“Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28).  

 

The major theme for this 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time focuses on the power of Christian love that Jesus teaches us, asking us to practice forgiveness, mercy and kindness to all even to our enemies. The readings also instruct us about the importance of the choices we make. The right choices lead us to God, but the wrong ones break our relationship with Him and one another.

 

Forgiveness, mercy and kindness are God’s freeing gifts to us repentant sinners, inviting us to re-establish an intimate friendship with Him, to honor and respect Him, to do better, to change our life, to rise above past wrong-doing, to become a better and happier person. Freedom, mercy and kindness benefit the giver from harboring ongoing grudges, anger, resentment and the desire for revenge, chained by the past hurtful event without the possibility of moving forward to a better future. Therefore, the gifts of forgiveness, mercy and kindness to be authentic must let go, put aside and forget the sinner’s past guilt and event. 

 

This right choice to forgive our enemies, be merciful and kind to them and be free from all bitterness, resentment, anger, hurt, pain and suffering is possible only when we choose to allow God to be the center of our lives, to trust in God, to believe in God, to please God and to fulfill God’s will that will result true harmony, joy and peace. Conversely, the wrong choice of self-centeredness continues to focus on one’s ego, demand and pleasure as the center of universe will perpetuate ongoing pain and suffering, disruption into chaos, rupture of relationships, fighting and ultimate destruction of all. 

 

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topics invite us to make the right choice of practicing love, forgiveness, mercy and kindness to all, even to our enemies.

 

How can we practice the grace-filled behavior to: love, forgive, do good, and pray, not only to our friends but also to our enemies?    

 

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.