Gospel Reflection for the 30th. Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 29th.

There is always the danger that when we hear a song too often that we become complacent and take it for granted. The same can happened with the readings and gospels we hear when we come to mass. Perhaps this is one of those gospels. We have heard it some often that is no longer has any impact on us.

No one ever said the being a follower of Jesus was going to be easy! We are not only asked to have a relationship with God, we are also called and challenged to be aware of and concerned about those with whom we live and work. We are to love our friends and family as we love God and ourselves. We are reminded of this when we read in the bible, how can we love God whom we cannot see and not love our brother or sister whom we do see?

Being a Christian and a follower of Jesus is about relationships. Being a disciple of Jesus is about how I live my daily life in relation to others and God. It is not private thing between God and me. If I say I love God but do not take the time to be aware of and concerned about around those me, then something very important is missing. If I pray, but then ignore those around me at home or in work that need my help, what is the point of me praying? Praying is not about pleasing God or making myself feel better. Prayer is about me nurturing and nourishing my friendship with God. Then, having prayed and precisely because I have prayed, I am asked and called to turn my attention to those around me who need my help, support and love.

In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus reminds that whatever we do for each other, we do for and to Jesus himself. Whatever we fail to do for each other, we fail to do for Jesus. The smallest gesture of love can often have the greatest of impacts.

It is often through very small seemingly unimportant deeds, actions and gestures of love that our love for others and our faith can be seen and made visible. One poet wrote that God is the bits and pieces of every day. We should never underestimate the power of a small gesture such as a smile, a hand on a shoulder or a kind word. These small acts of kindness are how in our daily lives how we love God and our brothers and sisters and ourselves with all our heart, mind and soul.

This week, may we be more aware that God is in the bits and pieces of our ordinary daily lives. May we love God with all our heart, soul and mind. May we love our neighbours as we love ourselves.

• Michael Moore OMI