Saturday of the word of God
SEVENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (C)
1st Reading: (1 Samuel 26:2.7-9.12-13.22-23)
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 103:1-2.3-4 and 10.12-13 (R. 8a)
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:45-49
Gospel Acclamation: John 13:34
Gospel Reading: Luke 6:27-38
Rita Chinwendu Okonkwo
Good evening everyone.
Uhmm, it's well oo as this first reading is just somehow. The enemy have been praying for me to die, now God handed him over to me without struggle. The reverse was now d case. uhmm anyways it can only take the Grace of God oo, This is where I pick the theme of my reflection from which is "Practical christian life". In our world today where Christianity is not being valued again, where even the christians cannot boldly come out to defend their faith or even to practicalize the word of God as sighted in the first reading, if I say I am a Christian which is Christ like in nature, I must try to emulate the life of God in my own living, like d psalmist say, I must be compassionate and gracious that is forgiving wrongs and pardoning the offender and leaving it to God and not to revenge or fight back or rejoice when they're befall with evil, no it's not a Christ like attitude.
I remember sometime last year I had misunderstanding with a friend whom I introduced a guy to marry. she said a lot of things about me to people who told me but I never reacted or challenge her to a fight . Even when my sister tried to, I stopped her. During their wedding, I attended joyfully and when people saw me they were all surprised, calling me strong woman, a Christian indeed and all sorts of compliments but to me it's not as if I'm foolish but I want to show them that christian living is a practical life and not just by mere lip service bcos the guy in question believes he's a prophet who sees and hears God more than me but can't do a little of what his father (God) has done.
The gospel reading summarizes everything if only we can take it meditatively.
May God continue to Bless His words in our hearts through Christ our Lord AMEN
Lilian Ginika Edenweze
My reflection is from the gospel reading. A part of the scripture in the gospel said if one strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, so I think this means endurance,enduring those things or persecutions that come from my enemies, and the our Lord encourages us also to love our enemies and pray for them. This means not retaliating but to show them love. And lastly, we are urged to do to others what we want to be done to us. This entails being good to everyone even those we consider enemies because we do not wish ourselves evil so we should not wish those we consider enemies and everyone evil. May the Lord bless His words in our hearts.
Nwoko Valentine Eziokwu
Reflection: First Reading: Do no harm to anointed people, that have respected for authority ordained by God. Secondly leave vengeance for God. Be merciful as God is merciful.
Eshiebor Asemokhai Simon
My reflection
What makes us Christians is not to do only what we feel we can do. But what Christ can do.
To the unbelievers, forgiveness and love for enemies, and every act listed in the Gospel reading, may sound like foolishness, but for Christians, such foolishness should be considered "wise"
We are not expected to be unreasonable as humans, but as Christians, being seen as unreasonable should excused and ignored (by you) for the very reason that you owe it to God, not man.
You don't expect a man to slap me and expect me not to retaliate that's a justified thing to do. But before God, what is considered justified is to smile back and walk away
Sound foolish, right? But it's actually the wise and "Christian" thing God has asked us to do.
Is it easy? No
Is it difficult? Yes
But by the grace of God and for the love we have for His begotten Son. We pray that when such challenges or temptations come, let us remember Christ and act like him.
Amen
Igbinazaka AngelaLove conquers all indeed!
Praying for our enemies has been a tasking one for me especially for family members who show daylight hatred towards me but the readings admonishes us today to be merciful as our father is merciful.
Practical example of a family member who decided to deal with another family member because he was in power of authority at that moment but later on was discovered that he made it so that they demote his own family member. It was a hard decision to forgive but consoling ourselves with the words of scripture gives us the push to continue to fight the good fight until the crown of glory is achieved.
Owing to the fact that when we forgive we limit the power of evil and break the chain of hatred.
Innocent Benedict Ifeanyichukwu
My reflection
In the first reading and Gospel, We are reminded to have a forgiven spirit and never expect anything in return just like our heavenly Father because we're bad in some people's story and in order not to be judged, we mustn't be judgemental. Always see and live with love among one another.
In the second reading, reminding us that we are the image of God and therefore, we are should always live a life of that pleases God (A life that preaches the gospel always)
