Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
June 28th 2020
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,
I remember my first communion classes, I was about 8 year old. The nuns, our teachers, always used for their teaching guide the famous Catechism wrote by the Brothers of Christian Instruction. Many times the nuns required us to memorize parts of the Catechism and today I want to begin with its first section in which the question was asked: “Why did God made you?” The answer we memorized was: “God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in the world, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven.” Later on we had to memorize the Ten Commandments, and the first one was: “I am the Lord your God, you shall not have strange gods before me.”
Why am I putting all of these things together in this homily? Because they are all firsts, and many times the first things are the most important things. The readings in today’s Mass are about what is first in our lives, or what should be first, namely our relationship with God. Our relationship with God is the most important relationship we can have in our lives. Our relationship with God is the most important thing we can lose in our lives.
God offers Himself to us, we respond. If we don’t respond, we are telling God that his offer has no value for us and that his offer doesn’t mean anything to us. Whether or not our immortal souls live in eternal life in heaven depends on our relationship with God here on earth.
Our lives are filled with “busy-ness”, there are so many things we need to do and so many things we consider to be important. But What about God? Where is He in our lives? What sort of attention do we give to God? We need to ask that question from time to time and today’s readings challenge us to do just that not only today, or on Sundays, but each and every day of our lives.
There are two big points to draw from today’s readings; the first being the question of how important God is to us in our lives. The second has to do with God’s messengers. God uses messengers, intermediaries, to relate to us. How important are they to us.
We live in a sort of “do it yourself” world. We like to take care of things all by ourselves. But we really cannot live that way, can we? We need to depend on others in one way or another. That is true when it comes to the way God reaches us. The woman in the first reading and the businesswoman named Lydia paid a lot of attention to God’s messengers. As a result, God reached her and changed her life. Are we open to God’s messengers in our lives? God cares for you, He loves you, and He wants your attention and love. We all need to make room for Him in our lives, our hearts, and our thoughts. If we don’t, our soul is in peril.
Summertime is upon us, a time when our busy-ness is not so demanding. It’s a time of recreation and a time during which we can be reflective. What about reading some good books, especially books and things to read to turn our thoughts toward God. What about some quiet time spent in reflection about God’s presence in our lives?
Pick up some spiritual reading now so you have it over your summertime. Spend some thoughtful, quiet, and reflective time during which you can pay attention to God and what He has to say to you. Spend some time asking yourself what is important in your life. After all, He made you to know Him, love Him and serve Him, and to be happy with Him in Heaven.
What, after all, is your life really all about? Think about it.
May God Bless you all!
Philippians 4:6-7 Revised Standard Version (RSV)
Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.