2020년 9월 11일 연중 제23주간 금요일
오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp
제1독서
코린토 1서.9,16-19.22ㄴ-27
형제 여러분, 16 내가 복음을 선포한다고 해서
그것이 나에게 자랑거리가 되지는 않습니다.
나로서는 어찌할 수 없는 의무이기 때문입니다.
내가 복음을 선포하지 않는다면 나는 참으로 불행할 것입니다.
17 내가 내 자유의사로 이 일을 한다면 나는 삯을 요구할 권리가 있습니다.
그러나 하는 수 없이 한다면 나에게 직무가 맡겨진 것입니다.
18 그렇다면 내가 받는 삯은 무엇입니까?
내가 복음을 선포하면서 그것에 따른 나의 권리를 행사하지 않고
복음을 거저 전하는 것입니다.
19 나는 아무에게도 매이지 않은 자유인이지만,
되도록 많은 사람을 얻으려고 스스로 모든 사람의 종이 되었습니다.
22 나는 어떻게 해서든지 몇 사람이라도 구원하려고,
모든 이에게 모든 것이 되었습니다.
23 나는 복음을 위하여 이 모든 일을 합니다.
나도 복음에 동참하려는 것입니다.
24 경기장에서 달리기하는 이들이 모두 달리지만
상을 받는 사람은 한 사람뿐이라는 것을 여러분은 모릅니까?
이와 같이 여러분도 상을 받을 수 있도록 달리십시오.
25 모든 경기자는 모든 일에 절제를 합니다.
그들은 썩어 없어질 화관을 얻으려고 그렇게 하지만,
우리는 썩지 않는 화관을 얻으려고 하는 것입니다.
26 그러므로 나는 목표가 없는 것처럼 달리지 않습니다.
허공을 치는 것처럼 권투를 하지 않습니다.
27 나는 내 몸을 단련하여 복종시킵니다.
다른 이들에게 복음을 선포하고 나서,
나 자신이 실격자가 되지 않으려는 것입니다.
복음
루카. 6,39-42
그때에 예수님께서 비유를 들어 제자들에게 39 이르셨다.
“눈먼 이가 눈먼 이를 인도할 수야 없지 않으냐?
둘 다 구덩이에 빠지지 않겠느냐?
40 제자는 스승보다 높지 않다.
그러나 누구든지 다 배우고 나면 스승처럼 될 것이다.
41 너는 어찌하여 형제의 눈 속에 있는 티는 보면서,
네 눈 속에 있는 들보는 깨닫지 못하느냐?
42 네 눈 속에 있는 들보는 보지 못하면서,
어떻게 형제에게 ‘아우야! 가만, 네 눈 속에 있는 티를 빼내 주겠다.’
하고 말할 수 있느냐?
위선자야, 먼저 네 눈에서 들보를 빼내어라.
그래야 네가 형제의 눈에 있는 티를 뚜렷이 보고 빼낼 수 있을 것이다.”
September 11, 2020
Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass
Reading 1
Brothers and sisters:
If I preach the Gospel, this is no reason for me to boast,
for an obligation has been imposed on me,
and woe to me if I do not preach it!
If I do so willingly, I have a recompense,
but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
What then is my recompense?
That, when I preach, I offer the Gospel free of charge
so as not to make full use of my right in the Gospel.
Although I am free in regard to all,
I have made myself a slave to all
so as to win over as many as possible.
I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
All this I do for the sake of the Gospel,
so that I too may have a share in it.
Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race,
but only one wins the prize?
Run so as to win.
Every athlete exercises discipline in every way.
They do it to win a perishable crown,
but we an imperishable one.
Thus I do not run aimlessly;
I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing.
No, I drive my body and train it,
for fear that, after having preached to others,
I myself should be disqualified.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (2) How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young—
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
their hearts are set upon the pilgrimage.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
For a sun and a shield is the LORD God;
grace and glory he bestows;
The LORD withholds no good thing
from those who walk in sincerity.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Gospel
Jesus told his disciples a parable:
"Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained,
every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
How can you say to your brother,
'Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,'
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
Many years ago, before I was a college professor or a Catholic school diocesan administrator, and even longer before my first job as an assistant principal in a Catholic high school, I was a music teacher (or, as I liked to put it then, a teaching musician). In preparation for that career, I studied trumpet and euphonium (not many people know what a euphonium is, so I’ll tell you here – it’s like a tenor tuba, and one of the most beautiful instruments of the brass family). Of all my training, I especially enjoyed playing in ensembles. In fact, at one point in my life, I aspired to be a performer, and I spent many years honing my craft. Along the way, I encountered many interesting teachers.
