Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Lord speaking to us about the nature of what being Christians is all about. We are all God’s chosen people, whom He has called from among all the nations to follow Him and to live in His presence. As such, we are expected to live our lives in the manner that is in accordance to our Christian faith. It means that we should do what the Lord has taught and commanded us to do.

In essence, the Lord has revealed to us what we ought to be doing as Christians, as we heard in our Gospel passage today. He calls on us to be someone who loves our fellow brethren sincerely and as people who can give ourselves for the benefit of all those whom we encounter in life, and as those who are filled with grace and righteousness in all things. The Lord said this using the example of someone who was asked to walk for a mile, and as Christians we ought to walk even the extra mile, and give more than what we are asked for.

This is not because by giving more that we will be rewarded better or benefit more. On the contrary, as Christians, such things should be the last things to be in our mind. We can be better Christians by getting rid from ourselves the corruption of worldly desires and our human pride. These are things that often distract us from the Lord and our focus on Him. We are often too burdened by the weight of our human desires and worldly concerns that we forgot what it means to become God’s chosen and beloved people.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today we are called to be different from the norms and ways of the world, to challenge the customs and standards of this world we live in, and to be the true and faithful bearers of our Christian faith and to be witnesses of Our Lord’s truth, His Passion and Resurrection, and His salvation among all the people of all the nations. As Christians we have to give ourselves and our very best to contribute to the good works and efforts of the Church in evangelisation and in the salvation of many more souls.

Are we able and willing to commit ourselves to the cause of the Lord, brothers and sisters in Christ? It will not be an easy path forward for us if we want to remain faithful and true as Christians, and as those whom God had called and chosen. Yet, if we remain faithful to Him and entrust ourselves to His care, through Him we shall do wonderful and great many deeds, which we may not even realise that we can do. For indeed, through God, everything is possible, and what may seem to be impossible for man, is possible for God.

And we do not have to do great and impressive things, brethren. What matters is that we do our best in our every actions and endeavours, giving our best in our respective capacity and abilities, even in the smallest things we do, in our own families and among our friends and acquaintances, in our community and when we are interacting with the strangers and all those whom we encounter throughout our lives. Through our small and yet significant, genuine and faithful actions, we truly bring glory to God and help to bring so many others to be closer to Him.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, throughout this dark period and moments, as we are still suffering the various trials and tribulations, not least from the effects of the pandemic and economic uncertainty, growing inequality, racism and prejudice, increasing conflict and divisions both within our societies and among nations and peoples, we are all challenged to be the ones to break the chain of evil and the cycle of suffering and hatred. We are all called to be the light of the world, to be the beacons of Christ’s Light, sharing with all the hope that we have received from Him.

That is why, in each and every moments of our lives, let us all bear witness to His truth and love, by dedicating our every moments, our time and effort, and doing whatever we can to serve Him, even in the smallest of our contributions and works. Are we willing and able to commit ourselves in this, brothers and sisters in Christ? Let us all pray for strength, for courage, patience and perseverance, to remain faithful to the Lord, to be courageous to walk down the path that God has led us to, and that our love for one another will help us to lead others to the love of God, and to His salvation and eternal life. May God be with us all, and may God bless our every good works and endeavours, now and always. Amen.