Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, priest and martyr
(Ezekiel 9:1-7.10:18-22; Matthew 18:15-20)
Bishop Robert Barron believes that right worship matters
most in life as it does in the Bible. He
says when humans worship God duly, everything else falls into place. But when they fail to worship the one, true
God, their lives likely fall apart. Today’s
first reading from the prophet Ezekiel shows this breakup taking place.
Ezekiel is permitted to see the occurrences in Jerusalem
from his exile in Babylon. The Lord is
scourging His people for having followed false gods to the extent of placing
idols in the Temple. Now the impious are
being slain with their cadavers piling up in the Temple completing its defilement. Meanwhile, those who have shunned the
defilement are being protected.
We give right praise when we keep holy the Lord’s Day and
give thanks to Him every day. Right
praise is also a matter of not defiling our bodies, which have become temples
of the Holy Spirit, by excess of material pleasure. Right praise is acknowledging that the Lord
is the source of our life and its completion.
