The Gospel at Mass today reminds us that we a spiritual beings, and that our lives in the Spirit discern our eternal future.
This wonderful gift of life is a time to develop encounter in the Spirit, to remembering of course to love ourselves always including our bodies.
Self care is by no means a new idea. Jesus himself said that we must love others as we love ourselves. So, to look after our bodies is an important part of living in Christ. But it is our spiritual lives that will discern our future as heavenly beings.
Today is a time to question what our spiritual health is like. Do we nurture it? Do we give ourselves the time and commitment to develop as children of God? Do we exercise by prayer and spiritual reading? What part does the Gospel play in our daily life? What do we derive from the Word of God?
These are all questions that we, as monks, ask ourselves daily. But we do not need to be monks to become saints. And it is sanctity to which we are called.
Once we have asked these questions of ourselves, we pray for the commitment to live as better Christians, and to develop as the spiritual beings that we are. Let us always strive to encounter God in all thay we do, and be open to hearing his voice in all things. Amen.
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you
And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 10:26-33
Glory to you, O Lord
Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows:
‘Do not be afraid of them therefore. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.
‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.
‘So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.