The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022016.cfm)
reminds me that God wants us to love in the way he does, and he wants us
to start now.
In the reading, we see the time
God wants us to act - Now. Today. As human beings, we always say that we are
waiting for the perfect time. That we are waiting for the perfect opportunity.
We wait for a perfect time before we ask someone out. We wait for a perfect
time before we tell someone our feelings. We wait for a perfect time before we
make that career move. We wait for a perfect time before we apologize to
someone. We wait for a perfect time, when we have more, before we give to
others. However, when we wait for the perfect time and perfect opportunity, we
just might not get it. There will always be something that could be improved.
It will almost always never be perfect. So we should make the most of what we
have, especially with God.
In doing God’s work, now is the
perfect time to act.
We should not delay serving God
through different things, different people, and different ministries. We should not delay helping
out others – regardless of our social status in life. We should not delay
apologizing to others, and receiving these apologies. We should not delay
bringing others to Christ and Christ to others. We should not delay praising
God and glorifying and magnifying him in our lives. We should not delay loving
And serving God. We should not delay loving others.
Now is the time.
God is not
waiting for a perfect time. God expects us to create the perfect time – and
that time is now.
What aspects in your life are
you waiting for “the perfect time” before you act on it? What things in your
life are in your “to do” list? What things have you been putting off, giving
yourself “valid” excuses for doing so? What things in your life do God want you
to start doing now?
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for giving me another day to live. And thank you for another
weekend. Lord, I pray that you give me courage and enable me to do things for
you now. Give me the will to start serving you snd start loving you through
others now. Today. May I not wait for the perfect time to do your will and to
serve you. May I not delay doing what you are asking me to do. Lord, may I make
the most out of today. Amen.
Blessed weekend!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflections:
Saturday of the First Week of Lent
Lectionary: 229
Reading 1 Dt 26:16-19
Moses spoke to the people, saying:
“This day the LORD, your God,
commands you to observe these statutes and decrees.
Be careful, then,
to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.
Today you are making this agreement with the LORD:
he is to be your God and you are to walk in his ways
and observe his statutes, commandments and decrees,
and to hearken to his voice.
And today the LORD is making this agreement with you:
you are to be a people peculiarly his own, as he promised you;
and provided you keep all his commandments,
he will then raise you high in praise and renown and glory
above all other nations he has made,
and you will be a people sacred to the LORD, your God,
as he promised.”
“This day the LORD, your God,
commands you to observe these statutes and decrees.
Be careful, then,
to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.
Today you are making this agreement with the LORD:
he is to be your God and you are to walk in his ways
and observe his statutes, commandments and decrees,
and to hearken to his voice.
And today the LORD is making this agreement with you:
you are to be a people peculiarly his own, as he promised you;
and provided you keep all his commandments,
he will then raise you high in praise and renown and glory
above all other nations he has made,
and you will be a people sacred to the LORD, your God,
as he promised.”
Responsorial Psalm PS 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8
R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
You have commanded that your precepts
be diligently kept.
Oh, that I might be firm in the ways
of keeping your statutes!
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
I will give you thanks with an upright heart,
when I have learned your just ordinances.
I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
You have commanded that your precepts
be diligently kept.
Oh, that I might be firm in the ways
of keeping your statutes!
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
I will give you thanks with an upright heart,
when I have learned your just ordinances.
I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Verse Before the Gospel 2 Cor 6:2b
behold, now is the day of salvation.
Gospel Mt 5:43-48
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
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