Reflection/Homily: Twenty-Fourth (24th) Sunday in Ordinary Time of
the Year C (September 15 2013)
Theme: Mending a Broken Relationship
In the first
reading (Ex. 32:7-11, 13-14) the Israelites broke their relationship with God
by making for themselves a molten calf which they worshiped instead of God.
God was annoyed with them and wanted to destroy them. He communicated His will
to Moses who mended this broken relationship by interceding on their behalf and
God spared them. Like Moses we are invited today to work towards mending our
broken relationship with God. As a community of sinful believers, we often
break our relationship with God and only an attitude of repentance could
restore this broken relationship.
As children of
God, we are also invited to word towards the salvation of sinners. We don’t
have to hope for or glory in the destruction of sinners for Christ came to save
all sinners. Instead, we have to constantly pray for them and assist them to
repent. Because God’s kingdom is enough to accommodate all creatures, we should
not see to be extolled for righteousness and have sinners perish.
In the second
reading (1 Timothy 1:12-17), St. Paul speaks of the unique role the grace of
God played in mending his broken relationship with God. Out of ignorance, he
persecuted believers and through grace,, God restored him to the faith and love
of Jesus. So like St. Paul, we are also invited to be conscious of the
influence of God’s grace in our spiritual lives and to cooperate with it. Each
time we are on the wrong track, God makes available superfluous grace to enable
us mend our broken relationship with Him. This grace begins by making us aware
of what we are and who we are supposed to be.
