June 16, 2009

Tuesday June 16, 2009 of the 11th week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Readings; 2 Corinthians 8: 1-9 Psalm 146: 2, 5-9a Matthew 5: 43-48
Response: “Praise the Lord my soul!”

There are so many nuances in this section of Paul’s appeal to the Corinthians for help to the Church in Jerusalem it is difficult, if not improbable to give a rational idea of his points and do him justice.
In his journey to Macedonia, he answered a dream which implored him to come to them with his message of salvation. While there, the Macedonians devised a plan whereby they would assist the Jerusalem Church with a monetary collection they took up for its benefit.
Recognizing the profound poverty of the Philippians of the Macedonia area, Paul infers the Corinthians should also be willing to aid the mother Church with a donation equaling or exceeding that of the Macedonians.
He did so by schmoosing them with the vocabulary intended to convey a message they could take in several ways. Thereby, they were insured his eternal gratitude and with it the gratitude of Christ.

As we read and respond to the psalmist’s message, we can almost feel the love of God being poured out upon us undeservedly. After all, God is the creator of everything and we, therefore, owe Him everything we have through His Grace.

After reversing the understanding of the Pharisees regarding vengeance, Jesus goes one step further. Don’t even hate the people who obviously hate you!
The crown listening must have thought Jesus had left His senses elsewhere. However, He didn’t soften the blow by ant means. Instead He tells them to Love their enemies. Then to make them understand the rationality of His statement He essentially states, “ When did God rain on the good alone; and, when did God’s sun shine only on the righteous?”
Sort of puts them on the defensive as they hear him say, “Even the wicked love their own children” What good is it if you only return love for love?
We must all recognize some cultures despise us because we have so much and we don’t share it proportionally especially to those who need it most.
Some day we’ll have our recompense, maybe in spades.