Greetings on this the Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Eph 4:1-6; PS 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6; LK 12:54-59
Notes: In our gospel portion today, Jesus is describing how we are to judge… ourselves, doing so always with compassion and mercy but honestly and without hypocrisy.
Our Responsorial Psalm asks it well: Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.
A consistent theme today is harmony with the Lord and with your fellow man.
I am avoiding the social justice theme present in the gospel portion because today is about the proximity of you.
Ordo
- Be reconciled (Rite of Reconciliation – when was the last time?)
- Be in Unity by the Holy Spirit in the midst of valid disagreements.
Presentation Ministries
- Avoid the prison of unforgiveness, resentment and apathy.
- https://www.presentationministries.com/series/obob
The three questions of Man.
- How am I?
- Why am I?
- What is my final end?
Gospel portion has two sayings of Jesus:
A. Signs of the Times.
- i. John the Baptist and Jesus are in contradiction to the hypocrisy of the powerful.
- ii. The presence of the Roman overlords as a reminder of our helplessness against the world.
- iii. The approaching storm is the Passion of the Lord which is the ultimate battle of good and evil.
B. Settlement with an Opponent.
- i. The opponent is the world.
- ii. The opponent is the worldly mistakes we made, we make, we want to make (concupiscence).
- iii. The opponent is the final four things in a manner of speaking (Death, Judgment, Heaven or Hell).
First reading
The Question
Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace; one Body and one Spirit.
The Power
you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Responsorial Psalm
Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.
Alleluia Verse
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
Gospel Portion
“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 
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