“
Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna and many others who provided for them out of their resources.”
This is the gospel today, in its entirety. It is pretty short, but there is still a lot to be learned from it. The first reading for Mass from the book of Corinthians is a lot longer, but the meaning that is being conveyed repeats itself, that Jesus Christ was truly raised from the dead. The length of words really do not have anything to do with how much meaning are in the verses in scripture. It is the same with our own conversations sometimes too.
If you look at today’s gospel through the lens of the first reading for Mass though, it really helps to put things in perspective. The meaning of our lives, and our death, and indeed our faith itself, has no meaning at all if Jesus Christ did not truly rise from the dead. Jesus conquered death, on Easter morning, when he returned from the dead. He proved by his own life, that there really is such a thing as eternal life. What we know right now, is not all that there is. Our lives go on forever.
If our lives go on forever, and death is but a doorway into a new way of living, then perhaps we should evaluate our lives from time to time, to see if we are living it, from the perspective of eternity? Maybe step forward to the last hours of our lives, on our deathbed, and look back to see if the decisions we are making right now, will have any lasting value? Will the choices that we make today, matter in the long run?
People get wrapped up in so many superficial things, that they distract themselves from what is most important about life itself. There are many people who spend years of their life studying to obtain a higher education, but their motive is to make a lot of money when they are through, or to gain the admiration and respect of others, and a more prominent place in society. There is nothing wrong with a higher education, if it is genuinely used to serve others though. Motive is everything in the spiritual life, because it reveals the true state of our heart. At the root of whatever we do, our focus should not be on our ourselves, but on God and on other people.
This is what the women in today’s gospel did. They left all of their personal comforts in life and gave away their assets, to follow Jesus wherever he went and provide for the needs of the community of people who traveled with him. In particular, the gospel mentioned Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward. She left a life of luxury and personal comfort, in order to follow Jesus and provide for him and the disciples needs. This was evidently more rewarding to her, to follow Jesus and serve other people, than any of the things that she owned or the luxurious life that she had previously lived.
Joanna found what the true meaning of life is all about. Joy is not inwardly focused, but outwardly expressed. Saint Francis put this best in one of his prayers that, “It is in giving, that we receive.” This is the secret to true happiness in life. It is in giving and serving others, that we experience a deep sense of family, friendship, a sense of belonging, peace and joy. Saint Francis discovered the same thing Joanna did in today’s gospel, when he left everything, a life of wealth and pleasure, and gave it all away to follow Jesus. His joy lives on to this day. Will yours?
Daily Mass Readings:
1 Corinthians 15: 1-11 / Psalm 118 / Luke 7: 36-50
