GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 16TH SEPTEMBER 2016
FRIDAY OF THE 24TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
(MEMORIAL OF SAINTS CORNELIUS, POPE, AND CYPRIAN, BISHOP)
1ST READING: 1Corinthians 15:12-20
PSALM: Psalm 17:1, 6-8, 15
GOSPEL: Luke 8:1-3
THEME: GIVING MY ALL
It was a fund raising activity in support of an important Church project. As appeals were being made, one man remarked, “Look, I have given enough to the Church. Let someone else give.” It was a genuine remark, perhaps what can rightly be termed “donor fatigue”. However, the word, “enough” kept on ringing in my ears and I asked myself, “how much is enough when it comes to giving to the cause of Christ?”
Our Gospel text for today is very brief, just three verses, and yet its content is very deep – “Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources” (Lk. 8:1-3).
Three important movements, especially on the part of the women, can be inferred in the above verses: First and foremost, they had a life-changing encounter with Christ (they were healed). Then they chose to be part of the ministry team of Christ. Thirdly, they supported the ministry with their resources. In these movements, we see an expression of commitment and total self-giving to the person of Christ after an encounter.
Taking a cursory look at the state of the Church today, we can observe three categories of persons. First of all, there are those who are willing to give themselves to Christ but not their “resources”. They come to Church alright and are accounted as Christians BUT their “resources” do not follow them to Church.
The second group are those who are willing to support the work of the Church with their resources but are preoccupied with so many other activities outside the Church that they hardly find time and space to give themselves to Christ.
There are, however, those who give both themselves and their resources for the cause of Christ. These are people who, truly, have had an encounter with the person of Christ. They give themselves and what they have not because they are being asked to give but because they want to give on account of the love and mercy they have experienced in and through the person of Christ.
In sum, show me your commitment to Christ without total self-giving and by my total self-giving, I will show you my commitment to Christ.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you gave your all without counting the cost to save me. Now is my turn to give you my all. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).