2020년 9월 12일 연중 제23주간 토요일
오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp
제1독서
코린토 1서.10,14-22
14 사랑하는 여러분, 우상 숭배를 멀리하십시오.
15 나는 여러분을 슬기로운 사람으로 여겨 말합니다.
내가 하는 말을 스스로 판단하십시오.
16 우리가 축복하는 그 축복의 잔은 그리스도의 피에 동참하는 것이 아닙니까?
우리가 떼는 빵은 그리스도의 몸에 동참하는 것이 아닙니까?
17 빵이 하나이므로 우리는 여럿일지라도 한 몸입니다.
우리 모두 한 빵을 함께 나누기 때문입니다.
18 저 이스라엘 백성을 보십시오.
희생 제물을 먹는 이들은 모두 제단에 동참하는 이들이 아닙니까?
19 그러니 내가 말하려는 것이 무엇이겠습니까?
우상에게 바쳤던 제물이 무엇이라도 된다는 말입니까?
우상이 무엇이라도 된다는 말입니까?
20 아닙니다. 사람들이 바치는 제물은 하느님이 아니라
마귀들에게 바치는 것이라는 말입니다.
나는 여러분이 마귀들과 상종하는 자가 되지 않기를 바랍니다.
21 여러분이 주님의 잔도 마시고 마귀들의 잔도 마실 수는 없습니다.
여러분이 주님의 식탁에도 참여하고
마귀들의 식탁에도 참여할 수는 없습니다.
22 우리가 주님을 질투하시게 하려는 것입니까?
우리가 주님보다 강하다는 말입니까?
복음
루카. 6,43-49
그때에 예수님께서 제자들에게 말씀하셨다.
43 “좋은 나무는 나쁜 열매를 맺지 않는다.
또 나쁜 나무는 좋은 열매를 맺지 않는다.
44 나무는 모두 그 열매를 보면 안다.
가시나무에서 무화과를 따지 못하고
가시덤불에서 포도를 거두어들이지 못한다.
45 선한 사람은 마음의 선한 곳간에서 선한 것을 내놓고,
악한 자는 악한 곳간에서 악한 것을 내놓는다.
마음에서 넘치는 것을 입으로 말하는 법이다.
46 너희는 어찌하여 나를 ‘주님, 주님!’ 하고 부르면서,
내가 말하는 것은 실행하지 않느냐?
47 나에게 와서 내 말을 듣고 그것을 실행하는 이가
어떤 사람과 같은지 너희에게 보여 주겠다.
48 그는 땅을 깊이 파서 반석 위에 기초를 놓고 집을 짓는 사람과 같다.
홍수가 나서 강물이 집에 들이닥쳐도,
그 집은 잘 지어졌기 때문에 전혀 흔들리지 않는다.
49 그러나 내 말을 듣고도 실행하지 않는 자는,
기초도 없이 맨땅에 집을 지은 사람과 같다.
강물이 들이닥치자 그 집은 곧 무너져 버렸다.
그 집은 완전히 허물어져 버렸다.”
September 12, 2020
Saturday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass
Reading 1
My beloved ones, avoid idolatry.
I am speaking as to sensible people;
judge for yourselves what I am saying.
The cup of blessing that we bless,
is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ?
The bread that we break,
is it not a participation in the Body of Christ?
Because the loaf of bread is one,
we, though many, are one Body,
for we all partake of the one loaf.
Look at Israel according to the flesh;
are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?
So what am I saying?
That meat sacrificed to idols is anything?
Or that an idol is anything?
No, I mean that what they sacrifice,
they sacrifice to demons, not to God,
and I do not want you to become participants with demons.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons.
You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons.
Or are we provoking the Lord to jealous anger?
Are we stronger than him?
R. (17) To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
R. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
R. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
Gospel
Lk 6:43-49
Jesus said to his disciples:
"A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I command?
I will show you what someone is like who comes to me,
listens to my words, and acts on them.
That one is like a man building a house,
who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock;
when the flood came, the river burst against that house
but could not shake it because it had been well built.
But the one who listens and does not act
is like a person who built a house on the ground
without a foundation.
When the river burst against it,
it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed."
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
REMEMBER ME?
“It immediately fell in and was completely destroyed.” —Luke 6:49
Nineteen years ago yesterday, terrorists hijacked airplanes and flew them into the Twin Towers in New York City. Three thousand people died horrible deaths, and many people turned to the Lord in prayer. Prayers flooded electronic mail systems. Churches were full of anguished people who instinctively turned to God in prayer. People cried out “Lord, Lord” (Lk 6:46).
