The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/022418.cfm)
reminds me that God wants us to love now.
In
the reading, we see the time God wants us to act, and do it 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 to love.
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?
May
we heed God’s call to love now.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for giving me another day
to live. And thank you for another weekend. Thank you for the reminder. 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 and start loving you through others now. Today.
Sorry for making all the excuses. 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 reflection:
February
24, 2018
Saturday of the First Week of
Lent
Lectionary: 229
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 PsalmPS 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!
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 a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.
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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