Daily Reflection for Monday, August 08, 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends, and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Monday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/080822.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Ezekiel 1:2-5, 24-28c
Responsorial: Psalm 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14
Gospel: Matthew 17:22-27
Our reflection on Monday’s readings:
“God has called you through the Gospel to possess the glory of the Lord.” (Alleluia)
2 Thessalonians 2:14
Anyone who has had a personal spiritual encounter remembers the details. Each event may be uniquely different, but all leave us feeling touched by God.
In the Old Testament reading today, Ezekiel tells of his experience. He describes his vision of the glory of the Lord. It must have been wonderous and amazing.
The Alleluia proclaims that “heaven and earth are filled with God’s glory” and more personally that “God has called you (and me) through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord”.
I think we must be willing to “see” God’s glory around us to possess God’s glory. Whether that is true or not, we are being told in today’s readings that we belong to God and God belongs to us. We are inter-connected.
How does the first reading and alleluia fit with the Gospel reading? Jesus tells the disciples that he, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.”
The disciples are overcome with grief. They have not yet realized that they, born on earth, will also die and return to the ultimate glory of God in Heaven.
Jesus continues teaching and asks, “From whom do the kings of earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or foreigners?” The disciples answer, “foreigners.” Jesus then instructs Simon to pay the tax for both Jesus and him, so as not to offend.
I believe Jesus is explaining that He and his disciples (followers of Jesus) are foreigners to earth, they are from God. Therefore, what they pay in earthly taxes to earthly kings matters little. Their home and treasure are with God.
From the first reading, the alleluia, and the Gospel, we know that we possess the Lord’s glory and honor it by living that glory on earth. There is no need to offend anyone on earth. We know we came from God; we can see and live in God’s glory on earth and one day we will return to glorious heaven.
May we see God’s glory all around us.
Blessings to you,
Ruth Mytty