1 Cor 4:1-5 Ps 37:3-4, 5-6, 27-28, 39-40 Luke 5:33-39

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

The message of today’s Gospel and readings highlights the need to remain steadfast in what we know to be true and right and good.  "The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink."  Those that questioned Jesus were not questioning him to understand his ways or to learn from him.  It seems that there is a very real anger and frustration in these words.  However, are the people really upset that Jesus and his apostles ate and drank instead of fasting?  Is food what this is really all about?  (Maybe it was a delicious chocolate fudge cake??)

There are people in the world that hurt.  In the presence of happiness, truth, and goodness (Jesus), these people lash out and attack anything that they can get a hold on (not fasting).  Jesus does not question for an instant what he knows to be good and true.  He is not tempted to doubt himself in the face of anger and hatred.  Instead, he teaches the people with a parable—trying to heal their hurting hearts.

The responsorial psalm is extraordinarily beautiful today.  It’s basically a few good lines of encouragement (medicine for a hurting world.)  Despite the negativity or anger that we may encounter during our days, we must remain steadfast and firm in the love of the Lord.  We can be joyful and take courage in the fact that Jesus faced these hardships, as well, and he will not leave us to face our troubles alone.

You are beautiful and loved.