My brothers and sisters, Today's readings challenge us to do something truly difficult: to turn our world upside down. They call for a R...
My brothers and sisters,
Today's readings challenge us to do something truly difficult: to turn our world upside down. They call for a Reorientation of our lives. The Gospel is blunt: "Blessed are you who are poor... Woe to you who are rich." This isn't an attack on wealth itself, but on the false sense of security and identity that worldly success can bring. It's a call to reorient our hearts, to look for value not in what we have, but in who we are in God. St. Nicholas of Tolentino lived this out, choosing a life of poverty and prayer, reorienting his entire being toward God's kingdom rather than earthly comfort.
This reorientation requires Renunciation. St. Paul commands us to "put to death... whatever is earthly," to "strip off the old self." This means we must actively renounce the values and habits that tie us to the world. It’s a stripping away, a letting go of greed, anger, and pride. It's a difficult process, like shedding a skin. St. Nicholas renounced not only worldly possessions but also personal comforts, even miraculously refusing food that would have satisfied his hunger. His life was a constant act of renunciation, making room for God's grace to fill him.
But this isn’t just about giving things up. It's about a profound Renewal. The goal is to "put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its creator." This is the beautiful promise of our faith. By reorienting our lives and renouncing the old ways, we are renewed, transformed into the image of Christ. We become people of grace, compassion, and true joy. This renewal is what makes us truly blessed.
So, let us accept this challenge today. Let us reorient our hearts, renounce what keeps us from God, and embrace the renewal that is offered to us. Amen.
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