6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A, Year I)
February 12, 2017
Community Word:
Our proclamation of the gospel is an affirmation of God’s power and Spirit.
Theme:
We affirm God’s power and Spirit when we observe His law and keep it with all our heart.
Promise:
“… keep the commandments, they will save you.”(Sir 15:15)
Reflection:
Is it important to keep God’s laws? The answer is a definite yes; there is no gray area. Jesus says: “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.” (Mt 5:37). In the book of Sirach, it also says: “Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.” There are consequences if one chooses to ignore God’s commandments. But if we follow His precepts, we will gain the promise given to us this week, “…keep the commandments, they will save you.” (Sir 15: 15).
As God’s children, we have to grow in imitation of His Son, Jesus. He has given us His commandments so that these will serve as our guide in living our lives as true Christian disciples. In the Gospel, Jesus, our master and teacher says, “…whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5: 19). By following the commandments wholeheartedly, we will definitely avoid sin. And more than keeping the law, we also invite the power of God’s presence in our lives to mold our character righteously, while deepening our relationship with Him and leading us to help others experience the same. Thus, our Theme to guide us in our reflection throughout this week is: We affirm God’s power and Spirit when we observe His law and keep it with all our heart.
Sirach, one of the Wisdom Books, presents to us the importance of knowing and keeping the commandments. “No one does he command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin” (Sir 15: 20). Psalm 119 also declares the value of seeking to do what God requires of us in order to experience His blessings, “Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart.” Those who do what God asks will experience a closeness with Him that cannot be obtained in any other way. In the 2nd reading, St. Paul reminds the Corinthians that God’s wisdom far surpasses the wisdom of this world when he proclaimed to them:“We speak a wisdom to those who are mature, not a wisdom of this age….Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden…..What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart…. God has revealed to us through the Spirit,” (1 Cor 2: 6-10a).
In the gospel, when Jesus said, “….unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5: 20), we can clearly see that we will only comprehend the wisdom of God borne of the Spirit if we keep God’s laws with all our heart. Jesus wants the best for us. He does not just want us to avoid breaking God’s rules and commandments. Not only are we called to avoid the sins of murder, adultery and testifying falsely, but we should work towards having positive relationships with one another, enhancing our marital relationships and speaking well of others. He makes the commandments to produce what they were meant to – a closer relationship with God.
Prayer:
Lord God, we thank You for giving us Your commandments to have a deeper relationship with You. Thank you for Your Son, Jesus, who has shown us the way to follow Your commands, challenging us to be the best that we can be for You. For the times that we have ignored your laws, we ask Your forgiveness and healing. We ask for Your Holy Spirit to guide us to grant us fortitude and wisdom at all times. All these we ask in Jesus name. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do I see God’s commandments as obstacles in my life, or as guides that will lead me to have a better relationship with God and others?
2. Which commandments of God am I most vulnerable in being disobedient and where do I struggle the most in following? What actions am I taking or will take to change this situation?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
February 12, 2017 (Sun) -Sir 15:15-20/Ps 119:1, 2, 4, 5, 17, 8, 33, 34/1Cor 2:6-10/Mt 5:17-37
February 13, 2017 (Mon)- Gn 4:1-15,25/Ps 50:1, 8, 16, 17, 20, 21/Mk 8:11-13
February 14, 2017 (Tue) – Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10/Ps 29:1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10/Mk 8:14-21
February 15, 2017 (Wed)- Gn8:6-13, 20-22/Ps 116:12-15, 18, 19/Mk 8:22-26
February 16, 2017 (Thu)- Gn9:1-13/Ps 102:16, 18, 19-21, 29, 22-23/Mk 8:27-33
February 17,2017 (Fri)- Gn 11:1-9/Ps 33:10-15/Mk 8:34-9:1
February 18, 2017 (Sat)-Heb 11:1-7/Ps145:2-5, 10, 11/Mk 9:2-13
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
