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16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A - 22/7/2017 - Gospel: Mt 13:24-30
Tenderness
Gentleness is one of the virtues in the Beatitude.

Blessed are the gentle they shall have the earth for their heritage Mat 5,4.

Gentleness is not be understood as meekness or weakness but rather it is the internal strength of a person that empowers us to control one's will and place God's will as a priority in our lives. It is the strength to practice what we confess in the Lord's Prayer: Your will be done on earth, not ours. Gentleness invites us to learn from the human heart of Jesus who humbled himself to be born on earth and to live amongst us, to show us the way to the Father and to make sacrifice of his own life to save us from sin and gave us life eternal.

The strength of earthly power can make people submit to you and material rewards can make recipients feel happy and proud about their achievement but it may not soften a heart. It is through the power of gentleness that we win the hearts of others. When we serve others with love and gentleness our heart meets their hearts and that makes charity and tenderness merges and that makes the act of charity worthwhile.

During his life on earth Jesus showed us about faith, love and charity. We Christians have no other interpretations apart from the one Jesus gave. His teaching about faith is to have faith in him. We have faith in Jesus and he told us that

'whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, he will perform even greater works' Jn 12,14.

The Rabi asked Jesus what is the most important commandment? Jesus replied

'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength and the second is this you must love your neighbour as yourself' Mk 12,29-30.

Charitable work is done in the name of Jesus will be remembered when he says:

'If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward' Mk 9,41

We are free to choose the way of the world that drives us towards advancement and prosperity. We can be lord of our own life or we choose to follow the way Jesus, submit ourselves to do God's will on earth by providing services for others, the poor and the needy. When we choose God's way, caring for others requires gentleness and love.

The way of the world provides power and money and successful that make one believes that s/he has the power to control his/her own future. This misguided judgment about our future is problematic. Whatever we possess makes us believe it will give us protection. World materials come and go; power is something given and we need to work hard to take hold of it. These powers quietly come into our lives and soon take control of our lives and we become slave for what they suppose to serve us. Learn how to take control of what we own is challenging for many.

Doing God's will we don't do it alone but with God's grace will show us to walk in the right path and a community of believers will come to our assistance. God's gifts were given to us work at their best when act of love or charity is done with gentleness because God's love is the source of tenderness and wisdom.

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