Return to Him the love He has for each and every one of us...
Reflections on the readings for the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (August 23, 2020): IS 22:19-23; PS 138:1-2,2-3,6,8; ROM 11:33-36; MT 16:13-20
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 are His creation, His children. He gives and we receive. It is up to us to remember and live this out in humility and gratitude.
In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul continues where he left off in last Sunday’s reading. Then he reminded Jews and Gentiles that all people are invited to answer Christ’s call to follow Him and to receive His mercy. Today, Paul uses quotes from the Old Testament to remind all who hear his message to put their complete trust in Almighty God because He is the source of all understanding and goodness. We are His creation, His children. He gives and we receive. It is up to us to remember and live this out in humility and gratitude. “Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are His judgments and how unsearchable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been His counselor? Or who has given the Lord anything that he may be repaid?” (Romans 11:33-35)
We can understand God only in so much as He reveals Himself to us. In the Gospel Peter is able to proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God. This was not something Peter could figure out on his own. Our eternal Father revealed it to him. Likewise, what can we who are His creatures give to Almighty God? The answer is: only what He asks of us. God wants our loving obedience so that we may finally share eternal glory with Him. God loves and blesses us, not because it benefits Him, but because it is for our ultimate good. Let us say “Yes!” to Him with each breath we take.
Suggested missionary action: We can give God what He asks of us, our love for Him. We need to pray for His help in living our love each day. We need to pray for and help our neighbors, as well, both those we know and all those on God’s good earth.
