Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: June 13, 2024

Date:  Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua

Scripture Text:  Matthew 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment,and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise, your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today continues our reading of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. In today’s text, Jesus speaks of “righteousness” or of “right relationship” with one another and calls upon us to settle our differences with one another early on, to actively seek reconciliation, to be peacemakers and to be people of mercy.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

How hard am I trying to be loving to all and to be a person of peace and justice in all my relationships?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Spirit, You created us all and love us all. You call us all to love one another, to treat one another as we ourselves wish to be treated. You call all of us into relationship with You as our Creator, our Savior, our Advocate and Sanctifier. You call all of us into loving relationship with one another. Grant that we may live as You created us to live and that we may love as You love us. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.