Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Colossians 3:1-11, Psalm 145:2-3, 10-13, Luke 6:20-26
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/091113.cfm
YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE BEATITUDES
"Blest are you..." -Luke 6:20
For centuries, many people have admired the Beatitudes. This doesn't mean that they try to live them, but you don't find many people bad-mouthing the Beatitudes. However, Luke's Beatitudes are extra-hard to take. They could even surface a negative attitude and elicit a less than polite reaction. Luke's Beatitudes are not addressed to "them" but to "you." He has four Beatitudes instead of eight, and then he gives four Woes to drive home the radical, prophetic challenge of his four Beatitudes. Luke is "in the face" of the rich, the full, the laughing, and the popular (see Lk 6:24-26). Tell someone who's laughing that he is going to weep (Lk 6:25). Announce to someone who's reveling in her popularity that she is similar to the false prophets of old (Lk 6:26). If Luke's Beatitudes don't make us hot or cold toward Jesus (see Rv 3:16), we must be spiritually asleep or dead (see Rv 3:1).
Sometimes a bad attitude towards the Beatitudes is better than a polite dismissal of them. The cold have a better chance of becoming hot than do the lukewarm. Live the Beatitudes or, if you insist, strongly reject them, but please don't give them lip-service (see Mt 15:8).
Prayer: Father, may I not have an attitude problem.
Promise: "Since you have been raised up in company with Christ, set your heart on what pertains to higher realms where Christ is seated at God's right hand." -Col 3:1
Praise: In teaching her students to live the Beatitudes, Rachel is challenged to do the same. She continually asks the Holy Spirit for the grace to live as a holy example to all in her life.
(For a related teaching, order our leaflet, The Beatitudes", or our audio tape AV 44-3 or video tape V-44.)
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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 August 1, 2013 through September 30, 2013
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 4, 2013
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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