The righteousness of God

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Twenty-Eighth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 19 October 2023
Romans 3:21-30   ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*>   Luke 11:47-54
Photo by author, Makati sunset from Antipolo City, August 2022.
Your words today, 
O God, invite us to look
deeper into your "righteousness"
which is beyond measure
for it is your way of being God -
your are kindness,
your are righteousness,
your are uprightness
that you justified us all 
by acquitting us of our sins through
your Son Jesus Christ.
It was not that simple,
Father, when after you have
justified us in Jesus,
you went further in making us 
a new creation in Christ
by setting us free from
the bondage of sin.
And there lies the beauty
and challenge of your righteousness: 
you have made everything possible 
for us to be better persons assured of
heaven but are we willing to take
and treasure that gift that calls 
for commitment and responsibility?

What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out. On what principle: That of works? No, rather on the principle of faith. For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of law… for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

Romans 3:27-28, 30
Forgive us, God,
for being so proud, 
of putting too much premium
on economic achievements
as benchmark of success;
forgive us for being so proud
of being able to do 
and have everything 
in this world forgetting
that the entire humanity is
utterly dependent on you for
salvation and fulfillment and life;
most of all, that nothing we do is
accomplished apart from your
grace, Father.
Keep us humble and simple,
keenly awaiting Christ's daily coming
so we may walk with him
and lead others to him too
unlike the scribes and Pharisees
who have "taken away the key of
knowledge, refusing to enter 
God's kingdom and worst, stopped
those trying to enter" (Lk. 11:52).
Amen.

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