Friends,
our Gospel today calls us to entrust our lives completely to God. How
often the Bible compels us to meditate on the meaning of faith! We might
say that the Scriptures rest upon faith, that they remain inspired at
every turn by the spirit of faith.
Paul
Tillich said that “faith” is the most misunderstood word in the
religious vocabulary, and I’ve always felt that he’s right about that.
What is faith? Faith is an attitude of trust in the presence of God.
Faith is openness to what God will reveal, do, and invite. It should be
obvious that in dealing with the infinite, all-powerful person who is
God, we are never in control.
This
is precisely what we see in the lives of the saints. Mother Teresa
moving into the worst slum in the world in an attitude of trust. Francis
of Assisi just abandoning everything and living for God. Rose Hawthorne
deciding to take cancer sufferers into her own home. Antony leaving
everything behind and going into the desert. Maximilian Kolbe saying,
“I’m a Catholic priest; take me in his place.” So do not worry and
depend on God for everything—have faith!
To the penitent God provides a way back,
he encourages those who are losing hope
and has chosen for them the lot of truth.
Return to him and give up sin,
pray to the LORD and make your offenses few.
Turn again to the Most High and away from your sin,
hate intensely what he loathes,
and know the justice and judgments of God,
Stand firm in the way set before you,
in prayer to the Most High God.
Who in the nether world can glorify the Most High
in place of the living who offer their praise?
Dwell no longer in the error of the ungodly,
but offer your praise before death.
No more can the dead give praise
than those who have never lived;
You who are alive and well
shall praise and glorify God in his mercies.
How great the mercy of the LORD,
his forgiveness of those who return to him!
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments:
You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother."
He replied and said to him,
"Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
"You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
At that statement, his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
"How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the Kingdom of God!"
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
"Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God."
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
"Then who can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For men it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment