Good News Reflection FOR NEXT SUNDAY: February 14, 2010 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Good News Reflection
FOR NEXT SUNDAY: February 14, 2010
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA:
For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection,
please go to Catholic Digital Resources:
http://catholicdr.com/calendar/February/6thC.htm - Preview a sample

Next Sunday's Readings:
Jer 17:5-8
Ps 1:1-4, 6 (with 40:5a)
1 Cor 15:12, 16-20
Luke 6:17, 20-26
http://www.usccb.org/nab/021410.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_02_14.mp3

In next Sunday's Gospel reading, the Lord makes it clear that he sides with the downtrodden: the poor (this could mean spiritually or materially), the hungry (again, spiritually or physically; the Lord cares about all who feel empty), the weeping, the hated, the excluded, the insulted, and those who are denounced on account of their faith in Jesus.

Whenever we contribute to someone's miseries, we are setting ourselves up against God. For example: bad-mouthing people even when the complaint is justified – this is working against Jesus instead of with him.

So is telling demeaning jokes, filing lawsuits that exceed fair justice, or failing to help anyone who comes to our attention in need of what we could share. So is deliberately intimidating an employee or spouse, or being consistently late and causing others to wait on us, or demanding too much from others, or demanding so much of ourselves that we have no energy or time for the people around us.

Whenever we contribute to the miseries of others, we work against Christ, not with him.

What happens to those who continually and unrepentantly set themselves against the Lord? Oh woe! Blessed are those whose hope is in the Lord (as next Sunday's first reading and responsorial Psalm remind us) but woe is inevitably experienced by those who depend on themselves for happiness.

The selfish rich benefit from their wealth temporarily, but they cannot take it to heaven nor can they buy their way into heaven. Meanwhile, the Lord sides with who suffer because this wealth had not been shared with them.

Similarly, those who laugh at the ones who cry will not laugh long, for joy at the expense of another is only temporary and never truly satisfying.

The favored and famous who currently receive accolades will be criticized the moment their backs are turned.

The downtrodden are uplifted by Jesus, but those who lift themselves up don't have enough strength to carry the burden very well – they are miserable even while they smile.

To help you feel lifted up by Jesus, especially within the hardships you're facing, each Lent I make my Good News reflections available as a downloadable PDF file (an e-book) that can be printed and taken with you to daily Mass or Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament or any place of meditation. It's published at Catholic Digital Resources for a small fee, but if you cannot pay for it, please select the "Alternative Ordering Methods" below the order form to request a free gift voucher, which I offer as part of my tithing to our Lord. Start here: http://catholicdr.com/ebooks/Lent.htm

Questions for Personal Reflection:
In what ways do you feel downtrodden? What is Jesus saying to you about this? How is he holding you? In prayer, get in touch with his awesome concern for you!

Questions for Family & Community Faith Sharing:
When you've felt downtrodden, how did you discover that Jesus truly cares about you? What blessings come from knowing that Jesus is on your side?

STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org
* To join and become a member, go to:
http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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