Bible Reflections I Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle I 03.07.2021 - Saturday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 13

Readings:  I - Eph. 2:19-22

               II - Jn. 20:24-29

ST. THOMAS, APOSTLE (Feast)

The Church celebrates the feast of St. Thomas called Didymus, the apostle of Jesus and the apostle of India.  He was a brave and ardent apostle of Jesus.  When Jesus said that he had to leave for Jerusalem, dangerous place for Jesus, St. Thomas courageously said, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (Jh. 11:16).  He risked not his life for Jesus.  He is commonly known as doubting Thomas.  The doubt of Thomas on the resurrection of Jesus, the appearance of Jesus to St. Thomas and his proclamation, “My God and My Lord” affirmed the resurrection of Jesus and the faith of the Church. After the ascension of Jesus, St. Thomas came to India to preach the Good News.  He preached in Malabar coast, Kodungalloor, Palayoor and finally came to Mylapore, Chennai and was martyred there in 72 A.D.  

The cornerstone determines the spatial order and the structure of a building.  The foundation stone will be set in reference to the cornerstone. According to the first reading today, Jesus Christ is the corner stone of building the Church, and the apostles are the foundation stones of that building.  We are called to be a part of that building.  In the Gospel reading today, we read about the dilemma of St. Thomas due to his disbelief in accepting the fact that the disciples have seen Jesus.  St. Thomas had been with Jesus still could not believe that He had risen and has appeared.  Jesus appears, clarifies the doubt of St. Thomas, strengthens his faith and makes him a great missionary and ambassador to India and finally a martyr of his faith. 

 

Almost all the apostles of Jesus had defects.  Peter was impetuous, he also denied Jesus, James and John, the sons of Zebedee were very particular about taking their seat at the right and left hand of Jesus, Thomas was always doubting, all the disciples abandoned and ran away when Jesus was arrested and finally St. Paul was a great persecutor of the Christians.  Still these apostles were chosen to be the foundation of the building, the Church.  Because Jesus discovered and trusted the goodness in them that surpassed the weakness in them and made them the foundation of the building.  

 

The Bible says that Jesus “called to him those he wanted and they came to him” (Mk. 3:13).   Jesus has chosen each of us to be His followers because ‘we are precious to him and honoured and he loves us’ (Is. 43:4). we may not be meritorious and commendable still God chooses us and makes us to be his followers, part of that building, with a purpose. “The Lord does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1Sam: 16:7).  He looks at us beyond our limitations, weakness, inabilities and incapabilities.  May we not count or magnify our liabilities rather acknowledge God’s trust in us and with all faith acclaim along with St. Thomas, “My Lord and My God”.

Bible Reflections I 02.07.2021 - Friday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 13

Readings:

         I - Gen23:1-4,19,

               24:1-8,62-67

     II - Mt. 9:9-13

EMPTY TO EMPOWER

The Jewish rabbis were religious teachers and spiritual leaders.  They always maintained their status quo in the society.  They never associated with women, tax collectors and sinners.  In the Gospel passage today, Jesus the rabbi par excellence topsy turvy the attitude of the rabbis, calling Matthew, the tax collector to follow him.  He associated with the sinners and tax collectors and dined with them.  This infuriated the Pharisees and they asked the disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with the tax collectors and sinners?”.  Jesus refuted the Pharisees saying, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”.  Jesus emptying himself took on the nature of humankind to empower especially the marginalized, the least and the lost of the society viz. the sick, sinners, Samaritans, women and the tax collectors and not the righteous. The neglected strata of the society were comfortable and at home in the presence of Jesus that infused hope and empowered them for a transformed ad renewed life.

Power, position, prestige, standard, status, ego, caste and creed obstruct people from relating to the poor, the neglected, the down trodden, the oppressed, the marginalized and the less privileged.  These obstructs do not follow us after our life here on earth.  It is in giving up these obstructs do we gain life eternal.   We need not do great things. Just a word of concern, cup of water, kind gesture, voluntary accompaniment, encouraging pat, acknowledging nod, taking up for the voiceless, courageously defending the right of the oppressed, standing up for the truth, comforting presence, selfless giving and righteous living can topsy turvy the world.  

