Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Jesus said: "You have learned how it was
said to our ancestors: 'You must not kill'...
But I say this to you: anyone who is
angry with his brother will answer for it
before the court" (Mt. 5:21).

"Thou shalt not kill" is not just a simple
command against murder as we normally
define it (the letter of the Law).

Reflection:

It is a call to divest us of all traces of
hatred and mercilessness (the spirit of
the Law). For all of recorded history, man
has promulgated laws against murder yet,
to this day; the crime of murder remains a
major social ill. Christ teaches us the
lesson that law in itself is not the answer.
He describes His mission as one of
bringing the law to fulfillment, that is, to
change those human attitudes, which make
laws necessary in the first place. In other
words, to change those human attitudes,
which enable evil to prevail over goodness is
to answer the question, once and for all,
"What does it mean to be good?" ...

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1 Timothy 6: 6-10, 17-19

6 But godliness with contentment is
great gain. 7  For we brought nothing
into the world, and we can take nothing
out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing,
we will be content with that. 9 10 For the
love of Those who want to get rich fall
into temptation and a trap and into many
foolish and harmful desires that plunge
people into ruin and destruction. money is
a root of all kinds of evil. Some people,
eager for money, have wandered from
the faith and pierced themselves with
many griefs.

17 Command those who are rich in this
present world not to be arrogant nor to put
their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain,
but to put their hope in God, who richly
provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
18 Command them to do good, to be rich in
good deeds, and to be generous and willing
to share. 19 In this way they will lay up
treasure for themselves as a firm foundation
for the coming age, so that they may take
hold of the life that is truly life.

REMEMBER "WEALTH IS A RELATIVE
STATE"

Scripture:

"The greatest among you must be your
servant" (Matthew 23:10).

 "Anyone who exalts himself will be
humbled, and anyone who humbles
himself with be exalted" (Mt. 23; 11-12).

A newspaper reporter had been assigned
to do a story on an unusual inner-city
Church project. A young doctor, in
gratitude to God, had decided to give two
years of his life ministering to people in
need. With the Church's help, he
established a health clinic in the inner-city.
The volunteer staff included two nurses
who had decided to join the doctor in his
ministry of service. The reporter doing the
story was in the clinic one night when a
man was wheeled in on a stretcher. The
man was a homeless alcoholic. He was
dirty and his body gave off an unbearable
stench. The man had suffered a very
serious leg injury which had gone
untreated and the infection contributed
to the terrible smell. One of the nurses
immediately knelt beside the stretcher.
She began cleaning the man's wound,
getting him ready for the doctor to examine.
The reporter watched the nurse for a few
seconds. It was all he could stand. He
began to feel sick and, as he turned away
to leave the room, he said to the nurse,
"I wouldn't do that for a million dollars!"
And the young nurse replied quietly,
"Neither would I."

Jesus symbolizes His servanthood by
stooping to wash the disciples' feet (in
those days the task of a slave). When he
comes to Peter, Jesus says, "At the
moment you do not know what I am doing,
but later you will understand." Peter replies,
"You shall never wash my feet." Jesus
answers, "If I do not wash you, you can
have nothing in common with Me"
(Jn. 13:6-8).

"IF I DO NOT SERVE YOU I DO NOT
HAVE ANYTHING IN COMMON WITH
JESUS"

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