Friday of the 26th week in ordinary time
Job 38: 12-21; 40: 3-5 Luke 10: 13-16
Theme: Faithfulness to God’s mission
St. Francis of Assisi whose memorial we celebrate today is one of the Saints in the church who renounced their affluence to embrace an austere life, as seen in his teaching and way of life. He willingly embraced poverty and served God with a humble and sincere heart. He lived a life that is worthy of emulation, and towards the end of his life, he received stigmata and experienced the pains of Christ. The zeal with which St. Francis served God was enormous and this reflected in a great way in the success of his service to God and humanity. We are all encouraged today as we celebrate the memorial of St. Francis to emulate him and set our priorities right. Some of us would have found it very difficult to give up the good life and comfort that was at his disposal. But St. Francis gave everything, because he had his mind fixed on God and what he was offering him, and not what the world and his family wealth was offering him.
In the gospel reading of today from St. Luke, we see Jesus calling out some towns who were not putting the word of God into practice in their daily. Not minding the fact that God has done a lot in their midst that is enough to make them turn away from their ways and embrace the teachings and way of God. The words of Jesus that it will be worse for these towns more than Tyre and Sidon, because if they had the same work done in those other towns, they would have repented. This points to the fact that the people have failed both themselves and God.
Dearly beloved in Christ, if Jesus were to come in our own time, what will he say about us, will it be positive or negative, taking into consideration all that is happening in our world. Your guess is as good as mine. One of the wonderful things about God is the fact that he gives us ample opportunity for repentance, and whenever we go to him with a sincere heart, he will receive us like the prodigal son. Dear friends in Christ, now is the time for us to make that bold step of faith and appreciate the great work that God is doing in our midst by opting to live a life that is good and pleasing to God.
We pray today that through the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi, God will grant us the grace to be worthy ambassadors for Christ wherever we find ourselves in life, in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, Amen. Peace be with you.