“So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’” (LK 17: 10)
Our Lord’s “commands” come from His heart, are dictated by love,and of course are “unprofitable” because they orient us to people, not to gain. When we are “not-for-profit,” we are person-oriented, and it helps us remember one act of love brings more profit for everybody than any other activity.
“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him.” (Gospel Acclamation)
Be careful how you build
“But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ.” (1 COR 3: 10-11)
Architects know how important the information about grounding is. The more you know,the better prepared you are for the project because “how we build upon it” depends on the foundation, and this information could totally change the concept or location. Jesus Christ became a foundation stone for us, and we “must be careful how we build upon Him.”
“I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord, that my name may be there forever.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” (MK 12: 43-44)
We are not rich in what we have; we are reach in what we have given. This is the true “wealth.” In married life there is no “surplus” time you can contribute to your spouse easily; it always needs some effort. When you put into your marriage “your whole livelihood,” everyone will be rich: you, your children and the whole society.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.” (LK 16: 13)
This rule covers all elements of our lives, not only money-based aspects. The main questions is—who are we? Children of God or of the world, husband/wife or bon vivant, family man or corporate man? When we are living according to our true identity, we can be in this world (but not of this world); we can enjoy life but also take responsibility for our lives; we can work hard for our companies, but with a right work-life balance.
“Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“But I have written to you rather boldly in some respects to remind you, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in performing the priestly service of the Gospel of God, so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” (ROM 15: 15-16)
It doesn’t matter what kind of ministry or service we do for Our Lord; it is always good to remember that in the beginning is “the grace given us by God”; at the end is “the service of the Gospel of God,” and all of this is possible only by the presence of the Holy Spirit, “sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” Without Him there is a danger that we will not bring all the beauty of God’s love to others.
‘Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (LK 15: 10)
We are not created to be perfect; we are perfectly created to be like Our Father, “who art in Heaven.” If Our Lord gave us an example of how to pray to His Father and asked—“forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us”—it means that He understands we can fall; we can sin. Our Lord expects from us that we will not stay in this state, but immediately repent. We know our condition: we are sinners, but the ones “who repent.” Always!
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (ROM 13: 8)
One of the most important commandments we received from Our Lord is: “love one another.” Because He takes care of us and knows that where love is, everything else comes with it; love fulfillsus and is the ultimate answer for everything. Love is in contrast to law; do not look for justice, but for mercy.
“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of God rests upon you.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them…” (ROM 12: 5-6)
Fortunately, we need each other because we are not complete; we “are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another.” With “the grace given to us,” we can use our “gifts that differ,” and together we can do much, much more. Looking for the common good, we can grow in our unity, taking care not only of our mission, but also of our relationship.
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” (JN 6: 40)
After the Solemnity of All Saints, we celebrate the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls), and the Church gives us today a variety of readings connected with the three Masses which every priest can celebrate today as a privilege and … as a sign of the Church’s understanding of the not to be underestimated role of the Holy Mass in support of Souls. “This is the will of my Father,… that everyone… may have eternal life.” Every Mass (not only today) makes present the death of Jesus for our salvation: “I shall raise him on the last day.”
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: ‘Blessed are…’” (MT 5: 1-11)
Our Lord totally changes perspectives for all kinds of situations generally recognized as bad situations. The Bible uses the word makarios (gr.) which means fortunate or lucky rather than blessed. Our Lord turns around the entire perspective. How often we can see only the other side of the tapestry–full of knots, short threads, a mishmash of colors—it generally looks like a mess. Only God looks from the right perspective—“He went up to the mountain,” and can see the beauty of the tapestry, and only He has the authority to say what is good and what is bad.
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)
