Sincere and pure | Simplicitas et castitas

Your thoughts may be corrupted from a sincere and pure commitment to Christ (2 Cor 11:3).

From the time of Paradise, our thoughts have been corrupted by sin. We were created with sincere and pure hearts as children of God, but after sinning we became weaker and weaker. That is why Apostle Paul, who understood this human condition so well, teaches us to be reborn in the Holy Spirit.

We were created in the image of the Holy Trinity — born into the holy love of God the Father and nurtured by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ we began to live as God's children. Yet we often forget our dignity and, as a consequence, the dignity of our sisters and brothers.

The danger is real: we sometimes receive a different spirit — not God's Spirit — and listen to a different gospel, one born of human deception rather than divine truth. This is the very deception Paul warns against. He calls us to follow his example and humble ourselves so that Christ may exalt us.

The truth of Christ reveals our capacity for holiness: we can become holy as the apostles and saints became holy, through God's grace and sanctifying power. This is our true mission. We must love God first with all our hearts, then love ourselves as God loves us, and extend that love to one another. In this way, we become authentic witnesses of Christ's righteousness and truth in the world. Through Christ and in the love of the divine Word, Amen.

Bible Reflection on 2 Corinthians 11: 1-15 by Fr. Jozef Trzebuniak SVD.

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Semen in agro (Mt. 13:24)

Every living creature longs for the rain which provides fertility and freshness. Like rain, God brings peace to the world and to humans. Sin has separated God and humans forever and ever and Jesus is a sign of peace. Jesus comes to pay off human’s sins and to re-tie the covenant between God and man. With the ransom of Jesus Christ, humans owe God even though God has never demanded humans to pay for it because Jesus Christ lived and died once to redeem for the sins of mankind and lift up people to be children of God. On the contrary, we are like soil on a roadside that receives the seed of God's Word but our faith is quickly eroded by external temptations. In addition, we are like rocky ground whose hearts are hard to accept God's word. Humans are also like soil full of thorns squeezed by worldly anxieties. God expects us to be like fertile soil where God's word flourishes and produces abundant fruit.

God also invites us to be the seeds of the living word of God. A seed contains the potential to grow and suffer. Rooted in the Word of God means we are ready to suffer for the sake of others and to grow to reach the glory of God. In oneself, there is potential for good spiritual fruit but selfishness keeps us from growing spiritually. Thus, we need God’s grace to help us get rid of our selfishness and listen to God’s willing. 

Lord God, we realize we are not enough in trusting You. We pray, increase our faith, Amen. 

By Fr. Aris Mada, SVD.