Saturday of the 25th week in ordinary time year A
Zechariah 2:1-5.10-11a Luke 9:43b-45
Theme: You are a gift
Today the church celebrates the memorial of St. Jerome, priest, and doctor of the church. Just like the theme of our reflection today says, Jerome was a gift to the church and those who knew him. The moment he mended his ways and got closer to God, he started using his gifts and intelligence for the greater glory of God. He is known for his translation of the Bible and his knowledge of the scriptures. All this and more are what made Jerome a gift to the church and all those who encountered him. The quest to truly discover himself and make meaning out of his life, made him move from place to place, and when he did, he made good use of his gifts.
All of us as children of God, are gifts to God and to one another. The question is whether we realize this fact in our lives. There is nobody that is completely empty and has nothing to do to better his life and the lives of those who encounter him or her. The main challenge we have sometimes is the fact that some of us give up on ourselves easily, and we start complaining that God has refused to answer our prayers. We forget that God is not interested in our damnation, rather he is interested that we have life and life in abundance. What we need whenever we deal with God, is to pray for the grace of patience. This is because our timing is different from Gods timing, so he answers our prayers when he knows is best for us. Unfortunately, sometimes some people lose faith in God and begin to grumble, because by their own timing it is taking a long time.
Dear friends, always be conscious of the fact that you are a gift and very precious to God, especially in times of difficulties and the challenges of life. No matter the situation you are going through in your life now, never give up on yourself, because God will never give up on you. Some of the saints we celebrate in the church today, like St. Jerome, St. Augustine of Hippo, and St. Paul did not give up on God because of their early life. They trusted in the mercy of God, and they were not disappointed. We serve a God that means well for all of us and will always support our effort to become good. We pray that through the intercession of St. Jerome God will continue to strengthen our faith in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit. Amen. Peace be with you.