2011년 3월 22일 사순 제2주간 화요일
제1독서
이사야서.1,10.16-20
10 소돔의 지도자들아, 주님의 말씀을 들어라. 고모라의 백성들아, 우리 하느님의 가르침에 귀를 기울여라.
16 너희 자신을 씻어 깨끗이 하여라. 내 눈앞에서 너희의 악한 행실들을 치워 버려라. 악행을 멈추고, 17 선행을 배워라. 공정을 추구하고, 억압받는 이를 보살펴라. 고아의 권리를 되찾아 주고, 과부를 두둔해 주어라.
18 주님께서 말씀하신다. “오너라, 우리 시비를 가려보자. 너희의 죄가 진홍빛 같아도 눈같이 희어지고, 다홍같이 붉어도 양털같이 되리라.
19 너희가 기꺼이 순종하면 이 땅의 좋은 소출을 먹게 되리라. 20 그러나 너희가 마다하고 거스르면 칼날에 먹히리라.” 주님께서 친히 말씀하셨다.
복음
마태오.23,1-12
1 그때에 예수님께서 군중과 제자들에게 말씀하셨다.
2 “율법 학자들과 바리사이들은 모세의 자리에 앉아 있다. 3 그러니 그들이 너희에게 말하는 것은 다 실행하고 지켜라. 그러나 그들의 행실은 따라 하지 마라. 그들은 말만 하고 실행하지는 않는다. 4 또 그들은 무겁고 힘겨운 짐을 묶어 다른 사람들 어깨에 올려놓고, 자기들은 그것을 나르는 일에 손가락 하나 까딱하려고 하지 않는다.
5 그들이 하는 일이란 모두 다른 사람들에게 보이기 위한 것이다. 그래서 성구갑을 넓게 만들고, 옷자락 술을 길게 늘인다. 6 잔칫집에서는 윗자리를, 회당에서는 높은 자리를 좋아하고, 7 장터에서 인사받기를, 사람들에게 스승이라고 불리기를 좋아한다.
8 그러나 너희는 스승이라고 불리지 않도록 하여라. 너희의 스승님은 한 분뿐이시고 너희는 모두 형제다. 9 또 이 세상 누구도 아버지라고 부르지 마라. 너희의 아버지는 오직 한 분, 하늘에 계신 그분뿐이시다. 10 그리고 너희는 선생이라고 불리지 않도록 하여라. 너희의 선생님은 그리스도 한 분뿐이시다.
11 너희 가운데에서 가장 높은 사람은 너희를 섬기는 사람이 되어야 한다. 12 누구든지 자신을 높이는 이는 낮아지고, 자신을 낮추는 이는 높아질 것이다.”
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http://www.usccb.org/nab/
March 22, 2011
Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent
Reading 1
Is 1:10, 16-20
Hear the word of the LORD,
princes of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
people of Gomorrah!
Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.
Come now, let us set things right,
says the LORD:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.
If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;
But if you refuse and resist,
the sword shall consume you:
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23
R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
Gospel
Mt 23:1-12
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
![](https://img1.daumcdn.net/relay/cafe/original/?fname=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.blog.yahoo.co.kr%2Fybi%2F1%2F75%2F80%2Fkslofs%2Ffolder%2F2750962%2Fimg_2750962_1371845_2%3F1148074644.gif)
http://www.staygreat.com/
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http://www.franciscanretreats.net/
Our first reading for today’s Liturgy is taken from the Prophet Isaiah. A passage of good advice for all of us in the process of transfiguration particularly if we are into ourselves like the Pharisees in today’s Gospel reading.
Isaiah tells us to clean up our act, listen to God, put aside our misdeeds, knock off doing the wrong things, learn to do the good and choose to do it, be just and open and honest with others, hear the cry of those in need and don’t pass them by like the priest and levite in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Work at being willing to do what God asks of us, be obedient to his wishes and words. In these many ways of acknowledging Jesus as way, truth and life, we will indeed be transfigured
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http://www.evangeli.net/gospel/gospel.html
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http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
Today’s scripture readings seem to speak of sin, confession and forgiveness. The Lord speaks through Isaiah to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah (two pretty sinful places) telling them, Wash yourselves clean! Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; Though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool. The psalmist proclaims, To the upright I will show the saving power of God. And in Matthew, Jesus tells the people, do not follow the example of the scribes and the Pharisees who do not practice what they preach.
There’s a beautiful song out right now called What Love Really Means by J J Heller. It tells the poignant, heart rending story of three broken people crying out to God. Each pleads in the refrain; Who will love me for me? Not for what I have done or what I’ll become. Who will love me for me? Nobody has shown me what love really means.
I think all of us have been somewhere at some time in our lives where we were convinced that no one could love us, not even God. That we had done something that God could not forgive. That we had placed ourselves beyond the reach of God’s love. The Good News is that this is not true. There is no place beyond God’s reach. There is no corner so dark that the light of God cannot shine there. There is no sin that God can’t forgive.
Confession is a painful thing. Having to admit we’ve screwed up or done something wrong. I mean, it’s not like God doesn’t already know, so what’s the point? Isaiah understands the point. I love the images in Isaiah. Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow. Sin is like dirt, filth and slime. It covers me and, on my own, I just cannot seem to get it off of me. I have this mental picture of God holding a fire hose. When I say I’m sorry to God, I had better be ready, because the sin is going to vanish in the blink of an eye. Things are going to change.
By the by, the song has a joyful ending where God declares His love for each of us. I will love you for you. Not for what you have done or what you’ll become. I will love you for you.
In this season of Lent, here’s something to think about. If God didn’t love you, why did Jesus come to earth? My prayer is for all of us to have a fruitful Lenten season where our relationship with God grows and deepens. Where we recognize just how much God really loves us.
