Our Sabbath Scripture Stories – 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle A

Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

  • Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18
  • 1 Corinthians 3:16-23
  • Matthew 5:38-48

It was the wee hours of Sunday morning when Mr. and Mrs. Pauline finally got to bed.  Last night, they had stayed up late talking about the Gospel for today.  They wanted this Gospel to really come alive for their children, and discussed for hours different ways to accomplish that.

It was 8:00 a.m. when they woke up.  They came downstairs to find all their kids had gotten their own breakfast, and that the older ones had pitched in and helped out the younger ones.

“Now, that’s what I like to see so early in the morning!” Mr. Pauline exclaimed.

“Early?” Vincent laughed, already awake for an hour. 

After Mr. and Mrs. Pauline had eaten their breakfast and gotten dressed, the family joined up for the gospel reading.  Mr. Pauline read the Gospel of Matthew, continuing the Sermon on the Mount they had heard last Sunday.

Mr. Pauline began.  “This reading is rich with images.  There are many things that Jesus is telling us, and many things He is not telling us.  That is why your mother and I sat up late last night discussing it.”

“My guess is that Jesus is NOT telling us to gouge out someone’s eye,” Vincent offered.

“That’s right, Vincent,” Dad said.  “The central message of this Gospel reading is heroic love.  That’s a ‘love that loves for love’s sake.’  Now, that’s why your mom and I discussed it so much.  How do we explain ‘love for love’s sake’ to our children at their various ages?”

“So we decided, finally, to have YOU explain it to US!” Mom interjected.  “What do YOU think that ‘love for love’s sake’ means?”

Everyone sat quiet for a moment.  Each was deep in thought.

Mary Clare was the first to speak.  “I think a good example would be Mother Teresa.  She gave her entire life to work with the poorest of the poor and didn’t count the cost.  I think that would be ‘love for love’s sake.’ ”

“Excellent, Mary Clare!” Dad nodded.  “Who’s next?”

Four-year-old Hillary spoke up.  “I think loving Saint, our dog!  We love him  just because … he’s our dog!”

“Very good, Hillary!” Mom agreed.  “Loving a pet is a good example of love for love’s sake.”

“How about us kids!” Vincent chimed in.  “Mom and Dad, you both love us and take care of us, even as helpless babies.  And, believe me, babies take your total time!  Your love for one another brought forth someone new to love.”

“Great, Vincent!” Dad said.  “And let me add to that the holy role of adopted parents.  They take in a child, and love and nurture that child, and bring that blessed boy or girl into their family.  That’s an agape love in its purest form.”

“The last line of our reading for today says, “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  (Matthew 5:48)  We must all empty out ourselves to others, and do for others, as Jesus emptied His life’s blood out for all of us.”

Dad and Mom smiled at each other.  After hours of thinking of how to explain this morning’s Gospel to their children, their children helped explain it to them.  Then Mr. Pauline whispered to his wife, “And maybe after Mass, one of us can sneak in a nap.”

“You first, My Dear,” his wife whispered back, with a generous, all-knowing look in her eyes!

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`

To everyone, without exception, Jesus said,
“Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
(Matthew 5:48)
We are all called to ‘love for love’s sake.’

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Cycle A, 7 OT, SSSDownload

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