Deacon's Sunday Reflections

Reflection for Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Sam 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23:
Today, David displays many virtues. He demonstrates fear of God (which is the beginning of wisdom), when he tells Abishai that they must not kill Saul, as they could have, because of likely punishment from God for killing “the Lord’s anointed,” Saul, as king. David displays mercy, as he didn’t want to kill Saul; even though Saul was seeking to kill him. David exemplifies remarkable patience with Saul’s rage and jealousy and also shines with loyalty to Saul; as a past benefactor, rather than an enemy. David shows the virtue of gratitude for past benefits received. He shows wisdom and grace and also sly diplomacy when he returns Saul’s sword and shield, publicly, to demonstrate his loyalty and mercy to Saul. This makes it obvious that David is going out of his way to publicly show respect to Saul, as well as to proclaim his own innocence and righteousness in this matter. Without meaning to, David is showing himself to be a better man than Saul.

Psalm 103: “The Lord is kind and merciful.” Now that we’ve focused on David’s virtues, this psalm celebrates and praises the virtues of our God: kindness, mercy, generosity, charity, forgiveness, healing power, offers of redemption, heartfelt empathy and compassion and most of all, infinite love; God’s very essence. We could well benefit this week from reflecting on the fact that any virtues we possess do not originate from ourselves. Instead, they are gifts from God, Who is the Source of all good, whether that “good” is within us or around us. We have so much to be thankful for. May God fill each and all of us with virtues and may we share them with others, as we’re intended to!

1 Cor 15:45-49: With similar humble gratitude, Paul reminds us that we all, like Adam, are dependent upon God, for our very lives. We’re reminded, here that we’re all originating from dust and that we’re totally dependent upon God for creation of our lives and for sustaining them, both temporally and eternally. Paul proclaims how God makes us in His divine image via our baptisms and via our decision to embrace and live the Christian faith. Just as we are like the “first Adam,” being born in original sin, we are also like the “new Adam,” Jesus, via our baptism and our being conferred with the faith. Once again, our baptism and our faith are nothing that we have earned; but a great and magnanimous gift from God. As today’s psalm suggests, we needs must be forever grateful to God; praising and thanking God for all eternity.

Luke 6:27-38: Today, Jesus gives us the powerful, but challenging commandment to love our enemies and to respond with love, generosity and mercy to those who persecute us and even hate us. Today’s first reading gives us a vivid picture of what this kind of mercy and unconditional love looks like. Nowhere do any of these readings suggest that this radical and undeserved love is easy. Truth be told, this kind of love is a great challenge and strong are the temptations to give it up. However, instead… this week, let’s pray to be filled with love and mercy. Let’s pray to see our enemies as God sees them. Let’s pray to be made more aware of their virtues and our own great need for forgiveness. Humility makes it so much easier to forgive others; as we see our own imperfections as more seriously urgent.

Let’s pray!
Deacon Matt