6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year I)
Community Word:God’s word calls us to proclaim His love.
Theme: We proclaim God’s love when we perform charitable acts.
Promise: “Behold, your reward will be great in heaven,” (Lk 6:23)
Reflection:
What does the Bible tell us about charity? Some bible versions (e.g. King James) equates charity to love. In 1 Corinthians 13, the word “agapē” is a Greco-Christian term referring to love, “the highest form of love, charity” and “the love of God for man and of man for God.”Acts 9:36 tells about a woman named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas) who was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving or charity. The Greek word here means “compassion, as exercised towards the poor; beneficence.”
The Bible has much to say about charity and how we are to care for the poor and needy among us. One of the most famous passages on the importance of caring for those in need is in Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats. He says, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’” (Mt 25:34-36, 40).
Clearly, when we care for someone in need, we do the will of Christ and manifest in our charitable actions the love of the Father. And our Father shows His appreciation and gratitude to us by promising the highest reward when He assures us: “Behold, your reward will be great in heaven,” (Lk 6:23).
For those who are in community, the compelling question would be – If I am already assigned to a ministry or apostolate doing other tasks, do I need to be involved in charitable acts or in mission works? The answer can be taken from the exhortation of Pope Francis when he said: “Churchmen should leave their comfort zone and tend to the needy on the peripheries. Jesus wanted his church to be a church on the move, a church that goes out into the world.”
As Christians, we are expected to help alleviate and even fight for better living conditions for the poor and the underprivileged. Social justice is part and parcel of Christian morality and something greatly emphasized by the Church from the time of its foundation. Social justice and care for the less fortunate is s foremost concern and duty for all Christians. Christ’s followers were convinced of that. Paul told Timothy, “Tell those who are rich in this world’s goods not to rely on so uncertain a thing as wealth. Charge them to do good, and be rich in good works, generally sharing what they have,” (1 Tim 6:17).
It is in this context that our community sets Christ in his earthly ministry, as our model for social responsibility. With an additional exhortation to serve him with joy, this call to action is clearly expressed in our week’s theme: We proclaim God’s love when we perform charitable acts.
Prayer:
Thank You Lord for the many graces and blessings you have given me. Please accept my heart-felt gratitude for Your countless gifts to me each day.In turn, dear Lord, help me to be aware of the needs of the least of my sisters and brothers, and to respond to those who are less fortunate with generous expressions of charity, kindness and caring. On that day, Lord, when I finally stand before You to give an account of my life, I pray I will hear you say, “Come O good and faithful servant to share your Father’s joy, for when you saw me hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, ill and imprisoned, you offered your gifts in charity and you lovingly did it for me”. Amen.
Reflection Guide Questions:
1. In following the will of Jesus, how do you respond to the exhortation of Pope Francis for“Churchmen to leave their comfort zone and tend to the needy on the peripheries”?
2. What hinders you from participating in outreach programs to exercise charity for the poor? What are your difficulties and how do you plan to overcome them?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
February 17, 2019 (Sun)- Jer 17:5-8/Ps 1:1-4, 6/1Cor 15:12, 16-20/Lk 6:17, 20-26
February 18, 2019 (Mon)- Gn 4:1-15, 25/Ps 1.8, 16-17, 20, 21/Mk 8:11-13
February 19, 2019 (Tue)- Gn 6:5-8, 7:1-5, 10/Ps 29:1-4, 9, 10/Mk 8:14-21
February 20, 2019 (Wed)- Gn 8:6-13, 20-22/Ps 116:1-15, 18, 19/Mk 8:22-26
February 21 2019 (Thu) – Gn 9:1-13/Ps 102:16-18, 19-21, 29, 22, 23/Mk 8:27-33
February 22,2019 (Fri)- 1Pt 5:1-4/Ps 23:1-6/Mt 16:13-19
February 23, 2019 (Sat) Heb 11:1-7/Ps 145:2-5, 10-11/Mk 9:2-12
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
