Why is it that some people only show up when they need something or it's convenient for them . . . when our expertise or faith or knowledge or compassion provides comfort or calm or direction. I'm struggling with this one today. Do we continue being the ones who show up, only to feel slighted when the courtesy is not returned? Or, do we detach with loving kindness? I'm not sure what the right answer is, but I have discovered that by detaching from the emotional side of feeling unimportant to another works for me, and uniting my feelings of rejection to Christ's. I have found by setting boundaries of what I will do and won't do contributes to a peaceful existence. I will always respond with loving kindness to anyone asking for help. The hard part for me is seeing my loved ones experience the same rejection and realizing it's time to detach. It took a lot for me to detach from my past and old patterns of behavior. We are all called to be compassionate and gentle in our responses, yet Christ is very clear in terms of when our love is not received or rejected, we must detach, dust off the dirt from our sandals and move on. And, moving on means not getting stuck in negative thoughts/behaviors. We must love without any expectations.
Today's Gospel (Luke 10:25-37) reminds us how important it is to show up:
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise, a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she encourages us to look to Christ when the world disappoints:
"In many cases, one party must offer pure love consistently, without a return, and only over time will the other become willing to accept this pure love. It should not discourage any of us that we do not always know how to love. This should not even slow us down, any more than a small child going off to school for the first time is concerned that he does not know how to read. On the contrary, our awareness of our difficulty in loving others should make us seriously determined to show up for heaven each day, presenting ourselves to Jesus Christ as willing and eager students."
Lay apostles, we have choices. When a loved one tries to gather the family together, do you make excuses not to attend? Is this something which happens repeatedly? If it is, take a look at why you don't show up. Is it insecurity? Is it anger? Is it because of a disagreement? Figure it out. Life is too short to hold on to anger or resentment. Love without any regrets/expectations. After all, God is Love and we won't be living forever. Start practicing and show up.
Thank you, Lord, for the lessons and challenges. Please help me to see the gifts You provide in each one.
God bless,
Bonnie
Today's Gospel (Luke 10:25-37) reminds us how important it is to show up:
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise, a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she encourages us to look to Christ when the world disappoints:
"In many cases, one party must offer pure love consistently, without a return, and only over time will the other become willing to accept this pure love. It should not discourage any of us that we do not always know how to love. This should not even slow us down, any more than a small child going off to school for the first time is concerned that he does not know how to read. On the contrary, our awareness of our difficulty in loving others should make us seriously determined to show up for heaven each day, presenting ourselves to Jesus Christ as willing and eager students."
Lay apostles, we have choices. When a loved one tries to gather the family together, do you make excuses not to attend? Is this something which happens repeatedly? If it is, take a look at why you don't show up. Is it insecurity? Is it anger? Is it because of a disagreement? Figure it out. Life is too short to hold on to anger or resentment. Love without any regrets/expectations. After all, God is Love and we won't be living forever. Start practicing and show up.
Thank you, Lord, for the lessons and challenges. Please help me to see the gifts You provide in each one.
God bless,
Bonnie
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