20th Tuesday in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Pius X
Ezekiel 28:1-10; Matthew 19:23-30
After reading the passage taken from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, it might be good to examine the condition of our hearts. Are we consumed by pride? Pride is the sin of our fallen nature, causing us to be self-sufficient rather than God-dependent. The Psalmist had it right. “The fool says in his heart, ‘there is no God.’ They are corrupt. Their deeds are vile and detestable” (Ps. 14:1). Left to his own devices, there is nothing in man that is holy and worthy of praise. Pride and conceit are at the heart of our human foolishness. This foolishness renders us vile and profane. The disease of sin has infected the whole human race like a cancer. In their sickness, all have wandered from the path that leads to life.
God so loved the world that He did not abandon fallen humanity to its foolishness. In the fullness of time, the Wisdom of God took flesh and walked among us as a man. As a man among men, He showed the children of Adam and Eve the greatness that was theirs as the children of God. The author of Proverbs puts these words on the lips of Wisdom: “Let those who are foolish come to my house” (Pro 9:4). As members of Christ’s House, the Church, we are given to eat the Bread of Life and to be taught by the Word of the Father. The Wisdom of God calls to each of us, inviting us to follow him and to walk in wisdom. Saint John Paul wrote:” Christ the new Adam, is the very revelation of the mystery of the Father and of his love, fully reveals man to himself and brings to light his most high calling” (Redemptor Hominis #8). The Word became Flesh to be a guide for our hearts and our actions.
The Beloved Son of God humbled Himself so that He might exalt us as the Father’s beloved sons and daughters. Imagine, the Lord of the Universe became a lowly beggar. “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and we will share a meal together as friends” (Rev. 3:20). Jesus’ gift of himself is an invitation for us to give ourselves to him. Our gracious Lord knocks at the door of our heart and waits for a loving welcome. He knows the hunger and thirst of our souls and offers Himself to us as our food and drink. “Let us live the Eucharist with the spirit of faith, of prayer, of forgiveness, of repentance, of communal joy, of concern for the needy and for the needs of so many brothers and sisters, in the certainty that the Lord will fulfill what he has promised us: eternal life. So be it!” (Pope Francis). And all God’s people said: AMEN!
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