Wednesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Or Optional Memorial of Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Or Optional Memorial of Saint Robert Bellarmine, bishop and doctor of the Church
Luke 7: 31-35
Nothing Satisfies You

The Gospel often shows us that we human beings are hard to please. Jesus Himself said: “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep” (Lk 7:32). Nothing satisfies us. We are always looking for something different, something better, as if life were a menu where we can order whatever we like. Yet the truth is, joy does not come from having everything, but from learning to value what we already have. Today, ask yourself: do I appreciate the people God has placed in my life, or do I always focus on what is missing? Do I see the glass half full or half empty?

There is also the temptation to criticize everything. Some people meddle in matters they don’t even understand, spreading negativity wherever they go. But constant criticism makes us bitter and alone. Remember, even Jesus was criticized—His words, His actions, even His silence! Yet He never let criticism stop Him from doing the will of the Father. If we follow Him, we too must learn not to fear criticism, but to walk forward with courage.

The way forward is the gift of wisdom. Wisdom allows us to savor life, to taste its beauty and its challenges without resentment. Life is short; it is not meant to be wasted on bitterness. Every day God sends us people and situations that can help us grow, if only we receive them with humility and gratitude.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit for the wisdom to recognize the blessings already present, to resist the urge to criticize, and to live with grateful hearts. Only then will we discover that in Christ, life is already full.

© Claretian Publications, Hong Kong, China
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2025