February 20, 2022

7th Sun., Ordinary Time

February 20, 2022:  Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

See 16 connections with today?
Legend below
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Pope Francis

Angelus:  Disciples are called not to give into instinct and hatred but to love and do good to enemies and turn the other cheek, unjust as it may feel.  During Jesus' unjust trial, a guard slapped him; then he asked for an account of the evil he received, denouncing the injustice with kindness.  Turning the other cheek isn't giving into injustice.  Jesus' meekness is stronger than the beating.  Turning the other cheek, overcoming evil with good, is the action of one with more inner strength, not a loser's retreat.  We can't love our enemies on our own, but Jesus' undeserved love for us generates a way of doing things like his, rejecting vengeance.  With the Spirit, we can love those who hurt us, responding to evil with good.  How sad when "Christians" see others as enemies and think of waging war.  Pray for those who do us wrong, ask the Spirit to act in us, and follow Jesus' example of meekness during his trial.

Post-Angelus  We pray for the people of Madagascar and Brazil.  In Madagascar 138 were killed and thousands displaced this month, and another cyclone is due Tuesday.  Mudslides and floods have killed over 120 in Brazil's Petropolis, and the toll is expected to rise.

Today is National Health Personnel Day in Italy. We must remember doctors, nurses, volunteers, and others who stand beside and treat the sick, make them feel better, and help them in other ways. Nobody is saved alone; the sick need help. The heroism healthcare workers showed during the pandemic remains.
  • 1 Sm 26:2,7-9,12-13,22-23  David found Saul asleep, took his spear. got away, and invited an attendant to get it.  Though the Lord delivered Saul into his grasp, David wouldn't harm the Lord’s anointed.
  • Ps 103:1-4,8,10,12-13  "The Lord is kind and merciful."  The Lord pardons, heals, redeems,  shows kindness and mercy, puts our sins far from us. and has fatherly compassion.
  • 1 Cor 15:45-49  Adam was from the earth; Christ, from heaven.   As we've borne Adam's image, so shall we bear Christ's.
  • Lk 6:27-38  Love, do good to, and pray for your enemies.  Give to everyone.  Do to others as you'd have them do to you.  Lend expecting nothing back.  Be merciful like your Father.  Forgive; don't judge or condemn.  Your reward will be great; the measure you measure will be measured to you.
Reflect
  • Creighton:  Jesus instructs his disciples to do what society may consider impractical and foolish.  I need to use a lens that lets me see from his perspective.  May I love as Christ loves me and be open to the Holy Spirit who can transform me...
  • One Bread, One Body:  Loving enemies is expressed in actions, speech, and prayer.  To love our enemies, we must forgive and give, putting aside defensiveness, our natural reaction.  The Lord commands us not to judge or condemn because those are reactions to justify, protect, and defend ourselves.  In his crucifixion Jesus showed us how to love our enemies; may we love accordingly.
  • Passionist:  Saul was first to unite and mold Israel, but God favored David.  While Saul hunts David down, David comes upon him, lets him live, and later lets him know of his faithfulness.  It's not humanly possible to love, do good to, and pray for our enemies, turn the other cheek, and give to all askers, but Paul reminds us Christ gave us the Spirit who makes such love possible.
  • DailyScripture.net:  God loves saint and sinner, the just and the unjust.  Our love must be marked by the kindness and mercy God has shown us, even when we can expect nothing back.  St. Augustine describes Jesus' precepts to give and forgive as "two wings of prayer on which it flies to God. Pardon the offender what has been committed, and give to the person in need.  Let us graciously and fervently perform these two types of almsgiving, giving and forgiving, for we in turn pray the Lord to give us things and not repay our evil deeds."  Our prayer for those who do us ill breaks the power of revenge and releases the power of love.  God gives us power and grace.  His love conquers our hurts, fears, and prejudices.  The Cross can free us from malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment and give us courage to return evil with good.  Paul says, "bless and don't curse or take revenge; overcome evil with good."
Dress legend
  • 'Nail' tie pin:  "Let me nail your enemy to the ground" (1st reading)
  • 'Hand' tie pin:  “Don't lay hands on the Lord's anointed" (1st reading)
  • 'Alps' pin:  David stood on a remote hilltop (1st reading)
  • "Boundless mercy" button:  "The Lord is kind and merciful." (psalm)
  • 'Red Cross' pin:  The Lord heals all your ills... (psalm)
  • 'Crown' tie bar:  ...and crowns you with kindness and compassion (psalm)
  • Suspenders with globe:  As was the earthly one, so also the earthly (2nd reading)
  • 'Hearts' tie; 'heart' pin:  "Love your enemies" (gospel)
  • Gold-colored accessories:  "Golden rule" (Do to others as you'd have them do to you) (gospel)
  • '?' tie pin:  "If you love those who love you, do good to those who do good to you, and lend to those who will repay you, what credit is that?" (gospel)
  • 'Money' tie pin:  Lend money without expecting it back (gospel)
  • 'Prize' pin:  Your reward will be great,... (gospel)
  • "Children" pin:  ...and you'll be God's children (gospel)
  • "Live mercy" button:  Be merciful (gospel)
  • 'Ruler' tie bar:  The measure you measure will be measured to you (gospel)
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