Monday of 2nd Week of Lent: reflection
Theme: WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND
Reading: Lk 6:36–38
Dearest friends in Christ, the gospel reading of today could be said to be a vivid illustration of the truth of the saying that ‘what goes around, comes around’. Our actions and decisions do not have linear movements, but circular ones. Thus, the effects of actions and decisions easily come back to affect their initial starting points, that is, the initiators and producers of those actions and decisions. Sometimes, they may come back with the same force with which they were sent out and, some other times with a stronger or weaker force. It is, however, unfortunate that some people think of our actions here on earth as having only linear movement and that’s why when some people do evil things to others and to the society, they feel they have achieved a great feat because they do not think they will ever be affected by the negative effects of their actions.
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus draws our attention to the cyclic effect of our actions and wants us to be careful what we give out when we act or take decisions, for those things will undoubtedly come back to us, either immediately or in the future. Some people call it Karma when it is in the negative. He said, ‘judge not, and you will not be judged; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and you will be given in good measure. He ended the teaching by saying: “for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
Dear friends, Jesus is telling us that what we send into the lives of others will definitely come back into our lives. If we send out love, kindness, friendship, generosity and forgiveness, then, we have the promise of God that they will come back to us in full. Then, if we send out hatred, pain, evil, we should expect to receive them in full too from God and the people.
Therefore, let the knowledge that what we send out will definitely come back to us guide the way we treat other people starting from today.
May God bless your new week with abundant grace, favours and protection. Amen
Fr Isaac Chima