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Our first reading this weekend includes Paul\u2019s exhortation to the Romans \u201cto be patient with the scruples of those whose faith is weak.\u201d He calls them to \u201cplease\u201d their neighbors in order to build up their spirits. And then he even adds this sort of prayer: \u201cMay God, the source of all patience and encouragement, enable you to live in perfect harmony with one another according to the spirit of Christ Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paul\u2019s advice, in essence, is to live like Jesus lived since that way of living increases your greater union with God. He says: \u201cAccept one another, then, as Christ accepted you, for the glory of God.\u201d We bring God glory when we live like He intended us to live. He has revealed to us how He intended humans to live. He gave us a model in the Person of Jesus. Like Jesus we are to love others as we love ourselves.<\/p>\n
Our second reading, taken from Matthew\u2019s Gospel, contains two of Jesus\u2019 miracles, namely the curing of the two blind men and the curing of a possessed deaf-mute. The structure of this part of Matthew\u2019s Gospel may be related to the theological development of the miracle. In this section he includes, in addition to the two miracles we hear about in today\u2019s reading, the curing of the ruler\u2019s daughter. The three miracles touch death, blindness and the loss of speech and hearing. Matthew\u2019s intention is to present a comprehensive summary of the saving power of Jesus.<\/p>\n
When you think about these two readings together, you realize that the message is twofold. When we attempt to live like Jesus we are cured of (1) any \u201cblindness\u201d that prevents us from seeing the world and ourselves as God sees us, and (2) any inability to \u201cspeak about\u201d or \u201chear about\u201d the love of God for us and all\u00a0of His creation. I truly believe that something wonderful happens to us when we look at life in a manner that God does. Despite life\u2019s challenges and struggles, we see the goodness in life and we understand that all the events of life are meant to help us spiritually grow and become more like Jesus – to become more aware of being God\u2019s children, created out of unconditional love.<\/p>\n
When we can truly state to ourselves that we know that God loves us, I believe we begin to find the meaning and purpose of life and also the beauty and wonder of life. Life becomes the joyful experience that God intends<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Our first reading this weekend includes Paul\u2019s exhortation to the Romans \u201cto be patient with the scruples of those whose faith is weak.\u201d He calls them to \u201cplease\u201d their neighbors in order to build up their spirits. And then he … Continue reading