First Reading (Eccl 44,1.10-15)
Reading of the Book of Ecclesiasticus.
Let us praise famous men, our ancestors through the generations. These are men of mercy; Your acts of kindness will not be forgotten. They remain with their descendants; Your own grandchildren are your best inheritance. Their descendants remain faithful to their covenants, and, thanks to them, so do their children. His descendants remain forever, and his glory will never fade. Their bodies will be buried in peace and their name will last through the generations. The people will proclaim his wisdom, and the assembly will celebrate his praise.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Matthew 13,16-17)
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “Blessed are you, because your eyes see and your ears hear. Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people wanted to see what you see, and did not see, they wanted to hear what you hear, and did not heard.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we are called to reflect on the greatness of our ancestors in faith and the blessing of witnessing the wonders of God in our own lives. The readings we heard today, from the book of Ecclesiasticus and the gospel of Matthew, invite us to honor the saints and righteous people who preceded us and to recognize the immense grace we receive by knowing and following Jesus Christ.
Let’s start with the first reading of the book of Ecclesiasticus, which presents us with a beautiful tribute to our ancestors: “Let us praise the illustrious men, our ancestors, according to the order of their generations.” The author reminds us of the importance of recognizing and valuing those who came before us, who lived lives of virtue and fidelity to God. They are examples and witnesses of faith who guide and inspire us.
Let’s imagine a large garden, full of fruit trees. Each tree represents a generation of righteous people and saints who, firmly planted in faith, bore abundant fruit throughout their lives. These fruits are the works of charity, the transmitted wisdom and the faith that kept the flame of divine love alive. We are the beneficiaries of these trees, reaping the fruits of their virtues and learning from their examples.
The righteous who are mentioned in Ecclesiasticus have not been forgotten. Their works remain alive in the memory of those who follow them. Just as one candle can light many others without diminishing its own flame, the light of our ancestors’ faith continues to shine in us. We, today, are called to be that light, to live in such a way that our lives can also illuminate the path of those who will come after us.
In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples: “Blessed are you, for your eyes see and your ears hear. Truly I say to you, many prophets and righteous people desired to see what you see and did not see, and to hear what you hear and did not heard.” These words of Jesus invite us to recognize the great blessing of living in a time when we can know and follow Jesus Christ fully and directly.
The prophets and righteous people of the Old Testament longed for the Messiah, they awaited the arrival of the Savior who would redeem the people of God. They had glimpses and promises of what was to come, but they did not live to see the fullness of revelation in Jesus Christ. We, however, are blessed to live in the New Covenant era, in which God’s love and grace have been fully revealed through Jesus.
Imagine a person who has spent their entire life waiting to see the sunrise. She wakes up every morning hoping that this will be the day she sees the sunlight break through the darkness of the night. But we, dear brothers and sisters, have already seen this light. Jesus is the rising sun, the light of the world who dispelled the darkness of sin and brought us eternal life. We live in the light of Christ and are called to reflect that light to the world.
Given these readings, we are invited to make some important reflections on our own life and faith. Firstly, we are called to honor and give thanks for our ancestors in faith. Think of the saints, the martyrs, the wise men and all those who, in some way, contributed to the transmission of faith throughout the generations. We can learn a lot from their lives, their struggles and their loyalty.
Furthermore, we are called to recognize the immense grace we receive by knowing Jesus Christ. Let us not take this blessing for granted. We live in a time of great revelation and access to God’s grace. Every time we participate in the Eucharist, every time we hear the Word of God, we are experiencing something that many in the past only dreamed of experiencing. May we be deeply grateful for this and allow that gratitude to manifest in our daily lives.
Finally, we are called to be living witnesses of the faith. Just as our ancestors lit the way for us, we are called to do the same for future generations. May our actions, words and choices reflect the light of Christ and inspire others to follow the path of truth and love.
Now, brothers and sisters, let us take a moment of silence to reflect on these words. Let’s thank God for our ancestors in faith, ask for the grace to live up to the revelation we received in Christ and commit ourselves to being a light for others.
Lord God, we thank You for giving us illustrious ancestors in faith. We give thanks for the example of the saints and righteous people who lived before us and guided us with their wisdom and virtue. We thank you, above all, for the immense gift of knowing Your Son, Jesus Christ, who is the fullness of revelation and our Savior. Help us to live up to this great blessing, being faithful witnesses of Your love and grace. May our lives be a reflection of the light of Christ, illuminating the path for others. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, as we leave here today, let us take with us gratitude for our ancestors in faith and the determination to live as true disciples of Christ. May we always be grateful for the grace of knowing and following Jesus, and may our lives be a living testimony of God’s love to the world. Remember, we are called to be light and salt – let us shine and flavor the world with the goodness, justice and love of God. Amen.
