“CUT OFF FROM ME, YOU CAN DO NOTHING” (John 15:5)

⏰Saturday of the Twenty-Ninth Week of Ordinary Time 2 (22 Oct. 2022 – Memorial of St. Pope John Paul II)

📖Eph 4:7-16; Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5 (R.v.1); Luke 13:1-9

🎤”CUT OFF FROM ME, YOU CAN DO NOTHING” (John 15:5)

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you. Amen.

We can never get tired of talking about unity because it is the will of Christ that we may all be one (cf. John 17:21). St Paul, therefore, reminds the Ephesians that all the gifts and positions the were given, like apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, etc., were given to them to build up this unity in Christ (Eph 4:7-16).

In the discharge of our duties or in the practice of our virtues, we must not look down on others as if we are better than them; the same grace was given to each of us (Eph 4:7). St. John Paul II gave us an example of this throughout the period of his Pontificate. He strove to live a holy life but never despised those who were living outside that grace. He was a Pope for all and worked for the conversion all. He knew and preached that it is Jesus who makes effort to keep us from getting drowned (cf. Luke 13:6-9).

In fact, in that whole pericope of Luke 13:1-9, Jesus reminds us that we are all sinners in constant need of repentance. When St Athanasius saw a criminal being taken to the gallows, he cried, “There goes Athanasius but for the grace of God.” As St Paul also said, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23).

However, we must not just conclude that because everyone is a sinner and remain in sin. We must not forget that sin separates us from God (Isa 59:2) and if we are separated from God, we will not survive (John 15:1-8) since every good thing comes from him (James 1:17).

Let us make effort daily to co-operate with the grace, which God is giving us, knowing that his grace is ever sufficient for us (2Cor 12:9). And may our daily journey towards perfection be led by the Holy Spirit so that we may not miss the track but remain on the road to salvation. Amen.

Have a grace-filled day. Peace be with you.