We are followers of Jesus, after the model of Jesus our master, let us dare to empty ourselves of all obstructs, to empower the suffering humanity and to restore the image of God in them.  Being first Friday, the day dedicated to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray that we may be filled with His love in order to empty ourselves in the empowerment of humankind as we keep repeating this prayer in the silence of our hearts: “Jesus, fill my heart with your love”.

அன்பா? அது என்ன ? I 01.07.2021- வியாழன் I Rev. Fr. Arokia Doss SDB I Ind...

Bible Reflections I 01.07.2021 - Thursday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 13

Readings:  

             I - Gen. 22:1-19

         II - Mt. 9:1-8

THE PROUD REACTS, THE SIMPLE RESPONDS

In today’s Gospel we read about two different reactions among two different groups of people viz. the Scribes and the crowd. The scribes were the interpreters of law, learned and cleaver. The crowds, on the other hand were simple and common folk of Israel.  Both witnessed the healing of the paralytic brought to Jesus.  The Scribes, in their jealousy, pride and arrogance of heart could not appreciate the healing of the paralytic instead found fault in the healing words of Jesus and blamed that He was blaspheming. The crowds instead, in their openness and simplicity of heart were filled with awe and glorified God for giving such power to men.

An encouraging and appreciating word is the sign of recognition of the good that is accomplished. We seldom find people who are generous in appreciating the good of the other.  The world is moving fast and no one has time for anyone to listen, observe or acknowledge.  This is on one side and on the other there are people who are capable of finding fault in every word and deed for various reasons, may be out of sheer jealousy, hatred, pride, anger or prejudice.  There are still another set of people who go beyond to spread negative comments and false rumors about the persons involved in doing good.  To which of these category do we belong?  

 Let us do all the good we can, if we cannot do so, at least encourage others to do good and if we still cannot do both let us at least keep ourselves away from fault finding, insulting, spreading rumours and degrading, so that we may not be a hurdle or a stumbling block in the accomplishment of good deed in the society.

We are God’s people therefore learn to observe, recognise and magnify the good in the other and glorify God for the same

Bible Reflections I 30.06.2021 - Wednesday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 13

Readings:  

          I - Gen. 21:5, 8-20

        II - Mt. 8:28-34

THE PERVADING POWER OF PRESENCE

Good and evil, light and darkness, virtues and vices can never coexist.  One vanishes in the presence of the other.  This is the essence of the Gospel passage today.  Evil can never resist the presence of all Holy, all Good and all Powerful.  The demons could not resist the presence of Jesus and shouted, “Have you come here to torment us?”  The presence of Jesus pervades to vanquish the darkness of evil and restores, fosters and promotes life, love, peace and joy in humanity. 

In the light of this Gospel passage, let us reflect on our presence in our family and in the society. How does our presence effect our family and friends, kith and kin, dear and near ones? Do we in our kindness, love, understanding, comfort, consolation, gentleness, selflessness and sacrifice project God to them?  If so, we are a beam of blessing and agents of joy to our family and friends, kith and kin, dear and near ones.

How does our presence effect the society?  Are we by our presence able dispel the darkness of disbelief, discouragement, hopelessness, inequality, injustice, hunger and thirst in our society?  If so, we are a ray of hope and agents of transformation in the society.  Let us with the grace of God strive to become a beam of blessing and a ray of hope wherever we are effecting restoration of life and transformation in the society.

Bible Reflections I 29.06.2021 - Tuesday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 13

Readings:  

        I - Acts. 12:1-11

     II - 2Tim. 4:6-8,17-18

   III - Mt. 16:13 -19              

ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL (Solemnity)

It takes courage, conviction and above all the grace of God to accept, confess and proclaim Jesus as our Messiah and our Lord. If we accept Jesus as our Messiah and commit to follow Him, we will like Him be abandoned by this world of vanity and false hope. Behold, the constant support and continual assistance of the Lord will accompany us till we complete our race and receive the eternal reward for which Jesus Christ has captured us. This is the central message of all three readings today.

The Church solemnises the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, the giants of Christianity and the great pillars of the Church. Simon Peter was an unlearned fisherman and Saul Paul was a learned Jewish fanatic who persecuted the Christians. Simon encountered the Lord and became Peter, the rock and the leader of the Church. Saul encountered the Lord and became Paul and the ‘apostle of the gentiles’. Both of them accepted Jesus as their Lord and Messiah and proclaimed Him vehemently through their words and deeds. Many were convinced of their emphatic preaching and became Christians. Their life and preaching infuriated the higher authority of the Government officials resulting in the martyrdom of the apostles. St. Peter was crucified upside down and St. Paul was beheaded. Both endured the same with a hope of eternal crown of glory that awaited them in the Paradise. 

