Kindness without Exception

Greetings on this the Monday of the First Week of Advent
Readings: IS 2:1-5; PS 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9; Mt 8:5-11
Notes: Worshiping the Lord in community is a core practice.

Worshiping in community articulates the Love from G-d and the Love for G-d in a most sensate way.

First reading
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the LORD!

Responsorial Psalm
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my relatives and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.

Alleluia Verse
Come and save us, LORD our God;
let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.

Gospel Portion
When Jesus entered Capernaum,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,
“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”

The centurion, a Roman commander, had pity upon a servant in his most deadful circumstances.

He said to him, “I will come and cure him.”
The centurion said in reply,
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed.

One of the key teachings of Jesus is our acceptance of and righteous treatment of the stranger, alien and enemy.

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”

Those with faithfulness and kindness will be invited to the banquest of the Kingdom of heaven.

One of the key teachings of Jesus is our acceptance of and righteous treatment of the stranger, alien and enemy.

I am writing a study paper on this topic for use during Lent 2022.

Sharing some notes here.

My early Outline

• The Unity Before
• The Divide Event and Territory
  • Galilean
  • Samaritan
  • Judean
• The Division Effects
  • The World’s Hatred, Jn 15:18-25.
  • Jesus rejected at Nazareth, Synoptic.
  • Jesus rejected by Samaritans, Lk 9:52-56.
• The Restoration
  • Of Enemies
    • Parable on Love of One’s Enemies, MT 5:38-48.
  • Of Kindred
    • Jesus’ True Kindred, MT 12:43-45.
  • Of Corporeal Kindness
    • Parable of the Good Samaritan, Lk 10:29-37.
    • Cleansing of the Ten Lepers, Lk 17:11-19.
  • Of Spiritual Kindness
    • Do Not Enter Samaritan City, Mt 10:5-6
    • The Discourse with the Woman of Samaria, Jn 4:4-42.
• Conclusion
  • Jesus’ true kindred.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry