A parishioner's Gospel reflection
Jesus speaks of the Beatitudes
17 February 2019: 6th Sunday of the Year (Cycle C)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Cecilia Skudder Cjs.
Luke 6: 17. 20-26
Many people came to Jesus, praying to be cured.
For they had suffered greatly, from afflictions they’d endured.
“How happy are the poor, God’s kingdom will be theirs.
How happy are the hungry, they’ll be filled with food full shares.
How happy those who weep, for laughter it will come.
How happy are those hated because they love God’s Son.
When that day is here, rejoice with one accord.
Dance with glee be joyful, for great is your reward!
But alas for those with riches, consolation now you reap!
Then you will go hungry, shed tears and mourn and weep!
For those the world speaks well of, alas in future times.”
Do we deserve that fate Lord, are those our awful crimes?
Are we so very worldly, we ignore the poor and ill?
And laugh at all the good things, no tears for others spill?
Do we sin by some omission, convinced we’ve done no wrong,
by ignoring all the troubles, of this earth where we belong? Cjs.
The Beatitudes are another code for living. Along with the ten commandments all we need to live as we should. The most important thing is that our lives are not for us to care only for ourselves.
It is our duty to care for others, but more than this, in fact to put others before ourselves.
To die to ourselves and live for Christ’s work.
******************************************
24 February 2019: 7th Sunday of the Year (Cycle C)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Bob Skudder
Luke 6: 27 -38.
Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. I don’t know about you? But I find I find these commands from Jesus very hard to comply with at times.
Let’s take a look for a moment. Who are your enemies? I’m not asking who you don’t like or you don’t get on with. I’m asking who does not like you, who despises you? Often there are people close to us who have been hurt, a spouse a son and daughter a co-worker. Someone that just does not like you and is now out to get you.
How can we overcome this and alleviate the situation? Jesus tells us to love our enemies.
How do I love my enemy? This isn’t just a matter of having nice thoughts about the person. We need Jesus to do a heart change inside of us.
I recently attended the Freedom in Christ course held at Holy Innocents’. It was a spiritual cleansing process and it worked for me.
So how do we love our enemies?
Do good when you find a way you can do something good for one of your worst enemies, do it. Not to shame him / her, but because you’re trying to find it in your own heart to love him / her for Jesus’s sake.
Bless. When you think of the person who is slandering you, and saying thoroughly nasty things about you, find ways to work blessings into your thoughts. Speak a blessing out loud when you are with friends instead of complaining about your unjust treatment, go out of your way (actively) to speak well of your enemies. Why? To shame them? No! (though it will do so.) You are doing it to find it in your own heart the will to love them.
Pray. Intercede. When you’re praying, you probably pray for your family and friends. Why don’t you begin to pray and intercede for your enemies? Start to ask God to help them. Ask God to bless them and show mercy to them? Why? To shame them? No! (though it will do so.) You are doing it to find it in your own heart the will to love them.
I ask each and every one of you, to find time to attend a Freedom in Christ course the next time one is held at Holy Innocents’.
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Cecilia Skudder Cjs.
Luke 6: 17. 20-26
Many people came to Jesus, praying to be cured.
For they had suffered greatly, from afflictions they’d endured.
“How happy are the poor, God’s kingdom will be theirs.
How happy are the hungry, they’ll be filled with food full shares.
How happy those who weep, for laughter it will come.
How happy are those hated because they love God’s Son.
When that day is here, rejoice with one accord.
Dance with glee be joyful, for great is your reward!
But alas for those with riches, consolation now you reap!
Then you will go hungry, shed tears and mourn and weep!
For those the world speaks well of, alas in future times.”
Do we deserve that fate Lord, are those our awful crimes?
Are we so very worldly, we ignore the poor and ill?
And laugh at all the good things, no tears for others spill?
Do we sin by some omission, convinced we’ve done no wrong,
by ignoring all the troubles, of this earth where we belong? Cjs.
The Beatitudes are another code for living. Along with the ten commandments all we need to live as we should. The most important thing is that our lives are not for us to care only for ourselves.
It is our duty to care for others, but more than this, in fact to put others before ourselves.
To die to ourselves and live for Christ’s work.
******************************************
24 February 2019: 7th Sunday of the Year (Cycle C)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Bob Skudder
Luke 6: 27 -38.
Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. I don’t know about you? But I find I find these commands from Jesus very hard to comply with at times.
Let’s take a look for a moment. Who are your enemies? I’m not asking who you don’t like or you don’t get on with. I’m asking who does not like you, who despises you? Often there are people close to us who have been hurt, a spouse a son and daughter a co-worker. Someone that just does not like you and is now out to get you.
How can we overcome this and alleviate the situation? Jesus tells us to love our enemies.
How do I love my enemy? This isn’t just a matter of having nice thoughts about the person. We need Jesus to do a heart change inside of us.
I recently attended the Freedom in Christ course held at Holy Innocents’. It was a spiritual cleansing process and it worked for me.
So how do we love our enemies?
Do good when you find a way you can do something good for one of your worst enemies, do it. Not to shame him / her, but because you’re trying to find it in your own heart to love him / her for Jesus’s sake.
Bless. When you think of the person who is slandering you, and saying thoroughly nasty things about you, find ways to work blessings into your thoughts. Speak a blessing out loud when you are with friends instead of complaining about your unjust treatment, go out of your way (actively) to speak well of your enemies. Why? To shame them? No! (though it will do so.) You are doing it to find it in your own heart the will to love them.
Pray. Intercede. When you’re praying, you probably pray for your family and friends. Why don’t you begin to pray and intercede for your enemies? Start to ask God to help them. Ask God to bless them and show mercy to them? Why? To shame them? No! (though it will do so.) You are doing it to find it in your own heart the will to love them.
I ask each and every one of you, to find time to attend a Freedom in Christ course the next time one is held at Holy Innocents’.