from those who live in darkness and can’t understand a world outside of what they see with their eyes. However there is hope in Christ as God is not like man and keeps every one of His promises. As it is written: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Because we have this hope of “Yes and Amen” in Christ, we should live as people of faith who mean what we say and follow through with our lifestyle. Believers are walking testimonies of God’s faithfulness without saying a word. Let us start today with “yes” and “no” to the daily requests from others without adding any promises to it.
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God Bless You.....
KONKANI PRAYER GROUP - Abu Dhabi
"Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone" Mark 16:15
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