DAILY READINGS AND INSPIRATION

MEMORIAL OF SAINT PETER CLAVER, PRIEST
SATURDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2017

COLOUR: WHITE

ROSARY: JOYFUL

FIRST READING
 Col1:21-23



Brothers and sisters:
You once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds;
God has now reconciled you
in the fleshly Body of Christ through his death,
to present you holy, without blemish,
and irreproachable before him,
provided that you persevere in the faith,
firmly grounded, stable,
and not shifting from the hope of the Gospel that you heard,
which has been preached to every creature under heaven,
of which I, Paul, am a minister.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 54:3-4, 6 and 8

R/ GOD HIMSELF IS MY HELP

O God, by your name save me,
and by your might defend my cause.

O God, hear my prayer;
hearken to the words of my mouth.

R/ GOD HIMSELF IS MY HELP

Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord sustains my life.

Freely will I offer you sacrifice;
I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness.

R/ GOD HIMSELF IS MY HELP

ACCLAMATION

 Jn 14:6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.

R. Alleluia, Alleluia.

GOSPEL
 Lk 6:1-5

While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath,
his disciples were picking the heads of grain,
rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.

Some Pharisees said,
"Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?"

Jesus said to them in reply,
"Have you not read what David did
when he and those who were with him were hungry?

How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering,
which only the priests could lawfully eat,
ate of it, and shared it with his companions?"

Then he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath."

REFLECTION

BE CHARITABLE RATHER THAN JUDGMENTAL

Brethren Christ is admonishing us not to be slaves but masters to the law. The complain of the Pharisees about the apostles of Christ plucking and eating ears of corn on the Sabbath was uncharitable. The Pharisees were being judgmental. They insisted on obedience to the law they keep in breach.

Were they able to argue with Christ on His reference to David in the Old Testament? Certainly not. They could not because their hearts were stubborn and wicked.

One important lesson from the gospel is that we should not judge others. Always try to view the situation from the circumstances under which the 'Condemned' fell (situational ethics). Given the opportunity would you have done better or worse? If God can be merciful can't we learn? Be charitable rather than being judgmental. Only God is the just Judge. Peace be with you!

PRAYER

Eternal Father, in Your compassionate mercy forgive us for the many times we have condemned our neighbours. We beg You to change our hearts so that we can be charitable. We ask this through the intercession of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Amen.
HAPPY SATURDAY.