Saturday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time Saturday, September 2, 2023

Today’s Readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090223.cfm

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Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, both our readings offer many lessons, but I think a key one is this:

If you want to be a better person,
mind your own business!

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In Thessalonians, Paul is abundantly clear about it when he describes what fosters fraternal charity:

We urge you, brothers and sisters, to progress even more,
and to aspire to live a tranquil life,
to mind your own affairs,
and to work with your own hands,
as we instructed you.

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Jesus allegorizes what happens when we ignore our own responsibilities and worry about someone else’s choices:

‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person,
harvesting where you did not plant
and gathering where you did not scatter;
so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.
Here it is back.’
His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!

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We all know people who are experts at evaluating everyone’s life but their own. Apparently, Paul and Jesus knew some too. To guide them into a more integrated life, Jesus and Paul offered these two standards: fraternal charity and practiced faithfulness to one’s own call.

I think the advice can help all of us.

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Prose: from Plato

Justice means 
minding one's own business 
and not meddling with 
other men’s concerns.

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Music: Mind Your Own Business – Hank Williams

If the wife and I are fussin’, brother that’s our right
‘Cause me and that sweet woman’s got a license to fight
Why don’t you mind your own business?
(Mind your own business)
‘Cause if you mind your business, then you won’t be mindin’ mine

Oh, the woman on our party line’s the nosiest thing
She picks up her receiver when she knows it’s my ring
Why don’t you mind your own business?
(Mind your own business)
Well, if you mind your business, then you won’t be mindin’ mine

I got a little gal that wears her hair up high
The boys all whistle when she walks by
Why don’t you mind your own business?
(Mind your own business)
Well, if you mind your own business, you sure won’t be minding mine

If I want to honky tonk around ’til two or three
Now, brother that’s my headache, don’t you worry ’bout me
Just mind your own business
(Mind your own business)
If you mind your business, then you won’t be mindin’ mine

Mindin’ other people’s business seems to be high-toned
I got all that I can do just to mind my own
Why don’t you mind your own business?
(Mind your own business)
If you mind your own business, you’ll stay busy all the time