Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
As disciples, we are called to help and serve those around us. Throughout our daily routine, each of us is asked to perform various tasks for our family, friends, and coworkers. But today’s readings ask us to go further. We are invited to be “imitators of God” and recognize the needs of others even when they are unspoken. As Christ loves us, we are then called to respond in love to those in need and bring them healing and compassion.
Today’s gospel relates the story of Jesus healing a crippled woman on the Sabbath. Jesus recognizes this woman’s brokenness, and sets her “free from her infirmity” (Luke 13:12) He heals her because of His compassion and love, even without her asking for his help. He also performs this act of mercy on the Sabbath which incurs the wrath of the synagogue leaders. He does not allow the law to restrict His outreach and ministry. It is because of His reaching out, that this woman gives glory to God.
In the first reading today, St. Paul instructs us to “be imitators of God as beloved children and live in love” (Eph 5:1-2) He explains that we are to live this way by being “kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” (Eph 4:32) Because we are “holy ones” we are not to allow the immorality and impurities of this world to be among us, since this is “out of place” (Eph 4:32) St. Paul even suggests that we should not even associate with those who are deceived with the greed and idolatry of the world. We are called to be “children of the light” and therefore we should no longer live in the darkness.
These readings seem difficult to reconcile. How can I be an imitator of God sharing love and compassion with others, yet not live in the world where many people are driven by greed, power, and personal gain? In other words, how can I live”in the world”, but not be “of this world”? Doesn’t it seem that the very people that who are so consumed with the ways of the world, are the same people most in need of experiencing God’s love and compassion?
The challenge for me is how can I as a disciple take this message and apply it to my everyday living? I think that it starts with the recognition that I cannot do this alone. In order to recognize the needs of others, I need to have the eyes of Christ- to be able to see as He sees others. It is only through His perspective that I can recognize the unspoken needs and hurts of those around me. Only then, can I reach out and offer my compassion and support. Sometimes this may involve reaching out when the person has not even voiced their needs. This ministering to others may also occur in situations when our society might frown upon our offering of compassion because the person is not “worthy” of our love and sharing. And yet if we see through the eyes of Christ, I think these are the very people most in need of our care. Currently, our parish is involved in the Kairos ministry. We bake cookies that will be shared with prisoners during a weekend retreat at the facility. The cookies are a tangible sign of our care, but we also commit to praying for the inmates as well. These individuals who are incarcerated have not asked for this ministry, and yet after hearing testimonies from previous inmates and their experiences, I am certain they have a great need for God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. Through the men and women who lead these retreats, we can as a community share God’s love, compassion and healing with people who are in great need. In a small way, we become “children of the light” through our cookies and prayers. We still choose to live in a world that is broken and in need of God’s love, but we can be His “holy ones” by living out His call to reconciliation and healing. In my daily living as a physician, I encounter a great deal of hurt, pain and suffering among my patients and families. Many times it is obvious what care is needed, but sometimes the needs are unspoken. Again, I must pray to have Christ’s vision and compassion, so I can address all the needs- both spoken and unspoken. Only then will true healing occur.
Father, you call us to be like you- full of love and compassion. You sent Jesus to show us how to live as your beloved children. In this world filled with pain, suffering and sin, send us your Spirit, so we may be able to see as you do the world around us. Strengthened by the Spirit and filled with Your love, may we reach out to those in need and bring healing and renewal to the broken world around us. We pray this in Christ’s name.
AMEN
-Marylynn Herchline