Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) • God wants his people to be set apart by their unconditional love for others. Even when people hurt us and cheat us, we must not reflect their evil back to them. We stand up for our dignity in a way that is loving and respectful even to our enemies.

Why is this so hard? We can only love our enemies if we already love ourselves. Too often we are looking to others for our value when we should be looking to God. We cannot choose how others will treat us, but we can choose how we respond. And we can respond with love when we know how much God loves us.

(19 Feb 2017)

Point to Ponder: Have you ever had to stand up for your own rights, in a way that was polite, respectful, and loving? Have you had to stand up for the rights of others?

Point to Discuss: Talk to a friend about a time they felt insulted and humiliated. How could they have “turned the other cheek” in the way that Jesus means this phrase?