Community Word: Disciples of Christ who gather in His name love one another.
Order: “…owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another.” (Rom 13:8)
Reflection:
The Sunday readings for the month of September highlight Christian love, affirming our Community word for September – Disciples of Christ who gather in his name love one another. This kind of love is neither a feeling nor an emotion, but a responsibility. We are asked to demonstrate obedience to that call by seeking to manage our relationships in a Christian way, especially among our brothers and sisters in community. Always bear in mind God’s command to “love your neighbor as yourselves” (Rom 13:9). The greatest harm we can do to people, especially when they face spiritual danger, is to look the other way, or to do nothing. Let us remain focused on the global direction – “speak the truth in love and learn to forgive”.
What are some means by which we may demonstrate our love for one another?
The Theme for the 1st week (23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time) says: We love one another when we listen to each other & live in harmony & peace. The gospel is telling us the right attitude towards correcting an erring brother or sister. We should withhold rash judgments. When brotherly correction is required, it should be done in the spirit of charity and humility, and out of love. We are not to condemn, but to convince the erring brother or sister, of the need for repentance and conversion. We are not to reject, but to reconcile everyone and everything. In Jesus’ numerous teachings, He explains how His disciples and future believers should deal with one another: by living humbly, obeying His commands, avoiding giving scandal to the weak of faith, attending to the lost and the wayward, and forgiving one another from the heart.
The Theme for the 2nd week (Feast of the Holy Cross) says: We love one another when we humble ourselves in obedience. What we celebrate is not just any cross, not senseless suffering or needless pain, but the Cross of Christ which turned defeat into victory and death into life, destroying evil with the power of good. We celebrate God’s love. The feast of the Exaltation of the Cross invites us to behold our own crosses with faith in Jesus. Supernatural grace comes to those who know how to carry their crosses with trust and with love, just as Jesus did. As we gaze at the cross, let us pray that we may hopeful, not be hopeless. With the cross, Jesus leads us to a life of grace, enabling us to humble ourselves in obedience. He gives us eternal life. The cross shows how much Jesus is willing to give and to offer for our redemption. Truly Jesus came, “humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:8). The Cross speaks to us of the overwhelming love of Jesus who was willing to die for each of us. The Cross speaks to us of Jesus’ total surrender to the Father’s will, a surrender that was complete even unto death.
On the 3rd week (25th Sunday in Ordinary Time) our Theme is: We love one another when we are generous with our time, talent and treasure. God does not care about our length of service in community, but the love we put into it. God looks at our dedication and commitment. He is after quality not quantity. That is the mystery of God’s gracious love. He is always ready to give, always offering bountiful opportunities to us. What the Lord asks of us is that we follow Him with whatever we have and as best we can, to be generous with our time, talent and treasure. Each of the times of our lives enables each of us to bring a special strength to our work in the Lord’s vineyard. The parable is not just about the different times that people find the Lord, or the uniqueness of the call, but about the seasons of life. Whatever our age, we all bring strengths and gifts to His vineyard. At each hour of the day and at each season in life the Lord calls, and He has a place and work for us in His vineyard.
Lastly, the Theme for the 4th Week (26th Sunday in Ordinary Time) is: We love one another when we change our ways and follow Jesus. God is asking us to “go out and work in the vineyard” (Mt. 21:29). He is telling us to go out of our own way and extend help to those in need through kind words and works of mercy. How we live our lives shows what we really believe. More than words, our actions accurately depict what we believe and to what we are really faithful. We may find ourselves going through the motions of prayer and meeting the traditions and obligations of our faith, but the substance of surrender and obedience may not be there. Faithful disciples of Jesus who are willing to pay the high price of love and sacrifice say “Yes” all the time to God’s purposes. The benefit of action is that it can work miracles as we follow the transforming ways Jesus reveals to us in Scripture reading and through the teachings of the Church and the Community.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, our Almighty and gracious Saviour, help us and form us to be like you, to ask for forgiveness and be ready to forgive, to empty ourselves and be always available to help, share, and be reconciled with you and with one another. Inspire us more with a deeper revelation of your word. Strengthen us to become instruments for other people that they have a change of heart and return to God, for Your name’s sake. Amen.
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