Tuesday 10 October
Tuesday of week 27 in Ordinary Time First reading - Jonah 3:1-10 “The news reached the king of Nineveh, who rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes”. This image of the king of Nineveh is very impressive. How the king reacts to the word of the Prophet. In his behavior, we see a real change. The Word of God had a sweeping effect in the life of the king. He rose from his throne, that means, he rose from his power, from his authority, from his supremacy because he embraced the power of the word of God, he embraced the power of the authority of the Word of God. Then took off his robe, that means, he left all his comforts, he ripped himself off his all his privileges because he wants to be comforted by the Word of God. Then he put on sackcloth. He recognized the need for the grace and mercy of God. He recognizes his vulnerabilities and his weaknesses. At the end, he sat down in ashes. Finally he recognized the destiny of all worldly pomp and glory which finishes in ashes. He recognized the eternity of the Word of God. The attitude and actions of the king of Nineveh is a model. Let’s reflect: Does my attitude and actions change with the Word of God?
Monday 9 October
Monday of week 27 in Ordinary Time Saints Denis, Bishop, and his Companions, Martyrs First reading - Jonah 1:1-2:1,11 There is a plan of God for each one of us. God explained His plan to Jonah. But Jonah was not ready to accept that plan. By not wanting to accept the plan of God for the people of Nineveh, Jonah is not accepting both the plan of God for the people of Nineveh and for himself. When we want to see the world through our own eyes and not through the eyes of the Lord, we not only see the world in the right way but also, we don’t see ourselves in the right way. By accepting the plan of God for others, we are accepting the plan of God for ourselves. This is what we can see in the story of the Jonah. Our plans end up in the darkness of the belly of the fish but the plan of God opens up the possibility of the third day on the shore to start again. Let’s reflect: Am I open to the plans of God and to see the world through the eyes of God’s plan?
Sunday 8 October
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time First reading - Isaiah 5:1-7 “Let me sing to my friend the song of his love for his vineyard”. The whole story of salvation is the song of God’s love for us. The vineyard is taken care in a personal way. “He dug the soil, cleared it of stones and planted choice vines in it”. God takes care of us in a personal way. He calls us, He purifies us, and He fills us with graces, so that we can be instruments of His love. But often, we are not transmitting the love of God but our selfishness. This is expressed in the words of the Prophet. “He expected it to yield grapes, but sour grapes were all that it gave”. The sour grape of our selfishness is what we are producing after receiving all the graces. But still God is merciful, and He does not abandon us. Let’s reflect: Am I transmitting God’s love or my selfishness?
Saturday 7 October
Our Lady of the Rosary Saturday of week 26 in Ordinary Time First reading - Acts 1:12-14 “All these joined in continuous prayer, together with several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus,”. Today we are celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Rosary is more than a prayer. It’s the way of life. It’s the life with Mother Mary whom we see in the reading staying with the Apostles and others in prayer. Rosary reminds that Mother Mary is with us as she was with Jesus Christ. In Baptism we received the life of Jesus Christ. So, Mother Mary is accompanying us, who have the life of her son. She accompanies us in our journey. In order to understand this mystery, we go through the mysteries of the Rosary to see how she was with Jesus Christ. Rosary connects the moments in the history of salvation with our personal history. Rosary connects the events in the life of Christ with the events in our life. Life becomes a rosary as rosary brings to the life of Christ with Mother Mary. Let’s reflect: Am I reciting the Rosary to lead a life with Mother Mary?