GREATLY HAVE YOU ENRICHED IT
Let us resolve to allow our hearts to be open to forgiving
without counting the cost. Then greatly have we enriched it, not just the land,
but all of life!
God-lovers have laid
their lives on the line for what they believe. In our first reading from the
Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, Paul writes, “Since we have this
ministry through the mercy shown us, we are not discouraged” (2 Cor 4:1). We,
too, need to believe in the God of the “visible and invisible” even when the
Gospel is veiled, for this is what we profess in our Creed.
In our Responsorial
Psalm we acclaim, “The glory of the Lord will dwell in our Land. Truth shall
spring out of the earth...our land shall yield it increase” (Ps 85:10b, 12a,
13b). We rejoice in the rain as it makes the earth fertile, the fields green,
and the air clean and fresh. As a result, we have a guarantee of the fruits of
the earth that will meet our needs as they renew the farmers’ faith that our
heavenly Father will keep His Word. God gives us food and keeps His promise
that the animals will also be cared for. This is all part of His providential
care!
We have a multiplicity
of signs reflecting God’s power around us. All the forces of nature operate,
not by accident, but by the wonderful design of God. It is He Who maintains the
marvelous balance of nature by which we survive and Who keeps constant the laws
of the universe upon which we depend. God uses His almighty power out of love
for us. Our belief in God’s actions among us should motivate us to be faithful.
Experiencing His love should inspire us to be generous and loving people.
Today’s Gospel
acclamation verse reminds us that Jesus is our Model: “I give you a new
commandment: love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34). We are called to
love each other even as He has loved us! Let us resolve to allow our hearts to
be open to forgiving without counting the cost. Then greatly have we enriched
it, not just the land, but all of life!