Gospel Reflection - 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C




All media (social, news outlets, magazines, etc) is flooded with differences these days. It seems that everyone is quick to spout off their opinion & harshly criticize those who oppose them. It's frustrating to pull up my Facebook feed & be flooded with angry, rude (often vulgar) views about politics, religion, education, whatever the current hot topic is.

Jesus tells us in today's Gospel, “Love your enemies and do good to them…”, and also “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.”

What can be tough in those situations mentioned above is how to differentiate between what is being said & the person who is saying it. Many of the views I read on Facebook come from family members & friends I’ve had for a long time, people I care for & love. While they are not my enemies in a Vietnam or World War sense, some of their comments do offend me & my values. I have three choices: I can choose to criticize right back at them in an angry manner, I can respond with love, or I can just keep quiet to not make waves.

So, what have I done? Well, I would love to say that I respond lovingly, which leads to a civilized conversation with each party expressing their beliefs while respecting the other person’s. Unfortunately, I usually keep quiet. Why? One reason is that I don't want to make waves that may damage our relationship. But, if they were to unfriend me or cancel our relationship, then our foundation wasn't that strong to begin with.

A second reason is that often, Facebook (or whatever social media you use) is really not the place for these discussions. Tone of voice often cannot be expressed properly & ideas may become twisted or misunderstood. Discussions should be done privately between the two parties. Perhaps a private message sent or even better, taking time to meet face to face.

Another reason I keep quiet is that I don't feel confident enough to back up my belief. Here is where I should have faith & confidence to trust that the Holy Spirit will guide me in my response. I have a friend (sadly she passed away a few years ago) who used to talk about experiences she had where she didn't know what she would say to someone, but through the Holy Spirit’s guidance, her response was perfect for the situation.

Lord, I pray that You will grant me the graces to speak up, especially in times that warrant my words. I also pray that You will give me the wisdom to know when my words truly are needed & when to keep my mouth shut. Help me to stop judging & condemning others, to forgive those who have wronged me, to love all, including those I may find difficult to love, and to treat others as I would want to be treated. May I be influential in my words & actions, so long as whatever I say & do glorifies You, leading others to You.

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