TUESDAY, THIRTY SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours
Wis 2:23–3:9 Ps 34: 2-3,16-19 Lk 17: 7-10
RESTORED IN CHRIST!
The words of the first reading remind us of a profound truth – our birth is not an accident, nor are we a random collection of cells. Rather we are the products of Divine Love, a deliberate act of creation. To be made in the image of God means that every human life carries within itself a reflection of the Creator’s own nature. This image is not found merely in outward appearance, but in the very capacities that make us distinct such as our ability to reason, to love, to invent, to seek justice and to enter into relationship with God and with one another. Within each of us lies a spark of the Divine that sets us apart from the rest of creation.
We are spiritual beings clothed in flesh, endowed with conscience, imagination, and moral responsibility. Yet, the reality of sin cannot be ignored. The image of God within us has been marred by selfishness, pride and disobedience. While we still bear His likeness, it has been distorted and blurred. The harmony once intended between humanity and God, and among human beings themselves, has been fractured. Still, the truth of the Book of Wisdom is that those who remain faithful will abide in God’s love. The image may be damaged, but it is not destroyed.
Through Christ, this image is renewed and restored since ‘He is the image of the invisible God’ and made Himself incarnate in the human flesh. In Him, we see the perfect reflection of the Father and the perfect flawless nature of human selves. By following Him, we rediscover our true and ultimate identity and vocation i.e. to mirror God’s love, holiness, and justice in the world. To be made in His image is both a gift and a responsibility. It calls us to honour the dignity of every person, to live with integrity, and to shape creation with care.
The first reading reminds us that our destiny is not corruption but incorruption, not despair but eternal communion. Trusting in God, we embrace the truth of who we are and live in the hope of who we are becoming i.e. restored images of His love!
Response: I will bless the Lord at all times.
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