We too have accepted Jesus as our Lord in Baptism. Mere acceptance will not suffice. We are commanded to proclaim Jesus not in mere words but in our deeds of love as well “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another” (Jn.13:35). In our giving, sharing, forgiving, compassion, kindness, love, generosity and self-giving, people must identify that we are Christians. In our effort to live for the Lord, we would be swimming against the current, and fall a prey to warth of the world of compromises. 

Let us not loose heart instead as St. Paul says, “always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully” (2Tim. 4:5). When we are faced with suffering and opposition, may our mind and heart be rejuvenated with the assuring promise of Our Lord Jesus Christ, “Behold I am always with you until the end of times” (Mt. 28:20).

Bible Reflections I 28.06.2021 - Monday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 13

Readings:  

             I - Gen. 18:16-33

          II - Mt. 8:18-22

READINESS TO RISK, READINESS TO RENOUNCE

The Scribes were interpreters of the law, drafted legal documents and involved in the administrative work. They were professionals, learned and the elite accustomed to sophistication and comfortable living. According to the Gospel passage today, a scribe approaches Jesus to follow Him. Jesus proposes readiness to risk even the basic necessities if he wished to follow him. When another of his disciple said that he wanted to go and burry his father, Jesus exhorts readiness to renounce even the basic relationship in the pursuit of following Him. Thus Jesus proposes readiness to risk even the basic necessities of life and readiness to renounce even the basic and primary relationship viz, the parental relationship as the criteria for being His follower.  

 

Every Christian vocation is a call, commitment and a challenge. As Christians we are called to follow and imitate our Lord with an obligation to be His witnesses. In the pursuit of following and imitation, we may have to risk our safety, security, name, fame and status, say, even the basic necessities of life. We must be ready to renounce even basic parental relationship and be neutral in our search for service, equality, peace, justice and liberation. Affection and emotional attachments are often a great challenge to stand by the Lord as his disciple with the quest to follow Him. 

Courage! Readiness to risk even the basic necessities and the readiness to renounce even the parental relationship is a great demand for being the disciple of Jesus and Christian living. Let us examine ourselves in the light of the Gospel passage today, and implore God’s grace to be His witnessing and authentic, as the Gospel says “Would-Be followers” of Jesus Christ.

Bible Reflections I 27.06.2021 - Sunday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 13

Readings:  

      I - Wis. 1:13-15; 2:23-24

   II - 2Cor. 6:7, 9, 13-15

 III - Mk. 5:21-43 

CARE AND SHARE; LOVE AND LIVE

Our God is God of life. He created all things so that they may exist and not perish is the streamline of all three readings today. Jesus in His care and compassion, shares His power in raising Jairus daughter and in healing the woman who was suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years and restores them back to life. St. Paul in the first reading invites us for sharing, citing the example of Jesus who chose poverty to make the mankind rich and worthy. In caring and sharing, life and humanity is restored in the society.  

 “The glory of God is human being fully alive” is the maxim of St. St. Irenaeus and the essence of Christianity with the core concepts of care, share, love and live. But when we analyse the current scenario, one takes delight in saving, receiving, hoarding, swindling and accumulating, at the cost of depriving the other even of their basic necessities. This is the cause for illiteracy, ignorance, inequality and injustice in the society. According to St. Paul, in sharing we bring about a ‘fair balance’ in the world that would infuse life and hope to the marginalised and the less fortunate. 

There are people like Jairus and the woman, waiting in faith, for the sharing of our time, talent, money and material for their new life of transformation and restoration. Care to share, live to love thereby promote and foster a culture of life around us throbbing in hope and joy. Let us live and let live nurturing the culture of life around us.

