The Gospel today reminds us that we ought to do good without excluding anyone,
and we ought to do this good for the love of God, for God's sake.
Our Lord had been accused of casting out demons by the prince of demons,
and he shows this to be false by his words and actions, and by continuing to do good to all.
Because a demon, when rebuked, will return evil for evil.
But not our Lord, who continues to do good, as the Gospel says, in all the towns and villages,
without excluding anyone, even though he had been falsely accused and blasphemed.
Thus he was showing that his words, his teaching, and his actions were motivated by a true love for God,
instead of being motivated.
By a disordered self-love, and to gain the approval of men.
And so we need to ask ourselves, what about us?
When we are unappreciated or accused, does our response reflect more that of a demon or that of Christ?
Do we immediately withdraw and cease doing good?
Or worse, do we seek to return evil for evil?
Do we have a vengeful spirit, and getting even and feeling totally justified in doing so?
The person that ceases to do good because of accusations,
simply shows that his good has been done on the condition that it meets the approval of others.
While if our words and actions were motivated by the love of God,
if the good that we do is for God,
then we will not stop from doing good, no matter what others think or say.
So this Advent, let us prepare for the coming of Christ,
by putting on the mind of Christ,
by clothing ourselves with Christ,
with his virtues, with his meekness, his humility,
and above all, his untiring charity.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
I lustra homo misericodes oculos
Ad nos convertem
Et estum benedictum
Fructum ventris iubis
Thank you.