Today’s Inspirational Snippet:“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. Our Lord commands us to do all we can to make restitution as part of our repentance. The Good News consists precisely in this – offering God’s grace to the sinners. Christ, has dominion over all creatures, a dominion not seized by violence nor usurped but His, by essence and by nature.”
Reflection for 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time. Year C. Cycle II. October 30, 2022
Today’s Readings:
Wisdom 11:22—12:2
2 Thessalonians 1:11—2:2
Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14
Luke 19:1-10
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mysteries
Today’s Saint Quote:“With those who are perfect and walk with simplicity, there is nothing small and contemptible, if it be a thing that pleases God; for the pleasure of God is the object at which they alone aim, and which is the reason, the measure, and the reward of all their occupations, actions and plans.”- St. Alphonsus Rodriguez
THE GOOD NEWS IS FOR ALL OF US – WELCOME JESUS
This Sunday, we are presented with the great love and compassion that the Lord has for each and every one of us, without exception. This Sunday all of us are reminded that God’s love for us is truly generous, and He has always desired to be reconciled and reunited with us. Yet, it was often our own attitudes, stubbornness and wickedness in life which became serious barriers and obstacles preventing us from finding our way back towards the Lord and His salvation. That is why as we recall our readings today, we should spend this time to reflect on what we should do as Christians in embracing the love of God wholeheartedly.
In the First reading from the Book of Wisdom is a reminder that it is God’s love and God’s consciousness which brings beings into existence and maintains their existence. It is the love that God has for people which also extends forgiveness to sinners. The Responsorial Psalm urges that praise and glory be given to God because God is “slow to anger and of great kindness.” In today’s passage from his Second Letter to the Thessalonians, St. Paul reminds his listeners that they have been called by God and therefore must respond with “every effort of faith.” In the Gospel, Jesus encounters a short, Jewish tax collector who has climbed a tree to see Him. Jesus invites Himself into the tax collector’s house – and into his life – and the man turns his life over more fully to spreading the Gospel.
Many of us are like Zacchaeus. We think that wealth, power and status are everything in life. From young, our parents and our elders have used this as a carrot to motivate us to study hard. Are the rich and successful really happy in life? Many are lonely. They do not know who their true friends are. We may pretend to be happy and successful and even famous. But deep inside us, we are looking for authentic relationships, with God and with our fellowmen. We are looking for meaning and purpose. We are looking for something that can fill our empty hearts and restless souls. Indeed, the sad reality is that we live in illusion and the world encourages us to live that way.
That, precisely, was what happened to Zacchaeus. He put on a mask. He pretended to be self-sufficient. But in truth, he was unfulfilled. He had forgotten his real identity. He was just living to accumulate wealth. Indeed, whether we are rich or poor, saint or sinner, the Lord wants our salvation. God does not deprive anyone of salvation and fullness of life. God is the one who takes the initiative to reach out to us even before we reach out to Him. Jesus invited Himself to the house of Zacchaeus. Conversion of heart takes place whenever one comes into contact with God’s mercy and love. Truly, anyone who encounters the Lord would be transformed like Zacchaeus.
We are invited not just to respond to His mercy and love and to come back home; we are called to call others back to the Lord. We must invite them with unconditional love, in a non-judgemental non-intimidating way. We need to find ways to remove the obstacles that prevent the rich from returning home. We must climb the tree of faith above the crowd and fight by faith through the crowd. Don’t be crowded out of eternal life; enter in by faith. The ‘Good News’ is that no matter what has happened in our past, Jesus walks into the dusty streets of our own lives this day. The Good News is that we have a Saviour. Accept Jesus, “the Savior of the world” (Jn 4:42).
Faith is not a vicarious experience. While others can help to bring us to Jesus, He calls our name and we must personally respond. Faith is a door into an ongoing, intimate dynamic relationship with a living, loving God who, in Jesus Christ, has come to seek and save the lost. Jesus reminds us “You did not choose me but I chose you…” (John 15:16). The “crowds” in our lives rarely lead us to God. Desire to see Jesus more than anything or anyone else. The story of Zaccheus invites us to ask ourselves if we are serious about fully and truthfully living out our Christian vocation. Of course, growth in holiness is not dependent on our will and strength alone.
God loves each one of us uniquely and personally. God desires that we accept the gift of life and live out our life in accordance to the plan which the Creator has for each of us. Even if we do not respond fully to God’s call, we can experience God’s loving forgiveness and willingness to let us try again. We find a sense of belonging, acceptance, love, forgiveness, and mutual acceptance. What is preventing us from seeking the real thing and filling the void in our lives? We have many obstacles. Most of us have lost our identity. Our pride and greed prevented us from letting go of our so-called securities in life.
Sisters and Brothers, let us all hence commit ourselves to a renewal in our faith and a change in our practices, much as our great and holy predecessors had committed themselves to change their ways, from their past wicked and sinful ways into new, faithful and committed way of life in God’s grace and presence.
Today, let each and everyone of us, strive to overcome all obstacles to our prayer life
PRAY FOR THE CANONIZATION OF BLESSED MICHAEL TANSI, MICHAEL J. MCGIVNEY & NNADI MICHAEL
OCTOBER DEVOTION: PRAY THE ROSARY & LITANY- THIS IS THE MOST POWERFUL SPIRITUAL WEAPON AGAINST EVIL FORCES.
Have you ever considered Total Consecration of yourself to Blessed Virgin Mary, grow your Spirituality?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, come and stay with me. Fill my life with your peace, my home with your presence, and my heart with your praise. Help me to show kindness, mercy, and goodness to all, even to those who cause me ill-will or harm.
GROW AS A DISCIPLE Of JESUS; EVANGELIZE; LET THE POWER & GRACE THAT ACCOMPANY THE SHARING & PROPAGATION OF GOOD NEWS TOUCH & TRANSFORM ME THROUGH JESUS OUR LORD. AMEN.
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