The actions and lived experiences of our ancestors in faith, continues to encourage us in our journey of faith here on earth. Today’s liturgy reminds us of the fact that as Christians and children of God, we are privileged people. This is because we serve a God that is very patient with us; a God of mercy and a saviour. On this 24th Sunday of the year, the Lord is simply saying to us that none of us is a finished product; we are all work in progress. He is patient with us and waiting for us to do the needful and he will gladly welcome us back to himself. It is on this note that I would want to ask this important question, are you connected to God or disconnected from him; because you think your sins are numerous? To hold on to such a position, is simply to take the mercy of God for granted. No matter our past and present, he can make us and our future a better one; we just need to retrace our steps like the prodigal son and go back to him. He is waiting to receive us back like the prodigal son with an open arm.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, just like in our human relationships, we must always be ready to go back to God with a repentant heart when we go astray. The parables presented to us today in the gospel, points out the fact that God is always willing to take us back when we humble ourselves and go back to him with a repentant heart. The God we serve has no plan to lock out any of us from the heavenly banquet. It is our duty to make effort to remain connected with him and live in accordance with our call as children of God and people of God. This will help us to confidently proclaim the goodness of God to all those we meet in our daily lives; just like St. Paul did in the 2nd reading of this Sunday, in his first letter to Timothy. By so doing making our lives that of gratitude and praise to God almighty who continues to strengthen us in our journey of faith.
Dear friends in Christ, we also have a lot to learn from Moses in the 1st reading of today. God assured him of his blessings, while the Israelites will be punished because they have deviated from the way of the Lord. Interestingly, Moses was not willing to accept the blessings God has promised him while others are punished and rather appealed on behalf of the people and God relented and did not punish the people as he earlier decided. My brothers and sisters in Christ, the action of Moses challenges us to live a selfless life; a life that thinks about the good of others. In our world today, people are becoming less selfless and more self-centered and it is creating more problems in different aspects of our lives. Some of us would have accepted the blessings of God without minding the punishment of others, because it does not affect us. The more selfless we are and the more we think about others the more connected with God we will be.
We pray that God will grant us the grace to be selfless in our actions. Peace be with you! Amen!!!