Daily Reflection for Monday, October 26, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Monday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102620.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Ephesians 4:32-5:8
Responsorial: Psalm 1:1-4 and 6
Gospel: Luke 13:10-17
Our reflection on Monday’s readings:
Brothers and sisters: Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Ephesians 4:32.
Today’s reading from Chapters 4 and 5 of Ephesians begins with the last verse of the section, which is called Rules for the New Life:
Speak the truth…we belong to one another. You can be angry, but do not let the anger lead to sin….do honest work, meaning do good…so you can share with those in need.
Let the words you speak be for edification, to impart grace to one another….avoid bitterness…shouting…malice. Be kind to one another, compassionate…forgive one another as God has forgiven you….
Live in love…as Jesus loved us…greed must not even be mentioned…speak with thanksgiving.
Whether on social media posts, or other media, we have all seen or heard the phrase, “Let that sink in.” Let the words of St. Paul to the people of Ephesus in the 1st century sink in, to us, the people of the 21st century.
Imagine a world where we truly lived like we belong to one another, we did not let our anger lead to sin, murder, and war. Where work really meant doing good, so we can share. Where the words from our mouths imparted grace, rather than vitriol and hate. Where we were truly compassionate, which comes from the understanding that we belong to each other.
Interestingly, St. Paul even writes in chapter 5, verse 2 about “the fragrant aroma.” Do our lives, do our words, and actions pass “the smell test?” I know when something I’ve said or done doesn’t. I also know the good feeling, the fragrant aroma, when it smells good.
And always, I know that my words and actions will pass the smell test when they comport with yesterday’s Gospel, the Greatest Commandments: "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."
Now that is a fragrant aroma.
Peace and blessings,
Al Mytty