Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. – Matthew 5:25

        My friend Val found out that the cashier had been stealing from their pharmacy. When shown the evidence, the cashier cried and admitted her wrongdoing. Wanting to be just and merciful, Val gave the cashier a chance to settle everything discreetly. He only wanted her to realize her wrongdoing and return the money she took.

       In their next meeting, the cashier suddenly claimed innocence and even filed a complaint to force Val to drop the charges. End result: The cashier is now facing criminal charges and imminent imprisonment because she didn’t want to own up to her misdeed. If only she had the humility to admit her mistake, she wouldn’t be facing jail time.

       How many times have we denied that we have sinned? We make excuses like, “It’s just a white lie,” “Nobody knows about it anyway,” or “Everybody does it.” Our reasoning doesn’t make any wrongdoing right. Before long, we’re prisoners to our sins.

       When you fall, admit and confess your sin. Do not let sin keep you in bondage. You do not want to face a sentence of “afterlife” imprisonment. Jun Asis (mabuting.balita@gmail.com)

Reflection:Admitting mistakes may be hard. But not admitting them may have bitter consequences in the end.

Lord, grant me the grace to admit my mistakes and make reparation for my sins. Amen.

St. Dominic Savio, pray for us.

Ezekiel affirms that true conversion of heart pleases the Lord. Conversion means that the lost has been found and saved from sin. One of the most satisfying experiences of a priest is being part of a person’s return to faith, no matter how far he has strayed.

21 Thus says the Lord God: If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced. 23 Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord God. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live? 24 And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die. 25 You say, “The Lord’s way is not fair!” Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? 26 When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. 27 But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; 28 since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

R: If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! 2 Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication. (R) 3 If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? 4 But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered. (R) 5 I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in his word. 6 My soul waits for the Lord more than sentinels wait for the dawn. 7 Let Israel wait for the Lord. (R) For with the Lord is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption; 8 And he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities. (R)

Jesus tells us that our lives must reflect what we preach. It is virtually useless to preach well and not follow up our preaching with good example. Herein lies the great challenge of discipleship – ensuring that our lives truly reflect both the spirit and the principles of the Gospel. This is a lifelong work; we will not accomplish it in a short period of time. The true proof of holiness is in a sustained witness of goodness.

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the Lord, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

20 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. 21 “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. 22 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. 23 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, 24 leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. 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. 26 Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

think: Are there people you need to forgive or to ask forgiveness from? Act now. Do not delay.

Read the Bible in one year Revelation 7-10

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

HUMILITY AND INTEGRITY

AS BASIS FOR HOLINESS

How much righteousness would it take to surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees? Not much, we suspect. Theirs was holiness in appearance only. In other words, no holiness at all. In their hearts was self-deception; self-indulgent complacency in a subjective impression of holiness; a disgusting holier-than-thou attitude.

       It’s easy for us to read this Gospel and wrinkle our noses at those bad old Pharisees. In fact, it’s about as easy as telling ourselves that we would never be like them. That is why we must always be ready to examine ourselves with a keen awareness of our weakness and limitations.

       And so we ask ourselves: Do I live my life engaged in a genuine pursuit of holiness or of my own vanity and self-glorification?

       Pride and personal holiness don’t mix just like oil and water. Where our ego is, there is little room, if any, left for God. What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ but to be someone who fills himself totally with God in order to bring Him to others? But what union, grace or friendship with Him can there be in a proud soul? Humility is the key to holiness. There is no possible compromise between God and a proud soul.

       At the heart of authentic holiness is the virtue of integrity. Integrity means being a person with only one face, a person who is the same on the inside and on the outside. Indeed, integrity is the foundation for holiness because it constitutes the very essence of personal honesty and sincerity, which are fundamental for a moral life.

       In our pursuit of holiness, we should never tolerate dishonesty of any kind. We should avoid, like the plague, the least hint of ambivalence in our motivations, or a clash between our thoughts, judgments, choices and actions.  There can be no holiness without integrity. In fact, there can be no genuine human happiness unless it is built on the solid foundation of integrity. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

Do you pretend to be better than you actually are?

Lord, You were always Yourself. You never pretended to be better than others. Help me to overcome my weakness of at times wearing a mask to look better than I am. Amen.