Thursday of the 33rd week in ordinary time
Rev. 5: 1-10 Luke 19: 41-44
Theme: The supremacy of God
Today the church celebrates the memorial of the presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a memorial that reminds us of how the parents of Mary took her to the Temple according to the custom of their people. A celebration that points to the fact that our mother Mary went through the normal process of her people.
The narrative of St. John from the Book of revelation should strengthen our faith and trust in God. This is because we have a God who willingly gave his own son Jesus Christ, to give us life. Not minding the fact that we do not merit this selfless act from God. The depth of his love for humanity is overwhelming, and it has not changed, even in our own time. God did not just liberate his people and gave them life, he also made us “a kingdom and priests to our God, and we shall reign on earth”.
This goes to show the extent to which God goes for the sake of his people. The big question today is to what extent are you and I ready to go for the sake of God? Some people are willing to go the extra mile in appreciation for what God has done in their life and continue to do, while some others are not willing to go the extra mile, because they are not ready to pay the price of discipleship, which can come in different ways. For instance, it can lead to one shedding his blood, it can lead to hatred from some people, it can lead to rejection and so many other things that may be discomforting.
Amidst all these challenges that we may encounter because of our resolve to serve Christ, we need to be courageous and trust in God. Our ancestors in faith paid this price in different ways, and today we celebrate them for their option for Christ. We are all encouraged today to be conscious of this supreme sacrifice that God made for you and I and ensure that we live a good life that will make it worth it at the end.
Dearly beloved in Christ, our God is worthy to be praised and adored. His love and mercy for his people cannot be quantified. He loves us so much and continues to show it in our daily life. In view of this, let us continue to strive to live a life that is good and always pleasing to God. May the Lord bless his words in our hearts in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Peace be with you.