PRAISE AND ADORATION
In the
Responsorial Psalm we heard the words, "Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord" (Ps 150:1b, 6).
The praise
and adoration of God our Father, which fills today's first reading, needs to be
stressed in our world and time when our tendency is to place all the emphasis
on serving God through other human beings. However, there is also a place for,
and a great value in the adoration and worship of our heavenly Father. Turning
to Him in worship and thanksgiving is a way of expanding our spirit and
horizon. We think of and praise the One from Whom all this amazing and
inexhaustible, visible universe comes. Adoration and worship are just the right
response to such a creation, which is in many ways one huge gift to all of
us. We are called to use our gifts and
talents in return to help others.
In the
Gospel Acclamation we praise God and hear Him say, "I chose you from the
world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord" (Jn 15:6). The
Lord entrusts us with His gifts and graces and He gives us freedom to use them
as we think best. With each gift and talent, the Lord Jesus gives sufficient
grace and strength for using them in a fitting way. As the parable of the
talents shows, God abhors indifference and delights in an attitude that says
it's worth trying. God honors those who use their talents and gifts for the
good of others. Those of us who are faithful with even a little are entrusted
with more! The story in the Gospel of Luke teaches us an important lesson. No
one can stand still for long in the Christian life. We either get more or we
lose what we have. We either advance towards God or we slip back.
Do you
trust in God's grace to make good use of the gifts and talents He has given to
you?