Search
-
July 7, 2021Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time -- July 11, 2021 Readings: Amos 7:12-15; Psalm 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:7-13
In the Old Testament, the Jews are presented as God’s chosen people, a people set apart to give and bring glory to God in heaven. Yet in light of Jesus’ Incarnation we are invited to see ourselves in a more personal and intimate relationship with God, that is, as His adopted children. We are chosen not only as a people but we are chosen individually to come to know and love God as our Father and be loved intimately in a very personal way through the gift of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Like the Israelites before us, we are called to respond to the generosity of our God by living in such a way as to bring glory to Him. We are called to make our Father proud of whom we are becoming. The gospel reminds us that we are also called to ‘brag’ about our Father and His tremendous beneficence to all of His children who are equally deserving of His love. As God loves His children, we carry Him forth into the world around us each and every day. Do we make Him proud? We are reminded that in order to do so we may have to move outside of our comfortable lives and be set apart from cultural norms and expectations. Much in the same way as God’s chosen people were challenged in the Old Testament, we are called to conform ourselves to Christ and not the world. We do so knowing that not all of those we encounter will be open to the Word of the Lord and may reject us for our faith. We may face persecution in one form or another. Yet we must proudly and enthusiastically keep living and sharing the Gospel if we are to be united. As we live more openly as faithful models of God’s children, the Holy Spirit will encourage and help us to change the world around us.
For further reflection on the Church’s call to unite all things to Christ, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 770-776; and on the apostolic mission Jesus has given to those who love Him, paragraphs, 849-856.- In what ways do I chose to conform to the culture over living out God’s plan for my life? How strongly do I fear rejection of others if I seek to be open about my faith? What can I do to become more open and to set more of my life aside to honor and glorify God?
- Am I courageously Catholic? How willing am I to proclaim the Gospel to friends and family? How well equipped am I to share and defend the teachings of Christ? His Church?
- How might I walk with Jesus each day and model His loving presence more fully to my family?
