THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YR C
Wis 11:22-12:2; Ps 145
2 Tim 1:11-2:2; Lk 19:1-10
GOD IS GREAT AND LOVING
Many times, when we talk about God, we all have in our mind’s eye what that means. But really, how great is God?
The reading from the book of Wisdom opens with a statement about the greatness of God: “Before the Lord the whole universe is as a grain from a balance or a drop of morning dew come down upon the Earth”. For the writer of Wisdom, when the total of all that exists in the universe are held in comparison to God, they are just like a grain on a scale.
His greatness is seen in his absolute power and strength. In his absolute power and strength, he wills all things into existence. He did not will us accidentally but intentionally. This means that the Lord has a plan for all of us. Each one of us is willed and preserved by God. We all have a place in this world and role to play in this world. If God has willed that we all be here, then he has a plan for us. You are not a mistake.
God is not only powerful, he is also generous. He created the world and provided for its survival by setting the law of nature in the eco-system so that the world would not collapse. And to us mankind, he made us stewards of all that he has made. He gives us the opportunity to explore the world for our survival. We are to fend for ourselves by the gifts in nature but not exploit it to destruction.
In a special way, his awesomeness and power is seen in his mercy towards us. The reading says, he is kind to all who sin and gives them opportunity to repent. He is not one who likes to show us “where power lies”, but he desires that the sinner will change from his sinfulness in order to enjoy fully the blessings and goodness that Jesus has won for us (Ez 18:23). He wishes that all of us will know our worth in Christ Jesus and recognise how that dignity is soiled by our own sins. He desires that we will be able to enjoy fully the inheritance of blessing as his children redeemed by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
God’s care for us is seen in always reminding us of our sins, so that we would avoid or repent of them in order to be restored in our relationship with him. Our first reading for today says, “he rebukes offenders little by little, and warn them of their sin in order that they will stop their sins and believe in God”. In this sense then, sin is a lack of faith in God. The desire to live by our own rules and wills. But that never ends well for us. This is because he created us. We belong always to him. We cannot belong to ourselves. Paul says, “For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for to the Lord. Whether we live or die we belong to the Lord.” (Rom. 14:8). To live for the Lord is to be conscious and avoid sin.
We can never finish reflecting on God’s greatness and power. We must never lose the fact that he is greater than the whole universe and that he sustains it by his will. We must have great hope and faith in God who has chosen to reveal himself to us. We must believe we serve not the spirit of the universe but the God who brought it all into being. His greatness cannot be conceived by or with any analogy. This is our God.
In our worship of him, we should be mindful of the God we are worshipping. Many times, when we gather for Mass and worship, we forget that we are in the presence of him who is God of all. May we no longer be absent minded. May we never misbehave in church. May we dress well and put up the best attitude before the omnipotent and omnipresent God. Whenever you enter the church, know that you are in the presence of the real power and greatness and may he imbue you with dignity.
In our daily lives, we must respond positively to this loving God by committing ourselves daily to him in purity of heart and action. May we find strength to live by God’s commandments in this troubling world.
God bless you.
BY Rev. Fr Delight Arnold Carbonu
