7th Sunday of Epiphany
Scripture: St Matthew 5:38-48,1st Corinthians 3:10-11
The call of a Christian is first and foremost a call to Love. In fact, Jesus himself said that others would know that we are His disciples by the love that we share to all others. We are called to love because we have been loved by the Lord. The truth is we have been loved when we were enemies of God. Christ died for us while we were sinners. It is that same love that God shows us that we are to share and offer to all others. It is an unexpected, extravagant love. We are called to love not with our voices, but with our hearts and actions to all others.
In Leviticus 19, many of the verses of scripture express a multitude of different loving expressions. Moses’ speech to the entire ensemble of Israelites is about many ways we express God’s love to others. We are to be Holy because our God is Holy.
Some examples of different ways to express our love:
Don’t reap the whole field of grain; leave several rows around the field for the gleaners’ and the wild animals. When gathering your grapes for fruits and wine, gather only one time, leave the unripe to ripe and leave to the gleaners’ and bird of the air. Show you true love by not withholding wages from your worker, not even for one night. Don’t pervert justice or show partiality to anyone. Don’t spread lies or slander among your people. Don’t do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life, says the Lord. Don’t reap revenge or hold a grudge among your people but love your neighbor as yourself ways the Lord. Thus we must love your neighbor regardless of whom they are or where they love. All these actions carry love to a much deeper level.
In Matthew. the words written in 5:38, Jesus takes the actions of love to a greater and deeper level. He calls us to love our neighbors, to love everyone, even our enemies, as they are all His beloved children. We are to love regardless of what they do to us. He also instructs us that if you are requested to go one mile, go two. The first is what is required of you to do; the second mile shows that you love Him even if He requires you to do something for Himself. This shows how much God loves both of you.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 these words: “By the Grace of God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Let us pray.
Scripture: St Matthew 5:38-48,1st Corinthians 3:10-11
The call of a Christian is first and foremost a call to Love. In fact, Jesus himself said that others would know that we are His disciples by the love that we share to all others. We are called to love because we have been loved by the Lord. The truth is we have been loved when we were enemies of God. Christ died for us while we were sinners. It is that same love that God shows us that we are to share and offer to all others. It is an unexpected, extravagant love. We are called to love not with our voices, but with our hearts and actions to all others.
In Leviticus 19, many of the verses of scripture express a multitude of different loving expressions. Moses’ speech to the entire ensemble of Israelites is about many ways we express God’s love to others. We are to be Holy because our God is Holy.
Some examples of different ways to express our love:
Don’t reap the whole field of grain; leave several rows around the field for the gleaners’ and the wild animals. When gathering your grapes for fruits and wine, gather only one time, leave the unripe to ripe and leave to the gleaners’ and bird of the air. Show you true love by not withholding wages from your worker, not even for one night. Don’t pervert justice or show partiality to anyone. Don’t spread lies or slander among your people. Don’t do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life, says the Lord. Don’t reap revenge or hold a grudge among your people but love your neighbor as yourself ways the Lord. Thus we must love your neighbor regardless of whom they are or where they love. All these actions carry love to a much deeper level.
In Matthew. the words written in 5:38, Jesus takes the actions of love to a greater and deeper level. He calls us to love our neighbors, to love everyone, even our enemies, as they are all His beloved children. We are to love regardless of what they do to us. He also instructs us that if you are requested to go one mile, go two. The first is what is required of you to do; the second mile shows that you love Him even if He requires you to do something for Himself. This shows how much God loves both of you.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 these words: “By the Grace of God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Let us pray.
