We belong to Jesus. And we belong to each other. The temptation in the United States is to think we can do everything on our own. To believe that our effort alone can keep us from needing material goods, or even God. But Saint Paul and Jesus tell us that we need to realize that we belong to Jesus. Readings for Today.
We belong to Jesus
St. Paul mentions in the letter that we heard in the first reading a real fundamental truth about who we are, about our identity, and to whom we belong. Paul reminds us that when we live in faith it is not that we are living just for ourselves, nor is it the case that we are dying for ourselves. We live for the Lord, we die for the Lord.
We live in a society though where I think a lot of people really do believe they live for themselves and die for themselves. One of the hallmarks of American identity is individualism, rugged individualism. We had to go all the way to California because it was our destiny. And it’s hard for us, I think, because of that background to recognize not only do we belong to God, but we belong to each other.
Look at the world in which we live today. We don’t want to feed the poor. We don’t want to care for the immigrant or the refugee or the migrant. We don’t in our world really want to associate with people that don’t exactly share our perspective on everything.
But St. Paul reminds us that we live for God and God only gave us two things to worry about, loving him and loving our neighbor. Jesus in the gospel tells us just how much God loves us because he goes out to find us. I get a real challenge and chuckle out of this reading when I think of the man who left the 99, finds the lost sheep, and puts it on his shoulders.
That seems like such a joyous moment. It seems like something that is so wonderful that God is so excited for us too when we turn back to him, when we seek his forgiveness for our sins. And this joy is so strong that it outweighs the righteous when a sinner converts.
God does that with us too. When we’re lost, he grabs us and places us on his shoulders and is joyful and happy and wants everyone to celebrate. I can only imagine every time we go to confession, the communion of saints rejoicing that another sinner has turned back to God. And God saying to the communion of saints, “Come, celebrate with me.”
How wonderful it is that we have this relationship with God. And we ask God today to help us to constantly turn back to him so that we might, like Bonaventure and Hyacinth and their companions, give our whole selves to our God.
On the friar, you can listen to our homilies (based on the readings of the day) and reflections. You can also ask us to pray for you or to pray for others. You can subscribe to our website to be informed whenever we publish an update.