Monday 24 July
Monday of week 16 in Ordinary Time Saint Charbel Makhlouf, Priest First reading - Exodus 14:5-18 “Moses answered the people, ‘Have no fear! Stand firm, and you will see what the Lord will do to save you today”. In the sight of the approaching Egyptians the sons were terrified. The many miracles which the Lord has done for the liberation of Israelites from the Egyptians are not coming to their mind. The Word of God which assured their safety. The Word of God which came through Moses. They see only the danger of the advancing Egyptian army. They see only the strength of the chariots. This is where the faith fails. We see only the strength of the chariots and not the strength of God and His promise. Without faith we see the danger and risks, not the love of God. Without faith we feel in between the red sea and the Egyptian army. With faith we see ourselves guided by God. Let’s reflect: In moments of difficulties, do I see more the complications or the guidance of God?
Sunday 23 July
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time St Bridget of Sweden First reading - Wisdom 12:13,16-19 “By acting thus you have taught a lesson to your people how the virtuous man must be kindly to his fellow men, and you have given your sons the good hope that after sin you will grant repentance”. God in His power has taught us how we must be kind to our fellow man. What is the lesson? God has such strength, but He is mild in judgement. He is not showing His power in being arrogant. Just the opposite. He is not governing us with strictness, but he is governing us with great lenience. This is the God we worship, we adore. From this lesson, we learn. We must be kind to our fellow man. We must be kind in our words and actions to our fellow man remembering this lesson which God teaches us. Whenever we fail to be kind, we fail the Teacher who taught us this lesson. But even if we fail in this, God still is so kind. He forgives. God is forgiving, and this is the reason for the good hope. The scripture is speaking of good hope because it’s not an empty hope. It’s the hope which God gives. Teaches and forgives when we don’t follow the lessons. Let’s reflect: Am I kind to others remembering the lesson which God teaches us?
Saturday 22 July
Saint Mary Magdalen - Feast First reading - Song of Songs 3:1-4 “On my bed, at night, I sought him whom my heart loves”. The relationship with God is a relationship of that of a lover. This relationship is a continuous seeking. Because God’s love is not always visible as God gives more importance to our freedom. So we must seek to find the love of God. The author of the Song of Songs says, in the middle of the night I will rise and go through the city, in the streets and in the squares. In the middle of night, in the middle of our problems, in the middle of our troubles, we must rise to go through the city in search of the plan of God. And when we seek the plan of God, we may not find it. There comes so many questions. There comes so many doubts. We are tired of questions and doubts. Then, “Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my heart loves”. Hardly we passed our doubts and questions, we find the true love of God. It’s a beautiful passage. From the search in the city, streets, and squares which we know, to the questions and doubts we try to clarify, to finding the true love of God. This can be seen in the life of Saint Mary Magdalen. Let’s reflect: Am I making the passage from my doubts and questions about the love of God to the real finding of the love of God?