As I reflect on that journey and those teachers whom I encountered, I recall one conductor who abruptly explained during a rehearsal:
You all need to be better than me!
The ensemble was stunned.
He then elaborated on his point by drawing an X/Y coordinate graph on the whiteboard behind him. He illustrated on that graph that if we as his students were to miss the mark, and if our students missed the mark as well, and so on, it would perpetuate a cycle that (as he explained in jest) would lead to the downfall of humanity. The graph on the wall resembled a terrible week in the stock market. We then went on to rehearse whatever Sousa march was on the rehearsal schedule, but that commentary always stuck with me. Was it true? Could it be that easy – that students surpassing their teachers is the key to building up our collective humanity?
In today’s Gospel, Jesus poses the question – “can a blind person guide a blind person?” The answer, of course, is no! As human beings, we are far too blinded by our own shortcomings to be able to sit in judgement of others. But, like many things, it is easier said than done. After all, so many things can get in the way. Traits of our humanity, such as ego, implicit bias, a fear of being revealed as imperfect – these can all obscure our view of the world, and it has all led to the many societal injustices that have plagued mankind since mankind was able to keep track of societal injustices.
When I took time to consider today’s Gospel message, my thoughts drifted to the incredible tension that exists in society today. I wonder if that tension is what gives rise to the terrible “cancel culture” that has developed – where we judge our fellow humans based on the one worst thing that they have ever said or done – without ever first considering our own flaws. It is so easy to get discouraged by this, because we all have faults. I would not want to be judged by my fellow humans on the one worst thing I have ever said. And if you think about it, you probably wouldn’t either. Our humanity is the sum-total of our works, and any judgement of that comes not in this life, but in the next.
Jesus answered his question about the blind leading the blind by declaring that “no student is superior to the teacher” (which completely dismantles my professor’s theory from long ago). Rather, Jesus said that “when fully trained every disciple will be like his teacher.” We build up humanity not by judging others, but by striving for the model that Jesus provides. And when we take a greater interest in our own journey toward that ideal, and when we remove that plank from our own eye one splinter at a time, that is when we are more able to lift each other up for the greater good.
Now, let’s embrace each other, ugly faults and all, and get to the work at hand!
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
TO BE A LEADING MAN OR LEADING LADY
Jesus “used images in speaking to them: ‘Can a blind man act as guide to a blind man?’ ” —Luke 6:39
Jesus noted the obvious: a blind person can’t lead a blind person. This can be applied spiritually. Those “blinded by the god of the present age” (2 Cor 4:4) disqualify themselves from being effective leaders in the secular world and especially in the Christian community. The blinding god of the present age is materialism, secular humanism, and the self-centered lifestyle. If we don’t let ourselves be crucified to this pleasure-seeking way of life (see Gal 6:14), then we cannot see well enough to lead anyone.
If we are not blind but our vision is impaired because of a plank in our eye, we are not immediately disqualified from leading. However, we must put any leadership on hold until we remove the plank from our eye through repentance. Then we can take the lead in removing specks from others’ eyes (Lk 6:42).
In summary, true leadership requires radical and repeated repentance. Without deep repentance, we will never be good husbands, wives, parents, priests, pastors, or pastoral leaders. Leaders don’t have to be perfect, dynamic, or brilliant, but they must be repentant enough to see spiritually. Repent and lead.
Prayer: Father, for Your sake, my sake, and the sake of those I love and lead, may I repent today and go to Confession as soon as possible.
