7th Ordinary Sunday (C) February 18, 2001		 Christian Family Movement
  Every Family a Domestic Church -- in Mission to the World
"Love your enemies and do good to them,
and lend when there is nothing to expect in return."
Dear Friend,

          The Gospel this Sunday according to Luke (6:27-38), reminds us of a recollection we attended last weekend where the central message was "Conversion and renewal, paradigm-shifts and re-orientation are considered as God's gifts to us." At the end of the session, a participant commented that all these we had taken up could be summarized into one word: "relationships". So that he concluded that our response should be the "building of relationships" -- with God and with one another.

          In this Gospel, Jesus continued to describe how a disciple could build relationships. Jesus taught His disciples to:

  • Love your enemy

  • Bless those who curse you

  • Pray for those who mistreat you

  • Turn the other cheek to one who strikes you on your cheek

  • Give to one who asks

  • Do to others as you would have others do to you

  • Do not demand

  • Do not expect

  • Do not judge

  • Do not condemn

  • But be merciful and forgive.
          We recall that Jesus was rejected, insulted, numbered among criminals, nailed and hanged on His cross. The disciples at that time could not understand Jesus when He said to them that He would go through all these sufferings. Yet, He went through these events without a word against the people who did it to Him, but on the other hand, He forgave them. One of these He forgave was Saul, also known as Paul (Acts 9). We all know what kind of a disciple Paul turned out to be.

Prayer and Reflection ~

          If a disciple of Christ were to love an enemy, how much more one's spouse, a son/daughter, or a friend?

          Look at the people around you, spend time and ask (yourself for each one of them), "How can I be a better spouse, father/mother, son/daughter, or just a better friend to him/her?"

          Then, request each one to approach anyone whom he/she wanted to know better and ask, "How can I be a better spouse, father/mother, son/daughter, a friend (as the case may be) to you?"

          Resolve to become better persons to each other.

Joe & Charito

"Twelve Pebbles" is written by Joe & Charito Hilario of the Christian Family Movement and is published by Simbahayan sa Maynila.

< PREVIOUS SUNDAY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
      NEXT SUNDAY >
Donor Acknowledgement
SEARCH THE SITE FOR KEYWORDS
Donor Acknowledgement

SIMBAHAYAN HOME PAGE


THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA'S
ONLINE RESOURCE FOR FAMILY MINISTRIES
www.simbahayan.org
servants@simbahayan.org