오늘의 복음

February 19, 2023 Sunday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Margaret K 2023. 2. 19. 06:20

2023년 2월 19일 연중 제7주일

오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp 

제1독서

레위기.19,1-2.17-18

1 주님께서 모세에게 이르셨다.

2 “너는 이스라엘 자손들의 온 공동체에게 일러라. 그들에게 이렇게 말하여라.

‘나, 주 너희 하느님이 거룩하니 너희도 거룩한 사람이 되어야 한다.

17 너희는 마음속으로 형제를 미워해서는 안 된다.

동족의 잘못을 서슴없이 꾸짖어야 한다.

그래야 너희가 그 사람 때문에 죄를 짊어지지 않는다.

18 너희는 동포에게 앙갚음하거나 앙심을 품어서는 안 된다.

네 이웃을 너 자신처럼 사랑해야 한다. 나는 주님이다.’” 

 

제2독서

코린토 1서.3,16-23

형제 여러분,

16 여러분이 하느님의 성전이고

하느님의 영께서 여러분 안에 계시다는 사실을 여러분은 모릅니까?

17 누구든지 하느님의 성전을 파괴하면

하느님께서도 그자를 파멸시키실 것입니다.

하느님의 성전은 거룩하기 때문입니다.

여러분이 바로 하느님의 성전입니다.

18 아무도 자신을 속여서는 안 됩니다.

여러분 가운데 자기가 이 세상에서 지혜로운 이라고 생각하는 사람이 있으면,

그가 지혜롭게 되기 위해서는 어리석은 이가 되어야 합니다.

19 이 세상의 지혜가 하느님께는 어리석음이기 때문입니다.

성경에 이렇게 기록되어 있습니다.

“그분께서는 지혜롭다는 자들을 그들의 꾀로 붙잡으신다.”

20 또 이렇게 기록되어 있습니다.

“주님께서는 지혜롭다는 자들의 생각을 아신다. 그것이 허황됨을 아신다.”

21 그러므로 아무도 인간을 두고 자랑해서는 안 됩니다.

사실 모든 것이 다 여러분의 것입니다.

22 바오로도 아폴로도 케파도, 세상도 생명도 죽음도,

현재도 미래도 다 여러분의 것입니다.

23 그리고 여러분은 그리스도의 것이고 그리스도는 하느님의 것입니다. 

 

복음

마태오. 5,38-48

그때에 예수님께서 제자들에게 말씀하셨다.

38 “‘눈은 눈으로, 이는 이로.’ 하고 이르신 말씀을 너희는 들었다.

39 그러나 나는 너희에게 말한다.

악인에게 맞서지 마라.

오히려 누가 네 오른뺨을 치거든 다른 뺨마저 돌려 대어라.

40 또 너를 재판에 걸어 네 속옷을 가지려는 자에게는 겉옷까지 내주어라.

41 누가 너에게 천 걸음을 가자고 강요하거든,

그와 함께 이천 걸음을 가 주어라.

42 달라는 자에게 주고 꾸려는 자를 물리치지 마라.

43 ‘네 이웃을 사랑해야 한다.

그리고 네 원수는 미워해야 한다.’고 이르신 말씀을 너희는 들었다.

44 그러나 나는 너희에게 말한다.

너희는 원수를 사랑하여라.

그리고 너희를 박해하는 자들을 위하여 기도하여라.

45 그래야 너희가 하늘에 계신 너희 아버지의 자녀가 될 수 있다.

그분께서는 악인에게나 선인에게나 당신의 해가 떠오르게 하시고,

의로운 이에게나 불의한 이에게나 비를 내려 주신다.

46 사실 너희가 자기를 사랑하는 이들만 사랑한다면 무슨 상을 받겠느냐?

그것은 세리들도 하지 않느냐?

47 그리고 너희가 자기 형제들에게만 인사한다면,

너희가 남보다 잘하는 것이 무엇이겠느냐?

그런 것은 다른 민족 사람들도 하지 않느냐?

48 그러므로 하늘의 너희 아버지께서 완전하신 것처럼

너희도 완전한 사람이 되어야 한다.” 

February 19, 2023

Sunday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Daily Readings — Audio

Daily Reflections — Video

Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass

: https://www.youtube.com/c/DailyTVMass

Bible : http://www.usccb.org/bible/

Reading 1

Lv 19:1-2, 17-18

The LORD said to Moses,

“Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them:

Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.

“You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart.

Though you may have to reprove your fellow citizen,

do not incur sin because of him.

Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people.

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

I am the LORD.”

 

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13

R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.

Bless the LORD, O my soul;

and all my being, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

He pardons all your iniquities,

heals all your ills.

He redeems your life from destruction,

crowns you with kindness and compassion.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Merciful and gracious is the LORD,

slow to anger and abounding in kindness.

