be merciful

In the Gospel for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time C, Jesus commands his disciples to love their enemies. “But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.to love their enemies” (Luke 6: 35-36). Loving my enemies is difficult. When someone hurts me, I want to hurt them back. Forget about doing them a favor. What reward is there in treating them with kindness? When we love our enemies, we love as God loves them. We give them an experience of God’s mercy. What a reward to be the image of God’s love! How do you show God’s loving mercy to those in your life that are difficult to love?

blessed are you who are poor

In the Gospel for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time C, Jesus preaches the Beatitudes. “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours” (Luke 6: 20b). Christian discipleship does not mean we have to go poor and hungry. We recognize our need for God no matter the circumstances. We realize how much we depend on God. We are blessed when we imitate our loving and generous God. We use whatever resources we have to help those who are poor and hungry. Taking soup to a sick neighbor. Welcoming back home an adult child who lost an apartment. Taking time to comfort a grieving friend. Donating to a charity. Speaking out about the mistreatment of people of color. How do you share God’s blessings with the poor?