Reflection by Deacon Matt

Reflection for Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: 
 
1 Sam 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23: In this passage, David emulates many positive qualities, including wisdom, self-control, patience with Saul, and remarkable forbearance (from harming Saul, when he had an easy opportunity!) David shows himself to be loyal and a devoted servant and friend to Saul; despite Saul’s jealousy of David and his misperception of David as a threat to his authority. We might reflect this week whether we ever practice forbearance. Do we try to see the best in others; even after they’ve tried to harm us? If someone apologizes and seeks forgiveness for harming us or treating us unfairly, are we generous with forgiving them, or do we “nurse a grudge?” With prayer, we can implore God to remove from our hearts all desires for exacting revenge or retaliatory harm to those who’ve hurt us. Our God will certainly give us a generous measure of His extravagant mercy, if we request such from Him!
 
Psalm 103: “The Lord is kind and merciful.” Now, the psalmist inspires us to consciously reflect upon the many blessings that God showers upon us, every day of our lives. Notice that we’re being subtly reminded not to take God’s generosity for granted. As the psalm continues, we celebrate God’s forgiveness, and God’s healing power, despite our frequent sins. The psalm reaches a crescendo of hope as we contemplate God’s infinite mercy, compassion and kindness.
 
Though we rightfully celebrate God’s infinite mercy, we must also celebrate God’s justice as our “Just Judge,” on Judgment Day. Some “fear of God,” or, more appropriately, “reverence for God” reflects having a humble wisdom. We mustn’t allow ourselves to be presumptuous about God’s forgiveness, or we might not take our sins, seriously enough, in order to repent for them, in a balanced and reasonable way. God is extravagant with forgiveness, but we must have enough humility to admit our brokenness and need for forgiveness.
 
1 Cor 15:45-49: This passage may seem, at first to be completely unrelated to our first reading and our psalm this Sunday. However, when contemplating this passage, consider what Paul is telling us. With original sin, we’re made in the image of the “first Adam,” the prototype human being; made in the image of God, but not living up to our Heavenly calling. With Jesus, the “New Adam,” our Savior is made in the image of God, and is God… with the very nature and essence of God. Jesus is God! By virtue of our baptism and practice of our faith, we’re called to a much higher and more Godly practice of virtues than mere “natural women/men.” We aspire to be “Heavenly women/men;” imitating the virtues of Jesus; our ultimate human and divine Role-model!
 
Luke 6:27-38: Now, Jesus gives us a more clear and vivid portrayal of the level of virtue to which we’re called, as Christian disciples. We’re not called to be moderately merciful, loving and forgiving. We’re called to be radically and extravagantly merciful, loving and forgiving… not just to our family, friends and fellow-believers, but to our enemies, foreigners and to all of God’s people! Our God has high expectations for us; yet our God isn’t taking something from us, in all of these “expectations.” Our God is actually giving us something precious… the experience of “Heavenly love” that will transform us into the image of the “Life-giving Spirit,” (Jesus), Whom Paul described! Now, all of these passages come together into a call for all of us… to make efforts to grow more loving and virtuous! Enjoy the Journey!  
 
Deacon Matt