The Psalm response joyously proclaims God’s power to bring justice and peace to our world. As disciples of Jesus Christ we proclaim the Lord’s might and live in his light.
The readings today recount two different women accused of adultery who encounter God’s justice and mercy. As we confront evil and sin in our lives, may we strive to follow the Lord.
The Cross of Christ reveals justice, humility and love as Christ triumphs over sin and death for the salvation of the world. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you! For by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Another picture of Dad’s garden…where weeds tremble in fear!
The Parable of the Weeds and the Wheat reveals the ongoing need we have for repentance and conversion, as we weed out unwanted sins in our souls and cultivate a heart for the Lord.
The Book of Daniel and the Gospel of John offer us examples of Justice and Mercy, crucial concepts that require our careful thought and attention as disciples of the Lord. May we strive for Justice in all our actions as we we recognize our ongoing need for God’s Mercy when we sin.
Here’s a quick overview of the readings this week:
1st Reading – Abraham recognizes the Lord in the three visitors
Psalm – “who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord”
2nd Reading – Through suffering we participate in the life of Christ
Gospel – Martha & Mary
One way to reflect on these verses is to see how the Lord meets us in the pattern of daily life. Consider:
Hospitality – serving others
Justice – standing up for what is right, true, and good
Suffering – caring for those in need, and bearing our own pain as well
Listening – pausing from our labors to hear the Lord in our lives
We understand that our relationship with God touches multiple aspects of our lives, such as prayer, sacraments, relationships, work, and recreation. The invitation today encourages us to see with our hearts how the Lord is present to us in the current moment.
Does it mean that we serve with a joyful heart? That we swiftly respond to injustice? That we compassionately care for others? That we stop and “smell the roses” in moments of rest & renewal, beauty & blessing? In all these ways we are led back to the Lord, recognizing the gifts God gives us with a grateful heart.
How is God present in your life right now? May our response bring us closer to Christ and one another.
Psalm 15 offers some beautiful advice for living a just life for the Lord. Holiness is not just found in the extraordinary; often, our most powerful Christian witness occurs in the normal, everyday interactions that we have with one another.
Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit, and Isaiah’s prophecy reveals uplifting qualities about the Savior…qualities that offer us an example as we live our lives for the Lord.
Jesus offers a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven where merciful generosity embraces and transcends justice…reminding us that one day we will call upon the Lord for mercy when we stand before him at the end of time.
Several powerful themes surface in the readings this week.
1st Reading – The Lord is the source of justice
Psalm – “Lord, you are good and forgiving.”
2nd Reading – The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness
Gospel – Jesus offers several parables; two of them are about weeds and seeds
A common pattern emerges from these themes as we discover that in the midst of injustice, sin, weakness and evil the Lord comes with justice, forgiveness, strength and power. Simply put, God gives us grace to confront the weeds in our lives.
So that begs the question: Where are the weeds in our hearts today? What struggle are we facing that requires the Lord’s mercy and love? Perhaps we might step back and pause this week to reflect on the state of our soul, so that we can honestly assess what is growing and what needs to go.
Jesus Christ knows our hearts and loves us unconditionally. As we look at the garden of our hearts may we trust that the one who knows us completely will help us root out what does not belong and help us grow as Sons and Daughters of God.