Promise: “In fact, I do all that I do for the sake of the gospel in the hope of having a share in its blessings.” —1 Cor 9:23
Praise: Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez have led a Bible study in their home for years.
http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/
Are you clear-sighted, especially in your perception of sin and the need for each of one of us to see ourselves correctly as God sees us - with our faults,weaknesses, and strengths? Jesus' two parables about poor vision allude to the proverb: Without vision the people perish! (Proverbs 29:18) What can we learn from the illustration of a blind guide and a bad eye (the log in the eye)? A bad eye left untreated and a blind guide can cause a lot of trouble that will only end in misery and disaster for us! We can only help and teach others what we have learned and received from wise teachers and guides. And how can we help others overcome their faults if we are blinded by our own faults and misperceptions? We are all in need of a physician who can help us overcome the blind spots and failing of own sins, weaknesses, and ignorance.
Overcoming blind spots in our own lives
The Gospel of Luke was written by a disciple who was trained as a physician. Luke, with keen insight, portrays Jesus as the good physician and shepherd of souls who seeks out those who desire healing, pardon, and restoration of body, mind, and spirit. Jesus came to free us from the worst oppression possible - slavery to sin, fear, and condemnation. Like a gentle and skillful doctor, the Lord Jesus exposes the cancer of sin, evil, and oppression in our lives so we can be set free and restored to wholeness. A key step to healing and restoration requires that we first submit to the physician who can heal us. The Lord Jesus is our great Physician because he heals the whole person - soul and body, mind and heart - and restores us to abundant life both now and for the age to come in his everlasting kingdom.
Thinking the best of others
The Lord Jesus wants to heal and restore us to wholeness, not only for our own sake alone. He also wants us to be his instruments of healing, pardon, and restoration for others as well. What can hinder us from helping others draw near to Jesus the divine Physician? The Rabbis taught: "He who judges his neighbor favorably will be judged favorably by God." How easy it is to misjudge others and how difficult it is to be impartial in giving good judgment. Our judgment of others is usually "off the mark" because we can't see inside the other person, or we don't have access to all the facts, or we are swayed by instinct and unreasoning reactions to people. It is easier to find fault in others than in oneself. A critical and judgmental spirit crushes rather than heals, oppresses rather than restores, repels rather than attracts. "Thinking the best of other people" is necessary if we wish to grow in love. And kindliness in judgment is nothing less that a sacred duty.
What you give to others will return to you
Jesus states a heavenly principle we can stake our lives on: what you give to others (and how you treat others) will return to you (Mark 4:24). The Lord knows our faults and he sees all, even the imperfections and sins of the heart which we cannot recognize in ourselves. Like a gentle father and a skillful doctor he patiently draws us to his seat of mercy and removes the cancer of sin which inhabits our hearts. Do you trust in God's mercy and grace? Ask the Lord to flood your heart with his loving-kindness and mercy that you may only have room for charity, forbearance, and kindness towards your neighbor.
O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for thy name's sake. (Prayer of William Barclay, 20th century)
Psalm 84:1-12
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! [Selah]
5 Blessed are the men whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! [Selah]
9 Behold our shield, O God; look upon the face of your anointed!
10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in you!
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Seeing the speck in anothers eye, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"The word hypocrite is aptly employed here (Luke 6:42, Matthew 7:5), since the denouncing of evils is best viewed as a matter only for upright persons of goodwill. When the wicked engage in it, they are like impersonators, masqueraders, hiding their real selves behind a mask, while they portray anothers character through the mask. The word hypocrites in fact signifies pretenders. Hence we ought especially to avoid that meddlesome class of pretenders who under the pretense of seeking advice undertake the censure of all kinds of vices. They are often moved by hatred and malice. Rather, whenever necessity compels one to reprove or rebuke another, we ought to proceed with godly discernment and caution. First of all, let us consider whether the other fault is such as we ourselves have never had or whether it is one that we have overcome. Then, if we have never had such a fault, let us remember that we are human and could have had it. But if we have had it and are rid of it now, let us remember our common frailty, in order that mercy, not hatred, may lead us to the giving of correction and admonition. In this way, whether the admonition occasions the amendment or the worsening of the one for whose sake we are offering it (for the result cannot be foreseen), we ourselves shall be made safe through singleness of eye. But if on reflection we find that we ourselves have the same fault as the one we are about to reprove, let us neither correct nor rebuke that one. Rather, let us bemoan the fault ourselves and induce that person to a similar concern, without asking him to submit to our correction."(excerpt from Sermon on the Mount 2.19.64)
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