Monday 12 September
Monday of week 24 in Ordinary Time or The Most Holy Name of Mary Gospel - Luke 7:1-10 “…. but give the word and let my servant be cured” Here we see an example where faith turning into complete abandonment of oneself in to the hands of God. When faith turns into abandonment of oneself, faith becomes love. This is the faith which is free of all presumptions. When faith lacks love, faith becomes a series of presumptions and premises. Faith becomes a solution not a relationship. Whereas when faith is love, faith becomes a relationship. It is the joy of walking together with Jesus. Nothing more is needed. Before the faith of this Centurion from Capernaum, let us analyze the quality of our faith. Is our faith, a faith filled with love, a relationship ? Or is our faith, filled with presumptions, a solution?
Sunday 11 September
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel - Luke 15:1-32 “Rejoice with me,”, This is repeated three times in this gospel passage. Rejoice because found the lost one sheep, rejoice because found the lost one coin, rejoice because found the lost one son. When that one is not there, we cannot rejoice. That one can be anyone but without that one, we cannot rejoice, and we are not complete. Each one of us is important. No one can be substituted. The gospel of today assures the mind of Jesus. He continues to search for that lost one until he or she is found. Jesus feels the pain of the lost. The question before us is that do you want to be an instrument of God in His search for the lost one? To participate in the joy of the Shepherd who finds the lost sheep, you have to identify yourself with His mind which searches continuously for the lost and missing. The more you are close to the heart of Jesus, the more you feel the pain of the lost and you start searching for the lost. Are you feeling the pain of the lost?
Saturday 10 September
Saturday of week 23 in Ordinary Time Gospel - Luke 6:43-49 “Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and acts on them” Three actions are needed in our relationship to Jesus. Going to him, listening to him, and acting according to what we hear. In the Gospel of today, we also see something equally important. These three elements are necessary to make a strong foundation for our life. Many times, we are shaken in life because we lack this foundation. Many times, we don’t build anything in life because we lack this foundation. Today let’s meditate, what is status of these three elements in my life? Am I going to him? Listening to him? Acting upon His words? Which one is missing? Which one I must strengthen? May be we go but not listen. May be we go and listen but no acting upon what He says.
Friday 9 September
Friday of week 23 in Ordinary Time Saint Peter Claver ‘Can one blind man guide another?’ We know the answer. No. A blind man cannot guide another person. Bu the really question here is, “when is one becoming blind?”. When do I become blind? The answer is: I become blind when I lose my conscience. I become blind when I keep doing the same mistakes again and again. I become blind when I am insensitive to the feelings of others. I become blind when I close my eyes and ears to the sufferings of others. I become blind when I ignore the injustice done to others. Today is the day to see whether I am blind or not? Am I trying to correct others when I am blind? Be sincere and answer before yourselves and before your Lord.