Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

In other years: Blessed Christopher of Milan OP (c.1410-1484)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 17 The Number of Psalms to be Sung at These Hours

Mass: 1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; Resp Ps 103; 1 Cor 15:45-49; Lk 6:27-38

Merciful and gracious is the Lord.

I SAY TO YOU THAT LISTEN.

(6:27)

Jesus continues from last Sunday's presentation of the Beatitudes (Lk 6:20-26). Not only do we need to hear the Master's words; we need to listen with the ear of our hearts (Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue 1). It is again no wonder that Saint Benedict instructs us to pray the Lord's Prayer so many times throughout the day, "because thorns of contention are likely to spring up" (RB 13:12). And also why Saint Benedict echoes Jesus in Chapter 4 of the Holy Rule, giving us the Tools for Good Works. It is true that these sayings are hard. Nevertheless, let's continue to accompany Jesus (cf. Jn 6:66). He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn 14:6). 

Love your enemies.

 (Lk 6:27/RB 4:31)

Do good to those who hate you.

 (Lk 6:27/RB 4:29)

Bless those who curse you 

(Lk 6:28/RB 4:32)

Pray for those who mistreat you.

 (Lk 6:28/RB 4:33)

Do to others what you would have them do to you.

 (Lk 6:31/RB 4:9)

Stop judging and you will not be judged.

(Lk 6:37/RB 4:39-40)

And so on ...

HE ASKED FOR CHARITY

God came to my house and asked for charity.

And I fell on my knees and

cried, "Beloved,

what may I

give?"

"Just love," He said.

"Just love."

(Section on St. Francis of Assisi, in D. Ladinsky, Love Poems from God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West, p. 33)

Remembering that we are still immersed in the Year of the Family (March 19, 2021 - June 26, 2022), what follows comes from the pastoral constitution Gaudium et spes on the Church in the modern world of the Second Vatican Council, n. 48, included in yesterday's Office of Readings. Family life surely demands much of what is included in today's Gospel. We continue to pray for all families.

True married love is caught up into God's love; it is guided and enriched by the redeeming power of Christ and the saving action of the Church, in order that the partners may be effectively led to God, and receive help and strength in the sublime responsibility of parenthood.

BLESSED CHRISTOPHER OF MILAN,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This is simply awesome. Spring in South Tirol, Italy. You might ask if this is a recent photo as someone already did. I do not know; let's pretend that it is. 😎 Vielen herzlichen Dank, Schwester Daniela. Sei umarmt. Un abbraccio forte. 

© Gertrude Feick 2022