This week's reflection
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING of the UNIVERSE
When Jesus commends or criticises people in this Sunday's Gospel parable, it is on the basis of actions of mercy done or not done in the simplest of circumstances.
Both groups of people didn't recognise Jesus in the needy people but one group acted compassionately towards them. The other group just ignored them. We could be tempted to think that the first group were naturally kind as they didn't realise what they were doing.
Not so, life isn't that easy and God's salvation isn't that unfair. No, those actions seemingly done almost spontaneously, without thought of salvation, only come after some time practising virtue. We discipline ourselves to follow Christ, taking up our cross, consciously being kind, sacrificing our preferences for the sake of others so that, in the end, loving kindness comes so naturally that we don't even realise what we are doing.
Having consciously practised the steps of kindness and thoughtfulness, we can then spontaneously dance the mystery of love.
When Jesus commends or criticises people in this Sunday's Gospel parable, it is on the basis of actions of mercy done or not done in the simplest of circumstances.
Both groups of people didn't recognise Jesus in the needy people but one group acted compassionately towards them. The other group just ignored them. We could be tempted to think that the first group were naturally kind as they didn't realise what they were doing.
Not so, life isn't that easy and God's salvation isn't that unfair. No, those actions seemingly done almost spontaneously, without thought of salvation, only come after some time practising virtue. We discipline ourselves to follow Christ, taking up our cross, consciously being kind, sacrificing our preferences for the sake of others so that, in the end, loving kindness comes so naturally that we don't even realise what we are doing.
Having consciously practised the steps of kindness and thoughtfulness, we can then spontaneously dance the mystery of love.