Bible Reflections I 26.06.2021 - Saturday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 12

Readings: I - Gen. 18: 1-15

         II - Mt. 8: 5-17

    

JESUS HEALS A CENTURION’S SERVANT

Power of words and power of faith surpasses proximity of time and place is the central theme of the Gospel message today. The centurion though was a gentile was convinced that the word of the Lord has absolute authority of command to accomplish its purpose and would heal his servant - the power of word. He recognizes that Jesus was someone great and calls Him “Lord” which also means master while the learned and the cleaver of Israel failed to recognise this identity of Jesus - power of faith. The power of the words of Jesus and the power of the faith of the centurion finally heals the servant.  

Words spoken can be a prayer, a blessing, a curse, an appreciation, a deterrence, a praise, a gossip, a truth or a lie. Words can heal, hurt, build, break, confront, console, frustrate and encourage. Words have such power and would definitely have their own effect and impact. The words of Jesus was always life giving, life promoting and life enhancing. In this light let us examine the quality of our words. St. James in his epistle says, “The tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits” (Jas. 3:5). Let our tongues be trained to testify that we are children of God in the words that we use and utter for every word we utter has a great power.  

Do we, like the centurion realise that God can do all things in our lives. In the letter to the Hebrews we read, “Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). In our every turn and turbulence of our life let us hope in the Lord for “all things are possible to him who believes” (Mk. 29:3). Take some time to sit back and cherish on the marvelous work of the Lord in our lives, it would just be amazing. It’s worth trusting him than any other thing or person. May the Lord gift us with His faith for a happy and joyful life as we in the silence of our heart repeat saying, “Lord Jesus increase my faith in you’ 

Bible Reflections I 25.06.2021 - Friday I Indraya Manna

Ordinary Time - Week 12

Readings: I - Gen. 17:1, 5, 9-10, 15-22

         II - Mt. 8:1-4

    

JESUS CLEANSES A LEPER

The Gospel passage of the day is about the cleansing of a leper. The lepers were considered as sinners and outcasts in the Jewish society. They lived in the outskirts of the town. They were forbidden to have any contact with the people who had no leprosy. As Jesus was accompanied by great crowds, a leper accosted Jesus with great courage saying, “Lord if you choose, you can make me clean”. Jesus with great compassion touched him and said, “I do choose. Be made clean”. The courage of the leper and the compassion of Jesus restored the leper back to his normal life.   

In the Letter to the Hebrews we read, “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb. 2:18). But, there are times when the burden of the problems block us completely from raising our hearts and minds to God. We get drowned in a thimble of water and struggle, instead let us have courage to place all our trust and hope in the Lord for he can wipe away every tear from our eyes (Rev. 21:4). God in His compassion wishes that we be healed and relieved from all sin, sickness, problems, worries, anxieties, guilt, fear and be restored to our identity as children of God.

Let us bring all our problems unto the mighty hands of God with great courage and wait for His compassion by repeating the prayer the leper in the silence of our hearts, “Lord Jesus if you choose you can solve my problem (mention your problem)”.

Bible Reflections I 24.06.2021 - Thursday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 12

Readings:  I – Is. 49: 1-6

        II – Acts. 13: 22-26

        III – Lk. 1: 57-66; 80                 

NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (Solemnity)

The Church solemnises only three birthday viz. Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist and that of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is because the three had a significant and specific role in the history of Salvation.  Blessed Virgin Mary, to be the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, St. John the Baptist to be the forerunner of Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ the redeemer of the world.   Today we celebrate the feast of the solemnity of the nativity of St. John the Baptist. 

God calls us by name even before we were formed in the mother’s womb and sets us apart for a particular purpose with the promise of this assured assistance and predominant protection is the main stream of all three readings today. Zachariah’s son is named as ‘John’, a name given by God Himself. He comes to the world with the mission of preparing the way of the Lord, the Messiah and the promised one.  His life will be tough but as in the first reading, he would reap his reward from the God who sent him with a purpose.  

God has a master and mighty plan for every child right from its knitting in the mother’s womb (Ps. 139:13).  He calls and choses us even before we were formed in the mother’s womb (Jer. 1:5) for a specific purpose. And this purpose is very, unique, different and original for every person. The purpose might be challenging, for to live for God is to live in the hatred of the people of the world. If we analyse in the light of the lives of the legends in the Bible, the saints and the people of our time who had opted to live as per the teachings of the Lord, have left us with one common message: to serve the Lord is to suffer for the Lord.  Take Courage. Dare to live and suffer for the Lord because, “this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come” (Heb. 13:14) and we have the assurance of the Lord with us, “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20).  The reward is great in Heaven (Mt.: 5:12) for all those who strive to opt and live by the teachings of the Lord.   

