"...justice is not to be offered as a gift of charity."

Reading the catechism two days ago, I was struck with a strong sense of justice toward my fellow man (aka human). It is so important that we do not make a show of "doing good deeds". Not only for our humility's sake, but more fundamentally because any praise we might receive in return for them would be undue to us. For it is justice which we must give the deprived. Justice calls not for praise:

2446 St. John Chrysostom vigorously recalls this: "Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs."²³⁹ "The demands of justice must be satisfied first of all; that which is already due in justice is not to be offered as a gift of charity":²⁴⁰ When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt of justice.²⁴¹

Anything done for anything but His glory: can it satisfy the soul?

Yesterday I was cruising the piano keys like a Miami driver on Florida Highways, that is, while playing the songs I already know well. However, there are several songs that I am still learning and memorizing. Those I had to play over, and over, and over again. I looked more like a New York City driver stuck in heavy traffic. I was so sick of playing them after the 2nd and 3rd times around. Later I thought over how I can complete tedious tasks such as that with joy, instead of with the feelings of boredom and frustration. My only conclusion is that I must act with the purpose of pleasing the LORD, for I cannot please myself with such tasks. When I act for His glory, I allow myself a reason for joy: giving joy to the LORD.

God wants us to keep trying and using our talents even when we are not perfect at them. Even when I keep getting stuck in traffic, He always gives my green lights.

Today's Readings

Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(from http://www.usccb.org/nab/)

Reading 1
2 Cor 6:1-10

Brothers and sisters:
As your fellow workers, we appeal to you
not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says:

In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.
We cause no one to stumble in anything,
in order that no fault may be found with our ministry;
on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves
as ministers of God, through much endurance,
in afflictions, hardships, constraints,
beatings, imprisonments, riots,
labors, vigils, fasts;
by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness,
in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech,
in the power of God;
with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left;
through glory and dishonor, insult and praise.
We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful;
as unrecognized and yet acknowledged;
as dying and behold we live;
as chastised and yet not put to death;
as sorrowful yet always rejoicing;
as poor yet enriching many;
as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 98:1, 2b, 3ab, 3cd-4

R. (2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
In the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.

Gospel
Mt 5:38-42

Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one to him as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand him your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go with him for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."

Hey Y'all!

Hi! I am so excited to have a blog; now I can help the LORD to spread His truth even more! Give me some time to figure all this out before I post anything else. Until then, God Bless!