First Reading | Romans 7:18-25
Today Paul speaks about the struggle of a good person who finds it impossible to do the right thing.
As Christians, this should not be our struggle as we ought to be living in the victory of Christ.
Paul exclaims at the end that it is in Jesus Christ that he is redeemed from wretchedness.
This is true for us if we surrender our lives to Christ through faith.
18 Brothers and sisters: I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh.
The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.
19 For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.
20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 So, then, I discover the principle that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.
22 For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self,
23 but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
24 Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94
R: Lord, teach me your statutes.
66 Teach me wisdom and knowledge, for in your commands I trust. (R)
68 You are good and bountiful; teach me your statutes. (R) 7
6 Let your kindness comfort me according to your promise to your servants. (R)
77 Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight. (R)
93 Never will I forget your precepts, for through them you give me life. (R)
94 I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. (R)
If we have a gift, we should use it.
If we have gained wisdom in the eyes of the world or the eyes of God, we should use it.
We should use all the gifts and resources we have in building God’s Kingdom.
Let us always seize the moment to witness to God and His love to others.
By this, may they experience God’s love that we have been so blessed to receive.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
Luke 12:54-59
54 Jesus said to the crowds:
“When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain—and so it does;
55 and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot—and so it is.
56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
57 “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
58 If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison.
59 I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”
