Daily Reflection for Monday, September 26, 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Monday’s readings at this link:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092622.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Job 1:6-22
Responsorial: Psalm 17:1BCD, 2-3, 6-7
Gospel: Luke 9:46-50
Our reflection on Monday’s readings:
An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Luke 9:46.
GOAT. Greatest of all time. Is Tom Brady the GOAT quarterback in professional football? Lebron James the GOAT of basketball? Serena Williams the GOAT of professional tennis?
Was Peter the GOAT of the disciples? How about John or James? Maybe Bartholomew or Philip or one of the other less famous Apostles?
The great Andrew Lloyd Weber and Time Ric musical Jesus Christ Superstar is one of my favorites (but not the GOAT). I recall a few lyrics from The Last Supper act when the apostles sing:
“Always hoped that I’d be an apostle, knew that I would make it if I try.
Then when we retire we can write the Gospel, so they’ll still talk about us when we die.”
Does my own narcissism, or my ego, get in the way so that the message and love of God cannot clearly shine through me? Do I look like a follower of Jesus? What does Jesus think of me? What about others?
Now I’m reading a book by Protestant preacher Chris Kratzer with the possibly offensive title Stupid Sh*t Heard In Church. The book includes eighty messages Kratzer heard growing up and he refutes them. One is entitled GOD DOESN’T CHOOSE FAVORITES. Kratzer reminds us that God does not play favorites, choosing winners and losers, and writes that, “The difference between a dream and a scheme is that a scheme requires some to lose, for others to win. A dream seeks a win for all and doesn’t rest until it is achieved for all.” God wants us all to win. Everyone. No exceptions.
The first reading tells us how after having everything taken away from him, Job declared:
Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back there.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD! Job 16:21
In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with wrong. Job 16:22.
Massive poverty, hunger, starvation, and disease. Wars on multiple continents. God does not choose to feed some and let others starve, let some thrive while others suffer and die. We do that.
God is love, wanting all humankind to live in peace and plenty. God is the Greatest Of All Time.
Peace and blessings,
Al Mytty