THREE WORDS OF WISDOM

THE EXTRA MILE

Photo:R.Massaro(c)2013SpiritSinging

In our busy lives, going the extra mile for family,friends, parish or community may take a heroic effort on our part.  When pressed into service for only one mile, do we immediately balk and make excuses?  Or do we take some time to pray about a particular request? Some requests take no thought at all, such as responding to an emergency when a friend, relative, or neighbor is sick or in trouble.

Do we respond to these requests by thinking, "o.k. I'll do it and get it over with?"  Our Lord tells us that we should be ready to respond in service by giving our all. If we are pressed into service for one mile, we should be ready to be of service for 2 miles.

Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.  (Mattew 5:41)  In this passage, he goes on to say, Give to the man who begs from you...

Usually, we think of beggars as someone who asks for money. People who ask for something from us are beggars-of-sorts. They are asking for time and assistance.  What about the spiritual gifts people beg from us? Gifts such as mercy and forgiveness. People beg for our prayers when they are desperate.  Let us not leave them empty-handed.  Let us give what the Lord has given to us.  

The saints show us that going the extra mile leads to union with God.  They stayed on the path. They did not take shortcuts. One saint in particular, St. Peter, was ready to give all, although he had nothing. The biblical story of the the Cure of the Cripple is a good example. The crippled man was looking for alms from St. Peter, but Peter responds, I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you! (Acts 3:6)  The man walked away with much more than he had asked for.  Let us live our lives in this same way.  Let us give all, so that the Lord may work through us in these situations of Christian service. Let us be a blessing to others. 

Let us travel the extra mile in prayer. This prepares us for service and gives us strength to serve, even when we don't feel like it. 

Let us pray for each other, that we be given the grace to go the "extra mile" in our spiritual life.  This heart stands ready and at attention ready to be of service to God and our neighbor.  Let us not only ask the Lord to be with us on this journey, let us beg him to stay with us! Let us ask him to walk with us for one mile, knowing that he will go the extra mile with us...leading us to life with him, forever.


Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds