🙏 SUNDAY INSIGHTS - 15TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 🙏

 First Reading - Amos 7:12-15

Second Reading - Ephesians 1:3-14

Gospel - Mark 6:7-13

Saint John Vianney, known for his holiness and pastoral care, spent countless hours hearing confessions in his parish of Ars, France. One anecdote recounts how a man came to him, deeply troubled by his sins and feeling unworthy of God's forgiveness. John Vianney patiently listened to him, offered words of comfort and encouragement, and guided him through a sincere confession. The man left the confessional with tears of joy, having experienced the profound mercy and love of God through the sacrament. This anecdote illustrates how the sacrament of Confession can bring about spiritual healing and renewal, leading to a deeper relationship with God and a life of holiness.

In the second reading, St. Paul says, "In Him He chose us... to be holy and blameless before Him in love." This line of St. Paul highlights the reason for our vocation. As Christians, we are called to be holy. St. Paul further tells us that we must practice genuine love which is the expression of our holy life.

The Gospel emphasizes an important point that the mission of the disciples was to proclaim repentance or conversion, which was accompanied by miracles. However, the primary focus was on the proclamation of repentance of people. Jesus said that when people do not respond positively, neither welcoming nor listening, they will eventually face consequences, as shown in His command to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against them.

An example of resistance is seen in the first reading, where the prophet Amos was not believed, and people refused to listen to him. This shows resistance to conversion or changing one's life according to the word of God.

Dear brothers and sisters, there is no doubt that a holy life requires conversion or repentance. We cannot live a holy life without converting from our disbelief, sin, and resistance to the word of God, and without changing ourselves according to the word of God. We live in a world where people do not recognize sin and therefore do not desire conversion or change in their lives. Let us remember that we are sinners and weak, and we need conversion for a holy life in Jesus. Certainly, self-examination helps us recognize ourselves for conversion, and the sacrament of reconciliation helps us make decisions for change in our lives.

Another sign of conversion is seen in genuine love for one another, without seeking compliments or recognition from others, just as Jesus loved us without seeking approval or recognition from others.

Let us pray that God may give us the grace of conversion so that we may live a holy life in Jesus.