Saturday 10 September
Saturday of week 23 in Ordinary Time Gospel - Luke 6:43-49 “Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and acts on them” Three actions are needed in our relationship to Jesus. Going to him, listening to him, and acting according to what we hear. In the Gospel of today, we also see something equally important. These three elements are necessary to make a strong foundation for our life. Many times, we are shaken in life because we lack this foundation. Many times, we don’t build anything in life because we lack this foundation. Today let’s meditate, what is status of these three elements in my life? Am I going to him? Listening to him? Acting upon His words? Which one is missing? Which one I must strengthen? May be we go but not listen. May be we go and listen but no acting upon what He says.
Friday 9 September
Friday of week 23 in Ordinary Time Saint Peter Claver ‘Can one blind man guide another?’ We know the answer. No. A blind man cannot guide another person. Bu the really question here is, “when is one becoming blind?”. When do I become blind? The answer is: I become blind when I lose my conscience. I become blind when I keep doing the same mistakes again and again. I become blind when I am insensitive to the feelings of others. I become blind when I close my eyes and ears to the sufferings of others. I become blind when I ignore the injustice done to others. Today is the day to see whether I am blind or not? Am I trying to correct others when I am blind? Be sincere and answer before yourselves and before your Lord.
Thursday 8 September
The Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary Gospel - Matthew 1:1-16,18-23 God prepared Mary for us. She was filled with Grace. She cooperated fully with the Grace she received, and she became the mother of God. This is the same case with each one of us. With baptism we also were filled with Grace, we became sons and daughters of God. But then comes the question how much we cooperate with the grace? Each talent in us, each good aspiration in us, each good desire is a possibility to cooperate with the Word of God to become like the Mother of God to give Jesus to this world. In this day when we celebrate the birthday of Mother Mary, let’s challenge ourselves in responding positively to all our good aspirations stirred by the Word of God in order to make present Jesus Christ in our midst. With love we cooperate to grace of God to make present the love of God.
Wednesday 7 September
Wednesday of week 23 in Ordinary Time “Happy are you who are poor …. Alas for you who are rich”. This puts us before a clear choice in our life. Where do we want to stand? We cannot any more be indifferent to what is happening around us. We must decide regarding our view of life. Poor are happy because they have only Jesus, and they don’t have the worry of losing Him. The rich are unhappy because they are always worried about losing their richness. Also, because when someone is rich, most probably it’s difficult to see the real richness in Jesus. Therefore, Beatitudes are about liberating ourselves from perishables and entrusting ourselves to the Unperishable.