40 Days of Seeking Him 2011 ~ Day 15

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I was planning to write something for this meme yesterday, but my heart was not in it. Sometimes you just have to be quiet and that was a day for quiet.
Recent events had me reflecting a lot upon teachings from the Bible and the Catholic Church.  The Scripture that kept coming to mind was from Matthew when Jesus had his Sermon on the Mount.  The Beatitudes component seems to be what gets the most attention.  What kept coming back to me was the later part (Matthew 5:37 – 48) 
From the USCCB website, this section reads as:

Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.

38

²⁵ “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

39

But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.

40

If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well.

41

Should anyone press you into service for one mile, ²⁶ go with him for two miles.

42

Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

43

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44

But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,

45

that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

46

For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors ²⁸ do the same?

47

And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? ²⁹

48

So be perfect, ³⁰ just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Now for anyone just reading here, the extra little numbers in blue go to footnotes that include references to other Scriptures.  You’ll have to click through to the USCCB website to read them.
We spotted a problem and in calling attention to it encountered what could be best described as a situation where we accepted the second slap on the cheek.  I do not anticipate a resolution that would appease me now, beyond seeing some people in a new light and having God now lead us where we should be.  While we have decided we can not continue to be actively involved in that particular group, we will continue to pray for those who are there.  It is NOT an easy thing to do when your own soul cries out in indignation and whispers come from elsewhere that you should not take this lying down.  But, as we seek to be a light in the world, we also seek to avoid engaging in behaviors that would diminish that light.
And, that, dear readers is where my mind and heart have been living for the past few days.  Thank God for His Word and the teachings of our faith that provide guidance in how to live our life and grow closer to Him.
Finally, on a happier note, the boys are smiling as today is the Feast of the Annunciation. 

We celebrate that God sent the Angel Gabriel to tell Mary she had been chosen to bear His Son and she accepted! 
Because it is a Feast Day that falls on a Friday in Lent, the Archbishop has lifted the requirement of abstinence today.  Normally, this is not something with which we would even chose to concern ourselves as not eating meat for a day is not that big of a challenge.  But, as our Christian co-op is having a potluck finale and we are the lone Catholics, they are looking forward to not being hungry if most of the dishes contain meat!