Our lives are crowded with directions. One diet guru’s book was “Eat This, Not That”. Today’s readings are full of charges for those striving to attain eternal life. Just before Christmas, Rick Costanza, one of our reflection authors, wrote so wonderfully about the rules and commandments that show us the right paths to God. We want to please our creator, and he wants us to come home to be with him. These readings are his explicit guides to inherit his kingdom.

Such powerful readings deserve more attention than I can give them in my allotted space. The reader is encouraged, even urged, to take up a Bible and read and reread these beautiful words. In Leviticus 19:1-2,11-18, we are admonished not to steal, speak, or swear falsely, profaning God’s name. We must make only honest judgments not show favoritism to anyone. We are never to hold a grudge or show hatred to our brother.

The Gospel from Mathew 25:31-46 describes attributes we should all adopt. It directly opposes the first reading concerning things we are not to do. Here, we read how to lead our lives and become pleasing to God. We become sheep as opposed to goats. The sheep are those of us who adhere to God’s ways of acting toward all his children. The Beatitudes are clearly outlined, and we are challenged to live with these as specific pointers. In weighing the actions of our lives, we should constantly search for times we performed acts of loving kindness when we acted in service to the least of God’s children.

Have you ministered to others, demonstrating Christ’s love by helping those without someone to care for them?

Let us pray:

God the Father, give me hope. Help me to know that your hope is alive in me as I offer kindness, forgiveness, and tenderness to others. I see the calm that comes from trusting in you and your healing presence. I know you walk with me in all the blessings and challenges of my life. Amen