Tag Archives: sermon on the mount

By Their Fruits You Will Know Them

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“By Their Fruits You Will Know Them”
A reflection on Matthew 7:15-20
Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
©️2021 by Gloria M. Chang

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.”

Matthew 7:15-20

Stop Judging

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“Stop Judging”
A reflection on Matthew 7:1-5
Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
©️2021 by Gloria M. Chang

“Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

Matthew 7:1-5

Learn From the Wild Flowers

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“Learn from the way the wild flowers grow”
A reflection on Matthew 6:25-34
Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
©️2021 by Gloria M. Chang

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.“

Matthew 6:25-34

A Secret Gift

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“A Secret Gift”
A reflection on Matthew 6:1-4
Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
©️2021 by Gloria M. Chang

“But take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

Matthew 6:1-4

Love of Enemies

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“Love of Enemies” (3 panels)
Matthew 5:43-48 in a quatrain
Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
©️2021 by Gloria M. Chang

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48

Christ on Retaliation

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“Christ on Retaliation”
Inspired by Matthew 5:38-42
Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
©️2021 by Gloria M. Chang

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

Matthew 5:38-42

The Heart at the Altar

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“The Heart at the Altar”
Matthew 5:23-24 “in a snailshell”
Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
©️2021 by Gloria M. Chang

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:23-24

Christ Fulfills the Law

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“Christ Fulfills the Law”
Matthew 5:17-18 “in a snailshell”
Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
©️2021 by Gloria M. Chang

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.

Matthew 5:17-18

You Are the Salt of the Earth

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“You are the salt of the earth”
Matthew 5:13 “in a snailshell”
Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
©️2021 by Gloria M. Chang

You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

Matthew 5:13

Note: In first-century Israel, salt lost its savor through exposure to humidity.