March 2, 2020 Monday of the First Week of Lent
2020년 3월 2일 사순 제1주간 월요일
오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp
제1독서
레위기 19,1-2.11-18
1 주님께서 모세에게 이르셨다.
2 “너는 이스라엘 자손들의 온 공동체에게 일러라. 그들에게 이렇게 말하여라.
‘나, 주 너희 하느님이 거룩하니 너희도 거룩한 사람이 되어야 한다.
11 너희는 도둑질해서는 안 된다. 속여서는 안 된다.
동족끼리 사기해서는 안 된다.
12 너희는 나의 이름으로 거짓 맹세를 해서는 안 된다.
그러면 너희는 너희 하느님의 이름을 더럽히게 된다. 나는 주님이다.
13 너희는 이웃을 억눌러서는 안 된다.
이웃의 것을 빼앗아서는 안 된다.
너희는 품팔이꾼의 품삯을 다음 날 아침까지 가지고 있어서는 안 된다.
14 너희는 귀먹은 이에게 악담해서는 안 된다.
눈먼 이 앞에 장애물을 놓아서는 안 된다.
너희는 하느님을 경외해야 한다. 나는 주님이다.
15 너희는 재판할 때 불의를 저질러서는 안 된다.
너희는 가난한 이라고 두둔해서도 안 되고,
세력 있는 이라고 우대해서도 안 된다.
너희 동족을 정의에 따라 재판해야 한다.
16 너희는 중상하러 돌아다녀서는 안 된다.
너희 이웃의 생명을 걸고 나서서는 안 된다. 나는 주님이다.
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.’”
복음
마태오. 25,31-46
그때에 예수님께서 제자들에게 말씀하셨다.
31 “사람의 아들이 영광에 싸여 모든 천사와 함께 오면,
자기의 영광스러운 옥좌에 앉을 것이다.
32 그리고 모든 민족들이 사람의 아들 앞으로 모일 터인데,
그는 목자가 양과 염소를 가르듯이 그들을 가를 것이다.
33 그렇게 하여 양들은 자기 오른쪽에, 염소들은 왼쪽에 세울 것이다.
34 그때에 임금이 자기 오른쪽에 있는 이들에게 이렇게 말할 것이다.
‘내 아버지께 복을 받은 이들아,
와서, 세상 창조 때부터 너희를 위하여 준비된 나라를 차지하여라.
35 너희는 내가 굶주렸을 때에 먹을 것을 주었고,
내가 목말랐을 때에 마실 것을 주었으며, 내가 나그네였을 때에 따뜻이 맞아들였다.
36 또 내가 헐벗었을 때에 입을 것을 주었고,
내가 병들었을 때에 돌보아 주었으며, 내가 감옥에 있을 때에 찾아 주었다.’
37 그러면 그 의인들이 이렇게 말할 것이다.
‘주님, 저희가 언제 주님께서 굶주리신 것을 보고 먹을 것을 드렸고,
목마르신 것을 보고 마실 것을 드렸습니까?
38 언제 주님께서 나그네 되신 것을 보고 따뜻이 맞아들였고,
헐벗으신 것을 보고 입을 것을 드렸습니까?
39 언제 주님께서 병드시거나 감옥에 계신 것을 보고 찾아가 뵈었습니까?’
40 그러면 임금이 대답할 것이다. ‘내가 진실로 너희에게 말한다.
너희가 내 형제들인 이 가장 작은 이들 가운데 한 사람에게 해 준 것이
바로 나에게 해 준 것이다.’
41 그때에 임금은 왼쪽에 있는 자들에게도 이렇게 말할 것이다.
‘저주받은 자들아, 나에게서 떠나
악마와 그 부하들을 위하여 준비된 영원한 불 속으로 들어가라.
42 너희는 내가 굶주렸을 때에 먹을 것을 주지 않았고,
내가 목말랐을 때에 마실 것을 주지 않았으며,
43 내가 나그네였을 때에 따뜻이 맞아들이지 않았다.
또 내가 헐벗었을 때에 입을 것을 주지 않았고,
내가 병들었을 때와 감옥에 있을 때에 돌보아 주지 않았다.’
44 그러면 그들도 이렇게 말할 것이다.
‘주님, 저희가 언제 주님께서 굶주리시거나 목마르시거나 나그네 되신 것을 보고,
또 헐벗으시거나 병드시거나 감옥에 계신 것을 보고
시중들지 않았다는 말씀입니까?’
45 그때에 임금이 대답할 것이다. ‘내가 진실로 너희에게 말한다.
