See and do all these things as expressions of our love for God
Reflections on the readings for the Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 8, 2020): WIS 6:12-16; PS 63:2,3-4,5-6,7-8; 1 THES 4:13-18; MT 25:1-13
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days
We have serious responsibilities to love and care for our families, to look after our own health of mind and body, and to provide for our own livelihood and that of those who depend on us.
The liturgical readings for today encourage us to reverently respond to God’s call to be people of faith, hope, and love all the days of our life. Then we never need fear either our own death or the Final Judgment. St. Paul, writing to the followers of Christ in Thessalonica, offered them comfort and assurance. He told them that whether they would still be living on earth or already dead, all who are faithful to the will of Almighty God shall gain the gift of everlasting life with Christ.
We all need to remember that God is the real focus of life. Our whole being must center on Him. We have serious responsibilities to love and care for our families, to look after our own health of mind and body, and to provide for our own livelihood and that of those who depend on us. We also have a deep obligation to love our neighbor as ourselves. However, we need to see and to do all these things as expressions of our love for God. He has loved us since long before He created us and He yearns to share His love with us for all eternity. We have to answer Him, to reciprocate with our both profound appreciation and sincere affection. The Psalmist expresses this beautifully: “O God, You are my God whom I seek; for You my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parch, lifeless and without water. Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory, for Your kindness is a greater good than life; my lips shall glorify You” (Psalm 63:2-4). Our relationship with God should not be one of us always asking Him to do things for us – no matter how good our request may seem. Almighty God wants us to depend on Him, but He also wants us to know and love Him as a friend, our best friend. Then we can serve Him with a grateful, humble and happy heart. And nothing can come between us.
Suggested missionary action: Let us ask Almighty God to help us grow in a real desire for heaven throughout our life on earth. Let us ask Him to help us yearn to spend our eternity in His loving presence.
