THURSDAY, TWENTY EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Memorial of Saint Teresa of Avila
Eph 1: 1-10; Ps 98: 1-6; Lk 11: 47-54
LIVING AND RESPONDING TO THE CALL OF GRACE
In the very first verse we see that St. Paul is commissioned by Christ and not self-appointed. He is an apostle “by the will of God.” He belongs to Christ. His identity and mission come from being in communion with Christ. Paul assures the community that his writing and prayer is rooted in Christ, and obedience to God’s will. Like Paul, do I realise that my calling comes from Christ. The ministry I like to work in, is Christ’s calling and not my right. It is not my personal or private project. Who inspires me and gives me the strength in ministry? Am I rooted in prayer and listening to God’s will?
Paul describes those to whom he is writing as saints, as faithful, and as being in Christ Jesus. As saints we are sanctified and set apart by the Holy Spirit. We are all called to Holiness. Holiness is about belonging to God and being in His presence. As Christ’s faithful we are invited to trust in God’s goodness and are invited to participate in Christ’s life and love. St. Paul’s opening word, ‘Blessed,’ invites us to join him in a prayer of praise. Being rooted in Christ at Baptism, we are invited to pray to the Father as Jesus did. Our praise to God in prayer must be the exuberance that flows from experiencing God’s deep love. The daily Eucharist is the community shared worship in which we can experience God. Do I open myself to experience God’s transforming love?
Today’s responsorial Psalm is a hymn of joy telling us of God’s marvelous deeds. This invites universal praise i.e., voices, instruments, and creation itself. In the Gospel, Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees for honouring prophets outwardly with lip service. Inwardly they have rejected the prophet’s message. Are our lives also one of hypocrisy and hardness of heart? Are we serving God’s saving plan and will? God has a plan of salvation in Christ, for each one of us. We are invited to respond in joyful praise and live our lives attaining Christian maturity in faithfulness to God.
Response: The Lord has made known his salvation.
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