There are a lot of reassurances in the Scripture readings for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time to remind us that God is with us and always loves us. This reminder is given in symbolic language and direct descriptions of what will happen to our friends and enemies if we acknowledge God. Notice that God decides how each person is treated, not us. We are asked to live a simple life of mercy and goodness and allow God to decide how everyone else will be treated in the world. It’s not our job to seek vengeance against others. It is not our job to wish evil or ill on another person. God has already promised each of us eternal life, but the shape of that eternal life has much to do with our relationship with Him and how that spills over into our relationships with others.
We could take a two-step approach to these readings. The first step is to examine the ways we are living that are contrary to how God asks us to be in relationship with Him. The second step might be looking at our relationships with other people.
And how is your relationship with God doing these days? Have you fallen into a ho-hum, unconscious pattern of prayer? Many of us have daily routines of prayer, but are they helping us to remain conscious of speaking and listening to God? Do we continue a mindless routine of prayer so we don’t really have to listen to God, but instead feel great about the fact that we’re praying? When you experience God speaking to you in the interior part of your being, do you listen to that voice or simply ignore it? When you hear God asking you to move beyond your comfort zone, are you conscious of hearing that voice? Have you recently asked God what He would like of you at this point in your life? Or have you instead decided that at this point in your life, you’ve done enough for God, and it’s someone else’s job to serve Him now? Do you still only bring to God the parts of your life that seem put together? Have you been able to bring to God your questions, doubt, anger, frustration and other emotions?
Every day should be filled with attempts to become more real in the presence of God. At some point in life, we should quit putting on a mask and disguising ourselves in the presence of God. Our experience of God up to this point helps us grow. Hasn’t He been faithful to you? Hasn’t God provided for your needs and more? Has He ever asked you to do something in His name and then abandoned you? Have you ever made a sacrifice in the name of God and been left empty and afraid? Our trust in God deepens as we put more trust in Him. I can’t really trust God unless I actually let Him use me as He wishes.
Our second step in examining the Scriptures this weekend has to do with our relationship with other people. Jesus clearly told us that we can’t say we love God and then hate another human being. Our relationship with God and the faithfulness and blessings He shows us should pour out into our relationships with others. This is especially true for those who have nothing to repay us for our kindness or for the forgiveness we have given them. Our generosity and compassion should flow from the generosity and compassion that God has already given to us. How are you doing with other human beings, especially those who are different than you? Let the Word of God be a light to your feet and a guide for your actions.
Father Donald Wester is pastor of All Saints Parish in St. Peters.