By Praveen Bandula, CSC –
Readings: Col 3:12-17; Lk 6:27-38
The readings of the day invite every Christian to follow Christ and to be like Christ. The central message of the readings is to be good and to do good. A believer of Christ lives like Christ. There is positivity within and around him or her. When we go through the readings we see many good works are mentioned in both the readings.
Love, forgiveness, charity, compassion, humility and peace etc. are common words we hear often from Jesus. But the question is, ‘is it possible for a person to be Christ-like?’ The liturgy of the day gives an answer. Love stands first in all the virtues. One who loves God loves oneself and the others too.
The love of God showing us all the compassion and kindness will transform so as to share the same love to all. Jesus invites us to ‘do to others as you would have them do to you’. Love is not something we should always want to receive but it is to be given. St. Paul says, ‘above all clothe yourselves with love.’
There is more joy and happiness in giving or sharing our love to others, not only material love but also spiritual and emotional love. The mother church today invites all of us to imitate Christ who loved the world and offered himself for everyone without showing any discrimination towards good and bad people. So our responsibility is to follow Christ with faith by channelizing his love through our lives.