EXAMINATION OF OUR LOVE ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Daily Reflections

Monday, 9^thOctober 2017.

Twenty Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Jon 1: 1-17; 2: 10

Jon 2: 1-3,7(R) 6;

Lk 10: 25-37.

EXAMINATION OF OUR LOVE

Today, a teacher of the law asks Jesus the kind of question we may have asked ourselves more than once, in our life: “Master, what shall I do to receive eternal life?” (Lk 10: 25). The Master, wisely answers with what is written in the Scriptures: ‘to love the Lord your God and your neighbour as yourself’ (cf. Lk 10: 27). Jesus, goes on to tell the parable of the Good Samaritan. And then Jesus asks a question: “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” The teacher answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.

To love means to be committed to the other with all that we have and all that we are. To be committed to listening to the other person, to be committed to understand and be patient with the other. That is love. This love has a divine touch when we extend it to those who may have hurt us or those whom we do not see eye to eye. Love has a divine touch when we go out of the way to help out people we may not know. This is the virtue of the good Samaritan.

It is so easy to be judgmental and harsh with one another. If you read the newspapers or listen to the news commentators you can’t help but hear continual judgment and condemnation. Our fallen human nature seems to thrive on being critical of others. And when we are not critical, we are often tempted to act like the priest and Levite in this story. We are tempted to turn a blind eye to those in need. The key must be to always show mercy and show it in great abundance. Let us reflect today, upon the call God gives you to show mercy. Saint Mother Teresa is quoted as saying, “…if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” Mercy is the kind of love that may hurt at first, but in the end leaves only love.

Prayer: Lord, do make me an instrument of Your love and mercy. Help me to especially show mercy when it is hard in life and when I do not feel like it. May those moments be graced moments when You transform me into Your gift of love. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.