Friday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
We often have an image of Christ that is only merciful, loving, and gentle. Christ is all these things, but he is also just. Justice demands that what is due to a person be given to them. What is due may be good, or it may be bad. When you work, you are owed money. When a person commits a crime, they must pay for it in justice. The same is to be said of the spiritual life.
Jesus reminds us today that rejecting Christ and leading others to do so is dangerous. God’s justice will be done. That justice may mean destruction. It is a sobering reminder that our decisions have consequences, even in the face of a merciful and loving God.
What are we to do then? First, remind ourselves that God is merciful and so offers us forgiveness. Return to God in confession and be forgiven and blessed. Second, be mindful that what we do matters and, like in life, affects us. We must not simply presume that God will not do what he says, even if it means punishment.
Today, we pray for the gift of courage and commitment, trusting that God is merciful and just.
Reflection by Fr. Etienne Huard, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections