Thursday 20 October
Thursday of week 29 in Ordinary Time Gospel - Luke 12:49-53 “I have come to bring fire to the earth”. What is that fire which Jesus brought to earth. Jesus assumed the human suffering and transformed it by his incarnation into a measurement of love, a fire which brings out the truth in love. In Jesus the suffering is transformed into a totally different reality. It became the measurement of love. It became a fire. A fire which makes the division between the real love and fake love, between superficial love and profound love. Love which stands this fire becomes the true love. Love which withstands the suffering or welcomes the suffering to love becomes the true love. Jesus speaks about his distress in the same text, “There is a baptism I must still receive, and how great is my distress till it is over”. It is the reality of this fire - solitude, betrayal, misunderstanding, indifference, and other forms of suffering. A love which endures this fire is the true love.
Wednesday 19 October
Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, priests, and their Companions, Martyrs Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest Gospel - Luke 12:39-48 This gospel passage speaks about our responsibility towards the gifts and graces we received from God. Each talent we have and each grace we have received is a responsibility for which we have to give account to the Lord. “What sort of steward, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their allowance of food at the proper time?”. With the gifts and graces, we have received, we have been placed over his household. For what? To give those around us what they need at the right time. Two important points to be noted. ‘What they need’ and ‘at the right time’. Are we aware of this? Then again, the Lord is specifying how to do it. We must do this faithfully and wisely. Again, two important points to be noted. So, the talents and graces which we have received, give us the responsibility to take care of those around us, faithfully and wisely, providing them with what they need and on the right time. What a responsibility! Are you aware about this?
Tuesday 18 October
Saint Luke, Evangelist Gospel - Luke 10:1-9 The missionary drive, our zeal to go as missionaries, is a gift of the Holy Spirit. It comes from our conviction about our faith in Jesus Christ. It comes from our compassion to all those around the world who is searching for God. It comes from our conformity to the mission mandate given by Jesus Christ. These three elements are important: Our conviction, Our compassion, and Our compliance. This comes from our docility to the Holy Spirit. It’s this docility that will allow us to feel the presence of the kingdom of God very near to us. This docility is that which helps us work together in unity as a team. This docility is that guides us to be like lambs among wolves. This docility is that enables us to be the instruments of peace wherever we are. From this follow, our conviction, compassion, and compliance.