2 Timothy 4:1-8, Psalm 71:8-9, 14-17, 22, Mark 12:38-44
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/060510.shtml
SUBSIDIZING SELFISHNESS?
"These men devour the savings of widows and recite long prayers for
appearance' sake; it is they who will receive the severest
sentence." —Mark 12:40
Jesus accused the scribes of devouring "the savings of widows." Then He
commended a poor widow for giving all she had to live on to the Temple
treasury (Mk 12:44). This seems to be an odd thing to approve of. Why
should a poor widow make herself penniless to subsidize the pompous pride
and selfishness of the religious leaders? If you knew your pastor was
going to "devour" the Sunday collection in prideful and selfish expenses,
would you put much in the collection?
In a similar situation, Jesus allowed Judas to hold the purse for the
apostles, although Judas would steal from the purse (Jn 12:6). Didn't
Jesus know he was a thief? If Jesus did know, why did He let Judas keep
the job? Wouldn't this be an injustice to the other apostles and to the
poor provided for from the common purse? The Bible says: "Give to the good
man, refuse the sinner; refresh the downtrodden, give nothing to the proud
man" (Sir 12:4). Yet Jesus seems to encourage giving to the proud.
Possibly the solution to this dilemma lies in Jesus' attitude toward
enemies. Jesus teaches us to lavish love on our enemies (see Lk 6:27-30).
Possibly this takes precedence over refusing to give to the proud.
Prayer: Father, send the Spirit to teach me the word and to be like Jesus,
the Word.
Promise: "From now on a merited crown awaits me; on that Day the Lord,
just Judge that He is, will award it to me — and not only to me, but to
all who have looked for His appearing with eager longing." —2 Tm 4:8
Praise: Praise: St. Boniface worked to reform the nominally Christian
Church in parts of Germany. The groundwork St. Boniface laid in Germany
thirteen centuries ago bore fruit in the life of a German priest who
became a pope, Benedict XVI.
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from June
1, 2010 through July 31, 2010
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, December 29, 2009
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.
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