STAY ON THE RIGHT PATH
Jesus said that there is no room for retaliation. We must not only avoid hurting others, but we must seek the good of those who wish us ill, and do not return insult with insult.
"Brothers and Sisters: As your fellow workers, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says, 'In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you'" (2 Cor 6:1-2a). When is this acceptable time? We also hear, "Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor 6:2b). Jesus was already leading us down the right path through His dying and rising from the dead!
As I was reflecting on today's readings, I thought of Thomas Jefferson's quote that my father used to say to us kids: "Do not put off till tomorrow what can be done today!" How many times have you heard that? I think this is what Paul was saying to the Corinthians. Jesus leads us to the right path and we, as Christians, have that same responsibility. We all know that most of us do not like it when people brag about their accomplishments. Their boasting leaves us thinking that they are very conceited. Looking deeper into the firstreading, St. Paul is quite frank. One could even say that he's boasting before the Corinthians. On the contrary, his purpose is not to inflate his own ego, but to put the Corinthians back on the right path to God.
Paul faced issues in his time. When he had preached the Good News in Corinth and established the Church there, false preachers came along to turn Paul's converts away from the true Faith. Their ways were winning and their words were persuasive. Paul was so disturbed that he felt compelled to present the Corinthians with his credentials as a true Apostle to whom they should return in docility. By all that he had endured, Paul demonstrated his love for Christ and for the Corinthians, as the false apostles could not.
We can be thankful for the help of the Church. We can be grateful that the Church, in her liturgy boasts, not about herself, but about God. In fact, one main purpose of the liturgy is to make present before us the loving, saving acts of God from the conception and birth of Christ, through His life of ministry, and to the high point of His death and resurrection, and the sending of the Spirit. Each Mass centers on this climactic point since every Mass is the living memorial of the death and resurrection of Jesus. "Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor 6:2b)!
The Responsorial Psalm brings the reading together: "The Lord has made know His salvation" (Ps 98:2a). The Gospel message declares that in order for us to know God and to receive salvation, we must walk the path the Lord has leaded us to. Jesus said that there is no room for retaliation. We must not only avoid hurting others, but we must seek the good of those who wish us ill, and do not return insult with insult. It is God's grace that helps us treat others, not as they deserve, but as God wishes them to be treated - with loving kindness and mercy.
The liturgy constantly recalls what God has done for us, leading us to appreciate His wisdom and love. We should not abandon God to follow the false apostles and prophets of our time. Participating in the liturgy should help us to turn all the more in love and devotion toward God, remaining on the path He has set before us!