Not according to our sins does he deal with us,

nor does he requite us according to our crimes.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

As far as the east is from the west,

so far has he put our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

 

Reading 2

1 Cor 3:16-23

Brothers and sisters:

Do you not know that you are the temple of God,

and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person;

for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

Let no one deceive himself.

If any one among you considers himself wise in this age,

let him become a fool, so as to become wise.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God,

for it is written:

God catches the wise in their own ruses,

and again:

The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,

that they are vain.

So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you,

Paul or Apollos or Cephas,

or the world or life or death,

or the present or the future:

all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

 

Gospel

Mt 5:38-48

Jesus said to his disciples:

“You have heard that it was said,

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.

When someone strikes you on your right cheek,

turn the other one as well.

If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,

hand over your cloak as well.

Should anyone press you into service for one mile,

go for two miles.

Give to the one who asks of you,

and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

“You have heard that it was said,

You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

But I say to you, love your enemies

and pray for those who persecute you,

that you may be children of your heavenly Father,

for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,

and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?

Do not the tax collectors do the same?

And if you greet your brothers only,

what is unusual about that?

Do not the pagans do the same?

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

I don’t know what to do with the word “perfect” here. We are called to be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48), but I am not capable of being as holy or as perfect as God. My problem is that I have difficulty reconciling how perfectionism, which according to the wisdom of the world is a laudable trait, can make someone feel so miserable. Perfectionists set unreasonable standards for themselves and others, which often results in anxiety, fear of failure, procrastination – and damaged self-esteem when those unrealistic, self-set expectations are not met. In fact, perfectionism runs counter to my understanding of how our relationship with God should be because it misleads the perfectionist into thinking our worth comes from our own accomplishments and abilities, when really our worth comes from our faith in Christ. Perhaps the problem I have with “perfect,” then, is that I accept the world’s conventional wisdom about how important it is to be perfect and what that means. I can’t help but think that it would be seen as foolishness in the eyes of God (I Corinthians 3).

So instead of focusing on an ill-defined sense of “perfect,” look to how our heavenly Father is perfect to get a better idea of how we are called to live. I read Matthew 5:48 in some other translations, and I found The Message to be helpful: “Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” The psalmist today gives a wonderful list of God’s traits, beginning with our response: The Lord is kind and merciful. We also see that God pardons and forgives, heals, brings compassion, is slow to anger. When I read that He does not “requite us according to our crimes,” I can more readily understand why I am not to seek revenge, bear hatred, cherish grudges (Leviticus 19), retaliate or offer resistance (Matthew 5).

Thankfully, our loving and merciful Lord gives us some positive ways to focus our energies. Love your neighbor as yourself is a great start, and then Jesus extends that with love your enemies. Jesus then tells us to pray for our adversaries, which may seem hard but has the wonderful result of changing our own hearts so that we no longer consider them our enemies. In Leviticus, God tells us to love and let go of hatred, anger, desire for vengeance, and grudges. In the Gospels, Jesus tells us to love those who attack or take advantage of us. When we obey, we benefit spiritually, mentally, emotionally and sometimes even physically as we let the Spirit take from us those sources of pain and bitterness. When we love, as Christ commanded, we keep His word, and (as our Alleluia verse tell us) the love of God is truly perfected in us. Perfect, just as our loving, merciful, forgiving, gracious heavenly Father is perfect.

(And to all you perfectionists out there: Remember, God told us to love our neighbors and ourselves, so show yourself some loving mercy, too.)

http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp

LOVING THOSE WHO HURT YOU

“Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” —Leviticus 19:18

Jesus was asked: “Teacher, which commandment of the law is the greatest?” (Mt 22:36) Jesus surprised His questioner by mentioning not one commandment but two. He surprised all of Judaism by maintaining that loving one’s neighbor as oneself is the second commandment, and together with the first commandment forms the basis of the law and the prophets (Mt 22:40; cf Rm 13:10).

The Biblical context for the second commandment isn’t merely about generally helping out our neighbors or being friendly to them. In Leviticus 19:18, to love our neighbor specifically means not bearing hatred toward them, not taking revenge on them, and not cherishing a grudge against them. So, when Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandment, He did not merely add to the first commandment the command to love our neighbor; He also implied a prohibition against hating, taking revenge, and cherishing grudges.

Is there anyone you hate? Do you want to get revenge on someone? Are you holding a grudge? Have you forgiven from your heart everyone for everything? (Mt 18:35) Do you love your neighbor as yourself by God’s standards? This Lent, be reconciled, forgive, and love your neighbor.

Prayer: Sacred Heart of Jesus, purify my heart this Lent to love the Samaritans and enemies in my life (Lk 10:29ff).

Promise: “Are you not aware that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” —1 Cor 3:16

Praise: Praise the risen Jesus, Who is the cause of our joy!

http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/

If someone insults you or tries to take advantage of you, how do you respond? Do you repay in kind? Jesus approached the question of just retribution with a surprising revelation of God's intention for how we should treat others, especially those who mistreat us. When Jesus spoke about God's law, he did something no one had done before. He gave a new standard based not just on the requirements of justice - giving each their due - but based on the law of grace, love, and freedom.

