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Reflections
for Sunday, January 30, 2011
Our Lord Jesus teaches us this week that we must not worry about what
things look like, but instead place our concern on living in imitation of
Him. This teaching can help us be more faithful as His followers and give
us courage when we make mistakes or when we seem foolish to others.
The basic teaching this week is that God uses the foolish, the weak, the
lowly, the despised and those who count for nothing as his followers and as
those who bring His message of love and peace and reconciliation to others.
This is a challenging message because it can be taken so easily in a wrong
way. Every time that I am foolish, weak, lowly, despised or count for
nothing is not a guarantee that I am doing God's will. Because of this,
our Lord Himself speaks to us in today's Gospel, pointing out the kinds of
actions that can make us appear as foolish, weak, lowly, despised or
counting for nothing.
The Beatitudes of today's Gospel speak about a life that is lived in
discipleship to the Lord Jesus and which does not count the cost of that
discipleship. It is as though the Prophet Zephaniah tells us to be lowly
and humble and God will use us for His own designs of salvation.
So how do we live out these readings that we have heard today? We must
live the readings as though are the only words of life given to us. The
Gospel especially is a Gospel which can change our lives entirely. The
second reading, from the First Letter to the Corinthians, tells us not to
pay attention to how others judge us or how they judge our actions. The
first reading, from the Prophet Zephaniah, points out that lowliness and
humility allow us to live as Jesus lived.
The Gospel of the Lord is always an invitation to life in God. It is not
imposed on us but is an invitation. The Gospel of the Lord invites us to a
way of live that will change us so that we can do His will with joy and
gladness. Only with God's help can we respond to God's invitation.
Because the Lord Jesus loves us, He invites us to live. Once we hear His
word and begin to listen to it, we can begin to follow Him. He wants all
of us and so He continues to invite us. We don't always want to give all
that He asks of us, but we can keep trying to give Him our lives. May
today's Gospel continue to convert us so that we may live and rejoice in
the Lord.
Readings of the day:
First Reading:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
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Reflections are available for the following Sundays:
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