Gospel Meditation

October 23, 2021

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October 24, 2021
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

When we see God with true sincerity of heart and God passes us along our way, it is only then that we will be able to cry out, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me!” We have to truly want to be healed by, and in union with, God in order for us to reach out to him. If God is only an abstract idea, theory, or someone found in the pages of a book, there is no motivation for a relationship and no desire to seek him. God needs to be real in order for faith to be real. It’s all about the journey.

St. Augustine reminds us that “to fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him the greatest adventure; to find Him the greatest human achievement.” We strive after many things and mercy is not always one of them. We think that we can find fulfillment and healing in other things only to discover that we are still short and empty. From the moment human beings were created, God has been calling us and seeking us. He has been walking right beside the human story from the minute He first breathed life into the first human soul. Are we able to recognize God as He walks with us? At some point we have to realize that there is only one way to satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart and that is in relationship with our Creator. We are called to this. However, we make the huge error of thinking that what we are hearing is coming from somewhere else. We become confused. Every human being would certainly profit with wisdom if they realized Who calls them and to Whom they belong.

Then and only then will we realize that it is only our Divine Master who can give us true vision and heal us. Once we recognize and reach out for the merciful presence of our loving Maker, we will be able to see with our soul, understanding the true nature and depth of all things. God’s mercy is always available. It doesn’t matter how far we have strayed or how blind we become, God patiently waits to console us, guide us and heal us. All we need to do is desire Him. Once we reach out, we also realize that there is no greater love to be found than God’s, no human adventure that comes even close to the thrill of a spiritual search, and no human achievement even remotely as satisfying as union with Him. This is where we belong. This is salvation. 

©LPi

MEDITACIÓN EVANGÉLICO (Gospel Meditation)

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24 de octubre de 2021
30º Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario

El mundo ha llorado mucho en estos dos años de pandemia. Después de tanto sufrimiento, Dios nos sigue invitando al cambio en nuestro corazón. La hemos pasado mal, muchas familias lloran aún a sus familiares que perdieron la batalla, otros miles siguen buscando trabajo. La lucha no termina y la esperanza en medio de todo es que volvamos a Dios, tal como el pueblo de Israel en la primera Lectura: “Partieron en medio de lágrimas, pero los hago regresar contentos” (Jeremías 31:9). Ya es tiempo de gozar del amor y la misericordia eterna de Dios. Fijémonos, en todo lo bueno y noble que hemos aprendido en este tiempo y trabajemos por una sociedad más justa.

El Evangelio también nos presenta el amor y la compasión de Dios por medio del ciego de Jericó que grita a la orilla del camino. “¡Hijo de David ten compasión de mí!”  El ciego es símbolo de todas las personas que sufren en el mundo. Jesús, le pregunta: ¿Qué quieres que haga por ti? La respuesta del ciego: “Maestro, que pueda ver”. Eso es lo que seguimos pidiendo: que podamos ver todas las injusticias de la sociedad, que podamos dialogar y buscar soluciones juntos, para poder vivir con paz y tranquilidad y así simbólicamente tirar el manto y escuchar su invitación: ánimo, ten fe, levántate. Jesús sigue llamando a cada uno, porque a todos nos toca ahora ver qué podemos hacer por los que nos rodean. El papa Francisco lo resume así: “Fijarnos en Bartimeo y su grito de búsqueda de Jesús. Hacerse prójimos en el camino de fe para acompañar. Testimoniar, fijándonos en los discípulos que le dirigen a Bartimeo solo tres palabras, ánimo, levántate, que te llama” (10/28/2018).

©LPi