God does not walk into man's life with shoes- (Mt 15:29-37)

Pope Francis invites people to open themselves to Jesus, to open their hearts to accept His word, to accept Him. Sometimes it seems that to accept Jesus means to renounce everything, to give up worldly plans, dreams and ambitions. On hearing the invitation to accept Jesus, many believe that this is synonymous with a monastic cell, celibacy, and a life of strict asceticism. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

But we must also be aware that this is one of the lies of the devil who tries to convince today's man to reject God's laws as limiting freedom, taking away the right to happiness and joy. Meanwhile, in order to discover the truth about God, one should reach for the source - to discover Jesus in the gospel, who reveals the Father, shows what He is like. “The Father and I are one” (cf. Jn 10:30); “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father”

(cf. Jn 14:9).

So, let us look at today's gospel. What is Jesus' first contact with people? “Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. And great crowds came to him." God does not walk into man's life with shoes. He lets people come closer to him. God allows himself to be found by those who seek him. These great crowds had with them the lame, handicapped, blind, dumb and many others. So, these people knew exactly what they wanted. They came to Jesus because they believed that Jesus had the power to do for them what they wanted in their hearts. They had FAITH which gives them an attitude of adoring God when they see the mute speaking, the disabled are healed, the lame walk, the blind see.

That is not all. Jesus, after He healed, some physically, and others spiritually, still He care about the most basic human need - "I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way." The words of the Lord's Prayer turn out to be not an empty formula - God indeed, with seven loaves and a few fish, fed those "great multitudes" that came to Him seated on the mountain. Is this the God of strict prohibitions, an inhuman law that threatens with hell for wanting happiness? In such a vision of God, there is a false note which characterizes the one whom the gospel called the father of all lies.

The question of my personal conclusions and choice remains open. Will I allow myself to be deceived and stay where I am - even if it is far away from Jesus - or will I begin my ascent to the heights of the gospel to meet the Truth? Will I let myself be persuaded that I am the last reference for what is good and what is bad? Or will I be able to trust and accept as my own rules - God's commandments?

God's grace seems to flow beyond the measure of human understanding and calculation. “They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.” (cf. Mt 15:37)

Until Tomorrow

fr. george