“SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE” (Col 3:2)

⏰Wednesday of the Twenty-Third Week of Ordinary Time 1 (13 Sept. 2017 – Memorial of St. John Chrysosto)

????Col 3:1-11; Ps 145:2-3, 10-11, 12-13ab (R.v.9a); Luke 6:20-26

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

Being a Christian means being immersed into the identity of Christ in such a way that it is no longer the person who lives but Christ living in him (cf. Col 3:3-4; Gal 2:20-21). We must therefore aim to be where Christ is also. We cannot do that unless we put to death our earthly attractions and attachments.

The scriptures say, “What will you gain by winning the whole world if you lose your life?” (Matt 16:26; Mark 8:36). And Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his justice and all [things you need] will also be given you” (Matt 6:33).

In Luke 6:20-26, through the four beatitudes and four woes, Jesus shows the benefits of being detached from this world and the danger of being attached to it. Remember that the poor in the scriptures are not necessarily the poverty stricken, neither are the rich necessarily the wealthy. The disposition of your heart can place you in either way.

My dear, do not allow the worries of this life to deny you a place in the kingdom of God. St Paul noted that the sufferings of this world are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed (Rom 8:18). Do your best and leave the rest for God.

St. John Chrysostom had that as his guiding principle and so was not perturbed by the persecutions he received in exercise of his faith. He remained faithful till death.

May God grant you the grace to remain faithful to him in this life; may he grant your needs in this life and eternal life in the next. Amen.

I wish you a grace-filled day. Peace be with you.