Memorial of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin

Today's Mass Readings

 

“Anyone who is so “progressive” as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son.”

The New Testament is not meant to keep us complacent, rather, it is there to shake us into faith; rattle us into making a choice. Today’s first reading from 2nd John is such a moment, it’s there to shake us from our complacency. We are being challenged: do you actually believe in Jesus Christ? Have you been radically changed by him? Are you willing to dedicate your life in pursuit of his truth? The answer seems to be, if you are not willing, you do not have God; and without God, you do not have eternal life. WHOA.

In a one-two punch style set of readings, the Gospel shakes us even deeper: some of you will be saved and be taken to heaven—saved from flood, from fire, and from destruction. Some of you will not be: you will die as the unfaithful did in Noah’s and Lot’s days. DOUBLE WHOA.

We are coming to the end of the liturgical year, and so are we being called to look toward the end of our life and what might come afterward: heaven or hell. We are being called to make a choice, will we stand with Jesus and be transformed by him or will we not? Will we be faithful and so be rewarded with eternal life or will we not?

The choice is yours to make. Make the choice to remain in Christ.

Reflection by Fr. Etienne Huard, OSB

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