1st Week in Ordinary Time (Year A) : Saturday 14th January 2023

We cannot play games with God, and God is certainly beyond any sort of manipulation or favouritism. God’s Word – His messages to humanity and His teachings – are uncompromising, and they expose all of our own moral and spiritual blindness. If we are too comfortable and serene with God’s Word, then there is a good chance that we are deluding ourselves and living in denial. All of this may seem harsh – but the good news is that we are not alone. We have a teacher, friend, and elder brother who has walked and struggled on the path before us. He faced everything we faced: temptations, loneliness, disappointment, fatigue, and so on. But He remained faithful, and He is our high priest. Jesus can empathise with our struggles and weaknesses because He has been there. He walks beside us to give us hope and courage.

This compassion of Jesus is most evident in His willingness to eat with sinners and those wholly rejected by society. He did not judge, condemn, or reject anyone. His anger was reserved for those who looked down on the weaknesses of others while ignoring their own.

When we know ourselves well – how much we have been forgiven and how much we are loved – then we can give that love and support to others. Let us pray that our own weaknesses be the gateway to a compassionate and loving heart.

Lord, grant me a compassionate heart.