Meditation for the Day

Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time, July 8

Each One of Us Has a Purpose Here in This Life; Each One of Us Is Called to Fulfill God’s Plan of Salvation for His Children, As We Reach Out with Selfless Love to One Another.

Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel, “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” – what a profound statement when we really take the time to reflect upon our Lord’s words!

“Without cost you have received…” From even before the moment we are conceived, God freely gives us His Love. From the very moment our conception is made aware in the minds of our parents – if they are people of faith, if they are people who are filled with true love and respect for God – they begin to love us and they begin to prepare their own lives for that awesome moment when we are brought forth into this world!

We become the recipients of a Love freely given by our Creator in Heaven, and a love freely given by our creators here on Earth.

“…without cost you are to give.” Filled with His Love which has been freely given, nurtured by this Heavenly Love and also by the love of our parents, both which become examples for us to follow, how can we not give love in return? How can we not share our love with others?

And we are asked to look at the ultimate example of Divine Love, especially when we look to the Cross of Jesus Christ, when He freely spread His arms out wide – so as to embrace both you and me in His infinite and indescribable Love.

To return this Love, to share this Love, means to fill God’s Heart with joy, for it brings us into an ever closer and more intimate relationship with Eternal Love Himself.

“Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” – examples of both humility and charity, examples which we find in Joseph in today’s First Reading.

Joseph could have chosen to exact human justice for the harm which was done to him. But, instead, he responded to the words of his father, Jacob, with compassion and love, with mercy and understanding – those same qualities, those same virtues which our Lord is asking from each one of us, in order that we may help to better foster the Kingdom of God here in our midst.

In the Book of Genesis, we hear Joseph saying to his brothers, “It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here…” Joseph had a clear vision of what God was asking of him. In spite of the sufferings which he had earlier endured, Joseph came to understand the purpose in life which God had planned for him.

And, in humility and charity, he came to embrace this purpose, believing that he was fulfilling God’s will. And in doing so, Joseph unknowingly fulfilled the intent of our Lord’s words given to us in today’s Gospel – “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

For those of us who call ourselves Christian – living these words, making them a part of our daily lives, becomes for us our roadmap to Heaven; they become the pathway upon which we shall one day journey to the eternal reward which awaits each of us.

Whether or not we are aware of it, each one of us has a purpose to fulfill here in this life, just as Joseph did. Each one of us is called to fulfill God’s plan of salvation for His children, as we reach out with selfless love to one another. The salvific action of Jesus Christ did not stop with His Death and Resurrection.

Rather, the act of salvation continues through each one of us, in our being an extension of our Lord in this life – through our words and through our actions, living a holy example for others to follow, becoming Christ-like to those around us, especially to those who are less fortunate, to those who have been marginalized by a society which does not wish to acknowledge or recognize the teachings of Jesus Christ.

For as Paul tells us in his Letter to the Colossians, “…in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God.”

In other words, it is through our faithful witness to the Eternal Word made flesh that we enable others to be open to all that our Lord offers. It is through the fulfillment of our baptismal promises that the saving action of the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ continues to reach out to His children of every age and generation.

It is not that we ourselves save, but it is Jesus Christ, working through us, who saves – through our faithful witness to God’s Truth. For it is through people such as you and me, who respond to God’s call, that our Lord continues to save souls. It is through our discipleship in Jesus Christ that God’s Kingdom is being built-up and made available here on Earth.

May the profoundness of our Lord’s words in today’s Gospel transform not only our lives, but also enable us to bear witness to the Truth of God’s Love to those around us, and that our selfless love and our faithful example may truly bear good fruit in others. †

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Please Comment, Like and Share, and Suggest to your Facebook friends – to spread the message of God’s Merciful Love.

Por favor Comente, Le Gusta y Comparta, y Sugiera a tus amigos en Facebook – en difundir el mensaje del Misericordioso Amor de Dios.

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Scripture for the Day

• “Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the peoples his deeds!” (Psalm 105:1)
• “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” (Matthew 10:8bc)
• “…in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God.” (Colossians 1:24b-25)
• “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you know how you should respond to each one.” (Colossians 4:6)
• “…sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence.” (1 Peter 3:15-16a)
• “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers. Rather, the law of the LORD is his joy; and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2)
• “In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory…” (Ephesians 1:11-12)
• “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)
• “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
• “Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus…I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.” (Philippians 4:7, 13)

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Prayer for the Day

“Almighty God,
You who are over us,
You who are one of us,
You who are also within us.

“May all see You in me also;
may I prepare the way for You;
may I thank You for all that shall fall to my lot;
may I also not forget the needs of others…

“Give me a pure heart – that I may see You;
a humble heart – that I may hear You;
a heart of love – that I may serve You;
a heart of faith – that I may abide in You.”

Dag Hammarskjold