19 July 2024 - Only By Grace Reflections
#OnlyByGraceReflections #CFC #CouplesforChrist
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Topic: IS YOUR HEART FORMED FOR MERCY AND CHARITY?
First Reading: Isaiah 38: 1-6, 21-22, 7-8
Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah 38: 10, 11, 12abcd, 16
Alleluia: John 10: 27
Gospel: Matthew 12: 1-8
In today’s Gospel reading, the seeming presence of bureaucracy exhibited by the Pharisees was a deterrent to Jesus’ mission, to his genuine offer of love and salvation. This common organizational structure is very much in operation today, consisting of rules, policies, procedures, and hierarchies of authority. The Pharisees functioned in a bureaucratic manner, their strict interpretation of the Torah often placing them in direct opposition to Jesus.
The Pharisees demanded sacrifice without extending mercy. They lost sense of the essence of their vocation as guardians of God’s law, created to help us live according to God’s heart, with the highest command at the forefront of all: “Love the Lord your God…and love your neighbor as yourself”.
As Christians, we are called to be transformed by Christ, which implies loving as He loves, ready to sacrifice for the sake of mercy and charity.
This is the 1543rd installment of our CFC contemplation series focusing on the daily liturgical readings.
[NOTE: Let us listen to our brother Jess Ferrer, Head of the CFC Migrants Program, as he brings us today's reflection.
All the regular reflections are between 3-7 minutes long, enough time for us to ponder what God's message is for us individually and to pray that we may live them out in our lives. This video is also available on Couples for Christ’s Facebook page. In You Tube, just type ONLY BY GRACE REFLECTIONS]
