Father Hurlbert used a great metaphor in his homily at Mass this weekend, saying that love of God and love of neighbor are two sides of the same coin. And this coin is transparent so that when we look through the coin that is the love of God, we see our neighbor.
That is why Jesus offers two commands in response to the question about what the greatest commandment is, because our love for God is reflected in how we love our neighbor, just as love for God gives a right foundation for our acts of charity toward others. God made that a central part of the Law He gave to His people, commanding them to do good those in need, that it may be a reflection of having a relationship with a Righteous God. It shows how God has marvelously worked in our lives to rescue us, so that we turn from idols to worship Him, embracing the word He gives us about loving others. Indeed, God's love is a great gift, and may it be our joy to share it, as much as sharing His love is our identity as God's people.
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Sunday, October 22, 2017
October 22, 2017: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The readings speak about God Almighty Who rules alone, and to Whom we owe our allegiance.
His power even extends over Gentiles like Cyrus, whom God uses to accomplish His purposes. That is why Jesus brushes aside the malicious questioning of the Pharisees to say that as Caesar should get what is his, God should get what is His, which is everything that He grants us.
Indeed, He chose us and called us to His by the Gospel, which brings us to faith in the power of the Holy Spirit, that we grasp on to Him as He grasps us. And He calls us to give Him what He is due: lives that are wholeheartedly devoted to glorifying, loving, and serving Him, as an acknowledgment that He is Almighty.
After hearing the proclamation of these readings 12 years ago, I made a commitment to live out my faith as I was sealed in the Holy Spirit in Confirmation, because I was chosen to be a person abiding in the Truth God reveals in the Gospel through "power and the Holy Spirit, and with much conviction".
Sunday, October 15, 2017
October 15, 2017: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
God has invited us to His banquet, where there is an abundance of not only food, but His Goodness, and His presence that takes away all sin and death, bringing us fully into the Life of God.
We embrace the invitation to join in the great Feast, entering into it fully, not getting sidetracked by other things. We experience it even now, participating day by day as we live the values of of the Gospel that Jesus Christ presented to us, and by which we are saved.
We live the invitation God has extended to us by living out our faith, bringing others to join the Feast. In this Feast, we know that God truly fills us as we abide in His presence now, as we will abide in His presence forever.
It is a Feast that I embraced in a whole new way 12 years ago when I made a profession of faith at my Confirmation before the community of faith. And I rejoice in extending the invitation by passing on the faith, most especially in Religious Education, as I guide along a new generation in encountering God and growing in relationship with Him.
We embrace the invitation to join in the great Feast, entering into it fully, not getting sidetracked by other things. We experience it even now, participating day by day as we live the values of of the Gospel that Jesus Christ presented to us, and by which we are saved.
We live the invitation God has extended to us by living out our faith, bringing others to join the Feast. In this Feast, we know that God truly fills us as we abide in His presence now, as we will abide in His presence forever.
It is a Feast that I embraced in a whole new way 12 years ago when I made a profession of faith at my Confirmation before the community of faith. And I rejoice in extending the invitation by passing on the faith, most especially in Religious Education, as I guide along a new generation in encountering God and growing in relationship with Him.
Sunday, October 8, 2017
October 8, 2017: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The extended metaphor of a vineyard in the first reading and Gospel reading paints a great picture for how God cares for us so graciously. So it's no surprise the owner is disappointed when such tender loving care doesn't produce good fruit, just as God is disappointed when we don't respond with faithfulness to His care.
God bestows upon us His righteousness, compelling us to bear fruit for His glory. The Jews were unfaithful in bearing fruit because they were stuck in their own ways. And so God opened up the vineyard to others, the Gentiles, who abided in His righteous ways and have born fruit for His glory--like the tax collectors and prostitutes who responded to the message calling for repentance, as Jesus mentioned in last weekend's Gospel.
Let us seek to produce good fruit as we focus on those things of highest quality, like St. Paul lists in the reading in Phillippians, thinking about honorable, just, lovely, and excellent things, that we offer ourselves up for His Glory. Then we shall overcome the anxieties of this life, truly knowing the peace of God that is beyond our comprehension, but which keeps us secure in relationship with Him.
God bestows upon us His righteousness, compelling us to bear fruit for His glory. The Jews were unfaithful in bearing fruit because they were stuck in their own ways. And so God opened up the vineyard to others, the Gentiles, who abided in His righteous ways and have born fruit for His glory--like the tax collectors and prostitutes who responded to the message calling for repentance, as Jesus mentioned in last weekend's Gospel.
Let us seek to produce good fruit as we focus on those things of highest quality, like St. Paul lists in the reading in Phillippians, thinking about honorable, just, lovely, and excellent things, that we offer ourselves up for His Glory. Then we shall overcome the anxieties of this life, truly knowing the peace of God that is beyond our comprehension, but which keeps us secure in relationship with Him.
Monday, October 2, 2017
October 1, 2017: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
God is calling us to follow the way that leads to Life: By turning away from sin and turning towards righteousness, we experience Life. Being saved and forgiven of sin compels us to repent of evil ways and live life in a way that glorifies God. This is the way the tax collectors and prostitutes were following, and they were entering the Kingdom of God because they were open to the ways of Life, unlike the Jewish religious authorities who were stuck in their own ways.
Following God's way means we focus not so much on ourselves, but on God Who came to us in Jesus, emptying Himself, that we may be saved and that He may receive the Glory as we give of ourselves wholly in service to others, a way of life that moves us beyond self-righteouesness.
Following God's way means we focus not so much on ourselves, but on God Who came to us in Jesus, emptying Himself, that we may be saved and that He may receive the Glory as we give of ourselves wholly in service to others, a way of life that moves us beyond self-righteouesness.
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