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23 February 2014
The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Matthew 5:38-48)
The theme of this Sunday’s gospel is love for one’s enemies. Jesus assures us that as His followers, it is not enough for us to love only those who love us; we must also be kind to complete strangers and even to those who treat us badly. “This is how all will know that you are My disciples: if you have love…”
The good news is that even when it seems difficult to show love to someone, we are never alone. Jesus is with us and will give us the grace and strength to love even those who have been mean and nasty to us. St. Faustina related the following incident in her Diary: “This morning, five unemployed men came to the gate and insisted on being let in. (...) When I was still a good way from the gate I could hear them banging loudly. At first, I was overcome with doubt and fear, and I did not know whether to open the gate or (...) to answer them through the little window. But suddenly I heard a voice in my soul saying, Go and open the gate and talk to them as sweetly as you talk to Me. I opened the gate at once and approached the most menacing of them and began to speak to them with such sweetness and calm that they did not know what to do with themselves. And they too began to speak gently and (…) they went away peacefully. I felt clearly that Jesus, whom I had received in Holy Communion just an hour before, had worked in their hearts through me Oh, how good it is to act under God's inspiration!” (Diary 1377).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I often find it challenging to show love to certain people You place along my path. Help me to go through the day with You at my side, responding to Your every inspiration. Amen.
16 February 2014
The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Matthew 5:17-37)
Jesus calls us in today’s Gospel to live righteously before God, holding ourselves to high moral standards, especially regarding the way we treat our neighbour. He even warns us of the price we could pay for our self love: “You will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
In today’s second reading we hear about heaven, and the joys that await us if we persevere in following the Lord. St. Faustina wrote the following about a vision she had of heaven: “I was caught up in spirit before the majesty of God. I saw how the Angels and the Saints of the Lord give glory to God. The glory of God is so great that I dare not try to describe it, because I would not be able to do so, and souls might think that what I have written is all there is. Saint Paul, I under-stand now why you did not want to describe heaven, but only said that eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him” (Diary 1604).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, You call me to walk blamelessly and to live righteously, promising me a reward beyond my ability to imagine. Yet, in spite of this wonderful promise, I often fall into sin. Teach me to forget myself and to live for others. I trust in You. Amen.
9 February 2014
The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Matthew 5:13-16)
In today’s Gospel Jesus invites us to be light for the world by telling us, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” I need to ask myself: Am I letting my light shine? Are people glorifying and thanking God because of the way I treat them?
One day Jesus visited St. Faustina in the disguise of a beggar. She scrounged through the convent kitchen looking for some leftovers to feed Him, and eventually found some bread and soup. After He had finished eating, Jesus revealed Himself to Faustina. And He made known to her that he had come to check things out, because hungry people she had fed at the convent were glorifying God on their way home. He said to her, “My daughter, the blessings of the poor who bless Me as they leave this gate have reached My ears. And your compassion, within the bounds of obedience, has pleased Me, and this is why I came down from My throne ̶ to taste the fruits of your mercy” (Diary 1312).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, it is true that I often run from doing works of mercy because I think I’m too busy to get involved, or even because I’m afraid of the needy people You place in my path. But nonetheless, You expect me to be a light to those people. Give me the courage and the grace today to reach out and brighten the day of at least one person You send my way. I trust in You. Amen.
2 February 2014
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Luke 2:22-40)
In this week’s gospel we observe the elderly Simeon’s joyful reaction when he sets his eyes on the promised Messiah for the first time. The Holy Spirit reveals to him that the baby boy in the arms of Mary is indeed the Saviour of the world. Yet the Holy Spirit reveals to Simeon something more: that the Child shall be a sign that is spoken against, a sign of contradiction.
As followers of Jesus, we, too, will be spoken against, and we, too, will be signs of contradiction when we stand out for upholding Christian values in this secular society in which we live. We are called to be counter-cultural, to swim against the tide, even when doing so may cause us to be mocked and ridiculed. Jesus gave St. Faustina the following advice in this regard: “Set little store on what people say. Let everyone judge you as they like. (…) Allow them to take away even what is due you--respect, your good name--let your spirit rise above all that. And so, set free from everything, rest close to My Heart, not allowing your peace to be disturbed by anything” (Diary 1685).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I haven't quite reached the point of just ignoring it when people gossip about me and judge me. Give me the grace and the courage to stand up for the truth. Doing so may make me seem little in the eyes of the world, but I know You are with me, and You promise to give me Your peace. I trust in You. Amen.