READINGS FOR THE THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A, SUNDAY, 29TH OCTOBER, 2023.
First Reading: Exodus 22:20-26
Psalm: 17
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10
Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40
REFLECTION BY FR. CORNELIUS NWAOGWUGWU, CM
THE GIFT OF LOVE: A CALL FOR THANKSGIVING
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today, Sunday 29th October, 2023, the Church of Christ on Mission in the World celebrates the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. Today also is the last Sunday in the month of October 2023. The month of October is significant to our faith. It is dedicated to our Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of the Holy Rosary. October is also called Mission Month which teaches us that human existence, thanksgiving and love are inseparable.
As children of God by Baptism, God’s will is that we should love everyone and see Him in one of us. Love is expressive in all facets of our human existence. We express our love of God by loving each other as Jesus loves us. We can also demonstrate our love for each other by helping, supporting, encouraging, forgiving and expressing gratitude for favours received. Our response to God’s love expresses itself in our ability to love God and our neighbour unconditionally. Our love for God is tested and put into practice by the way we love our neighbour.
The book of Exodus reminds us of the need for us to love God living in our neighbours as a mark of thanksgiving. (Exodus 22:20-26). In the Gospel today, one of the Pharisees put this question to Jesus: “Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?” Jesus answered: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind; you must love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22:34-40).
As God’s children, we bear God’s image. To honour God’s image is to honour Him. Love for our neighbour should not be a matter of feelings but of deeds by which we share with others in gratitude for the unmerited love that God lavishes on us. Confirming Jesus’ teaching on love, the Apostle John wrote: “Those who say, I love God, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.” (1John 4:20). For Jesus, love is the greatest commandment. Love is supreme. Love gives genuine meaning to our lives and existence. Love is everything. It follows then that we cannot separate love and thanksgiving from human existence. Love of God and love of our neighbour are deeply interconnected. It calls for an expression of gratitude to God who gives meaning to our existence.
In respect of this statement of fact, it is my great pleasure to welcome all of you to this Year’s African Chaplaincy Harvest Thanksgiving 2023. We gather together to worship God with all our heart, soul and mind and to thank God for everything in our lives.
The theme of this year’s Harvest is “Harvest of Renewed Hope.” The Book of the prophet Jeremiah inspired our choice of this theme. It reads: “for I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11).
In the African Chaplaincy, we are working very hard and will continue to do our best to be visible and relevant in the expression of our Catholic faith. This commitment brings renewed hope for our future integration into the Irish Church and society while retaining our African cultures and values. This year, as we celebrate our annual Harvest Thanksgiving, we are called to join in proclaiming the reign of God, to bear witness by giving our time, talents, energy and creative gift of imagination to the work of God in the African Chaplaincy, the entire Church, and our countries of origin.
In respect of this call, the Missionary Family of God of the African Chaplaincy in Dublin, celebrates the Harvest Thanksgiving 2023 with renewed hope. We gather for a joyful celebration of the Holy Eucharist and reunite with friends and families expressing our commitment to the work of God. “The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.” (Psalm 126: 1-3). Indeed the Lord has done great things for us individually and collectively. Many good things have happened in our lives. We have experienced tremendous success in different facets of our lives, ranging from good health, academic success, business success, job opportunities, family blessings from God and family reunion, better housing and regularization of our stay in Ireland. We cannot but be joyful, thankful and renewed in hope to God for everything He has done for us. We also give God the glory and thanks for everything in our lives. We pray the Lord to continue to bless us now and forever. Amen!
As Catholics, this is our opportunity to bring all we have in thanksgiving; our annual way of saying thank you to our Lord for favours received. Giving to the Lord reveals gratitude and our belief that God is able to do much more than we could imagine.
Out of genuine love, the Psalmist asked, “How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?” We Christians ask, “How can we repay the Lord for all of his goodness to us?” Certainly, we can follow the example of the Psalmist who said: “I will lift up the cup of salvation.” I will “call upon the name of the Lord.” “I will fulfil my vows to the Lord.” (Psalm 116). Psalm 37 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” He is the living water, our river of life. He satisfies our desires in ways that this world never could offer. He gives us life and makes us produce good fruit. He satisfies our every need with good things. St. Francis of Assisi observed, “It is in giving that we receive.” Hence, we cannot but be joyful and thankful to God for his goodness and everything He has done for us.
We are invited to joyfully offer our gifts to God from whom all blessings flow. Let this be our motivation for giving. When we are cheerful and generous in giving for our common good, certainly we are in for real blessings.
Once more, I say a sincere thank you for your kind and continued support to us in the African Community. I wish you all a peaceful and joyful celebration full of renewed hope and God’s abundant blessings now and forever. Amen.
Rev. Fr. Cornelius Nwaogwugwu, CM.