Tuesday 8 August
Saint Dominic, Priest Tuesday of week 18 in Ordinary Time First reading - 1 Corinthians 2:1-10 “Brothers, when I came to you, it was not with any show of oratory or philosophy, but simply to tell you what God had guaranteed”. In these words, we can also understand the life of St. Dominic whose feast we are celebrating today and our mission too. It is not about showing our talents or capacities, but our life is about showing what God had guaranteed to us. When we understand this, our perspective about life change. It’s not anymore about showing how smart I am or how intelligent I am, but it is about how much God can work in me, how much I can be docile to God. When we think that whatever happens in our life is a matter of my capacity, we start also to look down on others. I achieve things in my life because of my capacities. But when I realize that it’s all about what God had guaranteed, I can be more instrumental to God and gentle to others. Let’s reflect: Am I trying to show myself in my actions or am I trying to be an instrument of God?
Monday 7 August
Monday of week 18 in Ordinary Time Saints Sixtus II, Pope, and his Companions, Martyrs Saint Cajetan, Priest First reading - Numbers 11:4-15 “I am not able to carry this nation by myself alone; the weight is too much for me”. Moses is sharing with God his feelings, his disappointment, his distress. He is surrounded by people who are never happy. God gave them manna from heaven. They ate for some days and then started complaining. He is surrounded by people who are very difficult to make happy. He is surrounded by people who forget the graces received from the Lord. He is surrounded by people who always look for those things which are missing. When you are surrounded by such people you feel the pressure and weight of the situation in which you say what Moses said, ““I am not able to carry this nation by myself alone; the weight is too much for me”. This kind of intimacy with God is what we need in our life. This intimacy with God is what we really need to overcome these kinds of challenges in our life. The more intimacy with God you have, easier to overcome the challenges in your life. Let’s reflect: Do I have the intimacy with God to share my distress with God?
Sunday 6 August
The Transfiguration of the Lord First reading - Daniel 7:9-10,13-14 “On him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants. His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed”. Today is the feast of transfiguration. The feast in which the chosen Apostles could witness this glory of Jesus Christ. The Apostles witnessed it in the way Prophet Daniel witnessed it some 600 years before them. He is coming on the clouds of heaven, but he is like a son of man. This shows both the divine and human nature of Jesus Christ. Through the paschal mystery, He was conferred sovereignty, glory, and kingship as He conquered death. By conquering death, His sovereignty became an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away. The Transfiguration is considered a pivotal moment in the Gospels, as it reveals Jesus as the fulfilment of the law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah) and emphasizes His divine nature. And meditating on the First reading the words of Daniel, we must try to be close to Jesus Christ who will never pass away. Let’s reflect: How much I meditate the divinity of Jesus Christ?
Saturday 5 August
Saturday of week 17 in Ordinary Time Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major First Saturday: Let us entrust ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary First reading - Leviticus 25:1,8-17 “This is to be a jubilee for you... The jubilee is to be a holy thing to you, you will eat what comes from the fields”. Jubilee is Grace. It’s the grace of freedom which God grants to all in the family of God. It’s the grace of freedom from the debts incurred. It’s the grace of freedom from the liabilities which I made during the last seven years. God stands in front of me and takes responsibilities of all the debts. Jubilee is a law made by God so that God can take over the human caprice with this divine magnanimity. The celebration of the Jubilee is a celebration of the liberty. It’s the celebration of the liberty of the sons and daughters of God. “You will declare this fiftieth year sacred and proclaim the liberation of all the inhabitants of the land”. In the Old Testament it recalled the liberation of the people of God from Egypt. In the New Testament it recalls the liberation granted by the Jesus through His sacrifice. This liberation which we gained by His blood must be continued in our life through the celebration of Jubilee. So, Jubilee is the way to extend the liberation we enjoyed from God to all those around us. Let’s reflect: Am I extending the liberation which Jesus gained for me to others around me?