It’s (in my pastoral opinion) the toughest teaching of Jesus, and it challenges us to call down help from Heaven to carry it out. May we honestly consider who is difficult to love in our lives today and strive with the Lord’s help to love…even our enemies.
The Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that “faith is the realization of what is hoped for, and evidence of things not seen.” May our faith be strengthened by God’s grace, so that we might persevere in times of struggle and strife.
Note: ASH WEDNESDAY is next week! How do you want to your faith in Christ to grow? Take this time now to reflect on the practical things you want to do to make this your best Lent ever.
As the people began to reject the Lord’s injunction to spread out over the earth, their desire to congregate together and build a tower to the heavens reveals their pride. May we take the lesson to heart and humbly acknowledge this nasty sin whenever it surfaces in our souls.
Note: ASH WEDNESDAY is next week. Take this time to consider the blessings in life right now and determine how we might live them in the holy season of Lent.
Here are some of the themes that surface in the readings for the 7th Sunday of the Year.
1st Reading – Leviticus 19:1-2,17-18
The Lord commands Moses to tell the people, “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.”
The Lord continues, saying not to bear hatred for a brother or sister, a fellow citizen or any of one’s own people; rather, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Psalm – 103: 1-4,8,10,12-13
“The Lord is kind and merciful.”
The Lord pardons all our iniquities and heals our ills.
2nd Reading – 1st Corinthians 3:16-23
Each of us is a temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in us.
We do not boast in human beings; instead, our focus is on Christ.
Gospel – Matthew 5:38-48
Jesus continues to speak forcefully about exceeding the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.
The Lord speaks about violence and hating one’s enemies, but then he takes the command to “love your neighbor” and extends it to love of one’s enemies.
The Book of Sirach reminds us to choose wisely as we confront the daily decisions before us. Not only is it crucial what we choose; we are also defined be how we choose to do it.
As God confronts Adam and Eve about their actions, we discern the natural consequences of sin, whereby division arises and separates us from the Lord and one another.