Since the onslaught of Covid-19 pandemic, we have become frightened, confused, impatient and sometimes angry with life or with whatever is or is not happening. Civility, kindness and a genuine effort to be helpful seems at times to have taken a hiatus waiting for the Coronavirus to come to an end. What makes it even more difficult for us baptized Catholics is that we are called to rise above this because of our promise to love God with our heart, soul, mind and strength and all that God has created as Jesus loves us according to our Gospel from St. Matthew today.
With this as our foundation, we need to adopt a more positive approach to coping with our daily difficulties as opposed to ignoring them. As St. Paul writes in his first Letter to the Thessalonians, we are to set a good example as they did for others to follow. Why then does it seem so difficult at times to follow the ways of the Lord who has gifted us with multiple blessings; especially with everlasting life for those who are faithful to Him?
Though there are multiple answers to this question, I believe among the top is lack of faith because we are looking at God’s ways through the world’s perspective. The two cannot be compared because “One” looks at it through the eyes of love and the other at what one will gain from what is done, no matter what the situation. Selfless versus Selfishness.
In our first reading from the Book of Exodus, God gives us a clear example as to how we are to treat people such as refugees, immigrants, widows and orphans; with compassion. If we don’t, we will face dire consequences from exchanging places to dying a terrible death. In other words, God has no patience for those who do not take care of their neighbors, no matter how a “neighbor” is defined. In essence, we are to be proactive towards those in need.
Jesus sums up the Bible with His final comment in St. Matthew’s Gospel which says: “The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments,” as Jesus quoted to the Pharisees in respect to loving God first and your neighbor as yourself. In other words, Love must be the definitive way in which we make all our life decisions. Anything less causes doubt and brings consequences.
Let us take this week to look into our hearts as to what areas we are shortchanging others and ourselves when we aren’t proactive by being present to those in need. I am sure we can find something which can be changed which will make a difference for the better. Make it a bucket list item so it is a priority. Who knows? It might be something you might want to repeat more often than not.
Reading 1: Exodus 22:20-26
Reading 2: First Thessalonians 1:5c-10
Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40
No comments:
Post a Comment