Daily Gospel Reflection for September 9, 2024

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Luke 6:6-11

Suppose a new employee at your company was struggling. She is overwhelmed and not completing her tasks. Recently, she burst into tears and went home in the middle of the day. She was out sick for the next few days. What to do? According to company policy, the administration would not be wrong to fire her. There have been enough complaints. She’s not doing the job she’s paid to do. Is that a merciful response?

Mercy is love we do not deserve. One could argue she does not deserve to be kept on. The company has work that needs to be done, other people are picking up the slack, and financial resources must be used wisely.

What would Jesus do? I suspect He’d take a merciful stance and seek a way to help this employee be successful. He’d look for creative ways to support her and train her in skills that would help her thrive. He would recognize that she cried because she cared. His way might make others angry, especially those who are inconvenienced while she gets up to speed. And His way offers undeserved love in the form of mercy. Wouldn’t we all want that if we were the struggling employee? Wouldn’t we want someone to care enough to choose a harder but more merciful path?

Jesus confronts the rule-driven Pharisees over and over and ultimately pays for it with His life, but He always prioritizes the person in front of Him who needs Him. We can follow His example. I cannot heal a withered hand, but I can reach out to another person and offer help even if it’s inconvenient or against the “rules.” I’d like to think Jesus would be happy with that decision.

Ponder:

How can you help another person when it's inconvenient?

Pray:

Jesus, help me to see others as You do and respond mercifully to the needs of those around me.

Copyright 2024 Merridith Frediani