“You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity.” (MT 23: 23)
This could be quite similar to what happens in our relationships (especially in marriage): “I work hard to bring home enough money for our family” or “I work hard to keep our home and children in order” and at the same time forgetting “the weightier things”: gentleness, respect, sincere gift of self, time for us, forgiveness, patience and tenderness in our dialog. The first things “you should have done, without neglecting the others.”
“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“‘We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.’ But Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come from Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’” (JN 1: 45-46)
“We have found Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth” was a great joy for Philip, who immediately shared this with Nathanael. The Good News proclaimed in words also should be visible, not for a passive observer but rather for an active prospector: “come and see.” When we share our faith with others, we can expect some expectations: show me your faith.
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (JOS 24: 15)
Even if the mandate, “decide today whom you will serve,” prompts a decision for someone’s whole life, it also should be repeated every single day. We can “serve the Lord” throughout our vocation as a Catholic husband/wife or as a Catholic parent, worker, friend and citizen.
“Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (MT 23: 11-12)
The Memorial of the Queenship of Our Lady is based on the Kingship of Our Lord. They are together from the beginning, and naturally, after Her Assumption we celebrate Her Queenship. She recognized Her role as a servant of God Almighty; she is the most humble person in the world, and she deserves to be called “the greatest” and to “be exalted.” When we pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, we always finish them with this Mystery. When we are consecrated to Her, we make Her happy.
“You have but one Father in heaven; you have but one master, the Christ.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“’Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.’” (MT 22: 36-40)
Even if the motivation behind this question wasn’t good, Our Lord used this to remind us of the truth about the commandments and their hierarchy. First of all is “the Lord, our God” to whom we owe our hearts, souls and “all our mind,” but immediately after, as a natural consequence, follows “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Without protecting my own dignity, there is no respect for my neighbor, and without love for my neighbor, there is no real love for God.
“Teach me your paths, my God, guide me in your truth.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“‘Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.’ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.” (MT 22: 4-5)
Our Lord “prepared his banquet” and invites us: “come to the feast.” He gives us His body and blood that we may have His life in us. With Him we can change our lives for the better and put everything important in the right place. Even “farm and business,” when committed to Him, become not an obstacle but an opportunity.
“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“‘What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (MT 20: 14-16)
Our Lord is generous and he wishes “to give the last one the same as you.” It is more difficult for us. We expect some sort of justice. God’s love is not based on our work or generally saying our “doing” but on our “being”, on our relationship with Him, our filiation. And that world, the world of persons,should be more concerned about being a sincere gift of self than how to receive more.
“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern the reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’” (MT 19: 26)
Our salvation is based on Jesus’ death on the Cross, not on our achievement or as a reward for our fantastic lives. No one can be saved by himself, but “for God all things are possible,” and the one thing we can do is to give our lives to Him and trust more in His love and mercy.
“Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich so that by his poverty you might become rich.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.” (MT 19: 21-22)
The reason “he went away sad” was that “he had many possessions.” There is nothing wrong with possessions until we possess them, not they possess us. It is like with our gift of self. When it is free and creative, it naturally becomes joyful; when it is only a consequence of a demand, it is neither free nor creative, and it finally leaves us sad.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” (JN 6: 54-56)
Our Lord wants to be always with us. He gave us His body and blood as a food for eternal life because as He received life from “the living Father,” “so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” This is Holy Communion–when we receive Our Lord Himself and life with Him. What a privilege we have received; we become the Holy Tabernacle, and we can take Him to our meetings and to our brothers and sisters in need.
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)
