Contemplating today's Gospel
Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)
Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains. But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Yet in no way can a man redeem himself, or pay his own ransom to God; too high is the price to redeem one’s life; he would never have enough to remain alive always and not see destruction.
Fear not when a man grows rich, when the wealth of his house becomes great, for when he dies, he shall take none of it; his wealth shall not follow him down.
Though in his lifetime he counted himself blessed, «They will praise you for doing well for yourself», he shall join the circle of his forebears who shall never more see light.
"Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God"
Fr. Jordi PASCUAL i Bancells (Salt, Girona, Spain)Today, in the Gospel, we can appreciate what a normal day in the three years of Jesus' public life should have been. St. Luke explains it in a few words: “Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God” (Lk 8:1). This is what we contemplate in the third Mystery of Light of the Holy Rosary.
While commenting this mystery His Holiness St. John Paul II says: “Another mystery of light is the preaching by which Jesus proclaims the coming of the Kingdom of God, calls to conversion and forgives the sins of all who draw near to him in humble trust: the inauguration of that ministry of mercy which he continues to exercise until the end of the world, particularly through the Sacrament of Reconciliation which he has entrusted to his Church.”
Jesus keeps on passing by close to us and offering us His supernatural goods: when we pray; when we read and ponder over the Gospel, to know and love Him better and imitate His life; when we receive a sacrament, especially the Eucharist and the Penance; when we devote ourselves with effort and perseverance to our every day’s chores; when we have to deal with our family, our friends or our neighbors; when we help that person who is in need of material or spiritual help; when we have a rest or amuse ourselves... In all those circumstances we may find Jesus and follow Him just as those Twelve and those saintly women also did.
But, above all, each one of us is called by God to also be “the passing Jesus”, that is, to speak to those we deal with —with our deeds and our words— about the faith that fills our existence with meaning, about the hope that impels us to go on forward through the paths of life designed by God, and about the charity that should guide all our acts.
The first one to follow Jesus and “to be Jesus” is Mary. That with her example and mediation she may help us!
Thoughts on Today's Gospel
“It is better for a man to confess of his sins than to harden his heart.” (Saint Clement of Rome)
“In contrast to the contemporary Jewish custom, by which women were viewed as being secondary status, Christ achieved something like an emancipation of women.” (Benedict XVI)
“From the very beginning of the Church there were men and women who set out to follow Christ with greater liberty, and to imitate him more closely, by practicing the evangelical counsels. They led lives dedicated to God, each in his own way (...)” (Catechism Of The Catholic Church, Nº 918)
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December 22nd
Fourth Sunday of Advent (C)
Gospel and commentary video
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