GROW AS A DISCIPLE
Do you ever feel as though the concept of God’s plan for your life feels too distant and abstract to perceive? If you raised your hand, just know I’m raising mine, too. The life of a Christian striving for virtue and closeness with our creator is not always simple! But Moses’ words to the Israelites in today’s first reading pierce my heart, even centuries after he spoke them: “For this command that I enjoin on you today is not too mysterious and remote for you.” Moses is talking to the Israelites about God’s instructions that will lead them to the Promised Land, but it’s a relevant reminder for us, too. God’s command is not some vague message written in the sky, or some ancient code we need to decipher. It is written in our hearts. Our job is simply to return to the Lord our God so that we might understand it. If you ever feel as though God’s ways are inscrutable, return to him, perhaps using this particular Scripture. When we call upon God, he always responds. And in his response, there is great mercy and love. We are meant to share this mercy and love we receive with others.
GO EVANGELIZE
I think it’s natural, in our fallen humanity, to overcomplicate the Lord’s commandments. But in the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus spells it out for us in plain terms: show mercy to our neighbor. How often do we encounter someone in need? Probably daily. How often do we respond with love, generosity, and mercy? This is the question we must ask ourselves. Though the call is clear and concise, the reality is demanding. But Jesus also reminds us that our acts of mercy aren’t without merit – they are precisely what will carry us onward to our eternal reward. “Do this and you will live,” Jesus says.
REFLECT
Today’s readings remind us of our earthly call to love and to serve, and they are also a reminder of God’s radical nearness to his people. The call to mercy is challenging. The mission to love is bold. The road to eternal glory is long and narrow. But God is never far away from us on this journey. Take time this week to consider where and how the Lord is speaking to you. How is he inviting you into his mission of mercy? Where is he offering you himself?
By The Faithful Disciple