너희가 이 가장 작은 이들 가운데 한 사람에게 해 주지 않은 것이
바로 나에게 해 주지 않은 것이다.’
46 이렇게 하여 그들은 영원한 벌을 받는 곳으로 가고
의인들은 영원한 생명을 누리는 곳으로 갈 것이다.”
March 2, 2020
Monday of the First Week of Lent
Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass
Reading 1
Lv 19:1-2, 11-18
"Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them:
Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.
"You shall not steal.
You shall not lie or speak falsely to one another.
You shall not swear falsely by my name,
thus profaning the name of your God.
I am the LORD.
"You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor.
You shall not withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer.
You shall not curse the deaf,
or put a stumbling block in front of the blind,
but you shall fear your God.
I am the LORD.
"You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment.
Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty,
but judge your fellow men justly.
You shall not go about spreading slander among your kin;
nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor's life is at stake.
I am the LORD.
"You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart.
Though you may have to reprove him,
do not incur sin because of him.
Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
I am the LORD."
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Gospel
Mt 25:31-46
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
he will sit upon his glorious throne,
and all the nations will be assembled before him.
And he will separate them one from another,
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right,
'Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.'
Then the righteous will answer him and say,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'
And the king will say to them in reply,
'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Then he will say to those on his left,
'Depart from me, you accursed,
into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
a stranger and you gave me no welcome,
naked and you gave me no clothing,
ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'
Then they will answer and say,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,
and not minister to your needs?'
He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do for one of these least ones,
you did not do for me.'
And these will go off to eternal punishment,
but the righteous to eternal life."
http://evangeli.net/gospel/tomorrow
«Whatever you did not do for one of these little ones, you did not do for me»
Fr. Joaquim MONRÓS i Guitart
(Tarragona, Spain)
Today we are reminded of the Final Judgment, «when the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels» (Mt 25:31), by letting us mull over the essentials of our faith; feeding the hungry, giving the thirsty to drink, clothing the naked, visiting the sick... these are works of love for those Christians who, upon doing them, can see the very same Christ therein reflected.
Saint John of the Cross says: «At dusk your love will be tested. Do learn to love God as He wants to be loved and forsake your own condition». For, not making something you ought to do, in the service of the other sons of God, our own brothers, means to deprive Christ of these details of due love: sins of omission.
The II Vatican Council, in the Gaudium et spes, when explaining the demands of Christian charity, which confer a meaning to the so called social assistance, says: «In our time, it becomes especially pressing our duty to come as close as possible to any man in need and to serve him with affection, whether the elder forsaken by all, or the baby, born out of an illegitimate union, who is exposed to pay for a sin he has not committed, or the starving, who appeals to our conscience by bringing to our memory the words of our Lord: ‘Truly, I say to you: whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me’ (Mt 25:40)».
Let us remember Christ lives within the Christians... and He tells us: «I am with you always, even unto the end of the world» (Mt 28:20).
The IV Lateran Council defines the Final Judgement as a truth of faith: «Jesus Christ will finally come at the end of the world, to judge the living and the dead, and to give each one according to their works, whether rejected or chosen (...) to receive after their works, good or bad: these will go into eternal punishment, but the just to Christ's eternal glory».
Let us beg the Virgin Mary for her help in our acts of service to her Son in our brothers.
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
The readings in today’s liturgy are direct hits on the season of Lent. The first reading is one of the renditions of the 10 Commandments and the gospel reading is the summation of how Jesus wants us to live our lives. What is more fruitful than recalling the Commandments and reviewing Jesus’ call for us to love one another.
A recent event highlighted for me the meaning of Jesus’ way of loving God and loving others. one of our basketball players (Nationally rated 10th, Creighton University – sorry for the plug–) came into the locker room after a decisive victory. He had two huge sheets with pictures of the players and their schedule for the season. He had each player autograph the sheets. When asked why he was doing this, he replied that two grade-school kids had asked him to get all the autographs for them. He was doing this very quickly to get it done before coach came in for his final remarks about the game; and, he got it done in time.
I was struck by the care for others that he showed. It matched the care for the game and for his teammates that he consistently shows. “There’s something special here!” I thought. He was going outside of himself for others. Seemingly not a big deal in terms of the world’s great needs, but a simple act of kindness towards others, two young lads star-struck by their favorite team.
The gospel today has Jesus proclaiming how to live the Good Life of faith. Observe the context, separating the sheep from the goats, and who deserves to be honored and who deserves a reprimand.
