Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Matthew 12:1-8
What Is Allowed?

In our journey of faith, we often ask: What is allowed? What is forbidden? These are not bad questions, but if we stop there, we risk reducing the Christian life to a set of rules. Too often, even in our Church communities, we cling more tightly to the letter of the law than to the spirit of the Gospel. We can become guardians of the code, rather than joyful witnesses of Christ.

Jesus invites us to see differently. He calls us to look at our brothers and sisters not with suspicion, but with compassion. Not with judgment, but with love. The law has its place — it can guide and protect — but it must always be illuminated by mercy. When we look through the eyes of Jesus, we see not problems to fix, but people to love.

Serving God is not about control or perfection. It begins with falling in love — again and again — with the Lord who first loved us. That love naturally overflows in service. Your faith grows when you serve, and your service inspires the faith of others. So do not be afraid to love boldly, even when misunderstood. Love always finds a way.

But let us also be watchful. Sometimes, hidden behind good intentions, we serve ourselves more than God. The enemy is subtle — he whispers that our work is holy, even when it inflates our pride or seeks recognition. That is not the path of Jesus, who made Himself small and poured Himself out.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to purify our hearts. May we serve not for appearances, but for love. Not for status, but for the Gospel. And may all we do reflect the gentle gaze of Christ — the gaze that saves, heals, and calls each one of us by name.

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Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2025