Gospel for October 29 2023 – Luke 13: 10-17
Gospel Reflections for October 29 2023
Jesus keeps it simple
The Bible is a big book and not easy to read. Maybe you’ve felt frustrated by difficult verses. You are not alone. Many have felt the same way, including those in today’s Gospel.
They come to Jesus with a tough question. They knew He often said wise teachings, cured the sick, walked on water, and even raised the dead, so they asked if He could summarize the whole Bible into one answer.
They ask, “What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus simply responds that you are to Love God … and love others as you love yourself. You cannot get clearer than that!
Love means that you want the authentic good for another person, as God designed us to live. Love is not a feeling; it is a decision. Love is your decision to wish for everyone the happiness that God wants for them. You do not have to like or even associate with everyone, but you can never wish anyone harm.
Must you love bad people too? Yes, but only by wanting them to repent and change so that they will finally know the happiness and love that God wants for them. After all, Jesus came to a bad place called Earth that was filled with very sinful people precisely to show everyone that life-changing love.
Love describes who Jesus is …and why He is here. When you love God, others, and yourself, as He loves, you slowly discover yourself …profoundly happy.
That is why St. Bruno parish exists; to make it easy to meet the Lord, because it is His love within you that will enable you to love yourself and others just as God loves you. God only wants your lasting happiness, in good times and in bad. That is the only love that deeply satisfies.
That is why we have our School and Religious Education programs too, so that our young people can meet the Lord and learn how to face the world today.
That is why we are fundraising to build our new Parish Hall, so that we have more opportunities to gather together as a parish and school community.
What is the simple answer to life? Love Jesus, Others …and You! Each word begins with letters that spell J.O.Y. That kind of love is a joy to have …and easy to remember!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Great compilation of all the complexities of scripture and life put in simple easy to understand terms.. now i if we could spread that feeling to Hamas and other war like people,
The World would be better off. Love is the answer. Let us all practice it in every situation and see the wonder and charm that it creates.
Families, Nations and Individuals living lives filled with Love would be Wonderful!
Thanks Father Dave for all you are and do.
The person of Christ remains the best answer for the world.
Fr Dave,
I used to believe that love was an emotion—you either felt it or you didn’t. Thank you for reminding us that love is a decision.
When I. am challenged to pray for those I neither like, respect , or who have harmed me or others, I think of Jesus, who, though humiliated, tortured & crucified by people he had tried so hard to save, asked God the father to forgive them. He prayed for them He set an example for all of us.
Blessings,
Sherrie
Yes, Jesus is our way of facing very event in our life.
I love this. We need to keep in mind that God wanted us to spread Love thru Jesus Christ. Thank you for always making the gospel easy to understand. 🙂
You are very welcome!
Fr. Dave
J.O.Y. Is the answer
. Love Jesus
Love others
Love yourself
How beautiful!
So “ JOY TO THE WORLD “ at Christmas time has a whole new meaning in asking for world peace!!
Especially at a time when we need world peace with 2 Wars going on in the world.
JOY & Blessings to everyone in the 🌎
Yes, I am especially glad that Christmas is coming soon!
Fr. Dave,
Another selfless inspiring reflection, thank you!.
I would add to St. Thomas Acquinas’ definition of Love M. Scott Peck: “The will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth”.
Save God Jerusalem, Joe Guarrasi
John 8:32
Scott Peck was a wonderful author of some great books. I remember him well.
Dear Father Dave,
It is not easy to talk about love when the world is falling apart. How do we experience and live with that?
Perhaps the best way is in how God’s mercy, call it His love, affects each of us in absolute profound ways through His miracles in our lives with our loved ones and through changes we see in ourselves and them through His grace and our prayers.
Once, in a very dark time in my life, I was praying on land near the sea almost at the break of dawn, when I heard, in my mind, the voice of God. He said, “I’ve got him. He’s mine.”
It was as real as the earth upon which I stood. But, what did it mean?
I truly didn’t understand at the time, but I thought my loved one for whom I was praying was in very good company because God said, “I’ve got him. He’s mine.”
We all belong to God! We are, after all, His children.
Regardless of war, pestilence, and atrocities, I believe with all my heart that God will take our souls into His beloved Heart.
Love is eternally boundless and larger than all the complexities of universes.
God bless you.
Kathleen
His love is our morning sunrise, evening sunset, snow on the mountain tops, oceans, lakes, forests, babies, the old and infirm, touching art, music, a kiss, the sweetness of a moment, prayer, and rapture.
It’s everything we can possibly think of and more. It can even be found in the rubble of war, through the suffering of the inflicted as was our crucified Christ on the cross.
So Beautiful!
Thank you for sharing a God experience.
Blessing
You are very welcome!
What a beautiful Story! Yes, I agree with your understanding of the message.