Tuesday, August 10, 2004

1:25 am

The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Clare, religious, foundress, virgin

Scripture from Wednesday's Liturgy of the Word:
Ezekiel 9:1-7, 10:18-22
Psam 113:1-6
Matthew 18:15-20

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Where two or three gather in my name, I am there in their midst."
(Matthew 18:20)

Scripture reveals that God's very essence is love. It follows that those whom He created "in his image" should bear a strong resemblance to Him by reflecting His love. Our first reading shows God guarding those who love and obey Him; these, His true children, will be spared death by being marked with the letter "tau" which interestingly is written as an X, in the shape of a cross.

In today's Gospel, Christ prepares His Apostles to establish and preserve His Church in God's love and truth that He revealed to them. He emphasizes that God's ordinances must be faithfully followed to create unity and harmony among His believers. He instructs them that if two parties cannot resolve a dispute between them privately, other church members can help arbitrate a solution. Should the guilty party refuse to repent and reform his ways in keeping with God's law of love, then he should be treated as one who has willfully excluded himself from their fellowship. Jesus speaks of sin's seriousness; for the one who sins against a brother is also sinning against his Creator.

Christ assures His apostles that His church will endure all hardships and triumph over all wrongs; for whenever they gather to pray in His name, He will be present to guide and strengthen them through the rigors experienced by His sheep.

Lord God,
make us people of prayer,
that You may fill us
with Your love and truth to overflowing
and so promote peace and joy among Your people.
Amen

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthink dot net)
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