MEMORIAL OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI - Gospel (Mt 11:25-30) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- Oct 5
- 4 min read
FIRST READING - Sir 50:1,3-7
"Behind the image of High Priest Simeon, we can easily recognize the figure of a man who contributed to the restoration of the house of God."
A reading from the Book of Sirach
1 Greatest of his family, the glory of his people, was Simeon the priest, son of Jochanan,[a] In whose time the house of God was renovated, in whose days the temple was reinforced. 3 In his time the reservoir was dug, a pool as vast as the sea. 4 He protected the people against brigands and strengthened the city against the enemy. 5 How splendid he was as he looked out from the tent, as he came from behind the veil! 6 Like a star shining among the clouds, like the full moon at the festal season; 7 Like sun shining upon the temple of the King, like a rainbow appearing in the cloudy sky.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mt 11:25-30
"Although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike."
✠From the Gospel according to Matthew
25 At that time Jesus said in reply,[a] “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
28 [b]“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,[c] and I will give you rest. 29 [d]Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
MEMORIAL OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI - Gospel (Mt 11:25-30)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
The Word of God on this memorial day of Saint Francis of Assisi, God reveals to humanity the prayer of Jesus Christ to God: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.”
Jesus Christ's prayer to God the Father is His desire to care for the humble.
God reveals that all who possess a humble, self-effacing, simple, and childlike heart are always pleasing to God; and when they are pleasing to God, He will reveal to them a part of His intentions, the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, which is a blessing for the humble to know God's divine decree beforehand.
When Jesus Christ prayed, He always blessed, praised, and glorified God. This is an image, an example for everyone to follow, to humble themselves before God.
For only God is the One who comprehends all things, the One who can do all things; no one possesses power and authority like Him.
Through the image of Christ's self-abasement, He calls His disciples that:
They must know how to be humble and self-effacing before God.
They must place themselves as weak, sinful, and imperfect children before God.
They must humble themselves before God as if ignorant, knowing nothing, so as to have only a heart of trust and to call upon the name of God.
Only then will God allow the humble and lowly to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, and reveal to them God's ways and paths.
He calls everyone to look at the following examples of humility and self-abasement:
Jesus Christ, always humble, obedient to God in all things.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, a humble woman who always lived humbly before God.
Saint John the Baptist humbly acknowledged himself as the one preparing the way for Jesus.
Through these images, He calls His apostles to become little before God in all things.
For only the humble and ordinary need to receive God's grace.
As for the arrogant, proud, and self-satisfied who claim: 'I am knowledgeable in the law, I understand all of God's ways and paths,' such people will not receive God's graces, for God is the Almighty, the All-Perfect, and the One with complete authority over all souls.
At this time, God also reveals to everyone the image of His humble children present in this world, who are His children in the Army of Light. These are the humble children who live pleasing to God.
He also calls His humble children in the Army of Light to become even more humble and little before God and before their brothers and sisters.
The more humble and lowly they become, the more grace they will receive from God.
Today's Word of God calls everyone to live and practice God's teachings, as Saint Francis of Assisi did: to have a simple and humble heart, for God reveals His divine will only to the littlest.
And to become God's poor by allowing God's Word to touch one's soul, just as the Word touched the heart of a person who had lived in wealth and luxury, becoming poor and humble, a homeless person, a mendicant missionary, who drew countless souls back to God.
Saint Francis of Assisi, please intercede and pray for us!
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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