Thursday September 9th Gospel Reflections + Pastor Terry Jones is wrong.

Mass readings for today are here

Gospel is from Luke 6 : 27-38

It's all about giving.

It also strikes me that  this passage does not justify the burning of the Koran so

" Pastor" ( and I use that term with much doubt as to it's integrity), Terry Jones has no Christian justification for planning to do so. 

The U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton told a religious meeting in Washington that the stunt was  'disrespectful' and 'disgraceful'.

Mrs Clinton said: 'I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful, disgraceful act that has come from American religious leaders of all faiths.

'Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation.

'Many of you know that in 1790, George Washington wrote to a synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, that this country will give "to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance".'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1310035/Rev-Terry-Jones-carry-9-11-koran-burning-despite-death-threats.html#ixzz0z1sTlGMv

Jesus said to his disciples:
"To you who hear I say, love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,
pray for those who mistreat you.
To the person who strikes you on one cheek,
offer the other one as well,
and from the person who takes your cloak,
do not withhold even your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks of you,
and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
For if you love those who love you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who do good to you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners do the same.
If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners,
and get back the same amount.
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,
and lend expecting nothing back;
then your reward will be great
and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

"Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you."

Today is the feast of St Peter Claver a Spaniard  born in Barcelona who became a Jesuit missionary priest  to Colombia , South America.  In 1610 he landed at Cartagena (modern Colombia), the principal slave market of the New World, where a thousand slaves were landed every month.
After his ordination in 1616, he dedicated himself by special vow to the service of the  slaves-a work that was to last for thirty-three years. 
He campaigned for the abolition of the  slave trade.