Gospel Reflection for the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B.
By The Benedictine Community
I love you, Lord. my strength. (Psalm 17)
The readings this week are all about love. The first reading and the gospel are a call to give ourselves a reality check regarding who or what, how much and how well we love.
Remember the question Jesus asked Peter: 'Simon, son of John,do you love me more than these?' (John 21:15).
'These' referred to the other Apostles but we have to search our hearts for those things which we love above our Redeemer and our God. We each have our secret longings, unfulfilled hopes, hidden passions, ambitions and disappointments - desires that can come between ourselves and our God.
For most of us waiting for the bridegroom to come leads to quiet despair but the one and only relief is prayer.prayer and more prayer.
The next relief is a message written on a wall plaque: I searched for God, but God I could not see. I searched for my soul but it eluded me. I searched for my brother and I found all three.
Praise God!