2 Cor. 6:1-10 | PS. 98:1-4 | Mt. 5:38-42

Paul is calling all the Corinthians to work together in harmony and peace. And not to let the grace of God be in vain.  He reminds the people that he has accepted all kinds of hardship and endured many trials for the sake of Christ.  The time is now!  The time to listen, to accept, to change is now!  There is no time like the present.  It is as if Paul realizes the need to allow Christ to live in us so that we can change others and lead them on the path to God.  How great God is!

The Gospel calls us to change from an attitude of revenge to an attitude of love.  We may never be robbed or assaulted.  Yet we are called to grow in an attitude of love for all people irregardless of their response to us.  Christ does not ask us to be door mats but rather to respond with peace towards others, rather than finding a way to get even.  Thus, Jesus is calling us to respond to God’s graces as is Paul.

Take time to consider how you treat others.  Do you have a layered way of responding to people depending on how they live, dress, speak?  Do you attempt to respond with kindness to all people and to live out the call of Christ to love all people?  How will you grow in this process?  Take one step toward doing so today.