“LET YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS SHINE OUT BEFORE OTHERS” (Matt 5:16)

⏰Monday of the Twenty-Fifth Week of Ordinary Time 2 (24 Sept. 2018)

📕Prov 3:27-34; Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5 (R.v.1b); Luke 8:16-18

May the peace of the Lord be with you. Amen.

My dear, in case you have not noticed, we are gradually getting to many ends – the end of the year and of course, in the Church, the end of the liturgical year. All these ‘ends’ remind us of the inevitable end of our earthly life after which we shall be required to give an account of our life.

The Church has therefore planned her liturgy in such a way as to help her faithful to begin to take proper stock and not to deviate. In that light, the collection of books of the Bible that we refer to as the “Wisdom Literatures” are read during the Masses at this period principally to remind us that wisdom comes from God (cf. Prov 2:6) and that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge” (Prov 1:7).

Today, the Book of Proverbs 3:27-34 encourages us to do good always to our neighbours, and at the right time too. Delaying to do good at the right time would be equivalent to not doing it at all just as the common saying, “Delay is denial!”

Let nothing hinder from doing that good! When you are trying to do good, many people may mock you and call you all sorts of derogatory names like “sancta,” “pretender,” “hypocrite,” “Pharisee,” etc. Never mind them, Jesus encourages us, saying that our righteousness shine out for people to see and give praise to God (cf. Matt 5:16).

Just try to remember always, as the Wisdom Writings tell us, that God is the standard in all that we do. So when you do good, do it for the sake of God and not for your own glory. If you seek after the glory of God and his wisdom, be sure of God’s blessing because “to him who has will more be given” (Luke 8:18).

As you begin this week with the Lord, I pray that the divine wisdom shall envelope you and lead you along the right part. May he lead you on to where your blessings and keys to your breakthroughs are stored. In the end, may it lead you on the road that lead to salvation in Christ. Amen.

Have a blessed and joyous week. Peace be with you.