1. Wednesday Gospel Webinar
Portsmouth Diocese – Formation for Mission

2. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

3. Sunday 19th February 2017 7th Sunday in OT Matthew 5:38-48
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer the wicked man no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if a man takes you to law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.
‘You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike. For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do their not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.’

4. Literal meaning Where? Matthew 5 – up the hill
When? After revisiting the 5th, 6th and 8th commandments
What? The Sermon on the Mount: patience and charity extended to everyone
Who? Jesus, joined by his disciples (and the crowds?)
How? A shocking teaching on dealing with enemies and injustice
Why? Old Law surpassed by Law of charity and fulfilled by Jesus

5. The Problem of Evil Dealing with injustice Dealing with revenge
Fighting hate with love in and out
Fighting evil with good in and out
Fighting death with life in and out

6. A self-portrait of Jesus who is the image of the Father God is love
Finding God
A self-portrait of Jesus
who is the image of the Father
God is love

7. Finding the human person
Called to be
‘sons of your Father in heaven’ and
‘perfect as your heavenly Father in perfect’
The perfection of charity
God is love

8. Finding the Church Recipient of God’s love
The instrument of God’s mercy in the world
The Saints, perfect in charity
The sinners perfected through charity and to charity

10. Mary, Virgin and Mother,
you who, moved by the Holy Spirit,
welcomed the word of life
in the depths of your humble faith:
as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One,
help us to say our own “yes”
to the urgent call, as pressing as ever,
to proclaim the good news of Jesus.
Mother of the living Gospel,
wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones,
pray for us.
Amen. Alleluia!

11. Acknowledgments
Mosaics artworks: © Fr Marko Rupnik and Centro Aletti
Scripture: The CTS New Catholic Bible, Copyright © 2007 The Incorporated Catholic Truth Society
With gratitude to the Wednesday Word