Friday of the Twenty-eighth week in Ordinary Time
Commentary of the day
Saint Ignatius of Loyola : "Do not be afraid."
Reading
Rm 4,1-8.
What then can we say that Abraham found, our ancestor according to the flesh? Indeed, if Abraham was justified on the basis of his works, he has reason to boast; but this was not so in the sight of God. For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." A worker's wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due. But when one does not work, yet believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. So also David declares the blessedness of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record."
Ps 32(31),1-2.5.11.
Of David. A maskil. Happy the sinner whose fault is removed, whose sin is forgiven. Happy those to whom the LORD imputes no guilt, in whose spirit is no deceit. Then I declared my sin to you; my guilt I did not hide. I said, "I confess my faults to the LORD," and you took away the guilt of my sin. Selah Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just; exult, all you upright of heart.
Lk 12,1-7.
Meanwhile, so many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. He began to speak, first to his disciples, "Beware of the leaven--that is, the hypocrisy--of the Pharisees. There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
Commentary of the day
Saint Ignatius of Loyola, (1491-1556), founder of the Jesuits
Letter of 17/11/1555
"Do not be afraid."
It seems to me you ought to resolve to carry out peacefully what you can. Don’t worry about all the rest but entrust to divine Providence what you are unable to accomplish on your own. What is pleasing to God is the reasonable care and attention we give to accomplishing well whatever business we must undertake through duty. What is not pleasing to God is anxiety and disquiet of mind. The Lord wants our limitations and weaknesses to find their support in his strength; he wants us to hope that his goodness will make up for the imperfectness of our means. Those who take on numerous responsibilities, even with an upright intention, must resolve to do simply what lies within their power… If it is necessary to set certain things aside, arm yourselves with patience and don’t think that God expects of us what we are unable to do. He doesn’t want a man to distress himself on account of his limitations…; there is no need to tire ourselves out excessively. More, if we have tried hard to do our best, we can abandon all the rest to Him who has the power to accomplish what he will. May the divine goodness always be pleased to communicate the light of wisdom to us so that we may clearly see and firmly accomplish his good pleasure, for ourselves and for others…, so that we may accept from his hand whatever he sends us, taking due note of what is the most important: patience, humility, obedience and charity.
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