19 February, Sunday – Pride, our stumbling block

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lev 19:1-2,17-18
1 Cor 3:16-23
Mt 5:38-48

“… he must learn to be a fool before he really can be wise…”

A few years back, I was troubled by some issues at work, and in the course of these ‘troubles’, I got into a spat with one of my colleagues. Suffice to say that the interactions got rather heated, and we ended up having a face-to-face confrontation.

I felt frustrated as I believed I was doing my best to help others, and felt the other person was being self-centred and protective over her ‘territory’.

In preparing for today’s reflection, I felt God addressing me directly.

Firstly, the Gospel today spoke about “turning the other cheek”. I felt these verses speaking to me and I sat with this for a few days. I was puzzled. There were other situations in the Bible when Jesus got angry (such as the time Jesus chased the merchants out of the Temple as detailed in Matthew 21:12-17), where He certainly didn’t turn His cheek.

Then it struck me. That to me, it was not about the act of turning one’s cheek at all. Instead, it was a question of one’s pride preventing one from doing so.

In the work scenario I mentioned above, I realised that it was never about my colleague being selfish. What triggered me was the perception that she was arrogant and that she did not give me due respect.

The second reading of today talks about wisdom, and how worldly wisdom is seen as foolishness by God. In my effort to help others, I did not realise that I was, in fact, acting on my own accord. I failed to consider the feelings of others, or even to seek out their opinions! Instead of being wise, I was demonstrating my foolishness!

I am constantly amazed by how our God speaks to me. In today’s readings, God guides and rebukes me at the same time. I feel His love and am confident that no matter how challenging the journey, and how many mistakes I make, He will watch out for me.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Paul Wee)

Prayer: Father God, we pray that we may be able to slow down to listen to Your promptings. Help us to always be open to You.

Thanksgiving: We thank You, Father God, for always sending Your Spirit to be there with us. Thank you for blessing us always with Your love, constant guidance and protection.