19 September 2024 - Only By Grace Reflections

TOPIC: DO OUR WORDS AND ACTION DEEPEN OUR FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS?

First Reading: First Corinthians 15: 1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 118: 1b-2, 16ab-17, 28
Alleluia: Matthew 11: 28
Gospel: Luke 7: 36-50

Like the woman in the Gospel, St. Januarius professed his love and devotion to Jesus when he responded to his persecutors. We will forever remember St. Januarius' words when he was being forced to renounce Jesus: "We are Christians and we are prepared to die for love of God." My dear brothers and sisters, John 15:13-16 tells us, "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you."

May we always strive to remain faithful to our Lord who considers us His friends by professing with our words and actions our sincere love and devotion to Him.

This is the 1607th installment of our CFC contemplation series focusing on the daily liturgical readings.

[NOTE: Let us listen to our brother Rouquel Ponte, a member of the CFC Board of Elders, as he brings us today's reflection.

All the regular reflections are between 3-7 minutes long, enough time for us to ponder what God's message is for us individually and to pray that we may live them out in our lives. This video is also available on Couples for Christ’s Facebook page. In You Tube, just type ONLY BY GRACE REFLECTIONS]