Sunday October 8, 2023

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“If we love as Jesus loves, we are living in the kingdom of God now.”

Good News Reflection for:

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 8, 2023

Today’s Prayer:

Beloved Lord: Forgive me, because I’ve tried to judge Your wise and holy decisions using my own criteria. Root Your justice in the depths of my heart and mind to help me be the servant of Your vineyard that You want me to be. Amen.

Subscribe to Today’s Saint Quote & Prayer:
gnm.org/SaintQuotes/

Today’s Readings:

Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:9, 12-16, 19-20 (with Is 5:7a)
Philipians 4:6-9
Matthew 21:33-43
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100823.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-october-8-2023

The fruits of Heaven in our lives today

“The kingdom of God is given to those who produce its fruit.” That’s the moral of the story that Jesus gives us in this Sunday’s Gospel reading. And what is this kingdom of God, given to us while we’re still on earth? What are its fruits, which we produce during our earthly lives?

Anything we do in imitation of Christ is a fruit that has grown as a result of following Christ on our journey toward heaven. If we love as he loves, forgive as he forgives, minister to others, teach the truth, and heal the hurting, we are living in the kingdom of God now.

When I ask Catholics if they believe they’re going to heaven, most feel very uncertain, either because they’re afraid they might lose their salvation through some future grave sin, or because they’re afraid it’s not humble enough to answer with a firm “yes.”

Granted, we do not imitate Christ perfectly. Most of us will need to spend time in Purgatory being purged of whatever is unheavenly about us, but when the purging is finished, we’ll be fully alive in the wonderfulness of God. If we make it to Purgatory, of course we’ll reach the glories of heaven. And if our desire to be Christ-like is genuine, then of course our sins will never be so “grave” that we turn completely away from Christ. Of course we’ll gladly embrace him when he comes for us at the moment of our death.

Whatever you do because of Christ and out of love for Christ, this is evidence that you are living in and will eternally live in God’s kingdom.

Questions for Personal Reflection:
What good fruits are you producing in your life now? List them; get out a pen and start writing them down. During the week, as you think of more good fruits, add those to the list.

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:
Look at the list you produced for the above question. How do these fruits give evidence of God’s goodness within you? How do they provide the kingdom of God for the benefit of others? How do they assure you that you are truly a heaven-bound follower of Christ?

For more on this, see our video, “What is Heaven Like?” @ https://gnm-media.org/what-is-heaven-like/

© 2023 by Terry A. Modica

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