Daily Meditation - Thur 22May 2008 - WHO IS ST JAMES PREACHING TO?

[BarbaraTherese]

Today is the Optional Memorial
ST. RITA OF
CASCIA
Patron: Abuse victims; against loneliness; against sterility; bodily ills; desperate causes; difficult marriages; forgotten causes; impossible causes; infertility; lost causes; parenthood; sick people; sickness; sterility; victims of physical spouse abuse; widows; wounds.

http://www.catholicculture.org/liturgicalyear/pictures/5_22_rita.jpg

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Today’s Mass Readings
**and Meditation **

READINGS

Meditation

James 5:1-6

**"Come now, you rich, weep and wail **
over your impending miseries." (James 5:1)

• Who are the people James is preaching to? They don’t sound too attractive:
• people who cheat the poor and think they’re getting away with it because of their lavish lifestyle.
• If you’ve ever been defrauded or deceived—or you know someone who has—you can identify with James.
• There is so much injustice in the world that you can surely be excused if you get a little angry at it.

As the saying goes,
“If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention!”

• However, what may be righteous anger on our part has the potential to turn into bitterness and even hatred.
• We can believe that we know what is right,
• and those we are judging are completely wrong.
• As we know, Jesus’ enemies were experts at that game—and we don’t want to emulate them!
• Although we may feel vindicated in pointing a finger at the wealthy and powerful,

we may want to take a look at ourselves first.

• When he talks about riches, James isn’t necessarily referring to money.
• “Riches” can be anything that replaces God in our hearts.
• As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, to be truly rich, we have to become poor.
• If we are so comfortable that we have stopped seeking his kingdom, we need to make some changes!

Is there anything that may be blocking us from receiving and sharing Jesus’ love?

• God probably won’t ask us to get rid of all our possessions. But he may ask us to adjust our attitudes.
• If we turn to him, God will show us what justice really means.

The more we get to know him, the more our perspective will change.

• He will replace our desire to get even with a spirit of forgiveness and compassion.
• When we see how much we all need his mercy, we won’t be so quick to condemn others.
• We will turn from the emptiness of earthly gain toward the incorruptible treasures of heaven, and we will want to share that wealth

In short, God will make us vessels of his mercy
—and that’s when we will really be able to make a difference!

“Lord, help me to appreciate
the riches you have already given me.
May I come to desire that same abundance for everyone—especially those who still don’t know you!”

 

[bwhite06517]

I’m going blind!!!

In today’s Gospel reading, (Matthew 9:41 to 50), Jesus has some strong language - if you cause a little one to sin, you should have a millstone around your neck and cast into the sea; if your hand causes you to sin - cut it off; if your foot causes you to sin - cut it off.

And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

I am a man - like men in general, I can look once / twice at any passing female. Two non-fiction books I like are “For Men Only” and “For Women Only” (Christian authors Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn). They say men are “wired” to look - part of who we are. But, I need to make sure that ‘look’ does not lead to ‘lust’ and cause me to pluck out my eye!!!

Looking can be a bad thing for many men - and for me. Years ago (before becoming a Catholic), I got caught up in internet lust. I knew better - I was a Bible believing Christian - I was strong in my faith - but I sinned. On Sundays, I’d pray for deliverance - but I was too weak. I needed accountability.

Ultimately that and many other doctrinal items led me HOME to ROME!! My accountability is that I do regularly go to confession - and that has caused me (generally) to ‘look away’ - to avoid that temptation. Am I perfect - no. Like an alcoholic that knows that only with the grace of God, he can stay sober, I know that only with the grace of God (and with the ‘fear’ of God) that I can remain close to Him!!!

Maybe I smell the brimstone of hell - where I deserve to go; but I know the grace of God and the love of God - and the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist; and the accountability and the real forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament of Confession can keep me on that ‘narrow road’!!!

Thanks and Praise be to God for His love, His faithness, and His forgiveness!!!

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Thank you for that very beautiful and insightful sharing and it can take courage to share. Repentance on any level is a great gift of God and intrinsic to Christian living and life…simply because we are sinners and God’s Mercy knows this and so Mercy of Love enlarges to all embrace always and everywhere. Reading your post it reminds me of “much is forgiven, because she (or he) has loved much”. And I think it might have been St. Augustine or perhaps St. Paul who said “love covers a multitude of sins”.

This is not saying my sins are bigger than yours or yours are bigger than mine…for sin is measured according to the Grace granted not to sin - and who on earth can measure that? Also we have bus tickets here with little wisdoms on them and I read this and started laughing “a saint is a person who has never truly been tempted”…although Jesus did say to St. Faustina that the biggest sinner has the biggest right to my Mercy.

Then there is that most encouraging saying “saints are sinners who don’t give up”.

Great post, BW, it was most courageous sharing and I am sure will bring hope and encouragement to more than me…and thank you again…Barb