Therese Lenehan O.P.

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lk. 6:27-38

Last week’s gospel gave us Luke’s version of the Beatitudes.  This week Luke gives us some indications of how one can live out the Beatitudes in one’s own life.  This teaching is addressed to those ‘who are listening’.  I ask myself the question “How well do I listen?”  Jesus challenges us to live in a new way.   “Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, bless those that curse you, etc.”  We are asked to go out in love to those who have persecuted us in one way or another.  This is such a difficult challenge!   As Christians we are called to love the enemy and to ‘do good’.  In other words, we do good for people who have not done good for us; and whom we do not expect to do good for us in return.  Christian love is not reactive but pro-active.

Jesus asks us to be cognitive of the Golden Rule – ‘Treat others as you would like them to treat you’.  We are encouraged to be pro-active rather than reactive.  One may be inclined to act reactively when acting on the spur of the moment which we have to be careful of.  There is also a promise of a reward for our faithfulness in following God’s will.

‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge and you will not be judged yourselves.   Give and there will be gifts for you … because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back’.

‘Give and you will be given’ reminds me of the many good Samaritans there were around Ireland during the wind storm Éowyn.  This storm levelled forests.  Many people lost property or their livelihoods. Lack of electricity, water, heat and food caused hardship and concern for many. The ‘good Samaritans’ one of whom was a Hotelier without visitors, invited people to his premises to have a hot shower, have some tea or coffee to warm up, meet with others, charge their phones and be connected to family and friends.  Some G.A.A. Clubs cooked, packed and delivered meals to the elderly and the needy.  For me this is living out the gospel message and being pro-active rather than reactive.  Electrical engineers from overseas joined forces with Ireland’s exhausted specialists to bring light, heat, joy, hope and love to those who were most hard hit and suffering many losses. What a wonderful way to spread one’s gifts!

“Dearest Jesus, teach me to be generous.  Teach me to love and serve Thee as Thou deservest.

To give and not to count the cost.  To fight and not to heed the wounds.  To toil and not to seek for rest.  To labour and to look for no reward, save that of knowing that I do Thy holy will. Amen.”

This girl guide prayer has helped me during life to be of service to others just as the ‘good Samaritans did during the Éowyn clean up.