The scene is the end times where Jesus comes “in his glory and all the angels with him.” He invites the people come, “who inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”. For I was hungry . . .thirsty. . . a stranger . . .naked ill, in prison – and you came and tended to me in my need, whatever it was.
And they ask: “When did we see you hungry, etc.” and Jesus famously answers them, “whatever you did for one of these least of my sisters or brothers, you did for me.”
Notice the emphasis here. Not on the grand deed, the enormous task, but on simple care for others. I’m not asked to save Omaha, or Nebraska, or an even bigger chunk of real estate. I am simply called to look outside myself to others as Jesus looked outside of himself and responded to people’s needs.
Lent is the perfect time to examine ourselves and to be challenged to be selfless. The star basketball player demonstrated that wonderfully. The simple act of tending to the needs of a couple of starstruck kids, is what Jesus is talking about here in Matthew’s gospel, chapter 25.
Our task for Lent is to let ourselves be opened outward – towards those who look for care. Can I accept that challenge? Can I even become aware of their calling to me? And can I trust that Jesus means what he says to us all?
Lord, keep us close to you during this Lenten season. Help us to know in our hearts the love that you show us and the strength of our God who invites us all to imitate You in showing that love to our Sisters and Brothers.
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
THE TROPIC OF CANCER | ||
| "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, escorted by all the angels of heaven, He will sit upon His royal throne, and all the nations will be assembled before Him." �Matthew 25:31-32 | ||
I have read and preached today's Lenten readings for many years. Yet today, as I write, I hear them in a new way, for I have just been told by my surgeon that I have cancer. This may not be as bad as some people think it is. But it does make me think twice (or more) about life, death, holiness, and heaven. God reveals that we must live lives of detailed justice and love to be holy, for He is holy (Lv 19:2). I have tried to grow in holiness for most of my life, but now with this diagnosis of cancer, my striving "for that holiness without which no one can see the Lord" (Heb 12:14) is supremely important. I must see the Lord forever in heaven, whether that begins sooner or later. Most Christians and millions of others are familiar with today's Gospel reading. Jesus declares: "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for Me" (Mt 25:40, RSV-CE). These words jump off the page after my diagnosis of cancer. Also, I hear, as never before, Jesus' words: "Come. You have My Father's blessing! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world" (Mt 25:34). "God's word is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword" (Heb 4:12). We obviously don't need to have cancer to be convicted, pierced, and transformed by God's Word. Let God's Word burn in you now (see Lk 24:32). | ||
| Prayer: Father, make this Lent a time of God's Word penetrating the darkest areas of my life. | ||
| Promise: Jesus "will answer them: 'I assure you, as often as you neglected to do it to one of these least ones, you neglected to do it to Me.' These will go off to eternal punishment and the just to eternal life." —Mt 25:45-46 | ||
| Praise: To make amends for sins of omission, Danielle gives alms. |
http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/
Eternal life versus eternal punishment
Do you allow the love of God to rule in your heart? Augustine of Hippo (354-430 A.D.) said, "Essentially, there are two kinds of people, because there are two kinds of love. one is holy, the other is selfish. one is subject to God; the other endeavors to equal Him." Jesus came not only to fulfill the law of righteousness (Leviticus 19), but to transform it through his unconditional love and mercy towards us.
The Lord Jesus proved his love for us by offering up his life on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. His death brings freedom and life for us - freedom from fear, selfishness, and greed - and new abundant life in the Holy Spirit who fills our hearts with the love of God (Romans 5:5). Do you allow God's love to purify your heart and transform your mind to think, act, and love others as the Lord Jesus has taught through word and example?
The lesson of separating goats and sheep at the end of the day
Jesus' description of the "Son of Man", a Messianic title which points to the coming of God's anointed Ruler and Judge over the earth (John 5:26-29, Daniel 7:13ff), and his parable about the separation of goats and sheep must have startled his audience. What does the separation of goats and sheep have to do with the Day of God's Judgement over the earth? In arid dry lands such as Palestine, goats and sheep often grazed together during the day because green pasture was sparse. At nightfall, when the shepherd brought the sheep and goats to their place of rest, he separated them into two groups. Goats by temperament are aggressive, domineering, restless, and territorial. They butt heads with their horns whenever they think someone is intruding on their space.
