Readings
I - Num. 11: 25-29
II - Jas. 5: 1-6
III - Mk. 9: 38: 43,
45, 47-48
World Day of Migrants and Refugees
THE GIFTS WE ARE GIVEN ARE GIFTS TO BE SHARED
God’s favour is not the privilege of few. He bestows His gifts upon people for a purpose. The reading of the day invites us to acknowledge and accept the gift of God conferred on others with openness of heart than to be envious and suspicious as did Joshua, the assistant of Moses in the first reading and John, the beloved disciple of Jesus in the Gospel reading. The Spirit we have received is the spirit of unity as St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians would say, “Be diligent to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4: 3). In the first reading the Spirit anoints Eldad and Medad for prophesying in the camp. ‘Someone’ in the Gospel passage drove out demon in the name of Jesus. One in the spirit and for the common good.
The gifts given by God is not the private possession but they are to be given away and shared for human welfare and up building; precisely for the glory of God. If we realise this we will be able to appreciate and rejoice at the gifts of others rather than feeling envy, jealousy, greedy and resentment. As children of God we are called to be grateful for our own gifts and talents and; are invited to glorify and praise God for the gifts He has bestowed on others all for his honour and for the good of the humankind.
September 26 is celebrated as the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Let us intensify our prayers for them and try to share our gifts and blessings with them for they too are children of God like us, created in the image of God. May our heart and mind resound with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, Help us to rejoice at the gifts of others”
