Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection September 12, 2024

12th September 2024 (Thursday)

Psalter: Week 3

Reading of the Day

First Reading: 1 Corinthians 8:1b-7, 11-13

Brethren: “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”—yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14ab, 23-24 (R. 24b)

R/. Lead me, Lord, in the way everlasting.

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. If we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us

R/. Alleluia.

Gospel : Luke 6:27-38

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Daily Gospel Reflection

Thursday – Twenty-Third Week of Ordinary Time

Guidelines: Knowledge is good and needed provided that it does not inflate one with pride, presumptuousness and self-righteousness, leading to a loss of fraternal concern and a bad example

1. Following Jesus is not an easy task because his values are in sharp contrast to the values of the world. Truly the men of God are always a “contrast people”! Surely men of God cannot but be different from others who are of the world.

2. Will not light be contrary to darkness? Will not good be contrary to evil? Will not authenticity be contrary to duplicity? Will not generosity be contrary to greed? Will not virtue be contrary to vice? Will not altruism be contrary to egoism? Will not the Holy Spirit be contrary to the evil spirit? Will not the life of a man of God be contrary to that of a man of the earth?

3. Now, all the values of the Lord are oriented to perfection and altruism, while those of the world are self-oriented and content with the minimums and compromises. The way of the Lord is a way of love, forgiveness, magnanimity, and generosity, while the way of the world is a way of hatred, retaliation, greed, and accumulation.

4. We receive as we give. God Himself is our supreme model of perfection and compassion and life should be modeled on no one else. The only standard and the guiding norm of life must be the “golden rule” – “Do unto others what you want them to do unto you”.

5. It is not fair that we expect to receive and enjoy only good things for ourselves, while we conveniently forget to give the same for others and even give the evil things. How can one expect to be loved, to be understood, to be comforted, to be supported, to be encouraged, to be appreciated, to be forgiven by others, while he denies the same to others?

6. How can one apply double standards – one for himself and the other for others? How can one be so rigid and harsh toward others, while he is so lenient and indulgent toward his own self?

Practice: Meaning of life does not lie in egoism but altruism, and Life is beautiful only when it is virtuous, and it becomes meritorious when it becomes a life of witness