Wednesday, August 4, 2021
Bible Reflections I 05.08.2021 - Thursday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Num. 20:1-13
II - Mt. 16: 13-23
Dedication of St. Mary Major (Optional Memoria)
CHOSEN TO BE THE CHURCH OF GOD
In today’s Gospel passage Jesus calls Peter ‘blessed’ and ‘Satan’ simultaneously under two different contexts. Jesus praises Peter when his answer aligned with the plan of the Father in Heaven and calls him ‘Blessed’ and rebukes him calling ‘Satan’ when he becomes a stumbling block to the plan of God. Jesus choses that ‘Blessed’ Peter as ‘Rock’ and establishes his Church upon the leadership of that ‘Rock’, Peter. From then up till now the Church has been victorious over all heresies and havoc caused to it, true to the words of Jesus, “the gates of hades will not prevail against it”. With and upon the weak being is build the great, divine, holy and mighty Church of God as the bible says, “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the corner stone” (Eph. 2:20).
Today the Church remembers the dedication of St. Mary Major Church, Rome, a great and gigantic church built in honour of Mother Mary. The site for the Church was chosen by the Blessed Mother herself through the miraculous snow fall at that site as she promised. The purpose of every church besides being a place of worship, glory, honour and praise to God, binds brothers and sisters in fraternity, unity and equality. St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of Holy Spirit within you” (1Cor. 6:19). We are the temple of God, called to be the sign of fraternity, unity and equality reflecting the presence of God. In this our living we become the worship, honour, glory and praise to God. This may inherit the wrath of the world upon us and the people of this world may hate, haul and hurt us but they can never prevail over us. With the blessings and grace of God let us try to project the presence of God in us to the people around as we keep repeating: “Lord Jesus, help me to project your presence in my life”