Scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB
In our gospel for today we see another
confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees. The Pharisees weren’t concerned
about the hunger the disciples were feeling. They were just looking for a way to trap Jesus
and prove that Jesus and his disciples were not obeying God’s law. It was out
of jealously and hatred towards Jesus that they were doing this. Further, the Pharisees were using the Law to
maintain their power over the Jewish people. They weren’t concerned about love
or mercy towards their fellow Jews. They were just worried about their places
of honor among the Jewish people.
The law of Moses was indeed important to the Lord
Jesus, but as a means of bringing people into a good and loving relationship
with God. The Mosaic laws were meant as a means of helping people turn away
from sin, and to turn towards a loving God.
Further, our Lord has taught us that there are
two important commandments: Love of God and love of neighbor. Loving God means
that we are to be merciful to those in our lives that may be living a life we
may not approve of. Family members and friends may be away from relationship
with God for any number of reasons. But we are to show them the love and mercy
of God to help them to know that God indeed loves them. By treating others in
our lives with the love and kindness of God, we are indeed bringing God to them
in whatever situation they may be in. Further, we are not to judge them
harshly, as the Pharisees were doing in today’s gospel. Instead, we bring the
love of God into every situation and pray for those who we know and love for
them to be open to the God in their lives. We are to be a conduit for our
family and friends to bring them back to a loving God. We are not to judge
them, but we are to love them as God does0 and let them know that God is
present to them in all their needs.
From Arlene B. Muller
ReplyDeleteYES, it is our duty to love others, even those whose lives are disobedient to GOD, & to demonstrate GOD's unconditional love & mercy to them. We should also pray for their conversion, especially if what they are doing is actually disobeying GOD & not just a matter of our personal opinion.
I love the saying: "GOD LOVES US AS WE ARE, BUT HE LOVES US TOO MUCH TO LET US STAY THAT WAY."
As Christians we need to walk a delicate fine line between love & truth. We have to be careful not to condemn others & we must leave judgment up to GOD.
At the same time we also have to avoid being enablers of sin. There are times when we are called to warn and/or admonish people in order to help save their souls. There are references in both the Old & New Testaments to warning people who are living in sin, & admonishing sinners is, if my recollection is correct, one of the spiritual works of mercy. In Ezekiel the person GOD calls to warn a wicked person who fails to do so will share in the punishment of the wicked person.
So it is a very tricky area of discernment regarding if, when & how to "tell the truth in love" & share a warning or admonition to try to protect people from the potential consequences of their sin & help them get right with GOD. Much prayer preparation is essential. Humility is essential, since this should not be done out of pride or out of a critical and/or judgmental spirit. GOD'S timing & the help of the Holy Spirit are essential. We have to be careful that we are doing this in love & are cleansed of pride & a judgmental spirit & that our words & demeanor & our improper timing do not turn the person further away from GOD & further into sin & that we are assuring them of GOD'S love & mercy. At the same time we don't want to neglect our duty so that when we enter eternity we won't hear the voice of a troubled soul suffering the consequences of the sin from which we failed to warn them cry out "Wht didn't you tell me?!"