Monday of the 25th week in ordinary time
Proverbs 3: 27-34 Luke 8: 16-18
Theme: Be good
Today the church celebrates the memorial of St. Padre Pio, a Capuchin priest, stigmatist and a mystic. He was a man who had great love for God, and this was seen in the practice of his faith and way of life. As we celebrate his memorial today, we are all encouraged to emulate him in the practice of our faith and in the way we live our lives. In his life, we see what it means to be good, as presented to us in todays 1st reading.
The Book of proverbs admonishes us never to postpone any good that we can do. It presents to us some wonderful things we need to practice in our life that will help us to be good children of God and better Christians. Everything that is presented to us today are things that we can do, if we truly desire to live like true children of God that we are called to be. We are also encouraged to do away with any form of envy and jealousy in our lives, because it will lead us to disrepute before God our saviour. Dearly beloved in Christ, the assertion from the Book of Proverbs is saying a lot to all of us as children of God. It is an invitation that we must not take for granted as we continue to strive to make heaven at the end of our earthly journey.
The practice of all these will not just make us good children of God, it will also help us to become good neighbours and enthrone the kingdom of God here on earth in a very special way. Our main goal as children of God is to live a life that is good and always pleasing to God. The most important thing is our resolve to make it happen in our life, and our effort towards achieving it; whatever is left when we have done our best will be supplied by God himself. Always remember that uprightness exalts a nation, so also an individual.
Dear friends in Christ, in the gospel St. Luke reminds us of who we are as children of God. We are all light, just like our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. If we take seriously the admonition of the Book of Proverbs, and practice it in our daily lives, then nothing will be able to quench or dim our light; rather our light will be shining brightly everywhere we go. The light that accompanies us in life as children of God, is part of our identity, and it is seen and experienced by all those who encounter us at different times in our journey of faith. Our consciousness of this fact should always guide all our actions as the children of God and his representatives here on earth. We are all capable of making it happen in our lives, if we make honest and sincere effort. His grace is sufficient for all of us as children of God.
May God grant us the grace to live a life that is always pleasing to him, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Peace be with you.