Love is Manifested in Life-giving Relationships

Readings for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
Hebrews 2:9-11
Mark 2:10-16

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One of the most used words that we hear in our chatting, on TV, through social media and in many other venues is love. The word has become so common that its real meaning can easily escape us. To some it conjures up red flowers, heart shaped boxes of chocolates, beautiful songs that make one cry tender tears. For others it can almost be meaningless since their experience of love has not been genuine. But for many faith-filled people, especially those who seek and know their God, no matter how God is named, it is an experience beyond words, challenging to live, and makes us capable to storm the deepest waters. This is our mission!

God has shown us so many times, but especially through the Son and through all of creation, that love is manifested in relationships. God gave a mission to the Son to relinquish divinity and assume humanity with the deepest humility to show us how to love and bring to life the most rejected and abandoned people. The whole of creation shouts out this deep love of God through life giving beauty, produce, song, and magnificence.

We cannot help but examine our own attitudes, words, actions and beliefs. Are they life giving to others, to creation, to the cosmos? It is easy to be trapped into a depressed spirit in today’s world where so many people do not share life nor love with others. Too much violence, too much pain, too much name-calling and open ridicule of the other person. Most of these situations we cannot control, but most of us can put our energy into living the famous Beatles song, “All You Need is Love.” We can contribute within the circle of our world and work at expanding that circle each day of our lives. God has created us for love. Jesus has showed us the way. There is no doubt as to what our mission is.

Notes on the Sunday Readings
First Reading
Genesis 2:18-24 — Out of love God created the cosmos, the earth and all that is in it. God’s love continued and deepened with the creation of the human person. Even though creation is spectacular, it was not enough for man to be fulfilled. Another human being, a woman, was created and so the two complemented each other in love.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 128: 1-2,3,4-5,6 — This psalm shows us how relationships are intertwined. Within the family, within the faith community, among all nations love will grow where there is openness, acceptance and dedication to the building up of love.
Second Reading
Hebrews 2:9-11 — Out of love for the Father and all of us, Jesus humbly accepted a relationship of brother, of redeemer so that we all might be brought into the glory of eternal life. This is truly a life-giving love.
Gospel
Mark 2:10-16 — Although Jesus speaks specifically of the husband and wife relationship and calls them to be faithful and loving, his embracing of the children is significant in the realm of relationships. We are all called to be trusting, interdependent on each other because it is love that binds us together.

Notes and commentary by Sr. Nancy Schramm, osf, a Franciscan Sister of the Sacred Heart currently ministering at a rural mission church in Pembroke Township, Illinois who previously served in the Amazon area of Brazil for 32 years
and is past president of USCMA.

Please pray for the missions.
May God bless you in all the ways you Go Forth…