On these Sundays in Ordinary Time - we focus more on various aspects of our faith, what it really means to be a Christian… especially the mission of the church. We are the Church.
From our First Reading today: “I will make you a light to the nations; that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
Are these words speaking to you? Are they speaking to your heart? Let us be like Mary, let us ponder it in your hearts. It is addressed to each one of us personally.
Imagine, Jesus looking at you saying: “I will make you a light to the nations; that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” – Yes, you.
You are probably thinking – I am just an ordinary person – my efforts are small or hardly noticeable, but you see, God reminds us that even our simple quiet faithfulness can carry God’s light far beyond what we imagine.
This passage invites us to reflect: Where is God sending me to be a light? In my family, parish, workplace, or society? God calls us not only to belong to Him, but to God calls us to reflect His love also to others.
When we live with compassion, justice, and hope, in our own ordinary daily life - we participate in God’s saving work for the world.
From our Responsorial Psalm: “Here am I Lord, I come to do your will.” – that should always be our response to God like Mary.
From our Second Reading (1 Cor.: 1:1-3) – we heard St. Paul addressed the Church in Corinth - To the church of God that is in Corinth,- We can phrase it to say: To the church of God in Vallejo - To St. Catherine of Siena faith community - you who have been baptized and sanctified in Christ Jesus, you are called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ… that’s you and me.
Paul reminded the Corinthians and he is reminding us of our dignity. Holiness is not something we achieve by perfection; holiness or to be holy is a gift given by us belonging to Christ… Everything is grace.
The universal call to holiness is not only for priests and religious – but also for us - lay people - living an everyday life and doing ordinary work.
Again, this call is for all of us – as individuals and as a community.
Like the Corinthians, we live in a busy and often confusing world. We may feel unworthy. Yet, God calls us to holiness, not because we are perfect, but because we belong to Him. Each day, we are invited to live out this calling, receiving God’s grace and in turn becoming instruments of His peace in our homes, parishes, and communities.
From the Gospel, John the Baptist pointed to Christ: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
This Gospel passage speaks directly to our own struggles.
From the Divine Mercy revelations to Saint Faustina, Jesus told St. Faustina that what wounds Jesus’s heart more painfully than terrible sins is people’s lack of trust in His mercy because it rejects the very love and forgiveness Jesus offers, denying His sacrifice and goodness.
We sometimes find it hard to forgive ourselves. We allow guilt and shame to define us, as if our mistakes are stronger than God’s mercy. But John points us to a different truth. Jesus does not merely cover our sin; he takes away our sins. Jesus does not come to remind us of our past, but Jesus frees us from our past. As the Lamb of God, Jesus carries our burdens so that we can live in peace and with hope.
And when we accept his forgiveness and learn to forgive ourselves, we then become witnesses of his grace, bringing healing and hope also to others.
In every time, the Church’s mission – our mission – is to do what John the Baptist did – point Jesus out to the people saying: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Jesus is the one Savior.
You see – God uses ordinary people, to do the extraordinary. God did this with the apostles. He did this with His saints. God can and will do this with us. God makes us, ordinary people, extraordinary…. The truth is - “In Christ, there is no such thing as an ordinary life.”
That is why at the end of the Mass – having received the Body of Christ - we are sent to proclaim the Good News of God’s love – The priest or the deacons says: “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life” - to be in the world – but not of the world - to be what we have become – the Body of Christ - to be the presence of Jesus in our world—in our homes and workplaces and neighborhoods, our schools, but more importantly - starting with our own families.
We are called and sent to proclaim how really good the Good News is!
You see – everything I have just said and about to say have been preached to us - so many times - in so many ways. If we have not really given this a lot of thought, maybe it’s time we did… because this is what life is all about… Life is not just about getting the most out of this earthly life… not just about pleasure and comfort. Life is not just about being comfortable.
Part of our mission is “… to comfort the afflicted; to afflict the comfortable.” - sot to speak. - to wake people up to reality… to the truth… to shake them out of their complacency and indifference.
We can start with this basic Christian principle in proclaiming or sharing our faith. It is this: We cannot give what we do not have.
So – Do you have Christ in your life? Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus. Is Jesus the King of your life. Do you really truly believe that God loves you – unconditionally? … until you believe that, you cannot truly love.
Do you humbly believe that you need Christ in your life and that you are in need of God’s grace and mercy? … until you believe and experience God’s mercy, you cannot be merciful.
Do not be afraid to come to Jesus and ask for God’s mercy.
This life in Christ – who lived His life in total surrender and obedience to the will of His Father - is the key to fullness of life, sense of fulfillment, true peace, true lasting happiness, true joy, life filled with hope… regardless of whatever circumstances or situations you might find yourself in – good or bad.
Our goal is to make the relationship with God as the focus of our lives – living our lives centered on Jesus Christ… doing God’s will.
True lasting joy and lasting happiness, fullness of life, eternal life – which we all want – they come from doing the will of God in our lives… by being what God created us to be.
You know what? On the other hand - the only real sadness is not to find God’s will for your life – not to find your own unique vocation – the real sadness is not to find God’s unique plan for your life and therefore failing to do God’s will. Failing to live your life according to will of God brings about the real sadness… more than all the other sadness you might experience in life.
The Good News is - if we have a personal relationship with Christ - Meaning - If we have the Spirit of Christ in us, naturally - we ourselves become Good News also to others. Our words and our actions – even just our presence - become signs of God's loving presence in the world.
“And the Word becomes flesh.” – IN US.
…And that is our vocation… that is what life is all about – life filled with hope, joy, true peace and true happiness on earth as it is in heaven.
Amen.
God bless…
