“Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.” (Eph 5: 1-2)
Whatever good we received, we received this from Christ. We are God’s beloved children, and we are unconditionally loved. Our way is to live in love—to be imitators of God. An “imitator” means a person who copies the behavior or actions of another person. The more we meditate on His love, words and gestures, the more we understand and the more we are able to imitate Him. The best “meditator” is the best imitator.
“Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice; turn to the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“…a scholar of the law tested him by asking, ‘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: 35-40)
Such a simple rule: we shall love. This is the first and the last reason for our life. Our dreams and our plans, our actions and our thoughts, our work and our vacations should be focused on one thing—how to put all our hearts, all our souls, and all our minds to love to the Lord, our God. The love to our neighbor as ourselves is a little bit easier. We know a minimum: Do not do anything to make others feel uncomfortable. But putting all our hearts, souls and minds into loving God is a much bigger challenge and adventure for all our lives.
“Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice; turn to the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none.
So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’” (Lk 13: 6-9)
God is patient, He can wait; and also He knows that we need help from others–gardener said: “I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it.” Like our Programs. We just cultivate the ground around the tree of marriage and help couples fertilize it; we show them how to bear fruit. Simple steps and support for the soil, to help them open their eyes and see a bigger perspective…
“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversation that he may live.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace…” (Eph 4: 1-3)
We can live “in a manner worthy of the call we have received” or below our dignity, unfortunately. The first kind of life is based on “all humility and gentleness, with patience,” the second one consumes others: expects and demands with impatience. The “unity of the spirit” needs to be preserved, and it requires us “to bear with one another through love” -and the bond of peace. As a result of such an attitude, we get peace, freedom from our own expectations and joy. It is worth to live this way.
“O chosen people, proclaim the mighty works of him, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph 3: 14-19)
We need to be rooted and grounded in love, not in knowledge, because “the love of Christ surpasses knowledge.” We know how important knowledge is, we know about fides quaerens intellectum (faith seeking understanding), but at the same moment, we know that only those who love have a real access to real knowledge—“to know the love of Christ.” Rooted and grounded in love, we may be filled with the fullness of God. To be a sincere gift of self we have to love. Only the love of Christ can motivate us to give.
“I consider all things so much rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“…I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power. To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ…” (Eph 3: 7-8)
His grace accompanies every vocation, every role and every task. His power is given not because we deserve it or we are worthy of it, but because we are chosen and equipped for our ministry. God’s grace accepted, given even to “the very least of all the holy ones,” makes miracles and changes ordinary men into holy men.
“The Lord chose him for himself as high priest, and, opening his treasure house, made him rich in all good things.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“…In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Eph 2: 22)
All the elements are so important: built “together”, as “a dwelling place of God”, “in the Spirit.”
“Together.” We are created as human beings and intended for relations: for being united and related. No one exists for him/herself. We are intended to become a gift of self.
“A dwelling place.” In other words—a temple, a very special place of worship. We are intended to be connected with God in our bodies and in our hearts.
“In the Spirit.” He knows everything about our limits. Not only did He create us, not only did He redeem us, but He also sanctifies us. The Holy Spirit is the constructor, and we “are being built.”
“To you I call; for you will surely heed me, O God; turn your ear to me; hear my words. Guard me as the apple of your eye; in the shadow of your wings protect me.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.” (Lk 12: 21)
What matters to God? Everything which is connected with an unconditional gift of self. Even being rich is OK with God. The only thing which is unacceptable for God is egoism, things we do for ourselves. Like in today’s Gospel: “treasure for himself,” success for himself, pleasure and appreciation for himself.
“I resolved to know nothing while I was with you, except for Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.” (Mt 22: 15)
An absolutely stupid idea—“entrap Jesus in speech.” Who is trying to do that to Him? The creation to its Creator? The sinners to their Redemptor? Why? He brought the most beautiful message from God: we are loved, redeemed and saved. He is the Word of God, and His speech reveals His identity.
Today we receive a new beatified Pope—Pope Paul VI, the author of the encyclical letter “Humanae vitae” (1968). His words are clear, strong and full of faith in men, although these words are the words of challenge; his words are full of love and respect for mankind—created by God.
“Shine like lights in the world as you hold on to the word of life.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it.” (2 Tim 4: 17)
We are chosen by Our Lord not because we are strong, useful, talented or flexible. We are chosen by God’s love because we listen to Him, we are open to His call and trust Him, not ourselves. We’ll receive everything we need to complete our mission. When we are sent to proclaim the Gospel in our families or when our mission goes beyond the oceans, Our “Lord stands by me and gives me strength.”
“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)
