20th Week in Ordinary Time : Thursday 18th August 2022

“You shall be my people, and I shall be your God.” (Ez. 36: 28)

Meditating on this verse gives one a sense of intimacy with the Lord. This is precisely our identity as children of God, the covenant God establishes with His people. This relationship spells out the ways Father God takes care of His children.

As God called the Israelites to return from exile, He continues to call each one back from sinfulness (v.24). “I will sprinkle clean water on you”. It is God’s act of cleansing us from all impurities and healing us from all defilement (v.25).  God gives us a new mind and heart — from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh (v 26), thus transforming us to live with His values of love, mercy and forgiveness. (v.27). Heart of God’s covenantal promise (v 28; Ex. 6:7).

God invites many or all to be part of His Kingdom in the Parable of the Wedding banquet. However, God’s invitation must be accepted, followed by appropriate conduct. The result of proper behaviour is the evidence of being chosen.

As in a heart transplant, self-conversion can be compared to this divine transplant so that healing can take place. This new heart becomes capable of perfect love: self-centeredness becomes Christ-centredness. This will bring about the capacity to love the unloveable, be kind to the unkind, and forgive the unforgivable. THIS IS GOD’S HEART!

“God, grant us the desire to be self-transformed into Your image and likeness; and be receptive to the call to be Your disciples living and serving with compassion, mercy and love.”