As we celebrate the solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, let us interrogate ourselves, “Have I discovered my purpose here on earth?”  

நற்கனி தரும் மரங்களாய் மாறுவோம் I 23.06.2021 - புதன் I Rev. Fr. Arokia D...

Bible Reflections I 23.06.2021 - Wednesday I Indraya Manna

Ordinary Time - Week 12

Readings: I - Gen. 15: 1-12; 17-18

         II - Mt. 7: 15-20                 

A TREE AND ITS FRUIT

In today’s Gospel Jesus cautions us not to be deceived by impressing gestures and appealing words of the hypocritical people around us. He also gives us a clue to discover their hypocrisy with the simple metaphor, “a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree good fruit”. Integrity of the people testify their quality and credibility while disintegrity cause incredibility and bad reputation.  

St. Francis of Assisi would say, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words”. Preaching Gospel at all times is nothing but to walk the talk, make it a way of living and that is spirituality. Mere preachers of a religion are not more than a ‘salesperson’; for a salesperson promote a product while the preacher promote a religion.

As Christians with an obligation to preach the gospel, it is easy to speak about God’s love, mercy, forgiveness and benevolence. It is not in preaching alone should people discover us that we are Christians but in our actions as well. Jesus says, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13:35). 

If we are Christians and God’s people then we have it prove it in our love, mercy and forgiveness to one another as St. John in his epistle exhorts, “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1Jh. 4:7). Let us go beyond our likes and dislikes, hate none, love all, forget discords and forgive one another and prove to the world that we are Christians and God’s people fostering hope and joy. We are good trees and cannot but yield only good fruits. May place all our trust in the Lord for His grace to bear only good fruits. 

எது உங்கள் வழி? இடுக்கமான வழியா? அகலமான வழியா? I 22.06.2021 - செவ்வாய் I...

Bible Reflections I 22.06.2021 - Tuesday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 12

Readings: 

         I - Gen. 13: 2, 5-18

      II - Mt. 7: 6 , 12-14            

THE GOLDEN RULE AND THE NARROW GATE

To the spinning world of competition and success that aspire for short cuts, instants, ready-mades, cozy corners and comfort zones to achieve their goals, Jesus gives a jerk by proposing a ‘narrow path’ that would definitely lead to eternal life and happiness. With the golden rule, “in everything do to others as you would have them do to you”. Jesus intends a win-win strategy for a blissful living against the existing win-lose strategy.  

To treat the other like as we treat ourselves is a challenging narrow path. It is difficult but not impossible. We care for our name, fame, reputation, respect and honour but do we wish the same for the other? The ‘I’ in us is so predominant that we promulgate and pamper it at the cost of negative criticism, cutting remarks, false accusation, rash judgment and ridiculous rumors towards others making their precious life a difficult and impossible one to live. This is what Jesus calls as ‘broad path’, easy but leads to destruction. Jesus through the Gospel passage invites us to travel through the ‘road less travelled’ by overcoming our jealousy, selfishness, pride and arrogance.

 Encouraging words, wishing the good of the other, a bit of appreciation and praise, prioritizing others needs to our own, positive outlook on others and generous forgiveness especially to those whom we don’t love enough or don’t love at all is difficult. This is narrow path that requires courage and a large heart. Dare to tread it with grace, prayer and above all with a bit of love for a bit of love can set all things right. In the silence of our hearts let us pray: “Lord Jesus fill my heart with your love”.

தீர்ப்பிடாத மனம் வேண்டும் இயேசுவே I21.06.2021 - திங்கள் IRev. Fr. Arokia...

Bible Reflections I 21.06.2021 - Monday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 12

Readings: I - Gen. 12: 1-9

                II - Mt. 7: 1-5

JUDGING OTHERS

According to the teachings of the Jewish tradition the Jewish people believed that God used two measures to judge His people viz. measure of justice and measure of mercy. Whichever measure they used on the others would be measure that God will use upon them. This is what Jesus says in today’s Gospel passage: “For the judgment you make you will be judged”. 

