31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
We have only one Father and master – Christ in heaven and the Eucharist. Jesus is kind and merciful. He wanted his disciples like himself, not like the Pharisees and scribes who preached but did not practice. They wanted to be called Rabbi, teacher, or master. In a word, they were hypocrites. They wanted honors and power. Jesus, the Son of Man and the Son of God was sent by the Father to Bethlehem as a child and crucified in Jerusalem to save us all from sin and live forever.
When James and John saw a Samaritan village had not received Jesus, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy them?” Jesus rebuked them, and they went to another village (Luke 9:54). The Father sent Jesus to proclaim the Kingdom of God. He surrendered, died, and resurrected, so sin is pardoned, and death is defeated forever.
Saint Paul tells the Thessalonians he was gentle as a nursing mother cares for her children. He shared the Gospel with them, even his very self. And for this reason, he gives thanks to God. He gave the word of God to them, which is now at work in those who believe.
Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist, gentle and kind. He loves us and forgives us. He is light and life, the way and the truth. He loves us; because he loves us, we must love our neighbor.
Let us pray
Father, in November, we pray for your departed servants. We do so as we celebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and we ask that they pray for us and find more strength.
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