WEDNESDAY THE 23RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR (A)
MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Glorious
CELEBRATION OF THE DAY: Antioch Constantinople , he distinguished himself for his preaching and his abundant writings about Catholic doctrine and Christian life. He died in exile.
TABLE OF THE WORD: Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 6:20-26.
THEME: Where lies your treasure?
THE WORD:
"If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:1-2)
St. Paul in his second letter to Timothy avers: "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness..."(2 Timothy 3:16)
At this point he gives the basic essence of the scripture in the light of Christian living. In the same manner while addressing the Colossians' Church reaffirmed this by calling to mind the essence of our Christian calling. For if through baptism we were all buried in Christ, then in His resurrection we will live. Thus, our calling demands thinking about heavenly realities as he says:
"If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:1-2)
INSPIRATION
Today's central text often employed to mean something like, “think about heaven,” “seek things that are of a Godly quality,” or “set your minds on things that are good, peaceful, divine, rather than things that will bring you down.”
Beloved in Christ, the fundamental question posed before us this morning is: "Where lies our treasure?" For the scripture has said it all: "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21)
In the first place what and what are our treasures? Do we treasure heavenly things or our minds are settled on ephemeral realities where moth can destroy in a twinkle of an eye? Our Christian calling put before us things that are above which will certainly lead us to the kingdom. That is why St. Paul further says:
"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." ((Colossians 3:3-8)
However, we can only become the heir of the kingdom only when we put off old self and put on a new man, for every new wine needs a new wine skin.
Finally, we pray through the intercession of St. John Chrysostom for grace to look beyond this world so that at the end we may see Jesus as truly is.
Peace be with you!
PRAYER
O God, strength of those who hope in you, who willed that the Bishop Saint John Chrysostom should be illustrious by his wonderful eloquence and his experience of suffering, grant us, we pray, that, instructed by his teachings, we may be strengthened through the example of his invincible patience. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
+ May the Lord in His infinite mercy bless and keep us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
(c) The ARCHIVE 13092023
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