All of us are imperfect with wrongdoings and shortcomings and are unworthy to pass any judgment. As the Psalmist would say, “If you O Lord should mark our guilt, who will survive?” (Ps. 130:3). In the letter of St. James we read, “There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when He judges you" (Jas: 2:13). The One who is all perfect and has the right to judge, restrains as the scripture says, ”The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in mercy”. (Ps. 145:8)

When we are prone to pass judgment on anybody, let us hold on, reverse it upon ourselves and examine, if the judgment befit us we have no right to make judgment on others. This is the teaching par excellence of Jesus. Jesus said to the ravaging crowd that brought the woman caught in the very act of committing adultery, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (Jh. 8:7). While Jesus was hanging on the cross amidst the murderers said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk. 23:34). When we are pushed to pass judgment upon others we have two options: Either to examine ourselves in the light of the accusation we make on others or to forgive, modelled after the example of Jesus our Lord. As Jesus exhorts let us “be merciful even as the Heavenly Father is merciful”. (Lk.6:36)

Bible Reflections I 20.06.2021- Sunday I Indraya Manna

Ordinary Time - Week 12

Readings:  

         I - Job 38: 1-4, 8-11

     II - 2Cor 5: 14-17

    III - Mk. 4: 35-41

               

JESUS STILLS A STORM

The Poet Tennyson would thus say about God, “Closer is He than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet”.  God and man coexist and are inseparable. God is the author of our lives, our Father, our Redeemer and our sustainer.  All we need is to stand firm and steadfast in this faith is the mainstream of all three readings today. Our God is all knowing and all powerful as revealed to Job in the first reading, He is all loving that He did not spare His only Son in restoring our identity as children of God as St. Paul says in the second reading and He is Immanuel - God with us as he was with His disciples in the Gospel reading today. Because we are precious to Him (Is. 43:4), the apple of His eye (Zec. 2:8) and He has carved us in the palm of His hands (Is. 49:16) so that we are never forgotten by Him.

Our life too like a boat is tossed by the turbulence of various trials. Now with the pandemic and its consequences viz. lay off, retrenchment, unplanned medical expenses, loos of loved ones, psychological trauma; the advent of new academic year and its consequences viz. school fees, expenditure on text books and note books; other fears, anxiety and worries can encircle like a whirlwind challenging our faith and trust in God. Let us not get panicked rather constantly keep repeating in our hearts: “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold” (Ps. 46:11)

கவலைகள் நம்மை மெல்லக் கொல்லும் நஞ்சு I19.06.2021 - சனி I Rev. Fr. Arokia...

Bible Reflections I 19.06.2021 - SATURDAY I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 11

Readings: I - 2Cor. 12:1-10

                II - Mt. 6: 24-34

                

DO NOT WORRY

The Gospel passage comes as an invitation to trust in the Providence of God and strive for God’s Kingdom and righteousness. God’s righteousness in His Kingdom is that everyone gets everything. The wealth of the world is not the privilege of the few but a gift to everyone. As the children of the Father, no one can deprive anyone from sharing the wealth of the world. Hence the Gospel passage is an invitation to both the rich and the poor alike.  

The rich are worried about their wealth. They accumulate wealth for various reasons viz. security, safety, status, prestige and power without giving a second thought about God and His Providence. To the rich it is an invitation to sharing, giving, empowering and caring placing all their trust in the Father who provides. The poor are marginalised and deprived even of basic necessities. They worry about basic necessities forgetting that there is a Father above and His Providence. To the poor it is an invitation to hope, have courage and trust in the Father who cares. When both accept the invitation there is fraternity, reciprocity and equality. And this is Kingdom of God where only God’s righteousness reign.  

Giving up is a challenge. Let us dare to take it up for we have saints who have walked the way. St. Thomas Becket, son of a wealthy commoner, gave away all his power, position and riches and committed himself to work for the Church especially in helping the poor. St. Katherine Drexel became a nun, gave away all her inheritance to start a congregation that would work for the poor blacks and the American Indians. St. Francis of Assisi, son of a rich cloth merchant, abandoned a life of luxury for a life devoted to Christ in helping the lepers and the poor. They were able to do so because they realised that all are children for one Father in Heaven. As Jesus exhorts, let us strive for this and as he had promised the rest will fall in line.

May we in the silence of our heart constantly keep praying as Jesus taught us, “Your Kingdom come Lord”