What Would You Do?

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, CMI

What Would You Do?

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
If we were to ask a few questions about some important aspects of human experience, how might we answer?

“What would you do to assure the safety and security of your family?” Dozens of answers would be forthcoming regarding proper diet, healthy care, burglar alarms, neighbourhood watches, etc., etc. Similarly, if one were asked, “What do you do to get ahead in life?” the answers would include study, hard work, conscientiousness, responsibility, accountability, etc. If the same question were asked regarding a successful career in acting or professional sports or painting or music, answers would invariably include practice, practice, practice so as to hone whatever talents and skills we may possess.

With these questions and their answers in mind, we turn our attention to this Sunday’s gift of the Word, wherein we are once again asked, “What would you do in order to share in the reign of God?” Through the two parables of the buried treasure and the one really valuable pearl, Jesus teaches his disciples that the reign of God costs not less than everything we are, everything we have and everything we could ever become. Worth whatever risk or sacrifice is necessary, the reign of God is given as a gift to those who are willing to forsake all else in order to welcome it into their lives.

These parables remind us of how good the good news of the kingdom is. To experience radical forgiveness, undeserved and unexpected, is like finding a chest of gold in a forgotten field. To receive the uncommon and always revitalizing love of God is like finding one priceless pearl in an ocean of oysters. To be accepted “warts and all” into the family of God is like being treated with respect and value when others have treated us with disrespect. It is being named “good” when we know we are far less.

Today’s second reading (Rom 8:28-80) well illustrates that Paul understood the joy of discovering God’s love for each of us, the love that names us as good and cherished children. The same loving God gifted Solomon with an understanding heart when he asked for it (1st reading, 1Kings 3:5-12),

Today, God invites each of us to first ask ourselves, “What would you do to share in the reign of God?” Once we have decided upon an answer, God then graces our attempts to live our lives accordingly.