“But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.” (LK 12: 20-21)
When we follow Our Lord’s example and teaching and when we follow the mission He gave us, we can reach our full potential and fulfill our lives. We become “rich in what matters to God.” A true richness doesn’t lie in how much we have, but what we do with what we have. When we share time with others and when we serve and support others, we are “rich in what matters to God.”
“Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ He replied, ‘What do you wish me to do for you?’ They answered him, ‘Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.’” (MK 10: 35-37)
Today Our Lord address this question to us: “What do you wish me to do for you?” How many of us will think about money or career, about things like a car or house? Probably all of us think not about things, but about persons: about becoming a mother or father, about a good and safe delivery, about finding the right person for my future spouse. We are person oriented, not object oriented. St. Pope Paul VI announced a civilization of love, where person is over object, ethics over technics, mercy over justice and where it is more important to be than to have. The civilization of love is to be taken to our cities and our work; we are sent with a mission to our patients and clients, wh0 we are going to serve. “Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
“The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.” (LK 12: 8-9)
One of the most prestigious gifts we have received from God—protection of “the angels of God” and our Guardian Angels. They are with us all the time, in every moment of our lives; they watch us daily and nightly, protect us from every evil and are our true friends. Please remember to stay with them as closely as possible.
“The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord, and you also will testify.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.” (EPH 1: 13-14)
Our Lord comes to us with “the word of truth”; whenever we open “the Gospel of our salvation,” He speaks to us. He speaks to our ears and to our hearts, and He leads us to be closer to God the Father “with the promised Holy Spirit.”
“May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us; who have put our hope in you.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.” (LK 10: 1)
“In pairs,” like practitioners and medical consultants or like our coaches, “the Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.” We are never alone; whenever we go, chosen by Our Lord, He is just behind us.
“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (GAL 5: 22-23)
On one hand, we have “the works of the flesh,” and on the other hand, we have “the fruit of the Spirit.” If we fight to be “guided by the Spirit,” we can avoid problems coming from “the flesh.” When we meditate on the Bible, “guided by the Spirit,” we will be directed and protected; we will feel loved and understood; we will be corrected and empowered to love our brothers and sisters in a new way.
“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” (GAL 5: 6)
Whenever we go to Holy Communion, our faith can grow. Can grow means that our faith may grow, but it is not so certain that it will grow. Why? Because of “faith working through love.” The more love we put into receiving Holy Communion, the more we receive.
“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.” (LK 11: 29-30)
Jonah wasn’t happy with God’s invitation. He did what God asked because he was forced to do it. God did it for the Ninevites, not because they were worthy of God’s intervention, but because they were in desperate need (even not knowing about it). God doesn’t love us because we deserve it; He loves us because we are His children, and He knows that love is the only answer to all our needs.
“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Indeed the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (HEB 4: 12)
We used to look at the Bible as a book, a very important book, but still as a book; because it looks like a book: has covers, has pages, chapters, table of contents, etc. But it is not a book, even the most important book. This is the living and effective word of God, “sharper than any two-edged sword…”. When we take this “book” in our hands, we should remember, what we take, and how powerful it is. We are holding in our hands the invisible, but living God, Who wants to tell us the most important thing, that He loves us forever.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.’ He replied, ‘Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.’” (LK 11: 27-28)
Sometimes we think: I wish I could live in Jesus times–everything would be simpler. Our Lord knew about our “idealistic visions,” and He promised: “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.
“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” (Gospel Acclamation)