How many people who turned to God nineteen years ago are still seeking Him today? Jesus is merciful, and He will never reject anyone who comes to Him (Jn 6:37). What Jesus really wants, however, is for people to call Him “Lord, Lord,” and then show their acceptance of His lordship over them by hearing His words and putting them into practice the rest of their lives (Lk 6:46-47).
Let’s not perpetuate the tragedies of the past. Anyone “who desires to come to [Jesus] will hear [His] words and put them into practice” (Lk 6:47). Those who do so “may be likened to the man who, in building a house, dug deeply and laid the foundation on a rock. When the floods came the torrent rushed in on that house, but failed to shake it because of its solid foundation” (Lk 6:48). Jesus says: “Come to Me” (Mt 11:28). Then He says: “Remain in Me” (see Jn 15:4).
Prayer: Jesus, may the hurting people that come to You, find Your healing love, and remain with You forever.
Promise: “Because the loaf of bread is one, we, many though we are, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.” —1 Cor 10:17
Praise: “For He has looked upon His servant in her lowliness; all ages to come shall call me blessed” (Lk 1:48). The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary began in Spain in the Sixteenth Century.
http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/
Why does Jesus set figs and grapes over against thorns and brambles? The fig tree was the favorite of all trees for the people of Palestine. It symbolized fertility, peace, and prosperity. Grapes, likewise, produced wine, the symbol of joy. Thorns and brambles were only good for burning as fuel for the fire. There's a proverbial saying that you know a tree by its fruit. Likewise a person will produce good or bad fruit depending on what is sown in the heart. Charles Read said: "Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny." Character, like fruit, doesn't grow overnight. It takes a lifetime.
A healthy and sound mind produces good fruit
Jesus connects soundness with good fruit. Something is sound when it is free from defect, decay, or disease and is healthy. Good fruit is the result of sound living - living according to moral truth and upright character. The prophet Isaiah warned against the dangers of falsehood: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness (Isaiah 5:20). The fruits of falsehood produce an easy religion which takes the iron out of religion, the cross out of Christianity, and any teaching which eliminates the hard sayings of Jesus, and which push the judgments of God into the background and makes us think lightly of sin.
How do we avoid falsehood and bad fruit in our lives? By being true - true to God, his word, and the grace and help he gives us so we can turn away from evil and wrongdoing. And that takes character! Those who are true to God know that their strength lies not in themselves but in God who supplies everything we need to live as his disciples. The Lord strengthens us with the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit - with faith, hope and love, justice, prudence, fortitude and temperance. And we grow in godly character through exercising the gifts and strength which God supplies. Do you want to bear good fruit in your daily life? Allow the Holy Spirit to train you in godliness and the wisdom to distinguish good fruit from bad fruit (1 Timothy 4:7-8, Hebrews 5:14).
What kind of foundation are you building your life?
Jesus told another story about the importance of building on the right foundation to reinforce his lesson about sound living. When Jesus told the story of the builders he likely had the following proverb in mind: When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm for ever (Proverbs 10:25). What's the significance of the story for us? The kind of foundation we build our lives upon will determine whether we can survive the storms that are sure to come. Builders usually lay their foundations when the weather and soil conditions are at their best. It takes foresight to know how a foundation will stand up against adverse conditions. Building a house on a flood plain, such as a dry river-bed, is a sure bet for disaster!
Our character is revealed in the choices we make
Jesus prefaced his story with a warning: We may fool other people with our speech and gestures, but God cannot be deceived. He sees the heart as it truly is - with its motives, intentions, desires, and choices (Psalm 139:2). There is only one way in which a person's sincerity can be proved, and that is by one's practice. Fine words can never replace good deeds. Our character is revealed in the choices we make, especially when we are tested. Do you cheat on an exam or on your income taxes, especially when it will cost you? Do you lie, or cover-up, when disclosing the truth will cause you injury or embarrassment? A true person is honest and reliable before God, themselves, and their neighbor. Their word can be counted on. What foundation is your life built upon?
Lord Jesus, you are the sure foundation and source of life and strength for us. Give me wisdom and strength to live according to your truth and to reject every false way. May I be a doer of your word and not a hearer only.
Psalm 113
1 Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD!
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised!
4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down upon the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Scripture is the field where we build our house, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"In a certain place in the Gospel, the Lord says that the wise hearer of his word ought to be like a man who, wishing to build, digs rather deeply until he comes to bedrock. There without anxiety he establishes what he builds against the onrush of a flood, so that when it comes, rather it may be pushed back by the solidity of the building than that house collapse by the impact. Let us consider the Scripture of God as being a field where we want to build something. Let us not be lazy or content with the surface. Let us dig more deeply until we come to rock: 'Now the rock was Christ' (1 Corinthians 10:4)." (excerpt from TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 23.1)
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