The WORD today reminds me that real love hurts.
I am fond of biting loved ones. I would bite the arm of some nephews, and I would even do it to my wife. When she complains after I bite her arm, I would jokingly tell her that love hurts! Although that is not really applicable to biting, it is applicable in real life.
Real Love hurts.
The gospel shows us one of the most common parable – the good Samaritan. It is interesting that the gospel starts with a question on how to have eternal life. After his answer, Jesus further illustrated through the parable how to have eternal life through the parable of the good samaritan. Yes, we see how difficult and challenging it may be to love. It can sometimes be inconvenient. But that’s love. If it is something fun, not taking a lot of your time, effort and resources, then probably it is not love. Real love hurts. Real love entails effort, commitment, time and resources – as what the Samaritan did in the parable. He did not just give the man something. He did not just leave the man to the innkeeper and left some coins. He took care of the man, took time off to bring him to an inn, gave up resources, and even planned to come back to make sure the man is fine and properly taken care of. Add the fact that they are enemies with each other That’s love!
Jesus expects the same from us.
We may not have the chance to do this to others, but God wants us to be ready to. God wants us to be willing. But more than the desire, God wants us to act now in whatever way we can. It does not matter how simple our act of love may be. It Does not matter to whom. What matters is we start acting, that we start loving our neighbour. In school, in the office, in the community, and in family. God wants us to do even simple acts of love, and as we do so, he will slowly transform us and ready us to do even greater acts of love. As we do little acts of love, we will eventually be ready to love until it hurts...and continue loving.
What is love for me? Is it something fun and happy, or do I understand that loving is a decision that would almost always entail pain and sacrifices? Who do I love in life? Do I love only my friends and family, those who I know will love me back, or do I also love those who I know cannot love me back? How can I make God’s love more alive in the world?
May we heed God’s call to do good to others, to spread God’s love to our neighbors.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I do not love like this. Sorry for the times I am not willing to go the extra mile for others. Sorry for not being willing to be hurt as I love. Sorry for being scared to love until it hurts. Lord, As I start the week, help me start acting this love. May I love others even in small ways, simple ways. As I do so, I know that you will slowly transform me, and love me as I love you through others. As I start small, I know you will eventually help me love until it hurts, just like you did. Help me and use me to make your love more real n this world. Amen.
Blessed Week!
In Christ,
-g-
October 05, 2020
Monday of Week 27; St. Maria Faustina Kowalska
FIRST READING
Brothers and sisters:
I am amazed that you are so quickly forsaking the one who called you by the grace of Christ for a different gospel (not that there is another). But there are some who are disturbing you and wish to pervert the Gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed!
Am I now currying favor with human beings or God? Or am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the Gospel preached by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
I am amazed that you are so quickly forsaking the one who called you by the grace of Christ for a different gospel (not that there is another). But there are some who are disturbing you and wish to pervert the Gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed!
Am I now currying favor with human beings or God? Or am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the Gospel preached by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart in the company and assembly of the just. Great are the works of the LORD, exquisite in all their delights.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The works of his hands are faithful and just; sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever, wrought in truth and equity.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has sent deliverance to his people; he has ratified his covenant forever; holy and awesome is his name. His praise endures forever.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart in the company and assembly of the just. Great are the works of the LORD, exquisite in all their delights.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The works of his hands are faithful and just; sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever, wrought in truth and equity.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has sent deliverance to his people; he has ratified his covenant forever; holy and awesome is his name. His praise endures forever.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
ALLELUIA
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
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