Sunday Reflection: 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

“The LORD will reward each man for his justice and faithfulness.” These words of David from our 1st Reading this Sunday reminds us of our responsibility to be just and faithful. To be just is to act justly or with justice, to give what is due to others with respect and dignity. To be faithful is to act in accord with what we have promised and vowed. 

In our gospel, Jesus emphasized that to be just and faithful means to be like God. He reminds each one of us to act like God is to us. He is gives what we need; He forgives, and loves us in unconditional way. God’s justice is shown in how He loves, provides for our needs, and forgives our transgressions. His faithfulness is shown in all these same acts because He is faithful to His promise of love and salvation for us. So, Jesus invites us to “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” God’s mercy is the epitome of His justice and faithfulness. 

The example of David will give us a glimpse into the heart of the matter. David is persecuted by Saul because of jealousy, but the only response of David is to show respect to God’s anointed, the king. David shows us that only goodness can thwart evil. Evil can never be countered by another evil deed, only goodness can win over evil. David always recognized the divine institution of Saul as king, and his faithfulness to God also made him always respect Saul though he continues to hunt him. David says, “Today, though the LORD delivered you into my grasp, I would not harm the LORD’s anointed.” If only we realize that each one of us is anointed of the Lord, we recognize God’s presence in each one of us can we give proper respect and honor to each other.

In this line, Jesus admonishes us, “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” It is only when we act with justly and with mercy that our faithfulness to God can be seen. St. James in his Letter says, “faith without work is dead.” We have to workout our faith in a concrete way.

Our 2nd Reading invites us to have the same image as Christ, the second Adam. We have to live our Christian vocation in a way identical to Christ. Christ is the Father’s mercy and love in the flesh. He is the image of the invisible God, St. Paul says in another letter, so we as Christians ought to live as the Father’s visible presence to others after Christ’s example. Jesus says in our gospel today, “love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.” May we be truly children of God by the way we treat each other, loving, forgiving, showing mercy, and helping each other.