We've Got Jesus Wrong

Join Fr Rob as he reflects on the Sunday Gospel readings and how we can apply these reflections to our lives today. 

21st Sunday In OT
Gospel: Matthew 6:13-20

Transcript

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Icon Ministry presents the Father Rob Gallia Homilies Podcast. We invite you to join Father Rob as he reflects on the Sunday Mass readings and how we can apply these reflections to our lives today.

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Who do you say that I am? I love this Bible verse. I often actually pray with this Bible verse over and over again. I repeat this in my mind. I imagine Jesus looking at me and saying, Rob, who do you say that I am? Now, of course, God doesn't call me Father Rob, but this is the same question he asks you. Who do you say that I am? Now, this is a very important question because he's asking this question to Peter. And Peter had spent three years with him. And even though he had spent a lot of time with him, he knew that Peter didn't fully understand who Jesus was. In fact, he was proven right when later he denied him three times. Even though he said he would stand by Jesus, he actually didn't know who Jesus was. He didn't know God's mercy and God's love. Now we can spend time with Jesus. We can pray, we can go to Mass. But sometimes we actually don't know Jesus because we don't let Jesus in, especially his mercy, especially his love. Take Judas, for example. Judas spent three years with Jesus also, but he just didn't get it. He didn't understand who Jesus was, he didn't understand Jesus' mercy. He didn't understand that if he only asked, Jesus would have forgiven him. And he would have shown him mercy, and he would have made a saint out of Judas. But because he didn't know who Jesus was, he closed his heart and he fell into desperation, into condemnation. And this is where the devil works. Now, here's the difference, you see, because God, Jesus, works with conviction. He shows us our sins and he brings us to sorrow and repentance. He brings us to a place where we ask for his mercy. But through knowing him, we know that we will receive his mercy if only we asked for it. And one of the ways that we can do that is asking Jesus personally for mercy and for grace. But when there is mortal sin, how important it is for us to go to the sacrament of reconciliation, of confession. We are guaranteed forgiveness there if we go with contrition, with an understanding of God's mercy, knowing who he is. So if you really know who Jesus is, you'd let his mercy in. You wouldn't condemn yourself, you wouldn't beat yourself up, you wouldn't allow yourself to end up in a place of condemnation. And if you don't know who he is, if you are in this place where you constantly feel unworthy of God's love, you constantly feel that you can't approach God because of your sinfulness, well, then maybe you actually don't know who Jesus is. Here's the reality: you don't deserve God's love. You don't deserve who God is. But that's not the point. The point is what Jesus has done for you on the cross. Do you know him? Do you know his mercy? Do you know his forgiveness? Do you know what God has prepared and planned for your life? If you did know that, you'd approach him every day with boldness, with excitement. Every day you'd wake up and want to spend time with Jesus. How do I know if you know Jesus? Well, if you really knew him, you'd spend time with him every day. If you really knew him, you'd spend time asking for mercy. But if you really knew him, you'd step up into everything that God has created you. Not because you deserve it, not because you're perfect, but simply because of who he is. He's a God who loves you, he's a God who's called you, he's a God who has great plans for your life. Jesus, I want to know you. I want to know your mercy. I want to know your love, but also I want to know what you think of me, that you have created me for greatness, for a relationship with you.

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Thank you for tuning in to this week's edition of the Father Robia Homilies Podcast. We pray that it has blessed you and encouraged you in your faith. If you're looking for an extended explanation of the Sunday Mass readings and relevant life issues from a Catholic perspective, be sure to check out the Outside the Chapel podcast, hosted by Father Robgalia and two female co-hosts. This podcast is available on all online platforms. You can also follow us on social media on Instagram, Facebook, X formerly Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. All social media links can be found on our website at www.outsidechapel.com. We'd love to hear from you, so feel free to send us an email at podcast at iconministry.com. We are so blessed to be able to reach millions of people here in this ministry. But it is only possible through the generous and ongoing support of our icon ministry partners and donors. If you'd like to support us, please visit iconministry.com forward slash support. We invite you to check out our other faith resources and online courses at iconministry.com, and we look forward to joining you on this podcast again next week. God bless.