Brothers and Sisters, today let us become introspective. Let’s look inward and decide where our hearts lead us in our faith. As we see in the first reading, Saint Paul is amazed that some followers of Christ are so easily swayed by those wishing to corrupt the gospel of Christ. But he reminds the faithful we were given only one gospel and that gospel was given to us from on high and entrusted to a special people. As we go about our daily lives, let us contemplate what gospel are we following? Do we even know the gospel? Are we writing our own gospel?
Where Our Hearts are Led
The answers to these questions are important because they determine where we allow our hearts to be led. Some will become careless, picking and choosing what they want to follow to the point they mock the faith. Others will become so pharisaic they throw Christ’s mercy out the window becoming holier than thou in their perceived perfections. And still others are too lazy to attend to their knowledge of the gospel to the point of abandonment. But there is hope in those who break open the word guided by the light of church teaching. They are alerted and admonished by the teachings to a holy lifestyle allowing then to be worthy disciples of Christ in the modern world. They live out lives of Love and Mercy. Take Mother Theresa as a model. (Go see the movie, it opens today!). She lived the true gospel of Love and Mercy.
The True Gospel of Love and Mercy
And if you find a need for certainty, make sure you have a great Catholic Study Bible, a Catechism of the Catholic Church, and a book on the Saints. These will all give you a foundation in how we are to live in the true gospel of Christ and identify if we are developing a counterfeit gospel in our hearts. The Catholic study bible will have great footnotes and supplemental material to bring out important insights throughout the scriptures; the Catechism expresses the faithful teachings of the Church, and the saints show us the applications of the gospels in different times and places up to current times. In these there will be no question when it comes to the living out our faith in today’s society.
Today’s gospel shows how we can seek to justify ourselves, or even become too good to deal with the suffering and injury of others that we miss what we are called to do. But I pray you look into your heart and find the true gospel – Love and Mercy, and let it flow out into the world through you and your family. Many Blessings!
Peace and Blessings.
