~ Colossians 3:12
It is very easy to be kind to those with whom we share a friendly relationship, choosing to assist them as the need arises. Immediate family, work colleagues, social acquaintances fit the predictable pattern when selecting those persons whom we deem deserve our assistance.
But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. ~ Luke 6:27-31
Here lies our dilemma when facing those whose behaviour provides us with the opportunity to ignore them the result of their abusive, unfriendly actions. Walking away makes good sense to those of us preferring to avoid troublesome people.
We learn from bitter experience walking the road of hard knocks that when we needed help those we believed would assist were no where to be seen. A stranger intervened, a mysterious helping hand when we needed their assistance most. The Divine Presence will intercede through a person open to His persuasion, He selects to become His outreach into our life. We could be that helping hand when, as if by chance meeting a stranger suddenly appearing in our orbit, our intervention provides the remedy for another victim of life's adversities.
I am often asked whether God's involvement in the life of the human race can be so selective, sufficiently for Our Father to pick us out to become the Good Samaritan for a complete stranger. For those of us familiar with the presence of the Divine Mystery speaking to us of His love for us, when we deserve no such kindness, there is the thought that we can reciprocate by becoming The Father's outreach into the lives of those unknown to us.
Our Father's Grace carries with it powers beyond our imagination to comprehend, when realising that in a fraction of a second our initial choice not to intervene, is reversed and we become the outreach of the Divine Presence in the life of one in great need of being helped. In simple language Our Father will whisper into our ear, do this for me...your best friend.
As we sow, so shall we reap...according to Our Father's timing. Life presents us with a fork in the road of life: our choice will either bring us closer to God or farther from Him. If, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we choose to obey Him, we will be strengthened and confirmed in the particular virtue involved, leading us to accept more invitations from Our Father to continue working His interventions through us.
For it is in giving that we receive ~ Francis of Assisi
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