Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Wherever you are Lord, there is mercy, there is truth, and there is compassion. That states it pretty clearly. Today’s short gospel passage talks about being with the Lord, being in the circle of faith, or not being with the Lord.
As was often the case, the disciples and their responses to situations provide Jesus the occasion to teach, to lead them to a clearer vision of his message. Today the message says that anyone who is not against us is for us. Whether those others doing good deeds, fell perfectly in line with his disciples, didn’t seem to make so much difference. What mattered was that they had faith and that they did those good works in the name of Jesus. If those two elements were present, then they really must be in Jesus’ company. Having faith and doing good in the name of the Lord is what makes the difference. Clearly, the Lord was present in them, and when that is true mercy and compassion will be evident.
Today’s gospel calls for a certain level of acceptance and tolerance. Likewise, if we look for the good in everyone, then all the better. For God uses many different people to manifest that mercy and compassion that we know as God’s identifying attributes.
The Letter of St. James reminds us that all things are in God’s hands. Our very lives are in God’s hands. Likewise, all the good that happens around us, comes from God’s hands.
Let’s look to see all the good that comes from God, and to let ourselves be molded and shaped by those same loving hands.
Reflection by Fr. Peter Ullrich, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections