Monday 16 January
Monday of week 2 in Ordinary Time First reading - Hebrews 5:1-10 The author of the letter is speaking about the liberation of the priesthood from tribe descendance and becomes a vocation. So, no one takes this honor on himself, but each one is called by God. Not only that the priesthood is a call but also, it’s a life to be lived according to the call. The life of Jesus is the best example. Jesus lived his priesthood to the perfection through suffering in obedience. Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering. And thus, Jesus became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation. There comes the relevance of following Jesus Christ. In Jesus, our suffering gets a meaning, our obedience gets a meaning, our existence gets a meaning. In Jesus we are liberated and in Jesus our obedience through suffering gets a meaning. Our obedience through suffering becomes a sacrifice. Becomes an act of a high priest in Jesus Christ. Let’s reflect: Are we united with Jesus Christ in our obedience through suffering?
Sunday 15 January
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time First reading - Isaiah 49:3,5-6 “It is not enough for you to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel; I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth”. From being servant to being the light. This is the transformation we are speaking about. From being servants to being sons and daughters. This is not what we make of ourselves. This is what the Lord does. He who formed you in the womb of your mother, He is the one who is going to do this transformation in me. We must recognize our call and our vocation for this. That is why the Prophet Isaiah is saying: “I am honoured in the eyes of the Lord, my God is my strength”. The God becomes the strength of our life, we move from being servant to being light, from being servants to being sons and daughters. Often, we don’t recognize this potentiality in us. We remain just as servants. We never become light. We live in darkness and those around us also in the same darkness. But our call is to become light, light of the nations. This also has a specific purpose: we become light so that we can bring the love of God to the ends of the earth. Let’s reflect: Do we want to move from being servant to being light by making God our strength?
Saturday 14 January
Saturday of week 1 in Ordinary Time Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary First reading - Hebrews 4:12-16 The letter speaks today about the power of the Word of God. “The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts like any double-edged sword but more finely: it can slip through the place where the soul is divided from the spirit, or joints from the marrow; it can judge the secret emotions and thoughts”. This is so powerful, and we can be part of this power and can be transformed by this power. It is our “YES” that makes the difference. If we say “YES” to this Word of God to make changes in our life, it will do. We must trust this Word of God and entrust our life to this Word of God. That is why we read, “Let us be confident, then, in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall have mercy from him and find grace when we are in need of help”. The Word of God is the throne of grace and mercy, and we must approach it with confidence and when we are in need. Let’s reflect: are we approaching the throne of grace and mercy, the Word of God, in confidence and when we are in need?
Friday 13 January
Friday of week 1 in Ordinary Time Saint Hilary, Bishop, Doctor First reading - Hebrews 4:1-5,11 The letter is speaking about the “place of rest”. And we read, “We must therefore do everything we can to reach this place of rest, or some of you might copy this example of disobedience and be lost.” What is this “place of rest”? This is our soul finds its peace in God. This is we finding peace in the plan of God. We are always restless because we don’t know many things and we don’t know what is going to happen. But when we have faith, we can arrive at this “place of rest”. “We, however, who have faith, shall reach a place of rest”. We must confide totally in His plan, and we should not make our own plans. That is the disobedience we read about. Don’t be restless with our preoccupations and worries but be in the “place of rest” with our faith in the loving plan of God. Let’s reflect: Are we restless or are we in the “place of rest” with our faith in the loving plan of God for us?