Goats came to symbolize evil and the ｅxpression "scape-goat" become a common ｅxpression for someone bearing blame or guilt for others. (See Leviticus 26:20-22 for a description of the ritual expulsion of a sin-bearing goat on the Day of Atonement.) Jesus took our guilt and sins upon himself and nailed them to the cross. He paid the price to set us free from sin and death. Our choice is either to follow and obey him as our Lord and Savior or to be our own master and go our own separate way apart from God's way of truth and righteousness (moral goodness). We cannot remain neutral or indifferent to the commands of Christ. If we do not repent of our wrongdoing (our sins and offenses against God and neighbor) and obey the Gospel we cannot be disciples of the Lord Jesus nor inherit his kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. Separation of the good from the bad is inevitable because one way leads to sin, rebellion, and death and the other way leads to purification, peace, and everlasting life with God.
Love of God frees us from inordinate love of self
The parable of the goats and sheep has a similar endpoint as the parable of the rich man who refused to give any help to the poor man Lazarus who begged daily at the rich man's doorstep (Luke 16:19-31). Although Lazarus was poor and lacked what he needed, he nonetheless put his hope in God and the promise of everlasting life in God's kingdom. The rich man was a lover of wealth rather than a lover of God and neighbor. When Lazarus died he was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom to receive his reward in heaven. When the rich man died his fortunes were reversed and he was cast into the unquenchable fires of hell to receive his just desserts. The parable emphasizes the great chasm and wall of separation between the former rich man held now bound as a poor and miserable prisoner in hell and Lazarus clothed in royal garments feasting at God's banquet table in the kingdom of heaven.
The day of God's righteous judgment will disclose which kind of love we chose in this present life - a holy unselfish love directed to God and to the welfare of our neighbor or a disordered and selfish love that puts oneself above God and the good of our neighbor.
When Martin of Tours (316-397 AD), a young Roman soldier who had been reluctant to fully commit his life to Christ and be baptized as a Christian, met a poor beggar on the road who had no clothes to warm himself in the freezing cold, Martin took pity on him. He immediately got off his horse and cut his cloak in two and then gave half to the stranger. That night Martin dreamt he saw a vision of Jesus in heaven robed in a torn cloak just like the one he gave away that day to the beggar. one of the angels next to Jesus asked, "Master, why do you wear that battered cloak?" Jesus replied, "My servant Martin gave it to me." Martin's disciple and biographer Sulpicius Severus states that as a consequence of this vision "Martin flew to be baptized" to give his life fully to Christ as a member of his people - the body of Christ on earth and the communion of saints and angels in heaven.
Augustine of Hippo (354-430 A.D.) wrote, "Christ is at once above and below - above in Himself, below in his people. Fear Christ above, and recognize him below. Here he is poor, with and in the poor; there he is rich, with and in God. Have Christ above bestowing his bounty; recognize him here in his need" (excerpt from Sermon 123, 44).
On the day of judgment Jesus will ask "whom did you love"?
When the Lord Jesus comes again as Judge and Ruler over all, he will call each one of us to stand before his seat of judgment to answer the question - who did you love and put first in this life? Inordinate love of self crowds out love of God and love of neighbor. Those who put their faith in Jesus Christ and follow his way of love and righteousness will not be disappointed. They will receive the just reward - life and peace with God in his everlasting kingdom.
If we entrust our lives to the Lord Jesus today, and allow his Holy Spirit to purify our hearts and minds, then he will give us the grace, strength, and freedom to walk and live each day in the power of his merciful love and goodness. Let us entrust our lives into the hands of the merciful Savior who gave his life for us. And let us ask the Lord Jesus to increase our faith, strengthen our hope, and enkindle in us the fire of his merciful love and compassion for all.
"Lord Jesus, be the Master and Ruler of my life. May your love rule in my heart that I may only think, act, and speak with charity and good will for all."
Psalm 19:8-10, 14
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
A Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Gathering and Separating, by an anonymous early author from the Greek church
"And he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." So then, people on earth are intermingled, and not only intermingled in that the righteous live side by side with the wicked, but they are also indistinguishable. Between the righteous and the wicked there is no apparent difference. Even as in wintertime you cannot tell the healthy trees apart from the withered trees but in beautiful springtime you can tell the difference, so too each person according to his faith and his works will be exposed. The wicked will not have any leaves or show any fruit, but the righteous will be clothed with the leaves of eternal life and adorned with the fruit of glory. In this way they will be separated by the heavenly shepherd and Lord. The earthly shepherd separates animals by their type of body, whereas Christ separates people by their type of soul. The sheep signify righteous people by reason of their gentleness, because they harm no one, and by reason of their patience, because when they are harmed by others, they bear it without resistance. He refers to sinners as goats, however, because these vices characterize goats - capriciousness toward other animals, pride and belligerence." (excerpt from INCOMPLETE WORK on MATTHEW, HOMILY 54, the Greek fathers).
More Homilies
