23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A, Year II)
Community Word: Disciples of Christ who gather in His name love one another.
Theme: We love one another when we listen to each other and live in harmony and peace.
Promise: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Mt 18:20)
Reflection:
This week’s first reading reminds us that we should be willing to accept correction from those who are in authority over us; that we too may be able to correct those who are under our authority. Going further, as we minister to others, we too should be willing to be ministered to. Love of neighbor should be our first consideration when we confront and correct others, as emphasized in the second reading. The Gospel gives us an outline on how to confront and correct in a gentle spirit (Gal 6: 1), and forgive within and even outside the confines of community life; for as we are reconciled with one another, our prayers will be heard by our Father in heaven.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are told not to be judgmental or vengeful. St. Paul says, “Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse… Do not repay evil for evil; be concerned of what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, on your part, live in peace with all. Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord’. Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing so you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good,” (Rom 12:14, 17-21). During Biblical times, when there were no matches with which to light a fire, one man from the village was always assigned to keep the charcoal fire burning through the night. In the morning, he went around the village distributing the burning charcoal so the women can cook. In the spiritual sense, he was bringing goodwill, the grace and love of God to his neighbors. St. Paul admonishes us likewise to be the instruments of God’s grace and love to those around us.
The reality is that we too are wounded, frail human beings who are easily hurt and are just as quick to react. That is why we should be faithful in our prayer life that we may remain in the presence of Jesus and be aware always of God’s love and compassion for us, “tor as we abide in Him, He will abide in us,” (Jm 4:8). As we deepen our relationship with Jesus, faithful in meditating and acting on His Word and in our frequent reception of the Sacraments, Jesus will continue to heal us. He will renew our minds and raise our earthly concerns to heavenly realities. He will instill in our hearts the thought that those who have hurt us or whom we have hurt are, like ourselves, equally deserving of eternal life. Jesus will support us with His Holy Spirit in healing those wounded areas in our hearts that remain sensitive and vulnerable to hurts.
With Jesus in our hearts, we will not exert effort to defend our honor and name when maligned or when there is false accusation. Rather, knowing Jesus will defend us, we will continue to forgive, lay those hurts at His cross, and bless those who persecute us. “For as we continue to pray and forgive seventy times seventy; we can bear one another’s burden and so fulfill the law of Christ,” (Gal 6:2). We will no longer let foul language escape from our lips, but only words that serve to edify and impart grace upon those who hear it. We will not grieve the Holy Spirit with which we were sealed for the day of redemption. We will be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, as God has forgiven us in Christ (Eph 4: 29, 30, 32).
As we commit to a life of harmony and peace, we can be assured of this week’s Promise for us from the Lord: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them,” (Mt 18:20).
Reflection Question:
1. How is my relationship with others? Do I still find it difficult to forgive others? How about those whom I have hurt?
2. How can I commit to a life of reconciliation and harmony?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
September 7, 2014 (Sun) Ez 33:7-9/Ps 95:1-2,6-7,8-9/Rom 13:8-10/Mt 18:15-20
September 8, 2014 (Mon) Mi 5:1-4/Ps 13:6ab,6c/Mt 1:2-16,18-23
September 9, 2014 (Tues) 1Cor 6:1-11/ps 149:1-2,3-4,5-6,9/Lk 6:12-19
September 10, 2014 (Wed) 1Cor 7:25-31/Ps 45:11-12,14-15,16-17/Lk 6:20-26
September 11, 2014 (Thurs) 1Cor 8:1-7,11-13/Ps 139:1-3,13-14,23-24/Lk 6:27-38
September 12, 2014 (Fri) 1Cor 9:16-19,22-27/Ps 84:3,4.5-6,8,12/Lk 39-42
September 13, 2014 (Sat) 1Cor 10:14-22/Ps 116:12-13,17-18/Lk 6:43-49
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
