“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.” (2 Thes 2: 16-17)
“Gesta et verba Dei”—God’s deeds and words—are the way in which God communicates with us. Deeds connected with words help us to understand the deeds, and words help us to understand the message given in deeds (DV, 2). Like the situation when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and asked them: “Do you know what I have done for you?” (J 13: 12) Also in our lives, our “every good deed and word” should be connected to make our lives, vocation and mission very clear.
“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Mt 23:12)
Always a difficult subject: does he “exalt himself” or just promotes himself, is he or she humble or pathologically shy… The answer to these questions becomes much easier when we focus on how much we are connected with God while doing something. IF I do it alone—I am in danger of an excessive pride or a false humility, when I’m united with Him—I am protected.
“Here is a wise virgin, from among the number of the prudent, who went forth with lighted lamp to meet Christ.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“‘Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Mt 20:15-16)
The civilization of love and life has four primacies: primacy of mercy before justice, person over thing, being over having, and ethics over technology. Our God leads us to true happiness, which depends not on what we can have but on good which we can do for others. Even the smallest good and the very last “do” has a value for God when it is generous.
“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“…Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.” (Mt 19:29)
The Second Vatican Council called a family “a kind of school of deeper humanity” (GS, 52). House, siblings, parents and property, when given up for the sake of Our Lord’s name, brings us a hundred times more benefits. This is a daily concern of every father and mother—to prepare their child to find God’s vocation and follow His will, not to keep them for themselves. Everything “given up” for the sake of His name, for realizing my vocation and mission in the Church, brings a blessing and a life a “hundred times more” intense.
“Blessed is the servant whom the Lord finds watching when he comes. Amen, I say to you: He will put that servant in charge of all his property.” (Communion Antiphon)
“The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, ministering to him, loving the name of the LORD, and becoming his servants— all who keep the sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer.” (Is 56:6-7)
Invited by God to His “house of prayer,” we can perform our ministry and become His servants. Our role is to “keep the sabbath free from profanation” and hold His covenant. His role is to bring us to heaven and “make us joyful.” A beautiful exchange. My favourite part of this “agreement” is “loving the name of the LORD.” Almighty God shares with us His name, which is full of love. The love of God revealed in His name can be worshiped by loving His name.
“Turn you eyes, O God, our shield; and look on the face of your anointed one; one day within you courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“‘Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.’” (Mt 18: 21-22)
Our perspective, “as many as seven times,” and God’s perspective, “seventy-seven times,” differ. Our Lord never tires of forgiving. He takes our best and makes our hearts more like His. His patience, compassion and unconditional love will guide us through our lives.
“Greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends, says the Lord.” (Communion Antiphon)
“…whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. ‘See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.’” (Mt 18:5.10)
God’s love protects everybody, but in a very special way the “little ones”: not only by giving them their Angels in Heaven, but also by identifying with them -“whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me”. Happy is every mother and father when they receive a long awaited child, happy they are even more with receiving with their child also Our Lord himself.
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart” (Gospel Acclamation)
“See, upon the mountains there advances the bearer of good news, announcing peace”! (Nah 2:1)
In so many ways can we announce peace – on our face, in our gestures, reactions and words. It will be great to be called “the bearer of good news.” Actually we are. Any person, because created by God’s love, bears on themselves the sign of His presence. And He is the Prince of Peace.
“In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding and clothed him in a robe of glory.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying,’Rise, and do not be afraid.’ And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.” (Mt 17: 6-8)
“Jesus alone” answers all our needs: our hunger, loneliness and fears. And He does it in a very special, personal way: “Jesus came and touched them, saying”… Theology has called this “verba and gesta Dei” – the words and gestures of God. Not only words, but also gestures, not only gestures, but also words. Message is stronger when we can see, touch and hear. And God’s love for us is human and total. Always.
“When Christ appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him like he is.” (Communion Antiphon)
“Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book… When I summon him, he shall approach me;… You shall be my people, and I will be your God.” (Jer 30: 2. 21-22)
“Words spoken” to you and me are so often about our relationship with us. “I will be your God, you shall be my people”. We belong to Him, but also – at the same moment – He, somehow, belongs to us. I can talk to Him, glorify Him, ask Him, thank Him always. There are no special conditions, places or formulas except one – to talk to Him as His child: chosen, protected and loved. He has given Himself as a Child, too.
“Hail, Holy Mother, who gave birth to the King who rules heaven and earth for ever.” ( Entrance Antiphon)
