Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s readings we are given very clear instructions on how to live our lives. We are told to do some things that are, in all honesty, very difficult. Not only are we asked to practice compassion, kindness, gentleness and humility, we are also asked to forgive others, to love our enemies, lend to those who may never pay us back and to offer the other cheek when one cheek has been struck. These are challenging demands on all of us. The challenge comes not because they are impossible tasks, but rather because we are human. It is our brokenness and our humanity that keeps us from living this way at all times.
But the beautiful thing about the Lord and about these readings is that God knows we need help, in our humanness, to be able to live this way. He offers us guidance – in Paul’s letter to the Colossians we are told to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” and also to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. We need to turn to the Gospels, to refuel ourselves to continue the journey.
I know that it is in those times that I feel most distant from God and from living as He has instructed that I need the gospels the most. It is when I have stopped turning to God’s word for nourishment and direction that this lifestyle of compassion, forgiveness and giving without thinking of the cost seems most difficult. And it is in these times that I need to step outside of myself and my life and force myself to return to the scriptures. Sometimes this is a challenge and requires discipline, and sometimes opening the scriptures is like returning to an old friend and simply sharing my soul with someone. Regardless of the mindset, I know that I need the word of God in my life if I am to truly follow these instructions laid out for us today.
Paul finishes his letter with a true challenge to us “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” This is a great test for us to apply to our lives and examine our days with. This may lead to a very fruitful spiritual exercise if we simply examine our days in light of this command. At the end of the day we can look through our actions and our words and ask – “Was that done in the name of the Lord Jesus and did that give thanks to God?” Being honest with ourselves about the answers will help us to constantly strive to live a life of compassion, gentleness, kindness and humility, stepping outside of our humanness and moving us closer towards talking, thinking and acting like Jesus.
- Amanda Grimm