In the first reading today, we begin a journey through St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians. The Gospel reading from Luke 10 is a story that I hope is familiar to you. We know it as The Good Samaritan.
St. Paul writes to the Galatians, "Am I now currying favor with human beings or God? Or am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Jesus Christ."
Being a people pleaser is a pretty normal thing. We all want to be liked. The question is what are we willing to do to be liked? Many people don't like Christianity (or anything other than their version of Christianity) and the teachings of the Catholic Church. In order to please people, you have to reject or avoid the teachings of the Church, or at the very least water them down. But that would not be being a "slave of Jesus Christ." Would St. Paul do those things? No. He didn't, and he wouldn't. And neither should we.
Father, help us to concentrate on pleasing you, and not people. Keep us always faithful to the teachings of Christ and not the whims of men. Amen.
AMEN Gus!!
One cannot “go along to get along” and be a slave to Christ. Sadly, I am willing to bet that most homilies will focus on the need to emulate the Good Samaritan (No argument there) rather than address the harsh reality put forth by the good Saint!