WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2024
WEDNESDAY OF THE TWENTY FOURTH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13
Luke 7:31-35
LIVE TO PLEASE NO ONE BUT GOD. AND BE MENTORED IN LOVE
Sycophancy, conformity, gangism, cultism, and other attitude or style of living may never make us acceptable to all at all times. It is a fruitless venture to please others. And trying to be accepted by others, to be esteemed, to be loved and appreciated by all must never be realized by adopting those unwholesome attitudes. Rather, we become less human and we put a lot of pressure on ourselves with no result whatsoever.
And because of the way we are created, no one can adequately please all peoples at all times. Therefore, we must learn to live following the great ideals in Christ and taking Christ as our mentor and his teaching as our guild and live honourably by upholding three basic tenets, which are faith, hope and love.
In the gospel of today, Jesus exposes the fact that man can never be pleased or satisfied by peoples attitude or behaviours no matter how best one tries. In the parable Jesus gives, he compares man’s unsatisfying attitude to those in the market place, where different songs are sung and none actually pleases or was accepted fully. He gives example by comparing the attitude of people to their reception and acceptance of John the baptist’s life and ministries, with his own life and ministry.
That John’s life and ministry was austere, rigid and firm, he was still despised and classed as neurotic. While in Jesus, who came associating with people, drinking and eating and he was despised too as a glutton and blasphemer. So there is no need trying to please human being on earth.
We must not live our lives expecting fellow human beings to judge us well or to acclaim us. We must learn to follow the ideals. And the ideals can only be found in Jesus and his teachings.
The letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, the first reading of today, provides us with the ideals. Paul teaches us the ideals of faith in God, hope in his promises and love towards others.
The reverse is to live and act expending our gifts expecting acclamation, respect, or rewards and honour from men. Even though we may possess the gifts of healing, miracles, prophecy, teaching, and in fact any other gift for that matter. These can never bring us any reward that last for ever. Gifts are for service as human beings on earth.
Our greatest concerns must be to build faith in God, trusting in his mercy and love, living our lives under God’s guidance, rulership and authority.
Then secondly, living our lives in the hope of God’s promises. Always holding and nursing the hope of life rewards and working with the intent of building our eternal treasure in heaven, and on the promises of God.
And finally, loving God, as well as our neighbour with all our hearts, minds and soul. In fact, it is in loving others not minding even if they reciprocate that love or not. St Paul places love above all other virtues because it is the only thing that will last and that can conquer our world.
Our mentor and Lord, conquered with love. Jesus loved us to the end, suffered, died and gave his life out of love for humanity. Likewise, our only means of winning life and upholding life is to love as Jesus loved.
So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
God of love, in Christ your Son, you taught us the things that matter most in life. That Faith, hope and love should be the greatest we must hold on to. Grant us greater faith, firm hope in eternal values, and always, a loving heart. Help us to seek and work with you, to trust and depend on you and to live pleasing only you in this life through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
