22nd Friday in Ordinary Time, Yr 2, September 6, 2024
1 Cor 4:1-5; Ps 37:3-6, 27-28, 39-40; Lk 5:33-39
The Psalmist cries out today, “Turn from evil and do good, that you may abide forever; for the Lord loves what is right and forsakes not his faithful ones.”
The readings the last few weeks have been focusing in on that very theme: Do what is right. My reflections have also been focused not only on that, but where you get your information to determine what is right. The real question comes down to, who are you letting be your conscience and guide? Are you letting the world determine what is right and what is wrong and then judge you? St. Paul does not let the world determine for him what is right or wrong. “It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal.” I do not think St. Paul was being arrogant and suggesting he was above everyone else. He was, above all else, absolutely sure where he put his faith, and who was judging him.
The lesson we can learn from this is, the truth is the truth, and it never fails. If we are to be judged, we should only be judged by how we are living up to the truth. Not, to worldly standards. Counter-cultural I know, but we are counter-cultural today, aren’t we? To believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior; is very counter-cultural to the world’s view today.
Jesus describes the difficulty of mixing the world’s views with our views in the Gospel today. It is sometimes very difficult and not very pleasant to everyone involved, but it is an absolute necessity for us to survive in this modern world, while still holding fast to the truth. Going back to who is guiding you, if we were to allow the world to judge us, we would be like the old wine being poured into the old wineskins. Comfortable, following along our old ways and not having the worry of being broken. But, if we are made new in Jesus Christ and still allow ourselves to be judged by the world, it is like pouring new wine into the old wineskins. We will burst the wineskins and all our newness, our new wine, will be wasted. Nothing will be accomplished. However, if we allow ourselves to be made new, we must be allowed to put ourselves in the new wineskins where we will grow, and stretch, without breaking. We will be judged on how we are living up to the truth, just Like St. Paul was, and not of the world’s ways. Let us be judged by the Lord, for through Him, our light will shine and then everyone will praise God!
Saint James Catholic Church 