MY daily reflection and prayer:
Monday, August 22, 2016
Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Matthew 23:13-22
Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of Heaven before human beings. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves. “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If one swears by the Temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the Temple, one is obligated.’ Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the Temple that made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’ You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; one who swears by the Temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
FROM the Gospel today we learn that we need to let our behavior, our word and our conscience be in harmony and open before God. We hear the voices of the Holy Spirit speak to us in the depths of our heart about what is most important to our salvation.
Jesus Christ in today’s Gospel is very harsh on those who lead others astray, especially those who have a responsibility to teach and guide others in the way of salvation. It is a great sin to lead others away from the path of truth. We have to give a good example to others.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist while adoring Jesus Christ, we ask him that we can live in harmony and open before God. There we give also a good example in loving God and our neighbors. Do we hear the voice of the Holy Spirit that leads us to worship him?
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, help us to be a person of great integrity, the same inside and out. Give us the grace of real sincerity of heart in dealing with you and with others. Mother Mary, pray for us sinners, now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
