First Friday in October

The emphasis has been so heavy on the negative, the economic mes, the political election cycle, the war in Iraq and countless worldly woes ~ let's take a moment on this first Friday, before many of us - the Catholics amongst us, anyhow - head to church before our dinner ~ let's take a moment to consider the spiritual side. That's the side that matters most!

From Spirit Daily
QUOTE Often God deals with our swollen selves by pricking the balloon we too often become.
When we boast or gossip, when we have pride, we fill like a blimp with hot air.
The Lord, in His Mercy, will eventually cause that to burst. He will let fresh air in. Pride goes before the fall.
"Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins," says Matthew 9:17, "otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved."
How are you swollen? Is there negativity welling inside of you? What has become too big for your "skin" to contain? UNQUOTE

Prostitutes Will Enter the Kingdom of Heaven Before Us

I am spending the day contemplating tomorrow's Gospel. Off to work now but still contemplating ~ I'm turning it into a "walking meditation".

Here is the basis of my ruminations:

ZENIT

Prostitutes Will Enter the Kingdom Before You
Gospel Commentary for 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Father Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap

ROME, SEPT. 26, 2008 (Zenit.org).-QUOTE "Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: ‘What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, "Son, go out and work in the vineyard today." He said in reply, "I will not," but afterward changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, "Yes, sir," but did not go. Which of the two did his father's will?' They answered, ‘The first.'"
The son who says "yes" and does "no" represents those who knew God and followed his law to a certain extent but did not accept Christ, who was "the fulfillment of the law." The son who says "no" and does "yes" represents those who once lived outside the law and will of God, but then, with Christ, thought again and welcomed the Gospel.
From this Jesus draws the following conclusion before the chief priests and elders: "Truly, I say to you, even the publicans and prostitutes will enter the Kingdom of God before you."UNQUOTE

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