Our Message Series continues: A Way Forward. It’s all about doing what
disciples do and, in the process, finding our way to more successful living
Week One invited us to be
“of God”. To know that we belong to Him, that we accomplish what we do with His
inspiration and that we must be people who are firmly rooted not solely in our religious tradition, but also our
ability to relate to the person of Jesus.
Week Two challenged us to take the
last place, to be servants. The only way we know who we are is by who He is – and that comes
through service especially to the least, the last and the lost.
The Gospel of today, as Jesus
talks to us about the importance of our example for others. He uses dramatic
and severe examples of how serious our rejection of temptation and sin should
be. By sharing in His life, He is empowering us to choose grace over
temptation, and redemption over condemnation. Today's challenge highlighted in the readings
is that we have to actively wage
peace, promote it, and base our
critical decisions on the common good as we make our Way Forward – one rooted
in peace which comes not from an outwardly found happiness but an inwardly
rooted happiness.
Although we may think of our Gospel as filled with
condemnation, there is a glimmer of hope. Jesus tells us that "For truly I
tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name
of Christ will by no means lose the reward." Again – to be “of God” and to
be “people of service”. But here we come to understand the next step – we must
also walk on this Way Forward as people of mercy!
Mercy paves the way for peace with self, with
others, with God. Mercy roots us in peace. A peace that comes from within. A
peace that comes from Him and is founded on His principles. Without this peace
we live as people of judgement, we live as people who are self-absorbed, we
live lives that are self centered and we live without happiness or joy.
Are you of Happy? Do you have Mercy in your life ? The answer to that should not depend on an outward force, person or event, rather it should come from within as we make every effort to be people of Mercy.