Tuesday 19 September
Tuesday of week 24 in Ordinary Time or Saint Januarius, Bishop, Martyr First reading - 1 Timothy 3:1-13 The Apostle is speaking about those who have responsibilities in the Church. Each one of us have some kind of responsibility. So how should be behave? The word which he uses is: being respectable. Respectability comes from integrity and Reliability. Integrity is being an interiorizing the faith and reliability is the being at the side of others in their necessities. Humility is that by which the integrity and reliability is practised. Integrity comes from following what we preach. And reliability is that by which we stand where we are in spite of the difficulties. Both are accomplished in humility while carrying out our responsibilities. Let’s us reflect: Am I exercising my responsibilities by being respectable?
Monday 18 September
Monday of week 24 in Ordinary Time First reading - 1 Timothy 2:1-8 The advice of Paul is very important. We must pray for all, especially for those in authority so that we may be able to live religious and reverent lives in peace and quiet. When we pray for everyone, we are participating in the will of God to save everyone. That is why praying for everyone pleases God. Praying for everyone is also an act of honoring Christ Jesus, who sacrificed himself as a ransom for all. How to make this prayer for everyone? This must be done by lifting our hands reverently without anger or argument. Let’s reflect: Is anyone left out in my prayers?
Sunday 17 September
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time First reading - Ecclesiasticus 27:33-28:9 “Forgive your neighbour the hurt he does you, and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven”. Practicing forgiveness is an essential condition to receive forgiveness. Forgiving others is very important for being forgiven our own sins. Not forgiving creates resentment and anger in our heart. Heart is the seat of love. When resentment and anger get into our heart, there will be no place for love. When there is no place for love in our heart, then how we can get the love of God which gives us forgiveness. That is what happens when we don’t forgive. Let’s forgive each other to live by the commandments. Let’s reflect: Do I forgive or let the resentment fill my heart?
Saturday 16 September
Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs Saturday of week 23 in Ordinary Time First reading - 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 “We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body”. Because the power comes from God and not from us. The Lord Jesus gives life and gives grace. More thanksgiving will be given to the glory of God. We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered. Many problems are there, many times we don’t find answers, but the life of Jesus is there. We must not look for solutions, we must not look for responses, but we must look for the presence of Jesus Christ. Let’s reflect: Are we looking in our problems, solutions or the presence of Christ?