Compassion and Encouragement

Greetings on this the Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 2 Cor1:1-7; PS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Mt 5:1-12
Note: This Friday is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. We’re excited.
Note: As the liturgical calendar enters ordinary time after the Solemnities, I take a bit more liberty in the theological presentation in the homilies and reflections. Hold onto your hats!

Short Story – I had to unfollow a blog recently. Usually I post compassionate and encouraging comments for excellent poetry and reflections. This one case the young woman was flirting with relationships on the internet (IMHO). I counselled her (all in the open blog) that internet relationships are long in time but short in reality. That is, knowing someone online for a year is like knowing someone in the real for a month. So be careful. Result was — Yikes! The abuse!! I unsubscribed.

But it did reveal her pursuer for what he/she wanted from her (not sure of gender in this story). I take a very critical eye to his/her grooming this young woman to an understanding tailored to make “their” virtual relationship real and good (in my opinion). Mind you I am not being critical of the development of love itself but of the form and matter used to be formed. He/she demanded excessive amounts of proofs for the simple advice of internet relationships as a argumentative diversion.

It also reveal her/his understanding of Catholicism:

• obsessed with death.
• stuck in a basic psychological analysis (Psyc 101, to quote).
• unwilling to understand life from a different goal orientation. I am gathering he/she has a creative application of the Tenets of Hinduism – tuned to grooming, unfortunately, in this case.
• unwilling to take chances.
• insensitive or the promotion of hostility toward homosexuality, pansexuality.
• resisting love in all its forms.

India has very high levels of religion-related social hostilities.

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/06/29/5-facts-about-religion-in-india/india-religion-society/”

https://florida.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/sj14-soc-hinduism/the-core-tenets-of-hinduism/

So with this background I give you today’s reflection.

First Reading
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement.

Our Faith is about encouragement and compassion.

For as Christ’s sufferings overflow to us,
so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow.

We receive from Christ the suffering for humanity as a joint mission.

They are interconnected. By the way we also are members of the human family. When we suffer, be compassionate or encouraging another human, we too are benefitting. We are also receivers of this same compassion.

Responsorial Psalm
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

We receive the love of Christ in the Eucharist in a most intimate way possible.

Alleluia Verse
Rejoice and be glad;
for your reward will be great in heaven.

We store up treasure in heaven for our participation in the suffering of Christ. Suffering not for suffering sake but for the benefit for the person who is being helped.

Gospel Portion
Blessed are…

In Matthew’s gospel we receive the first of five discourses.

Jesus is describing what it means to live as Catholic/Christian imitating the Christ. This is our moral framework which all the commandments find their actual efficacy:

1. poor in spirit
2. mourn
3. meek
4. hunger and thirst for righteousness
5. merciful
6. clean of heart
7. peacemakers
8. persecuted for the sake of righteousness

Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.

So, while I accept the observations as such, I ask him/her to imagine a different way of understanding them. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

And if it angers you that I see your relationship as grooming a young person. Beware!
You need to take a step back and slow down.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry