Daily Reflection for Friday, October 30, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Friday’s readings at this link:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/103020.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Philippians 1:1-11
Responsorial: Psalm 111:1-6
Gospel: Luke 14:1-6
Our reflection on Friday’s readings:
“And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more." Philippians 1:9
Both Saint Paul's letter to the Philippians and our Gospel reading from Luke display a pastoral love and empathy for God's children. Since becoming a Deacon, I have noticed that our pastors often use the word "pastoral," especially when explaining when granting a lenient decision or exception to a parishioner.
Saint Paul lavishes love, blessings, and affection on the Philippians in his letter to them from a jail cell. Saint Paul generously uses the words "holy ones" to describe the congregation, which warms my heart. This letter is written to all Christians, to our parishioners and to all of us. When I mentally change the name Philippians to St Monica, I am overwhelmed by his love and blessings.
Jesus asks the Pharisees, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?" The Mosaic Law may have forbidden doing work on the sabbath but Jesus, addressing their hypocritical righteousness, points out that they too would save their son or even an ox on the sabbath. Then Jesus does the pastoral thing: He heals the man with dropsy, reminding us that loving God and neighbor are the highest of the commandments.
Lord, help us to increase our love and remember that love is the highest law.
Love and Blessings,
Deacon John McShea