If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him. JN 14:23
2 KINGS 2:1, 6-14
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
In Your word to me today JN 15:16, You said, "I chose you and I sent you." Elijah's part of the mission was complete and Elisha was chosen to pick up from where his predecessor had left off. Every Christian has a particular mission that continues to bring the whole of God's work to completion as we collaborate with Him.
God does not need our assistance but it pleases Him to include us as we mysteriously "Fill up in what is still lacking in regard to Your afflictions, for the sake of Your body, which is the church."
Of course, we are free to say yes or no. You do not impose Your will on us - our free will is Your wonderful gift to us and we can either unite our will with Your own or reject it completely to our destruction. When called to serve You in great ways or small there is always a struggle with what we want and what is right. Like Elisha, once we realize that it is of paramount importance to align our will with Yours then we will be able to do all things in You who strengthens us.
PSALM 31:20-24
My Beloved, soul of my soul,
The wise in the wisdom of the Lord have always known that it is the humble who find favor with You and that You despise the haughty and the proud.
Humility is an attractive virtue in all because it is a virtue that God Himself possesses in fullness. The unbeliever will never understand why God emptied Himself and became a Man and suffered and died on the Cross in shame and abject humiliation for the salvation of the world.
Those who love You, those who follow You, those who imitate You, will discover that all we receive from Your hand is sweet. You make a home in Your Heart for those who seek refuge in You. You give courage in the face of the storm and shelter under Your wings so no harm will come to those who place all their hope You. What more can the world do after they have killed the body, You ask us to have a greater care for what God can do for He has the power to destroy both the body and soul of the wicked, eternally.
MATTHEW 6:1-6, 16-18
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
All the great saints whose lives are such an inspiration to us have kept their interior spiritual lives and their good works hidden from the eyes of the world. The greater their virtues the more they withdrew behind the veil of humility so only You saw and delighted in the works of the Holy Spirit in their soul. It was Your private garden where You roamed freely, enjoyed the sweet fragrance of their good works and their sufferings because they were all done for love of You and for Your glory.
If we desire to truly imitate You then we have to walk the way of humility, the way of self-abnegation, the way of obscurity the way of sorrow, the way of suffering, and the way of tears. The culture of the world preaches a different gospel, one that is contrary to the values of the Kingdom of God. Today, as we read the Gospel passage chosen for Holy Mass, let us reflect on how You desire us to live. May we shine Your light in the world so all who see it will glorify You and our heavenly Father.
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