The readings for mass again, do not seem to have much in common. In the first reading, the prophet Malachi is repeating what God has observed about His people. They think it is in vain to serve Him, there is nothing in it for them so why should they do it? The wicked rebel against God and yet they flourish. They seem to be the ones who are blessed rather than those who worship God.
Doesn’t that seem like the truth to all of us today too? Do you sometimes look around you at the culture we live in and wonder why the people who reject God and refuse to be faithful to Him or serve Him, are the ones who seem to be a lot happier than us? They are free to remarry if their marriages are unhappy. They seem to be a lot better off than most of us financially too. They have more money than we do, because they do not tithe money to the church, donate to charities or assist those in need as much as the faithful. Sometimes it doesn’t seem fair that we must take “the narrow path” that Christ spoke of that few will find, rather than the wide, broad road that leads to destruction, but “those who enter through it are many.” (Mt 7:13)
It’s pretty awesome the way that God listened attentively to what the people had to say before He took action about it: “And a record book was written before him of those who fear the Lord and trust in his name. And they shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my own special possession.” Isn’t that beautiful, how much God loves us? Those who love God back will have their name written in the Book of Life. Will your name be written in the Book of Life? The first reading goes on to say that the wicked will be thrown into the fire, but for those who fear God’s name, the sun of justice will rise with it’s healing rays. So many Catholics do not believe in the reality of hell, but if hell did not exist, there would be no justice. Our God is both just and merciful. God said in the first reading, “And I will have compassion on them, as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.”
The psalm today continues this theme:
“Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked, nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, but delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night.” By the way, that’s you. Those of you who are reading these words are living these words in the scriptures right now, in this moment.
In the gospel today, Jesus talks about persistence in prayer, “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Do you want to know God more deeper, in a more personal way? Do you feel a longing, or a craving in life that nothing seems to ever really satisfy? Perhaps it is because some of us have not learned to recognize the unspoken language of love, that comes to us most deeply in the silence of prayer. Regular prayer opens up the doors of our heart, a crack at a time, until God’s love can freely flow in, illuminating our lives with the fire of the Holy Spirit that gives life to the soul and gives our lives meaning and purpose.
In the last sentence of today’s gospel, Jesus says that the Father in heaven will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him, through how persistently we pursue a relationship with Him through our prayers. This is the challenge for us, not just for today, but in all the days that lay ahead of us. The Holy Spirit longs to fill us with the fire of His love and bring us the love, peace and joy that we all crave.
Daily Mass Readings:
Mal 3: 13-20 / Ps 1: 1-4, 6 / Lk 11: 5-13
