Collect for Sixth Sunday Ordinary Time Year C

 

COLLECT SERIES

 

The Mass; Collect Series Icon.

COLLECT

 

The Collect for Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C reads as follows:

O God, who teach us that You abide in hearts that are just and true,

grant that we may be so fashioned by Your grace

as to become a dwelling pleasing to you.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Spend some time in gratitude for all the many times that God has abided in my heart and helped me to remain just and true.

2. Ask forgiveness for the times when my heart strayed from His abiding by being unjust and untrue to God.  Repent of these areas in Sacrament of Reconciliation.

3. Ask Mary, who was fashioned by grace and held a pleasing dwelling place for Jesus to intercede for me so as to refashion my life and be open to receiving the graces I need.

4. What one area in my life will I try to improve through the power of God’s grace this week?

5. Spend some time with Jesus and ask Him to show you what you need to do this coming Lent to become a pleasing dwelling for Him this Easter.

 

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

Today’s Gospel is from Lk 6:17,-20-26.   This is Luke’s account of the Beatitudes.

We are very familiar with the Beatitudes, however Luke’s account  gives us a very important lesson- every action has consequences whether for good or for bad.

Often the psychology of the world teaches us to promote the positive in our lives. This is good in itself but what it often does not encourage is to really examine our attitudes and the consequences of them either for good or for evil.

Luke’s account  reminds us that there are consequences.

Jesus is not opposed to riches per say but it is what we do with them and the attitude we have towards them that is important.  For example someone who is wealthy can spend their money on themselves having a good time and either not give a toss about others in need or worse still not even stop to think about them.  They may even take the attitude that they have worked hard for their wealth so why should they get it on a plate- a handout.  This type of attitude will have consequences.

However, the wealthy person who works hard, shares his/her wealth for the betterment of other people in ways small and great and uses his/her money as an instrument and is not governed by it will have a very different attitude.  There is a danger too here if the wealthy person does not abide in God constantly.  Pride/ Fame/Power and Greed could easily lurk around too.  There will be consequences too without the constant abiding in God and remembering that God is the Creator and we, are the created.  God gives and God can take away.

I remember back in 2000 at World Youth Day having a glimpse of what the beatitude of ’Happy are you who are hungry now: you will be satisfied’.

On the long 19km walk in 46 degree heat, every country had its checkpoint for food. Unfortunately when we reached our checkpoint the food was gone and we were told to ask at the next checkpoint. We did with the same result at every checkpoint until we reached our destination.  Yes there was physical hunger but as my mind turned towards what I was doing there at World Youth Day and the anticipation of  being at the Mass with Pope John Paul 11, my hunger increased for the things of God and my mind did not focus on my physical hunger.  As it turned out, I eventually had some food when I returned back to where I was billeted 24 hours later.

Yes on that day I can honestly say that my soul indeed was satisfied.

Of course, this is just one aspect of one of the beatitudes. 

 

• There are many great commentaries on the beatitudes that we can read and reflect upon.   For Example: Read a summary of St. Bernard's advice for living the Beatitudes, and the Holy Father's exhortation to the youth at Toronto's World Youth Day to be people of the Beatitudes.
• For some ideas on how to live the poverty and detachment prescribed by the first beatitude (Blessed are the poor in spirit), read this interview with spiritual director and writer Fr. Dubay.

These links were taken from Catholic Culture.org

However, the message from today’s account is clear. Live out the beatitudes and remember to consider its consequence when it is not lived out well.

We have the Sacrament of Reconciliation to assist us to strengthen us and to repent of our failures, and through God’s grace may we continue to abide in Him and live out the Beatitudes in faith, hope and love for God.

 

May you have a blessed week.