Wednesday 1 November
All Saints - Solemnity First reading - Apocalypse 7:2-4,9-14 “After that I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands”. There is place for people from every nation, every race, every tribe, and every language. Today is the feast of All Saints. Saints from every nation, every race, every tribe, and every language. The servants of God who are happy to be in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands. They are the people who have been through the great persecution, and they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb. They had temptations, they had challenges, they had defects, they had weaknesses. But they went through it. They did not give up. They overcame it. Then they washed their robes white again in the blood of Jesus Christ. They submitted themselves to the grace of the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Among them there are people whom we know also. That is joyful. They are standing before the Lord and interceding for us. Let’s reflect: Are we thankful for the multitude of saints interceding for us?
Tuesday 31 October
Tuesday of week 30 in Ordinary Time First reading - Romans 8:18-25 “but creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God”. The hope of being freed, that is what the entire creation is waiting. To be freed to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God. This is the redemption which Jesus Christ gained for us. We do not enjoy our freedom because we are captives to sin and selfishness. Our liberty is hindered by our wrong choices. From this state, we need the liberation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The faith in the liberation achieved by Jesus Christ is our hope. This liberation gives us the freedom to enjoy the joy of being the children of God. This redemptive act of Jesus Christ is active in our life through the action of sacraments. The grace of the sacraments gives us the freedom and glory of the children of God. Let’s reflect: Do I enjoy the freedom and glory of the children of God with my sacramental life?
Monday 30 October
Monday of week 30 in Ordinary Time First reading - Romans 8:12-17 “it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God”. This reading from the letter to Romans brings out the big difference between the living the life of the Holy Spirit we received in the sacraments and the living the life of our selfishness. The former liberates us and the latter enslaves us. The former gives us the dignity of son and daughters. The latter takes away our dignity as sons and daughter. The former brings the joy, and the latter brings fear. Living the life of the Holy Spirit is accepting our reality as sons and daughters of Christ. And we can relate to God as our Father. This is beautiful. And also this gives us the strength to share in the sufferings of the only Son of God. Let’s reflect: Do I feel the spirit of a son or a daughter in my relationship to God the Father?
Sunday 29 October
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time First reading - Exodus 22:20-26 “…they will surely cry out to me and be sure I shall hear their cry… If he cries to me, I will listen, for I am full of pity”. This is a very important phrase in the Bible. This Word of God asks for always justice and kindness. Whenever we are dealing with others, this Word of God must be in our mind. Every time when we are harsh with others this Word of God must come to our mind. We have our reasons to be harsh with others. But whatever is the reason, the Lord God hears the cry of others. The Lord God is full of pity and that is what we must keep in our mind when we deal with others. Whoever I am dealing with, the Lord is full of pity for him. So, I also must be full of pity with him or her. If I am not full of pity, and the Lord is, I am not acting according to the will of the Lord. We must be empathetic to the people. We must see the real pain and suffering of others. Because we also face sufferings in our life. And the sufferings of others must be given the same value. “You must not molest the stranger or oppress him, for you lived as strangers in the land of Egypt”. This is the Word of God. So, the suffering of each person is very important as my suffering is. Let’s reflect: Do I see the difficulties of each person I meet and treat him or her with compassion?