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Deacon Greg 2-20-22

I love that Marriage Prep is part of my ministry…

· What a great generation of young people we have…

· Some have actually journeyed through a prayerful spirit of discernment before they actually got engaged!

· To discern, before agreeing to enter a period of time that helps one discern the Good News of God’s true love… Not a bad idea. Think about it!

· With two weeks to go before Lent… Let’s use that approach, and begin to discern what Lent might bring to us this year… It’s a discernment before the season of Lent, where we journey and discern what we can do to understand the Passion and celebrate the resurrection; that is, the Good News of God’s true love!

Today’s readings really can help us get ready for the upcoming season, for today we’re asked to reflect on God’s mercy and forgiveness, by asking us to live our lives showing mercy and forgiveness to others.

“God has delivered your enemy into your grasp this day. Let me nail him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I will not need a second thrust!” But David said to Abishai, “Do not harm him, for who can lay hands on the LORD’s anointed and remain unpunished?” (1 Samuel)

· This is the second time that it is mentioned in Samuel that David has spared Saul’s life… Probably two illusions to this same event… But it is fair to highlight the call for REPEATED forgiveness.

· But as we prepare to enter Lent in a few weeks, take note that this call to REPEATED FORGIVENESS is focused towards your enemies… And you know who or what they are!

· David knows his place before God, and knows that he must not only follow the Lord, but lice like Him as well!

The Lord is kind and merciful… He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compassion. (Psalm)

· God’s mercy is for all, and even sin cannot destroy it.

· God is well aware of our human fragility.

· So, how do we consider what we call “excuses” of others, and actually see them for what they truly are: Life stories, weaknesses, sinfulness, or even misunderstandings?

· If the Lord can redeem their lives, we need to be part of that solution, leading them to mercy, which is the promise of the Lord’s passion and resurrection for them and us all!

But the spiritual was not first; rather the natural and then the spiritual… Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one. (1 Corinthians)

· Paul is speaking to the Corinthians who, because of their worldly understanding, (Greek ideology) are doubting the resurrection.

· There is Adam, who with human frailty, represents each of us, and the NEW Adam, that is Jesus Christ, who is not only alive, but is life itself!

· Let us “bear the image” of the NEW Adam, letting go of the other.

· This is our call to conversion… Accepting God’s mercy through his son Jesus, and dedicating our lives to sharing that mercy with others!

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.… Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful… Forgive and you will be forgiven. (Luke)

· A continuation of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain…
  • Blessings & Woes
  • The Love of One’s Enemies: Characterized by God’s Graciousness and Compassion for all humanity
  • The Demands of Loving One’s Neighbors: Characterized by God’s Forgiveness and Generosity 
  • Good Deeds and One’s Goodness: The Golden Rule to do unto others, as you would have done to you.
“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.”

So let’s walk into the next couple of weeks thinking about how we can prepare for our walk with the Lord, which will once again help prepare us for Easter… I’m not saying to start Lent early, for Mardi Gras still awaits us. But I am saying that beginning today we can already already know and share God’s mercy. Beginning today, we can accept His forgiveness and start forgiving. Beginning today, we can give our full selves to one another…

Did you hear the Gospel Acclamation? Jesus, the NEW ADAM, sums it all up: “I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: Love one another as I have loved you.”

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