Reflections from the Heart – October 2, 2022

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
by Fr. Ivan Olmo

“We are unprofitable servants.” A command tends to come to us from a person who is in charge, responsible or in control. Although it may be informative, instructional or even necessary, the fact that it comes from a higher up, superior or manager who may have the right to do so, it still feels authoritative in nature and we just don’t like to be told what to do. So often, a command although helpful, is rarely welcomed or appreciated. We just don’t like to be looked down upon, or commanded to do anything. Well, how about if God was the one who was commanding us? Doesn’t he have the right to tell us what to do? Weren’t we made, fashioned and created in his image and likeness? Aren’t we his beloved, obedient children who are dependent on him for everything? Didn’t he save us by his Blood on the Cross and ransom us from sin and Satan? Doesn’t God have the right and the authority, the wisdom and power to tell us what we can and cannot do, what we should or should not do? I love God’s commands. He simply commands us to love. To love him with our whole being, our entire interiority, our complete and total self. That’s not a bad thing. It’s an amazing, incredible, gracious gift from God. It’s the best thing ever. He simply is asking us to be who we are, who we are created to be, who we are meant to be. Love of God and love of each other. What a blessing and beautiful command. To be free, to be loved, to be you. Other people command us to be who they want us to be, to do what they command us to do. It’s mostly for them although it may benefit us. God’s commands are always for us, they always benefit us. The Commandments are made to keep us with God, to assure us of his peace, to keep us in his good graces and keep us in his holy presence. That is the best and greatest good. If God’s command or commandments seem harsh or a burden or impossible to fulfill then you need to really exam the thing that is opposing your true happiness, or the person keeping you from the greatest good or the reason you are choosing something that is temporary over someone who is eternal. Can that person save you? Can that thing give you eternal life? Could you ever truly be happy without God and his commandment to love?