The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today urge us to ponder our obligations as followers of Christ and warn us of hypocrisy in our actions.
In the reading from the First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul offers his reason for not using his rights.
* [9:1–27] This chapter is an emotionally charged expansion of Paul’s appeal to his own example in 1 Cor 8:13; its purpose is to reinforce the exhortation of 1 Cor 8:9. The two opening questions introduce the themes of Paul’s freedom and his apostleship (1 Cor 9:1), themes that the chapter will develop in reverse order, 1 Cor 9:1–18 treating the question of his apostleship and the rights that flow from it, and 1 Cor 9:19–27 exploring dialectically the nature of Paul’s freedom. The language is highly rhetorical, abounding in questions, wordplays, paradoxes, images, and appeals to authority and experience. The argument is unified by repetitions; its articulations are highlighted by inclusions and transitional verses. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 84 praises the Joy of Worship in the Temple
* [Psalm 84] Israelites celebrated three pilgrimage feasts in Jerusalem annually. The Psalm expresses the sentiments of the pilgrims eager to enjoy the divine presence. (Psalms, PSALM 84 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke teaches about hypocrisy.
* [6:37–42] See notes on Mt 7:1–12; 7:1; 7:5. (Luke, CHAPTER 6, n.d.)
Gladyce Janky imagines a conversation between Matthew and Mary about the teaching in the Gospel today.
Yes! Yes, Matthew. We must first be students, learning from Jesus how to live and make good choices, but we will never be Jesus. I do not know if I will ever be considered a teacher, but perhaps I can be a guide, pointing the way to God through Jesus. I will try to never lose sight of the beam that blinds me, but how can I do that? I will need help.
Oh, Mary, you will always have help. When Jesus sends us out, we will help each other stay centered on the Lord’s teaching. I want you to help me notice the beam I am carrying, especially if I start judging others. Do you want me to help you? (Janky, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Seeing the speck in another's eye,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"The word hypocrite is aptly employed here (Luke 6:42, Matthew 7:5), since the denouncing of evils is best viewed as a matter only for upright persons of goodwill. When the wicked engage in it, they are like impersonators, masqueraders, hiding their real selves behind a mask, while they portray anothers character through the mask. The word hypocrites in fact signifies pretenders. Hence we ought especially to avoid that meddlesome class of pretenders who under the pretense of seeking advice undertake the censure of all kinds of vices. They are often moved by hatred and malice. Rather, whenever necessity compels one to reprove or rebuke another, we ought to proceed with godly discernment and caution. First of all, let us consider whether the other fault is such as we ourselves have never had or whether it is one that we have overcome. Then, if we have never had such a fault, let us remember that we are human and could have had it. But if we have had it and are rid of it now, let us remember our common frailty, in order that mercy, not hatred, may lead us to the giving of correction and admonition. In this way, whether the admonition occasions the amendment or the worsening of the one for whose sake we are offering it (for the result cannot be foreseen), we ourselves shall be made safe through singleness of eye. But if on reflection we find that we ourselves have the same fault as the one we are about to reprove, let us neither correct nor rebuke that one. Rather, let us bemoan the fault ourselves and induce that person to a similar concern, without asking him to submit to our correction."(excerpt from Sermon on the Mount 2.19.64) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation On 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-27 shares how Pope Francis explains Paul’s approach:
“Today, as the Church seeks to experience a profound missionary renewal, there is a kind of preaching which falls to each of us as a daily responsibility. It has to do with bringing the Gospel to the people we meet, whether they be our neighbors or complete strangers. This is the informal preaching which takes place in the middle of a conversation, something along the lines of what a missionary does when visiting a home” (Evangelii Gaudium, 127).
Perhaps another way to put this is to say that you can’t just tell someone about God’s love. You have to show it to them as well. And even then, it’s up to the Holy Spirit to use you and your words in whatever way he sees fit. All you need to focus on is the call to love.
“Come, Holy Spirit, and help me spread the love of Christ wherever I go.” (Meditation On 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-27, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the texts for today.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, names forgiveness and mercy as two of God’s essential qualities.
Mercy is a way to describe the mystery of forgiveness. More than a description of something God does now and then, it is who God is. According to Jesus, “Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13, 12:7). The word is hesed in Hebrew, and it means steadfast, enduring, unbreakable love. Sometimes the word is translated as “lovingkindness” or “covenant love.” God has made a covenant with all of creation (see Genesis 9:8–17) and will never break the divine side of the covenant. It’s only broken from our side. God’s love is steadfast. It is written in the divine image within us. It’s given; it sits there. We are the ones who clutch at our sins and beat ourselves instead of surrendering to divine mercy. That refusal to be forgiven is a form of pride. It says, “I’m better than mercy. I’m only going to accept it when I’m worthy and can preserve my so-called self-esteem.” Only the humble person, the little one, can live in and after mercy. (Rohr, n.d.)
We invoke the Holy Spirit to guide our obligations to the people on our journey and to make us aware of hypocrisy in our actions
References
Janky, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved September 13, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/091324.html
Luke, CHAPTER 6. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 13, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/6?
Meditation On 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-27. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 13, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/09/13/1072073/
1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 13, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/9?16
Psalms, PSALM 84 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 13, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/84?3
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Receiving God’s Mercy. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 13, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/receiving-gods-mercy/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 13, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=sep13
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