Colossians 1:1-8 / Psalm 52:10-11 / Luke 4:38-44

In the first reading, St. Paul an apostle of Christ by the will of God begins his letter with thanksgiving to God for what he had heard concerning their faith in God. He gave thanks to God for them, because they had embraced the gospel of Christ and had given proofs of their fidelity. Thanksgiving ought to be part of our every prayer and whatever it is that is making us rejoice ought to be a matter of thanksgiving.

Let’s note this, faith, hope and love are the three principal graces in the Christian life and are an essential pillar of our prayer and thanksgiving. Knowing this, St. Paul gave thanks for their faith in Christ as they were brought to believe in him. Again, he gave thanks for their love, thus besides the general love which is due all men there is a particular love owing to the saints or those who are of the Christian brotherhood.

We each must love, bear an extensive kindness and good – will to all, notwithstanding smaller points of differences and many real weaknesses. Lastly for their hope, the hope which is laid up for them in heaven – the happiness of heaven is called their hope, because it is the place hoped for. They had heard of the hope laid up in heaven in the word of the truth of the gospel; when it is preached it brings forth fruit to all who receive it in faith.

Brethren, all who hear the word of the gospel ought to bring forth the fruit of the gospel, that is by becoming the instruments of God, in reaching out to others, especially to those who are less fortunate than us, and to those who have not yet known the love of God. We should be the ones to show them the love of God manifested through our words and actions. Each and every one of us should be the beacons of His light, hope and love in our world today, darkened with sin and evil, with lots of hatred and vices of worldliness.

 We should be the bearers of the Good News of God, in everywhere we have been called to do the works of God, in our families, among friends and relatives, and workplaces, and among all those whom we encounter daily in our lives.

In the Gospel, we heard of the moment when the Lord performed His many wonderful miracles and works, in healing the sick and all those who sought for His help, beginning with the very sick mother-in-law of St. Peter, one of His own Apostles.

Beloved, some brought Jesus to the sick and others brought the sick to Jesus. In each case, people mediated between Jesus and those in need. This is something we can continue to do today. We can bring Jesus to the sick. We do this by bringing ourselves to the sick and allowing Jesus to touch their lives through us. The Lord wishes to continue his healing and life-giving work through each of us. We can also bring the sick to Jesus. One of the ways we do this is by praying for them. This is the prayer of intercession. When we pray for those who are sick, we bring them before the Lord and call on him to touch their lives and heal their brokenness.

Brethren, let us all not be ignorant any longer of our Christian mission and calling, in faithfully embracing whatever missions and responsibilities that Jesus places on our shoulders. We do not have to do great and wonderful things, but we just have to do our best in every possible opportunity and place we have been working at, sent to, and dwelling in, so that through us and our works, our words, actions and interactions we may lead others to come ever closer to Jesus, to Him and His salvation.

Mass intentions: Praying on this special occasion of the Centenary Birthday Anniversary of Late Mr. Eugenio M. Cruz that God may continue to pardon him for any faults he might have committed whiles on earth. Let’s pray for the wife and children for strength, courage and God’s healing mercies for them. Lastly, we pray for all the sick those in the hospital and at home for Divine healing for them