We are all called to love extraordinarily. Yet, how many of us can truly love others with the deep and profound love that we have for Christ? St. Paul exemplifies this extraordinary love in the first reading. It’s difficult to comprehend the depth of his love for Christ. He expressed willingness to be condemned and separated from Christ if it would save his fellow brothers.
You can sense the pain in his testimony. This pain stems from his inability to convince his fellow Jews to believe in Christ Jesus, his Lord.
Riding on this extraordinary love, remember there is no wrong time to do good. We should seize every opportunity to do good, whether it’s to heal, show love, or comfort someone in need. It is our Christian duty to always love, just as Jesus loves us. Amen.
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First reading
Romans 9:1-5
I would willingly be condemned if it could help my brothers
What I want to say now is no pretence; I say it in union with Christ – it is the truth – my conscience in union with the Holy Spirit assures me of it too. What I want to say is this: my sorrow is so great, my mental anguish so endless, I would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help my brothers of Israel, my own flesh and blood. They were adopted as sons, they were given the glory and the covenants; the Law and the ritual were drawn up for them, and the promises were made to them. They are descended from the patriarchs and from their flesh and blood came Christ who is above all, God for ever blessed! Amen.
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Gospel
Luke 14:1-6
‘Is it against the law to cure a man on the sabbath?’
Now on a sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. There in front of him was a man with dropsy, and Jesus addressed the lawyers and Pharisees. ‘Is it against the law’ he asked ‘to cure a man on the sabbath, or not?’ But they remained silent, so he took the man and cured him and sent him away. Then he said to them, ‘Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a sabbath day without hesitation?’ And to this they could find no answer.
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