Reflection on the Daily Readings for Today by Fr. Bertrand Buby, SM

Today’s Readings


Scripture: Lectionary # 488. Thurs of 31 week. Romans 14;7-12. Psalm
27:1.4.13-14. Luke 15:1-10:

Do you like one-line statements?  Well, whether you do or do not, there are
"one-liners" in the Bible and they are quite helpful in jolting us out of
our boredom and our laziness when it comes to things spiritual like prayer,
faith, and self-giving in service to others.  Look for these one-liners in
the daily liturgical readings and you will find them giving you a
"jump-start" for the day.  Paul offers one at the end of the reading for
today, "Everyone of us will have to give an account of himself/herself
before God."  It fits the context of what he says above about not judging
others. Leave that up to God who is the compassionate and just Creator and
Redeemer.  Better to fall into God's hands than into those of humans who
are prone to judge, control, and correct.  We tend to judge others who do
not meet our standards of attractiveness, cooperation, and expectation.
Leave all that aside and we discover that people relate to us better.
Better to listen to them than to open our mouths in judging them. This
little ditty shows us how to listen without judging: "Her thoughts were
slow,her words were few, and never formed to glisten; she was a joy to all
her friends--you should have heard her listen."

Jesus came not for the righteous (who think they have it all together) but
for sinners.  He speaks like a shepherd who searches for the lost sheep
leaving the "good" ones; he like the woman who lost one of her silver coins
searches for it so does Jesus for us when we stray and are lost under the
carpet of our selfishness.  Jesus, too, has a "one-liner" in the Gospel: "I
tell you there will be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than
over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent."

The Psalm contain many of these one-liners that are dart-like prayers to
heaven. Our responsorial psalm ends with this one:"Wait for the Lord with
courage; be stouthearted and wait for the Lord." (Psalm 27:14).  This verse
sums up the message of the psalm and shows us the importance  of trust in
God who is our light and our healing and salvation.  Amen.

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