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The Bible offers all kinds of texts to our meditation.
These texts, from different authors and times, are presented in different literary styles.
Some are deep spiritual reflections, others give us more practical guidelines.

Today’s 2^nd reading belongs to this last group of texts.
In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul outlines what their behavior should be
(1 Corinthians 10:31 – 11:1).

One verse has caught my attention:

“I try to be helpful to everyone at all times,
not anxious for my own advantage
but for the advantage of everybody else”.   (Bible of Jerusalem translation)

Quite an inspiring way of life, very demanding indeed, but essentially Christian.
Just imagine for a moment what daily life would be if every believer lived in this way!
No more envy, injustice, anger, vengeance…
No more attempts to outdo others, deceive them, cheat or steal.
No more conflicts of any kind…

A society where the rights of everyone are respected.
A group of people where each makes the contribution that he/she can to the needs of others.
Among them, there is sharing and mutual help, truth and justice prevail.

Reading these lines, you may say that… I am dreaming!
I suppose that I am… dreaming as Jesus taught (Matthew 5:3-12) –
the kind of dream that makes the ‘dreamers’… “blessed and happy”!

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/6e-dimanche-de-lannee-b-2024/

Source: Image: Uplifting Scripture