How we react to God’s grace will shape our destiny
Deacon Angelo Volpi’s homily
Thirteen Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A.
2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a; Psalm 89: 2-3, 16-17, 18-19; Roman 6:3-4, 8-11; Matthew 10:37-42
INTRO
Good evening!
I love the scriptures for this Sunday! They show how God reveals Himself in our ordinary lives - like a simple desire to dine with someone that radiates grace. The story of the woman of Shunem from the first reading shows us just this. A desire to receivegrace!
Receiving grace is important because grace will shape our life. Grace invites us to free cooperation and that will shape our destiny. In other words:
How we react to God’s grace will shape our destiny.
ME
In my first part of life I was a military pilot and flew AWACS planes for a few years. The AWACS has a huge antenna on top of the plane - it is a 30 foot wide dome. It was only when we turned-on that big antenna that we could start seeing beyond our eyes. We could see all the small movements of other planes around us for hundreds of miles.
Our spiritual life works in the same way. Unless I turn on my antenna to listen to the small movements in my heart, it is difficult to receive God’s grace.
God’s grace is in the small details.
The women of Shunem in the first reading had het antenna on - and she noticed something special happening in her heart when she came in touch with the prophet Elisha. She noticed a desire to dine with him and she cooperated with this desire by inviting him. Then this desire grew to receive him even more fully in her home - without being asked, she prepared a special room in the roof of her house in hope that he would stay with her and the husband more. And he did.
With this small action of Faith, Hope and Love, she received a reward that was beyond what she could ever imagine. Elisha blessed her and God gave her a son that she thought she couldn't ever have.
YOU
What about your antenna? Is your antenna activated to notice the deepest desires of your heart? Those desires that lead us to more Faith, Hope and Love?
Not every desire comes from God. The ones we want to follow are the ones that lead to us an increase of Faith, Hope and Love. The other ones we want to reject.
GOD
It doesn't look like the woman of Shumen prepared an extravagant room for Elisha. She did something simple: she added a bed, a table and a chair. God did the rest. From that simple act she received an abundant blessing much more valuable than the room she had prepared. It is like bringing the gifts to the altar. We bring a few pieces of bread and a small amount of wine - God does the rest. From that He gave us the Eucharist, His divine life to us - to nourish us.
What small act is God expecting from us?
One thing is to pay attention to our internal life. What we desire, what we resist and actingintentionally to choose what leads to more Faith, Hope and Love.
We can summarize it in Becoming Aware (activating the antenna), Understand and Cooperate. The Woman of Shumen cooperated with the grace she received through the prophet Elisha and responded with an unselfish act of service. Through that, an unexpected immense reward descended upon her.
In the Gospel Jesus also talks about rewards that will be given when we receive his messengers - prophets, righteous men, people weak and in need.
The scriptures highlight an important connection between RECEIVING and REWARD.
How does God’s grace lead us to receive the reward? Jesus demands that we receive his people. Receiving people in Christ is the same as Receiving Jesus.
We can’t receive people if we just deal with people, we must relate to them. Dealing with people is very different from relating to people. While the words might sound similar, the difference is huge.
YOU
Have you ever noticed the difference between dealing with people and relating to people?
When we relate to people we create a sacred space for them to come closer, not only physically but also spiritually and emotionally, we give them an opportunity to share with us their spiritual struggles and success. We come to know what their crosses look like and how God has been at work in them.
Sharing our spiritual journey is a powerful gift we give to each other. This is also one of the most precious gifts we can give our children and grandchildren.
Some research suggests that kids with a personal spiritual life may be more resilient, and that an active spiritual life is associated with lower risk of teen depression and addiction.
All this cannot happen if our spiritual antenna is not up - we cannot observe the small movements of requests for help from our loved one and our kids.
We all have the antenna to receive God's love but often we need help on how to turn it on.
WE
My invitation to you is to find a spiritual companion or spiritual ministry where you can become better at receiving God’s grace. And help your kids to find a community where they can safely share their spiritual experiences.
In a few minutes we will line up to receive the Eucharist, as you await to receive Jesus thank Him for the ways He constantly invites you to more Faith, Hope and Love in your life.
