Sunday 25 June
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time First reading - Jeremiah 20:10-13 In the midst of terror from every side, the prophet feels this, “the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero”. This is the confidence of one who believe in the Lord. You may hear lots of rumors. You may face lots of challenges. You may have to endure difficulties, but you arrive at the same conclusion, “the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero”. The difficulties will vanish. The rumors will disappear. The challenges will be overcome. All this because the one who believes in the Lord trusts in the Lord and not in anything else. The Lord will defend the one who have committed his or her cause to Him. The point is to confide in the Lord in all these moments. We must just praise the Lord and thank Him. No need of panic. Let’s reflect: Before challenges, am I panicking or arriving at the conclusion that the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero”?
Saturday 24 June
The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist First reading - Isaiah 49:1-6 “The Lord called me before I was born, from my mother’s womb he pronounced my name”. This is very true of St. John the Baptist whose nativity we are celebrating today. But it’s also true for each one of us. The Lord has a plan for each one of us and He makes each one of us different and unique. This uniqueness of each person is that the nativity of St. John the Baptist is proclaiming. We are called for a mission of God. Small or big they are all equal. This belonging to the call of God for a specific mission with our life, puts us in harmony with the rest of the world. As Isaiah says, “…while I was thinking, ‘I have toiled in vain,” my reward was with my God. There could be very disappointing and discouraging moments, but we should not leave our hope in the Lord. Because “my God is my strength”. Despite these frustrating moments, we belong to the Plan of God. Let’s reflect: Am I able to overcome my disappointments by trusting in the plan of God for me?
Friday 23 June
Friday of week 11 in Ordinary Time First reading - 2 Corinthians 11:18,21-30 “If I am to boast, then let me boast of my own feebleness”. This is very important to understand the profound meaning behind this testimony of St. Paul. Paul had all the merits and qualities for boasting about. Both worldly achievements and spiritual achievements. But Paul is not ready to boast about any of these. He wants to boast of his own feebleness. The reason is that all achievements both worldly and spiritual are considered as gifts of God. And the weaknesses are the point of boasting because Paul sees that feebleness are blessings. They are source for becoming humble and also for asking for grace of God. Our weaknesses help us to become humble and ask for God’s help. Gifts without Grace are not fruitful. Grace makes gifts fruitful. That is why, Paul is boasting on his own weakness with brings the grace. Let’s reflect: Am I making use of my weaknesses to be humble and ask for the grace of God?