A disciple is the one who dares to do unusual things

Gospel Thoughts*

*Ordinary Season : 11th Week - Tuesday*

*A disciple is the one who dares to do unusual things*

*GOSPEL -   Mt 5:43-48*

*FIRST READING - 1 Kgs 21:17-29*

*1) A call to do unusual things*

*What is unusual about that?*

This is the beautiful as well as Challenging question we find in today's Gospel

The World follows the usual things. For example *Love those who love you. Hate those who hate you*

But a disciple of Jesus is called not to follow the usual things, but to practice the unsusl things in Life 

Infact the Kingdom of God, depends on unusual things and not on Usual things 

*2) The Unusual things mentioned in Today's Gospel*

*A) Loving Ones enemies*

Loving ones friends is easy. It is called usual thing. 

But Jesus tells us that we need to Love our enemies. This is called unusual thing in life 

*B) Praying for the persecutors*

Praying for those who pray for us, those who love us, those who help us, those who are friendly with us is very easy. This is called usual thing 

Jesus says we need to pray for those who persecute us and those who do evil for us. This is a real challenge. That is why it is called, unusual thing 

*C) Do good without any discrimination*

Discrimination usually happens between good and bad. 

With good people we have no issues. But with bad people we find difficult to adjust. 

That is why Jesus gives the examples of the Sun who rises on the good and bad without any discrimination. 

So we are also called to follow the principle of Sun. This is called unusual thing 

*D) Give without the expectations of reciving it*

The Gospel also makes a mention about this perticular aspect. 

If you give to those who give you in return, what great things you do?

So giving without any expectation is the unusual thing that one can do 

*E) Greet all, without partiality*

Jesus also asks us *if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?*

As a follower of Jesus i must be able to greet all those who have been created in the image and likeness of God 

This is the another unusual thing that one can do 

*3) Other Unusual things in the Gospel*

If one strikes you on your right cheek show your other cheek as well 

If one asks you to walk one mile, go with him two miles 

If one takes your coat, allow him to take your cloak as well 

Leave 99 and go in search of 1 which was missing

We have been called to practice these unusual things in order to become the genuine disciples of Jesus 

*4) Unusual things makes a difference in Life*

Jesus became unique preacher and saviour because of His Unusual things in life 

Dying on the Cross itself is one of the great unusual things in the life of Jesus 

Jesus became a powerful and unique saviour because He adopted the Unusual things 

In other words Unusual things are nothing but the heavenly things or the values of the Kingdom of God. 

*5) Am I ready for unusual things?*

The primary call of Jesus to me is to practice the unusual things in life 

The Kingdom of Heaven can be established only through the unusual things 

If so what are the unusual things I have in my life or what are the unusual things I practice in my life? 

Am I convinced about the importance of unusual things in my life??

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*