The Word every day: 18-24 August, 2024
Commentary on the Readings of the Day by Father Giordano Favillini
Sunday, 18/08
John 6:54
Jesus told the crowd, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” There will be a last day for all of us. If we have fed on Jesus, when we close the eyes of the body, we will be bathed in the light of the risen Christ and enveloped by him, we will also enter the resurrection and true life.
Monday, 19/08
Matthew 19:21
Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell what you own, give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.” The perfection Jesus is talking about is not about never doing wrong, but living with a passion for the Kingdom of Heaven and putting oneself at the service of the Gospel.
Tuesday, 20/08
Matthew 19:29
Jesus said, “Anyone who leaves houses or brothers or sisters, or father or mother or children or fields for my name’s sake will receive 100 times as much and inherit eternal life.” Leaving does not mean abandoning, but putting Jesus first, so that all emotional relationships will acquire order and be lived out in a fruitful and lasting way.
Wednesday, 21/08
Matthew 20:16
At that time Jesus said, “So the last shall be first and the first last.” The last, so they are existentially battered who, being unable to boast of anything, trust totally in God’s mercy. The first are those who have relied heavily on their own strength, their own abilities. They also claim God’s praise, seeing it as an added value to their success and affirmation.
Thursday, 22/08
Luke 1:38
Then Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word,” and the angel departed from her. Mary is in the fullness of God’s glory because she conceived of her earthly existence as a gift to be put at the service of God’s plan. Totally available to be used by the Father’s merciful love for the good of all humanity.
Friday, 23/08
Matthew 22:37 and 39
Jesus said, “You shall love The Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The whole teaching of the Bible lies in one word: love. The test of whether we truly love depends on how we treat the people we live with every day, family members, co-workers, neighbors.
Saturday, 24/08
John 1:47
Jesus meanwhile, seeing Nathanael coming toward him, said of him, “Behold, truly a true Israelite in whom there is no falsehood.” Jesus sees the heart of each one, he does not stop at appearances, he peers deeply and sees that part of goodness and goodness in each one of us and on that he leverages to make us grow in truth and love, however, we are not always willing to cooperate with him. So we remain in our ambiguities and hypocrisies.