Wednesday, November 16, 2005

The Good News About the Thirty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Click here for the Readings for Sunday November 20, 2005.

'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,and not minister to your needs?

This week's Gospel story is the parable Jesus tells that challenges his followers to see Him in everyone they meet. If they do not (or choose not to) treat each person that they meet is if they are meeting Christ, and ministering to Christ, then; He tells them they are not doing His will.

Blessed Mother Teresa used to say that we must treat everyone we meet, even the most wretched beggar in the streets of Calcutta India, as if he were Christ. Are you willing to do this in your life? Are you willing to look into the face of the person in your week who causes you the most grief and irritation as if he or she is Christ? Are you willing to see the person who needs your time, when you don't have that time to give, as Christ needing your time?

Only when we are willing to forego our own needs and wants in order to do what others need, as if we are doing these things for Christ; only then can we truly begin to understand what God's unconditional love feels like.

Family Car Chat (for the ride home from church) Who is the most difficult person in my week for me to see as the face of Christ? How can my family help me to become more accepting, and helpful to that person, so that I can begin to see the face of Christ when I look at them?

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