Free in Christ Jesus

Today’s Scripture

Romans

Following his explanation of how Christ has completed and fulfilled the Mosaic Law

Paul summarises Christ’s victory:

God sent his son in flesh and for the sake of sin, condemned sin in his own flesh. (nailing the bill of condemnation with him to the cross)

Matthew

Salt & Light

Two homespun metaphors and a sharp instruction:

Righteousness

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20, ESV-CE)

JBC, The Gospel According to Matthew, John L. McKenzie

Observance of the Law and the traditions will secure the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees; this righteousness will not gain admission to the reign. The righteousness of the disciples must exceed the righteous- ness of the scribes and Pharisees; it is a submission to the will of God that goes beyond the observance of the Law.

Today’s Saint

Known for:

Concern for people

especially that the poor be instructed in genuine faith (ie, not harsh)

and treated charitably.

Concern for the clergy:

that they be faithfully instructed

especially in moral theology

so as to treat penitents with kindness and gentleness.

From Butler’s Lives of the Saints

On training seminarians

In preparing the students for their missionary endeavors, the primary focus … was the sacred duty of preaching the divine word. Alphonsus [worked] diligently to instill in them a clear understanding of this … responsibility. He admonished them to refrain from obscuring the simplicity of the gospel with rhetorical embellishments or even the genuine [attraction] of purely human eloquence. He particularly emphasized the significance of [training] themselves for the confessional through the study of moral theology, a [study] that should continue throughout their lives. He firmly believed that lacking this knowledge would lead a confessor to [endanger] his own soul and bring ruin upon his penitents.

Furthermore, Alphonsus provided guidance on the appropriate approach to … penitents. He impressed upon them the necessity of expressing kindness and charity while cautioning against excessive severity and harshness. He also stressed the importance of exercising discernment … .

In summary, Alphonsus' paramount concern was to shape these students into effective ministers of the gospel, guiding them to prioritize the simplicity of the divine message and demonstrating compassion and wisdom in their pastoral duties.

In conclusion …

Through the intercession of Saint Alphonsus, may God always provide pastors for his people who are faithful, kind and prudent.