Good News Reflection
FOR NEXT SUNDAY: August 29, 2010
22nd 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/August/22ndC.htm - Preview a sample
Next Sunday's Readings:
Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
Ps 68:4-7, 10-11
Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a
Luke 14:1, 7-14
http://www.usccb.org/nab/082910.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_08_29.mp3
Next Sunday's Gospel reading raises the question: What are my expectations (my motivations) when I do good? How other-centered are they? How SELF-centered?
If benefiting others is done for the sake of receiving something back, our motive is wrong. It's not Christ-like.
When Jesus explains this with the example of inviting to a banquet those who cannot return the favor, he's not saying that we have to do this to be holy. That interpretation would be too literal; it misses the point.
The real message is that whatever we do, we should do it for the sake of love, rather than for repayment, i.e., for our own gain. We should do good to others for the sake of the benefit it will give to them. This seems like a no-brainer, but stop for a minute to think about how much you'd like to be thanked and appreciated. What else do you hope to get from assisting others?
Even when someone is sinning against us and we pray for them to change, our prayer should be offered out of concern for their souls. Sure, we also wish they would change to make our lives easier, but that should not be our primary concern.
As followers of Christ, if we receive any blessings in return for the good we do, that's our bonus, not our motive. We can look forward to such bonuses, but our joy does not depend on them.
By becoming aware of our motives and expectations, we gain the freedom to choose to be more like Jesus. As he promised, "You will receive your reward at the resurrection of the righteous." The fulfillment of this promise begins now, in the moment that we decide to be like the Resurrected One, our Lord Jesus.
The reward for here and now is the grace that God gives us to enable us to do whatever he asks – unselfishly, purely, and generously. We'll receive other blessings besides, but that's not the Christ-like reason to be good to others.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
How upset do you get when others treat you unkindly after you've been nice to them? When the give-and-take in a relationship is unequal, do you withhold goodness from that person? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you notice your selfish motives this week. Take your anger to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and ask Jesus to empower you to care more about those people who have been upsetting you.
Questions for Family & Community Faith Sharing:
Describe a situation when you gave more than you received. How did God bless you in that? How was your sacrifice an example of Christ?
STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org
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© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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