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?
Friday 15 September
Our Lady of Sorrows Friday of week 23 in Ordinary Time First reading - Hebrews 5:7-9 “Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation”. Today we are celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. The name “Our Lady of Sorrows” invites us into a meditation on the depths of Mary's heart, a heart that bore witness to unimaginable grief and yet remained steadfast in faith. Traditionally seven sorrows are narrated as recounted by the Scripture. In all Mother Mary's sorrows, we witness a perfect harmony of her maternal tenderness and her unwavering faith. There is compassion, strength, and hope in the suffering. In suffering, Mary trusts more in the plan of God. In suffering, Mary becomes a consolation for others. In suffering, the grace is strengthened in Mary. When we embrace our sufferings at the side of Mother Mary, when we learn to suffer at the side of Mother Mary, we will learn to trust more in the plan of God, we will become source of consolation, we will embrace the grace. Let’s reflect: How do I deal with my sufferings, with Mary or without Mary?
Thursday 14 September
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross - Feast First reading - Numbers 21:4-9 Today is the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Holy Cross is the hope. This is seen in the scene in the First Reading. The People of God who is rebelling against God moves themselves into a dangerous situation. But this dangerous situation is saved by a symbol. “So Moses fashioned a bronze serpent which he put on a standard, and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived”. The bronze serpent becomes the ray of hope to be looked at and to live. The bronze serpent becomes the ray of hope for those who sinned. In the New Testament, the Cross of Christ becomes our hope. Because in the Cross our sins are atoned, our sins are forgiven. We must believe in the Cross and in its power. In the Cross our sins are forgiven and reconciled. Every cross we encounter in our life encompasses this salvific dimension. Let’s reflect: Do I see the power of the Cross of Jesus Christ in the cross which I encounter in my daily life?
Wednesday 13 September
Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop, Doctor Wednesday of week 23 in Ordinary Time First reading - Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13 “Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together”. In the words of St. Paul, we can read the fundamentals of human relationships. We must bear each other charitably with complete selflessness, gentleness, and patience. Why must we do that? This is to preserve the unity of the Spirit of Christ that binds us together. Only with complete selflessness, gentleness, and patience we can keep the bond of unity between us so that Christ is visible. This we must keep doing every day. With complete selflessness, gentleness, and patience, we can keep also the unity in our faith, and we walk towards full maturity with the fullness of Christ himself. We have different graces, and talents. But with complete selflessness, gentleness, and patience, we make the unity in Christ possible. Let’s reflect: Do I possess complete selflessness, gentleness, and patience to create the unity in our faith?