23rd Week in Ordinary Time (B) : Thursday 12th September 2024

How willing are we to “love’’ our enemies? “Do good’’ to those who hate us, “bless’’ those who curse us, and “pray’’ for those who treat us badly (Lk 6:27-28)?  Are we slow to retaliate when wronged or treated unjustly (vv 29-30)?  Is our lifestyle different, like the rest of the world, especially when it comes to giving, loving, doing good, lending, judging and condemning (vv 30, 32-34, 37)? We cannot ignore these questions from challenging our faith.

Jesus calls us, as children of the heavenly Father, to live differently – live graciously, generously, and gracefully.  When we live thus, we will “treat others as (we) would like them to treat (us)’’ (v 31); we would “lend without any hope of return’’ (v 35); we would “be compassionate’’ (v 36); we would be merciful and not judge and condemn others unjustly; we would be forgiving and readily “grant pardon’’ (v 37); and we would always be ready to “give’’ to meet the needs of others (v 38).

Hence, the power to live the way that Jesus calls us to is by staying close to our heavenly Father as Jesus exemplifies; be nourished by His word regularly; keep determined to obey and carry out His teachings; and fervently ask the Holy Spirit to empower us. To be credible witnesses of the Good News, our community life must be inseparable from the Church.

Lord, we pray to be faithful, keep us ever closer to You, no matter what challenges come our way.