It is very easy to get lost in the deep abyss of negativity these days, and if you are watching cable news channels it makes it even worse! I have long given up on ALL the so-called news networks because they give stories that will help sell commercials. I don’t think anyone could have envisioned that 2020 would be such a crazy and terrifying year. With the coronavirus and the civil unrest this will be a year that will soon not be forgotten. It hasn’t been all terrible however; we have witnessed the very good in human nature. People coming together to sew masks for essential workers, family members making grocery store runs for each other, community groups donating food, and the list goes on and on! What do these positives in rough times mean? It means people took action, they got up and went out for the greater good! I have said it before, but Christianity is not a spectator sport! It has to be lived with forward movement and it needs to be packaged with a great deal of love.

In our gospel reading this weekend we see Jesus laying out the do’s and don’ts of life! All of these require some type of action, and with this action is a reaction. Whether that reaction is positive or negative all depends on the action that was taken. He is pointing out to us that we must always be mindful in what we are trying to accomplish, but notice that it has to deal with our actions towards our fellow human beings. Yes, it is the people around us that matter, and we must be mindful in how we can treat or mistreat them. This can be tough because of how people may treat us. Christianity is not easy, but the reward of following Christ is great! We must challenge ourselves to do better, even if we are already doing good, in this life there will always be room for improvement! What actions can we take in the coming weeks to have a great impact of good on the people around us? Let us all reflect on this question as we continue to journey to-wards Christ.