First Reading - 1 Corinthians 10:14-22
Gospel - Luke 6:43-49
We can know the strength of a house by its depth and foundation. If the foundation of a house is strong, lesser possibility of destruction of it by flood, earthquake or other natural calamities. Hence, there is a need to lay a strong foundation. The readings of the day invite us to strengthen and reinforce the foundation of our Christian life.
The first reading is a masterpiece saturated with catechetical instructions. Paul imparts two basic catechetical instructions; the one related to the meaning of the celebration of the Eucharist and the other pertaining to the disposition required in order to receive the Eucharist. In the first case, Paul teaches that the celebration of the Eucharist has a profound meaning as believer is joined to Christ in His Body and Blood, consequently forming a single body with Christ. Paul highlights, in this section, the mystery of the Eucharistic union that takes place between Christ and the believer. Therefore, he continues to instruct the believers that they should pay at most honour to the Eucharist and the disposition of heart in recieving it. He further cites the kind of disposition with which the eucharist is to be recieved. He mentions it's not with divided heart (between God and Satan) we are to receive Jesus in the Eucharist nor with our unpreparedness but with pure and conscious realisation of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
The gospel passage of today lays emphasis on laying a strong foundation of our Christian life. The gospel proposes two ways by which we can reinforce or strengthen the foundation of our Christian life; firstly, by treasuring good values and virtues in our hearts and rooting out evil from our hearts; secondly, by carrying out the commandment of God or living our lives according to the word of God.
The first way, as suggested in the gospel, to reinforce the foundation of our Christian life mentions that just as a tree is known by its fruits whether good or bad so is with our human character and Christian life. Our life is reflected by what we speak from the treasury of our hearts. If we have harboured good values, virtues and thoughts, that will be visible in our speach. However, if the treasury of heart is filled with evil, that will be seen in our the speach.
The second way as the gospel suggests to reinforce our foundation is by listening to the word of Jesus and carrying them out. God speaks to us through the Bible or the Word of God, when we attempt everyday to live according to it, we build our foundation of faith of Christian life strong. If we listen to it, but remain inactive and unaffected, this will never reinforce our foundation of faith of Christian life.
Dear friends, faith is a grace given to us. St. Paul mentions in the first reading that our Christian faith is sustained by the worthy celebration of the Eucharist. Besides, our daily worthy celebration of the Eucharist we also need to reinforce our faith everyday by treasuring good values, virtues and thoughts in our hearts. This we can do by reading, listening and discussing about the Bible or some good books pertaining to faith or the lives of saints. They will certainly keep our hearts filled with good treasures. It's is vital that we make every effort to live our faith daily by carrying out the message or inspiration of the gospel imparted to us at the celebration of Mass or by personal reading of the Bible.
May God help us in our endeavour to make the foundation of our Christian life strong.
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