​Reflection for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

by Sr Margaret Hickey, ND

Today’s first reading begins: “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her, all you who love her!” Isaiah then compares Jerusalem to a mother, carrying her nurslings, comforting her children. “When you see this, your heart shall rejoice and your bodies flourish like the grass; the Lord’s power shall be known to all.” So we are called to give praise to our God this day—our mother/father, our comforter, our companion for the prosperity given us as it was given to Jerusalem in the early days.

The call of today’s Gospel is to carry praise and joy to others. “Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The reign of God is at hand.’” Everything that God gives us, every gift we receive from God is for the other—certainly to rejoice that we have received the gift—but then to share it! That is what God is all about—relationship of giving. We are building God’s reign together! Rejoice!