Distinguish The Essential From The Secondary
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.”Ps. 33
There are many issues that even lead Catholics to become divided, based on their subjective preferences, personal tendencies, opinions, and legitimate tastes. It is urgent that we learn to respect all these legitimate differences in tastes and opinions of others, even when they do not coincide with our own, because it would be absurd and un-Christian to divide or become hostile over these inevitable matters, for not distinguishing the essential from the secondary, or for putting the latter before the former…
Many cling to having things their own way, often regarding secondary matters that can be done in different ways. For example, some may prefer traditional elements in decoration, music, and would rather the Mass be celebrated in Latin, etc.; while others prefer more modern music, even during Mass, emotional expressions and joyful celebration, etc. We must understand that both preferences are legitimate and valid within the same faith that unites us all. Therefore, we must accept and respect them without falling into childish divisions and rivalries.
That is to say, we cannot divide ourselves over this kind of thing, because we would be offending God, who wants us to be one, in the diversity that characterizes us. He has enriched the Church with different people, with different abilities, gifts, and charisms not so that we fight and try to make everyone do things the same way or be good at the same things. Just as He made man and woman different so that together they may complement one another and be one, as Christ is with the Church.
We must even be capable of accepting the mistakes and shortcomings of others, since it is also natural and legitimate that we all have them, and we want to be accepted despite our own fragility, limitations, and clumsiness. In fact, the Christian goes even further than accepting these legitimate differences and natural defects—we are called to accept and love sinners, even when they show immaturity in their injustice and sin, for only God sees hearts, and only He can condemn.
“Bear with one another and forgive one another if anyone has a grievance against someone. As the Lord forgave you, so must you also do.”Colossians 3:13
We must also learn to discern what is truly important in the light of what God has revealed to us in Christ: Seek first the Kingdom of God. This is the great treasure, without which we have nothing. Therefore, we must learn to subordinate everything else to this Treasure. Everything else will be added unto us and is of lesser importance. We should be willing to lose anything, all that is temporal even our physical life rather than lose the supreme value we receive through faith: His Kingdom of love, joy, and peace, eternal Life. We must place this above all else, for it is truly the one thing necessary.
Weekly Readings
Sunday: Wis 18:6-9/Ps 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22 (12)/Heb 11:1-2, 8-19 or 11:1-2, 8-12/Lk 12:32-48 or 12:35-40
Monday: Dt 10:12-22/Ps 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14/Mt 17:22-27
Tuesday: Dt 31:1-8/Dt 32:3-4, 7, 8, 9 and 12/Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
Wednesday: Dt 34:1-12/Ps 65:1-3, 5 and 8, 16-17/Mt 18:15-20
Thursday: Jos 3:7-10, 11, 13-17/Ps 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6/Mt 18:21–19:1
Friday:
Vigil: 1 Chr 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2/Ps 131:6-7, 9-10, 13-14/1 Cor 15:54-57/Lk 11:27-28
Day: Rv 11:19; 12:1-6, 10/Ps 45:10, 11, 12, 16/1 Cor 15:20-27/Lk 1:39-56
Saturday: Jos 24:14-29/Ps 15:1-2 and 5, 7-8, 11/Mt 19:13-15
Next Sunday: Jer 38:4-6, 8-10/Ps 40:2, 3, 4, 18 (14)/Heb 12:1-4/Lk 12:49-53
Observances for the Week
Sunday: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Monday: St. Clare, Virgin
Tuesday: St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious
Wednesday: St. Pontian, Pope, and St. Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs
Thursday: St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr
Friday: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saturday: St. Stephen of Hungary
Next Sunday: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
