I will be brief this morning as I am heading into work. We celebrated FFF the other day and for me, that fest continues on again today as my brothers Jim, Jay and my son Richard are afforded the opportunity to play St. Albans (golf).
Our readings this morning cry out three things to me…love of God, love of neighbor and love of the sinner.
Hear this, you who trample upon the needy
and destroy the poor of the land!…
Yes, days are coming, says the Lord GOD,
when I will send famine upon the land:
Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water,
but for hearing the word of the LORD.
Then shall they wander from sea to sea
and rove from the north to the east
In search of the word of the LORD,
but they shall not find it.
I might have yada yada yada’d over the meat of the reading, so make sure you read what it is that causes the Lord’s righteous anger. Spoiler alert – it’s about those who have wanting more and taking it from those who have little. Think back to the end of our first reading on Sunday from St. Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians…
Not that others should have relief while you are burdened,
but that as a matter of equality
your abundance at the present time should supply their needs,
so that their abundance may also supply your needs,
that there may be equality.
As it is written:
Whoever had much did not have more,
and whoever had little did not have less.
Our Psalm today is all about the commandments (and the commandments are all about?)…
Responsorial PsalmPS 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart. R
let me not stray from your commands. R
for your ordinances at all times. R
I have set your ordinances before me. R
in your justice give me life. R
in my yearning for your commands. R
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
St. Mary Magdalen Men of God 