Paul Respond to comment

Lord, I'm not proud of my eyes.
I'm sorry for my sins.
I'm sorry for my tongue, especially when I use it in a bad way like gossip,nastiness,foul language & bad things I say.
Please forgive us All.

freeter Respond to comment

Amen. :)

Tim Respond to comment

Salina, mission accomplished. We are so thankful to have you as a member of our LF communitiy.

Bob M Respond to comment

In light of today's gospel, how is it that we have come to call priests "father"?

Salina Respond to comment

The readings today address those in authority and those in following the authorities!

To those in authority (leaders in home, church, work place, school, community, government and countries)

Matthew 23:1-2, 4-7, "Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying, "
* The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
* For they preach but they do not practice.
* They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people's shoulders,
* but they will not lift a finger to move them.
* All their works are performed to be seen.
* They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
* They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi."

Malachi 2:8, 9b"
* You have turned aside from the way,
* and have caused many to falter by your instruction;
* you have made void the covenant of Levi,
* you do not keep my ways,
* but show partiality in your decisions."

To those in following the authorities (pretty much everyone who answers to someone)

Matthew 23:3a, "
* do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
* but do not follow their example."

The truth is both of the above apply to all of us, we are responsible for someone and someone is over us too!

So what then? To each of us......in addition to the above:

Malachi 2:10a, "
* Have we not all the one father?
* Has not the one God created us?"
Matthew 23:8-10, "
* Do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
* Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven.
* Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Christ."

Don't mistake this as 'calling' or 'addressing" the titles of teacher, father or master, but worshipping and depending on them as such......because there is only One, Jesus Christ, and there is no other we need to focus, depend or worship!

The bottom line for me to remember:

* 1 Thessalonians 2:8, "With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us."

* 1 Thessalonians 2:9b, 13, "Working night and day in order not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.....And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the Word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the Word of God, which is now at work in you who believe."

* Matthew 23:11-12, "The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

My goal is to end any conversation with anyone with this in 1 Thessalonians 2:8, "I loved you so much that I shared with you not only God’s Good News but my own lives, too." I hope I have done that here in LF.....

Lord, I lift up each of us in the LF community to You for Your Protection, Your Provision, Your Presence, Your Patience, Your Power, and Your Peace! And it is impossible for me to please You without faith in believing that You exist and that You reward those who earnestly seek You. I love You, Lord! And there is no other! Amen!

P.S. I woke up too early....so much to learn :-)