Seeing Truth

September 29: Monday of Week 26 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Job 11:6-22; Psalm 17: 1, 2-3, 6-7; Luke 9:46-50

Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5; John 1:47-51

What is Jesus saying to us as stewards of his kingship? 

(To support Reaching Jesus: 5 Steps to a Fuller Life ... Step Five).

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“His dominion is an everlasting dominion” (Daniel 7:14).

The readings teach us not to judge by appearances. Often it seems God is weak and evil strong; the good suffer, the violent prevail. When “Lucifer” (“Lightbearer”) was so impressed with himself he rebelled, God responded through “Michael,” whose name means “Who is like God?”

Children and “nobodies” don’t impress us, but Jesus says, “Whoever welcomes a child in my name welcomes me, and … the least among all of you is the greatest.” We have standards to determine who “belongs.” Jesus says, “Anyone who is not against you is on your side.” He declared Nathanael “a true child of Israel, in whom there is no deceit” because he read his heart

When greed and selfishness seem to prevail, Scripture keeps reminding us: “God’s dominion is an everlasting dominion… his kingship shall not be destroyed.” Our job is not to judge what God is or is not doing. Pope Francis says we act “like spiritual masters and pastoral experts who give instructions from on high, talking about ‘what needs to be done’ in endless fantasies while we lose contact with the real lives and difficulties of our people.” Instead, “like good stewards of the manifold grace of God” entrusted to us,” we should all just keep “serving one another with whatever gift each has received.” (Joy of the Gospel 96, 1 Peter 4:10).

  

PRAY: “I will sing your praises, Lord.”

PRACTICE: Do what can be, not what should be done.