February 23, 2015

Feb. 23

February 23, 2015:  Monday, 1st week of Lent

See 10 connections with today's readings?
Legend at bottom
Listen

  • Servant song/ Gillard (composer-sung; note differences) (gospel)
  • Die letzten Dinge (The last judgment)/ Spohr:  bilingual libretto+ (gospel theme though the oratorio doesn't actually set today's gospel.  BTW I found this while looking from something related from Handel whose birthday is today)
Read
    The Last Judgment/ Michelangelo
  • Lv 19:1-2, 11-18  Be holy; fear the Lord.  Don't steal, lie, swear falsely, defraud or rob, withhold wages, or curse the deaf or blind.  Judge justly, not dishonestly or with bias.  Don't spread slander.  Don't hate, hold grudges, or take revenge.  Love your neighbor as yourself.  I am the Lord.
  • Ps 19:8-10, 15  "Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life."  The law of the Lord is perfect, trustworthy, clear, pure, true, and just.  May I find favor with you, O Lord, my rock.
  • Mt 25:31-46  The Son of Man will separate people, saying to the righteous, ‘Come, you blessed; inherit the kingdom, for when I was in need you fed me, gave me drink, welcomed me, clothed me, cared for me, and visited me.’ / ‘When?’ / ‘What you did for the least, you did for me.’  Then he'll say to the rest, ‘Depart from me, for when I was in need, you didn't feed me, give me drink, welcome, clothe, or care for me.’ / ‘When?’ / ‘What you didn't do for the least ones, you didn't do for me.’  They'll go to punishment; the righteous to life.
Reflect
  • Creighton:  The readings focus on the relationship between individual and community.  Our holiness is measured by how we treat each other.  Jesus refines:  love takes active care “for the least ones.”  "Giving things up for Lent" is only a start; it helps clarify our encounter with God, removing distractions and allowing refocus and renewal.
  • One Bread One Body:  "Poor planning":  The Lord expects us to recognize the poor at our door and show love in deeds.  We are to see Jesus in the poor, love and serve them, and be in solidarity with them.  St. John Chrysostom:  "Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life.  The goods we possess are theirs."  St. Gregory the Great:  "When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs.  We are paying a debt of justice."
  • Passionist:  The Lord teaches that to be holy, we must act justly, love, and attend to those in need, not steal, lie, profane God’s name, defraud, steal, curse, place stumbling blocks, slander, or hate.  Holiness is when we give food, clothing, comfort, or compassion to others.
  • DailyScripture.net:  The Day of the Lord will reveal whether we choose a life of peace and joy with God, or misery and separation from God, in the age to come.  Jesus' parable of the separation of goats and sheep, similar to that about Lazarus and the rich man, invites us to consider our lives in view of the age to come.  Sheep and goats need to be separated; goats are aggressive, domineering, restless, and territorial.  God's love compels us to treat others with mercy and kindness. When we do something for one of Christ's little ones, we do it for Christ.  Do I treat others with mercy and love as Christ has treated me?  Purify my heart that I may love as You do.
Outfit legend
  • 'Scales of justice' tie:  judge justly (1st reading); God's ordinances are just (psalm); Last Judgment (gospel)
  • 'Rock' tie pin:  Lord, my Rock (psalm)
  • 'Girl with heart' pin: Don't bear hatred in your heart (1st reading); God's precepts rejoice the heart; let my heart find favor with you (psalm)
  • Blue shirt:  I was thirsty and you gave me drink (gospel)
  • 'Owl' tie pin:  The Lord's decree gives wisdom (psalm)
  • 'Eyeball' tie pin:  The Lord's command enlightens the eye (psalm)
  • 'Sheep' tie bar:  God will separate as shepherds separate sheep from goats (gospel)
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