| Genesis 13:2, 5-18
Psalms 15:2-3, 3-4, 5 Matthew 7:6, 12-14 “…After Lot had left, the Lord said to Abram: ‘Look about you, and from where you are, gaze to the north and the south, east and west; all the land that you see I will give to you and your descendants forever….’”
“…Treat others the way you would have them treat you: this sums up the law and the prophets….”
I have lifted the above two quotes from the readings for today because they caught my eye and reminded me of a little plaque I had in my bedroom when I was a teenager. The saying on the plaque went something like this: “Dear Lord, let me be mindful of the opportunities I have today. Any good that I can do, any hurt that I can heal, any positive reinforcement I can give….let me do it today. Because I may not pass this way again.”That was quite a motivation then as it is now. The readings today seem to say… Look around you….step out of yourself and be mindful of others’ needs, wants, desires….because you may not pass this way again. Don’t miss the opportunities (graces) that are around us all the time….only to be noticed.The words of kindness, thank you, praise, encouragement that can come from you today, might be just what are needed by your parents, brothers, sisters, your neighbors, colleagues, children, friends…..e-mail contacts, etc. To me our daily words and actions are the most important messages we send to those around us. They speak our spirit…God’s spirit within us. And isn’t that what Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew’s Gospel: “…Treat others the way you would have them treat you…”? The message I share today….reminds me to look outside myself…into the lives of others….and treat them the way I would like to be treated. After all this “…sums up the law and the prophets….” Hope you can send some “roses” and receive some “roses” today.
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