My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this Saturday, may the Lord grant you his peace, and may our Blessed Mother obtain for you special graces on this day when we honour her most. A beautiful Saturday to all of you.
In today’s readings, we are given a profound reminder of how God desires that we live in true freedom and authenticity—freedom that is not chained by selfish desires or disordered motives, and authenticity that springs from a faith that is pure and sincere. True holiness is not for show; it flows from a pure heart, a pure mind, and a pure spirit—open to the service of God and others, rather than to the cravings of the flesh.
In the first reading, Saint Paul continues his letter to the Romans, inviting us to reflect on what it means to live in the Spirit. He writes, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed you from the law of sin and death. The concern of the flesh, he says, is hostility toward God; it does not submit to his law and cannot please him. But you—yes, you—are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you."
What a beautiful grace it is, my brothers and sisters, to cooperate with God’s Spirit so that he may dwell within us—to let his presence free us from what weighs us down in this world. How easily we become enslaved by material wealth, by honour, power, or pleasure. Yet these things, if detached from their proper context, can mislead us, even though they are good in themselves. God invites us instead to let his Spirit nurture our souls, as water nourishes a tree from its roots.
Jesus himself said, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” In other words, our deepest nourishment comes from hearing his voice, remaining united with him in prayer, and allowing his word to take root within us. Then, like a well-watered tree, we bear good fruit.
How many times has the Lord shown us mercy? And how do we respond to that mercy? The Gospel offers a vivid image in the parable of the barren fig tree. “A man had a fig tree planted in his orchard, but for three years he found no fruit. He said to the gardener, “Cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?” But the gardener pleaded, “Sir, leave it for one more year; I will cultivate the ground and fertilize it. Perhaps it will bear fruit in the future. If not, you can cut it down.”
How tender is the mercy of God! He gives us another chance—another season—to respond to his grace, to turn from sin, to renew our hearts, and to live anew in Christ. He invites us to love as he loved, to forgive as he forgave, and to reach out to those in need, just as he reached down from heaven to lift us up to himself.
Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, may you be renewed in spirit and strengthened in peace. May Almighty God bless you: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Add comment
Comments