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Reflections
for Sunday, August 11, 2013
The readings today are part of the wisdom of the Scriptures handed down to
us. Allof Scripture is given to us to teach how to live in Jesus Christ
and how to be alive in Him. Our faith must become more than words on our
lips. Rather our faith must become the way that we live at all times.
Even if we fail and sin, it must be our faith that returns us to the path
of the Lord.
Faith is a complete trust in our Lord Jesus and in His promises to us. The
first reading today, from the Book of Wisdom, talks about the destruction
of our enemies. Even our Jewish ancestors came to believe that our enemies
are not those who threaten us, but the thoughts, words, actions and
omissions that draw us into sin and away from the living God. The reality
of these spiritual enemies is express by talking about physical enemies.
Wisdom invites us to grow deep enough in the spiritual life to recognize
that fighting anyone else other than ourselves is foolishness.
The second reading today, from the Letter to the Hebrews, gives us Abraham
and Sarah as examples of those who came to believe in God and in His
promises. They believed to the point of foolishness—and yet in the end God
fulfilled His promise to them. How easily we give up in our struggle
against sin. God promises us victory over sin and when we fail, we often
give up. Rather, we are called to walk as Abraham and Sarah walked: with
complete trust that God will in the end free us from sin and death.
The Gospel today, from Saint Luke, invites us to gather treasures that last
forever. This continues the teaching from last Sunday. We must always be
looking at the spiritual reality that surrounds us and envelops us so that
we are aware that there is more to life that just what we see in the here
and now.
It is so easy to forget that there is a world beyond this world. We forget
that our struggle is not just to live in the here and now, but to live
forever. Life eternal is our invitation. The deeper we go into the life
of faith, the more that is asked of us. Even when we fail and sin, God
will continue to invite us and ask to to be faithful once more and to
abandon our sins.
My sisters and brothers, God wants us all and He wants all of us. We can
continue to resist Him but he always continues to invite us. Let us give
in to His love and practice the wisdom of the spiritual life. Let us learn
to fight for life eternal by choosing that which is good here and now and
doing what is right. All glory and praise to God.
Readings of the day:
First Reading: Wisdom 18.6-9
Second Reading: Hebrews 11.1-2, 8-19
Gospel: Luke 12.32-48
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Reflections are available for the following Sundays:
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