Let's talk about todays reading 12/04/08

[ziapueblo]

Cheeto1-

Sorry I took your tittle

Today’s Gospel is one of my favorite, “Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Reminds me of a parable, I believe also from the Gospel according to Matthew, where the father gives a task to both of his sons. One son says he will finish the task but does not. The other says that he will not, but ends up doing his fathers will.

Jesus is telling us actions speak louder than words or practice what you preach. You can say all you want, but if there is no fruit it is all meaningless.

The first reading, Isaiah 26:1-6, and Psalm 118 tie in very well with the Gospel.

 

[Bananaslugmom]

AMEN! I just wish more of our Catholic and Christian brothers and sisters would realize how deep this goes. Everything we do in this life affects all around us…from our families to our workplace to shopping at Walmart to the voting booths. We are called to do our Father’s will.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[cheeto1]

Cheeto1-

Sorry I took your tittle

Thank you, I am honored!

Isaiah 26:1-6
Psalms 117
Matthew 7:21.24-27

Your idea goes right along with another thread going on where they are battling it out over faith vs. works.

After that, Jesus says, “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man.” Why is that word used by Jesus? I spend my life telling the kids they cannot use that word.

What struck me in Isaiah was “Open the gates! Let the upright nation come in!” It made me think: Is there an upright nation?
Will there ever be an upright nation? And in the little list describing an upright nation was “one who keeps the peace”. What nation is there that keeps the peace? An elderly friend of mine (95) said that every country ever made was created by a war.

The gospel acclamation today was Is 55:6 which said: Seek the Lord while He can be found. Call on Him while he is near. My question is when can He be found and when can He not be found? He can always be found everywhere right? When is He near? Well I know that one. He is near to those who suffer. So if I want to be near and I’m not suffering, I better find someone who is.

For today, I just didn’t find a connection in the reading, gospel, and psalm. How did you think they went nicely together?

Today’s saint is John Damascene, considered the last Eastern father of the church. He fought against those who were destroying icons, saying they were idols. At the end of the first reading for his mass, it says, “Put up with your share of difficulties, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus”. That made me think about I and many others feel we have more difficulties than our fair share. It’s not really true yet, we haven’t been crucified, and that would be our fair share.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I thought the psalm had good advice for those who put overly hopes on elections:

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.