+ Our readings today are simple and beautiful. The first reading finds St.
Paul telling the Philippians that the thing that would make him most happy is, as
baptized members of Christ, having his very life within them, to be united in their convictions and in their
love for one another – having a common purpose, and a common mind. United in
mind and heart therefore.
He tells them that there
should be no competition among them, no conceit, but everyone is to be self-effacing,
and always to consider the other person to be better than themselves, and to
consider his / her interests above their own.
The hallmark of being a Christian
is love: See how they love one another!! This was said about the early
Christians – can it truly be said of us, here, now? If not, we have work to do –
because this is actually the only thing that God will be interested in taking
an account of us one day: how we loved one another rather than ourselves.
This is again, illustrated and
highlighted in the gospel passage when Jesus tells the Pharisees that when
giving a lunch they should invite not their cozy little in group, who can repay
you with a like feast at their house, but no, they are to invite the poor, the
crippled, the lame, and the blind – because they cannot repay you. This is the
virtuous thing to do. After all he is telling the Pharisees that such guests
are actually him in a sort of disguise. Reward will come with an eternal
banquet prepared in heaven.
All there is is love – plain and
simple! If we live this way – we are truly Christian, truly Catholic, and truly
members of Christ – and will be so forever in heaven. Amen.
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