Greetings on this the Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Readings: Jer 20:10-13; PS 18:2-3a, 3bc-4, 5-6, 7; Jn 10:31-42
Notes: We SHOULD be making ourselves God (by way of the Sonship of Jesus and the invitation to share in the divine life). Many are greatly mistaken.
Here is my reflection from last year – Friday of the 5th Lent Week.
Please read: https://deacongerrypalermo.blog/2021/03/26/you-are-gods-judges/
In the Catholic Church today the Church is going through some sort of attempted purge.
Rumors, gossip and un-listening ears/hearts looking and probing for any reason to convict the Pope, the Bishop, the Pastor, the Deacon, and the Believer.
Any chance at all.
Even among the ranks of clerics some do likewise.
They picked up rocks to stone Jesus (my translation).
Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father.
For which of these are you trying to stone me?”
“We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy.
You, a man, are making yourself God.”
But so hopeful that we would!! Be like God in what we do and how we think!!!!
First reading
I hear the whisperings of many:
“Terror on every side!
Denounce! let us denounce him!”
All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of mine.
“Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,
and take our vengeance on him.”
Reply: Just keep doing good. Resist evil. Trust the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
Verse Before the Gospel
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.
Gospel Portion
If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me;
but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me,
believe the works, so that you may realize and understand
that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
Then they tried again to arrest him;
but he escaped from their power.
The below taken from: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html
In friendly dialogue with all branches of knowledge
- The Church’s social doctrine avails itself of contributions from all branches of knowledge, whatever their source, and has an important interdisciplinary dimension. “In order better to incarnate the one truth about man in different and constantly changing social, economic and political contexts, this teaching enters into dialogue with the various disciplines concerned with man. It assimilates what these disciplines have to contribute”. The social doctrine makes use of the significant contributions of philosophy as well as the descriptive contributions of the human sciences.
Judge.
But judge rightly.
In Charity.
With clarity.
From the letter to the Romans.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/2?1
Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God would lead you to repentance? (Rom 2:4).
Do you suppose, then, you who judge those who engage in such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first and then Greek. There is no partiality with God.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 