2021 October 1 Friday – A CALL TO REPENTANCE – Thérèse of Lisieux

26  week in ordinary time

Gospel: Lk 10: 13-16

Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent you.

A CALL TO REPENTANCE: According to our first reading, the children of Israel remain under the curses spoken to Moses by God because they refused to heed the commandments of God through the prophets. Now Baruch reminds them that what they are going through is as a result of their sinful lives. In the gospel, we see the towns that witnessed healing and teaching from Christ appearing untouched and callous. They are hence regarded as harbouring a generation with fossilized thinking and slavishly addicted to its traditions. Just like the Israelites and the people of the towns mentioned by Jesus, some people have refused to repent even after God speaking to them clearly. Let us search our hearts for anything that may hinder God’s presence in our lives, and repent.

PRAYER: Lord, illuminate our hearts and help us to see any sin that may hinder your presence in our lives.

*****

SIMPLICITY AND SOLIDARITY: Sometimes our expectations are too high, and we are not able to recognize God’s presence in our midst. Something similar had happened to the inhabitants of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. They could not see God working in Jesus’ simplicity. Francis of Assisi listened to Jesus saying to him: ‘Reform my Church.’ Francis fulfilled this instruction through a simple way of life. Consumerism, as a form of egoism, generates poverty and destroys the environment. Simplicity makes possible solidarity with others. Simplicity gives way to a sustainable way of life which respects and protects creation. Pope Francis chose such name to teach and lead the whole Church in the paths of simplicity, solidarity and sustainability.