Commentary:Wayback Machine.
Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter thirty-three, verses seven, eight, & nine;
Psalm Ninety-five (R/. eight), verses one & two, six & seven, & eight & nine;
The Letter to the Romans, chapter thirteen, verses eight, nine, & ten;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eighteen, verses fifteen thru twenty.
Commentary: Sunday Readings.
Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us how to correct a brother or sister. What is so rich here is the pursuit of the issue with a deep care for the person in question and also for the entire family of the Church (since love is our constant call). And then the wonderful conclusion: “If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.”Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M. (U.S.C. of Catholic Bishops): Sunday Reflection.
This sounds, at first, like a total rejection, but then we recall how Jesus treated the Gentiles and tax collectors—eating with them, pursuing them, drawing them into his circle. There might be a moment of rejection and expulsion in the process of fraternal correction, but it is only provisional and only for the sake of eventual reconciliation.
St. Augustine, who was never afraid to speak the hard truth when necessary, followed the recommendations of Matthew 18 very concretely. Over the table in his episcopal residence where he dined with the priests of his diocese hung a sign that read: “If you speak ill of your brother here, you are not welcome at this table.”
Video reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire): Sunday Sermon.
Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Sunday Reflection.
Video reflection by Jeff Cavins (Ascension): Encountering the Word.
Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.
Papal Quote o' the Day
"Christ is our Savior; He is the head of our immense body that is maturing: believing & redeemed humanity: the Church. It is He Who pardons us & enables us to do things greater than ourselves. He is the defender of the poor & the consoler of the suffering."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope Saint Paul VI (1897-1978, r. 1963-1978; feast: 29 May)
"You are the future of family life. You are the future of the joy of living. You are the future of making your life something beautiful for God… That you love a girl or that you love a boy is beautiful, but don't spoil it, don't destroy it. Ask God to guide you in your love."Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)
"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)
"If we use our lives for other purposes than those given by God, not only do we miss happiness, but we actually hurt ourselves & beget in us queer little 'kinks.'"
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
No comments:
Post a Comment