From: Luke 12:54-59
The Coming of Christ
[57] “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? [58] As you go with
your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way,
lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the
officer put you in prison. [59] I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid
the very last copper.”
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
56. Jesus’ listeners knew from experience how to forecast the weather. However,
although they knew the signs of the Messiah’s coming announced by the prophets,
and were hearing His preaching and witnessing His miracles, they did not want to
draw the logical conclusion; they lacked the necessary good will and upright inten-
tion, and they just closed their eyes to the light of the Gospel (cf. Romans 1:18ff).
This attitude is also found to be very widespread in our own time, in forms of cer-
tain kinds of atheism denounced by the Second Vatican Council: “Those who will-
fully try to drive God from their heart and to avoid all questions about religion, not
following the biddings of their conscience, are not free from blame” (”Gaudium Et
Spes”, 19).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States
|
First reading |
Romans 7:18-25 © |
I know of nothing good living in me – living, that is, in my unspiritual self – for though the will to do what is good is in me, the performance is not, with the result that instead of doing the good things I want to do, I carry out the sinful things I do not want. When I act against my will, then, it is not my true self doing it, but sin which lives in me.
In fact, this seems to be the rule, that every single time I want to do good it is something evil that comes to hand. In my inmost self I dearly love God’s Law, but I can see that my body follows a different law that battles against the law which my reason dictates. This is what makes me a prisoner of that law of sin which lives inside my body.
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body doomed to death?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
|
Psalm |
|
Psalm 118:66,68,76-77,93-94 © |
Lord, teach me your statutes.
Teach me discernment and knowledge
for I trust in your commands.
You are good and your deeds are good;
teach me your statutes.
Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your love be ready to console me
by your promise to your servant.
Let your love come and I shall live
for your law is my delight.
Lord, teach me your statutes.
I will never forget your precepts
for with them you give me life.
Save me, for I am yours
since I seek your precepts.
Lord, teach me your statutes.
|
Gospel Acclamation |
Ps94:8 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Harden not your hearts today,
but listen to the voice of the Lord.
Alleluia!
|
Or |
Mt11:25 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are you, Father,
Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom
to mere children.
Alleluia!
|
Gospel |
Luke 12:54-59 © |
Jesus said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud looming up in the west you say at once that rain is coming, and so it does. And when the wind is from the south you say it will be hot, and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret these times?
‘Why not judge for yourselves what is right? For example: when you go to court with your opponent, try to settle with him on the way, or he may drag you before the judge and the judge hand you over to the bailiff and the bailiff have you thrown into prison. I tell you, you will not get out till you have paid the very last penny.’