Weekly Reflection - 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time (2023)

"So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Mt. 5:48)

This is the Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time.  The gospel is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount.  We are called to be holy.  The life of grace we have received at baptism enables us to live a divine life.  Each baptized person has this obligation along with that of doing apostolate.  The call to perfection is that of constant growth in charity.

Ash Wednesday is this week.  If we say that we have already arrived we are finished spiritually at that moment.  Let us examine ourselves especially on the queen of the virtues, charity.  "If we love those who love us, what merit is in that?"  In a world that is divided between us and them, let us bring the good odor of Christ.  Our charity must make no distinctions of race, social class, religion, political party or gender.  

Questions for Reflection: 

• Do I love those who don't think or look like me? 
• Do I allow cliques or small groups that exclude others? 
• Do I love one another as Christ has loved us?