14th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024

For those of us of a certain age, you will recall the pretty cheesy song from the 70s, “Love Will Keep Us Together” by The Captain and Tenille. It was one of those catchy tunes you heard first thing in the morning, and you couldn’t get out of your head the rest of the day. (I know some of you can’t help humming it right now!)

A few weeks ago, OLG had the privilege of hosting our new bishop’s first Confirmation liturgy. It was a beautiful, bi-lingual Mass followed by a wonderful reception hosted by the Women’s Club ministry. I was touched by the energy and warmth in the room as our diverse congregation gathered to celebrate the occasion. It was “love in action”.

My question is what motivates us to love and serve? How do we live with the filial love Jesus calls us to as His followers rather than the often self-seeking love of the world?

I’d like to quote from a classic daily devotional, “Divine Intimacy” by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magellan.

The attitude we take in our spiritual life depends greatly on the idea we have of God. If we have a poor, impoverished concept of God, like the slothful servant in the Gospel (Mt. 25:14-30), instead of being impelled to love Him and to give ourselves generously to His service, we can be cold, indolent, calculating, and burying the talent we have received from the Master, we shall not trouble ourselves to use for God the benefits we have received from Him. Unfortunately, many Christians live this kind of life; they serve Him like slaves, and if they do not commit sin, it is only though fear of being punished; if they pray or perform some good work, it is for their own personal interests and is devoid of generosity and love. When, on the other hand, our soul begins to understand that “Deus caritas est”, God is charity (1 John 4:8), when we penetrate even slightly the mystery of the infinite love that surrounds us, realizing God’s love in the love which Jesus has for us, then everything changes spontaneously, because “love calls to love.”

Let our loving response to God reflect the conviction that Jesus came to save us all, but He would have come for even just you if you were the only one needing rescue. Faced with that kind of love, we can do nothing else than give Him everything, pouring ourselves out for His purposes, His kingdom. What better way to spend all we have (our talents, money, time, attention, devotion) than to invest in the eternal rather than the things of this world which are passing away? The degree with which we love is equal to how much we believe we are loved by God. Once you accept His love on His terms, His lavish, overwhelming, all-forgiving love, there is no other response than one more favorite old hymn: ”I Surrender All.”