Law of grace and love

Jesus knew the moral law and its intention better than any jurist or legal expert could imagine. He quoted from the oldest recorded law in the world: If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe (Exodus 21:23-25). Such a law today seems cruel, but it was meant to limit vengeance as a first step towards mercy. This law was not normally taken literally but served as a guide for a judge in a law court for assessing punishment and penalty (see Deuteronomy 19:18).

The Old Testament is full of references to the command that we must be merciful: You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD (Leviticus 19:18). If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink (Proverbs 25:21). Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done" (Proverbs 24:29). Let him give his cheek to the smiter, and be filled with insults (Lamentations 3:30).

Jesus does something quite remarkable and unheard of. He transforms the law of mercy with grace, forbearance, and loving-kindness. Jesus also makes clear that there is no room for retaliation. We must not only avoid returning evil for evil, but we must seek the good of those who wish us ill. Do you accept insults, as Jesus did, with no resentment or malice? When you are compelled by others to do more than you think you deserve, do you insist on your rights, or do you respond with grace and cheerfulness?

Grace of the Holy Spirit

What makes a disciple of Jesus Christ different from everyone else? What makes Christianity distinct from any other religion? It is grace - treating others, not as they deserve, but as God wishes them to be treated - with loving-kindness and mercy. Only the cross of Jesus Christ can free us from the tyranny of malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment and gives us the courage to return evil with good. Such love and grace has power to heal and to save from destruction. The Lord Jesus suffered insult, abuse, injustice, and death on a cross for our sake. Scripture tells us that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin and guilt (Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7, I John 1:7, Revelation 1:5). Since God has been merciful towards us through the offering of his Son, Jesus Christ, we in turn are called to be merciful towards our neighbor, even those who cause us grief and harm.

How can we possibly love those who cause us harm or ill-will? With God all things are possible. He gives power and grace to those who believe and accept the gift of the Holy Spirit. His love conquers all, even our hurts, fears, prejudices and griefs. Only the cross of Jesus Christ can free us from the tyranny of malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment and gives us the courage to return evil with good. Such love and grace has power to heal and to save from destruction. Do you know the power and freedom of Christ's redeeming love and mercy?

Perfect - made whole

Was Jesus exaggerating when he said we must be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48)? Jesus' command seems to parallel two passages from the Old Testament Scriptures. The first is where God instructed Abraham to "be perfect/blameless" before God (Genesis 17:1). The original meaning of "perfect" in Hebrew and the Aramaic dialect which Jesus spoke is "completeness" or"wholeness" - "not lacking in what is essential."

The second passage that seems to parallel Jesus' expression - "be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect"- is the command that God gave to Moses and the people of Israel to "be holy, for I am holy" (Leviticus 11:44,45; 19:2). God created each one of us in his own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26,27). That is why he calls us to grow in maturity and wholeness so we can truly be like him - a people who loves as he loves and who chooses to do what is good and to reject what is evil (Ephesians 4:13-16).

Freedom and power to love as God loves

God knows our sinfulness and weaknesses better than we do - and he assures us of his love, mercy, and help. That is why he freely gives us his power, strength, and gifts so that we may not lack anything we need to do his will and to live as his sons and daughters (2 Peter 1:3). Do you want to grow in your love for God and for your neighbor? Ask the Holy Spirit to purify and transform you in the image of the Father that you may know and live in the joy and freedom of the Gospel.


Lord Jesus, your love brings freedom and pardon. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and set my heart ablaze with your love that nothing may make me lose my temper, ruffle my peace, take away my joy, nor make me bitter towards anyone.


Psalm 103:1-4,8,10,12-13

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor requite us according to our iniquities.

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

13 As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear him.

Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: You tear yourself apart by hating, by an anonymous early author from the Greek church

"We have seen how murder is born from anger and adultery from desire. In the same way, the hatred of an enemy is destroyed by the love of friendship. Suppose you have viewed a man as an enemy, yet after a while he has been swayed by your benevolence. You will then love him as a friend. I think that Christ ordered these things not so much for our enemies as for us: not because enemies are fit to be loved by others but because we are not fit to hate anyone. For hatred is the prodigy of dark places. Wherever it resides, it sullies the beauty of sound sense. Therefore not only does Christ order us to love our enemies for the sake of cherishing them but also for the sake of driving away from ourselves what is bad for us. The Mosaic law does not speak about physically hurting your enemy but about hating your enemy. But if you merely hate him, you have hurt yourself more in the spirit than you have hurt him in the flesh. Perhaps you don't harm him at all by hating him. But you surely tear yourself apart. If then you are benevolent to an enemy, you have rather spared yourself than him. And if you do him a kindness, you benefit yourself more than him." (excerpt from INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 13, The Greek Fathers)