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http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/
"Whoever humbles himself will be exalted"
Who doesn’t want to be admired and honored by others? God, however, sees us truly as we are – beggars and sinners in need of his constant grace and mercy. Jesus chided the scribes and Pharisees for seeking the praise of others by drawing attention to their showy religious practices. In a way they wanted to be good models of observant Jews. "See how well we observe all the ritual rules and regulations of our religion!" In their misguided zeal for religion they sought respect and honor for themselves rather than for God. They made the practice of their faith a burden rather than a joy for the people they were supposed to serve. True respect for God and his ways inclines us to Godly humility and to simplicity of heart – wanting to please God alone.
Was Jesus against calling anyone rabbi or father? Or was he just directing this sharp rebuke to the scribes and Pharisees? Jesus seemed to be warning both his disciples and the religious leaders about the temptation to seek titles and honors to increase one's reputation and admiration by others. The scriptures give ample warning about the danger of self-seeking pride: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbes 16:18). God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6; Proverbs 3:24). Origen, writing in the 3rd century, reminds those who teach and lead to remember that "you have one teacher, and you are all brothers to each other...Whoever ministers with the divine word does not put himself forward to be called teacher, for he knows that when he performs well it is Christ who is within him. He should only call himself servant according to the command of Christ, saying, Whoever is greater among you, let him be the servant of all."
Respect for God and his ways inclines us to Godly humility and simplicity of heart. What is true humility and why should we embrace it? True humility is not feeling bad about yourself, or having a low opinion of yourself, or thinking of yourself as inferior to others. True humility frees us from preoccupation with ourselves, whereas a low self-opinion tends to focus our attention on ourselves. Humility is truth in self-understanding and truth in action. Viewing ourselves truthfully, with sober judgment, means seeing ourselves the way God sees us (Psalm 139:1-4). A humble person makes a realistic assessment of oneself without illusion or pretense to be something one is not. A truly humble person regards oneself neither smaller nor larger than one truly is. True humility frees us to be ourselves as God sees us and to avoid despair and pride. A humble person does not want to wear a mask or put on a facade in order to look good to others. Such a person is not swayed by accidentals, such as fame, reputation, success, or failure. Do you know the joy of Christ-like humility and simplicity of heart?
Humility is the queen or foundation of all the other virtues because it enables us to see and judge correctly, the way God sees. Humility helps us to be teachable so we can acquire true knowledge, wisdom, and an honest view of reality. It directs our energy, zeal, and ambition to give ourselves to something greater than ourselves. Humility frees us to love and serve others selflessly, for their sake, rather than our own. Paul the Apostle gives us the greatest example and model of humility in the person of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and ...who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:7-8). Do you want to be a servant as Jesus served and loved others? The Lord gives grace to those who humbly seek him.
"Lord Jesus, you became a servant for my sake to set me free from the tyranny of selfish pride and self-concern. Teach me to be humble as you are humble and to love others generously with selfless service and kindness."
Psalm 50:8-9,16-17,21,23
8 I do not reprove you for your sacrifices; your burnt offerings are continually before me.
9 I will accept no bull from your house, nor he-goat from your folds.
16 But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes, or take my covenant on your lips?
17 For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.
21 These things you have done and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you, and lay the charge before you.
23 He who brings thanksgiving as his sacrifice honors me; to him who orders his way aright I will show the salvation of God!"
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http://www.daily-meditations.org/index2.html
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http://www.contemplative.com/weekday_readings.htm
Why do we practice religion? What is the motivation that moves us to practice prayer and to identify ourselves as belonging to Christ? It is essential that our intentions are informed with humility and love. We start with the most simple of prayers: naked before God we wish only for mercy. We rest in God's absolute power and gently embrace our fundamental poverty. We resist the adulation we think we deserve for our virtues. Only prayer will save us from the parasite of self-satisfaction. Only God is our Father and Christ is our Master and we are all brethren. Thus the Father will sustain us; thus Christ will teach us and form us into His image.
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http://goodnews.ie/calendar.php
In many languages today the word ‘Pharisee’ is synonymous with ‘hypocrite’. This solid reputation is probably due to the later part of this chapter of Matthew’s gospel: the repeated phrase, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites!” Jesus acknowledged the value of some of what the Pharisees were teaching: “Do whatever they teach you.” What he objected to was the discrepancy between this and their own lives. They had made themselves interpreters of the Law of Moses (“they sit on Moses’ seat”), and were applying it without mercy. This was the reverse of their own stated claim: to be as lenient, or as strict, with others as with themselves. They were imposing the burden of the law on others while they themselves enjoyed precedence and privilege. It is less the sinfulness of sinners than the hypocrisy of the pious that causes people to abandon religion. Atheism is caused mainly by religious hypocrites.
There’s a story about a rabbi who gave money to a drunkard. When criticised for it, he said, “Should I be more particular than God who gave me the money?” An authentic religious person doesn’t judge the sinner but identifies with him or her, like Jesus queuing up with sinners for John’s baptism of repentance (Mark 1:9). But fake religious people are always judging; they exist on it. They are religious in order to be able to condemn others. They haven't acknowledged their own sinfulness, so they project it onto others; then all their fury is fuelled by a hidden self-hatred. Even when the content of what they are saying is correct, everything they say is vitiated. I once heard an old man say to a group of young priests, “If you don't love people, for God's sake don't preach!” You may be able to express some true opinions, but you will not be able to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). The very truth of what you say will blind you to the underlying hatred.
The Pharisees have long disappeared from history, but the Church has us reading about them frequently in the Liturgy. Why? Because we haven't gone away, you know!
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http://www.presentationministries.com/