Today's Word
By
Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore
Luke 17:33
Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.
The Gospel reading portrays many images that are frightening to show the unexpected coming of the son of man. The images are that of Noah and the flood, the days that two men will be sleeping on a bed, one will be taken and the other left, two women will be grinding together, one will be taken and the other left.
The warning is not to frighten but to stimulate Christians to action. It is to motivate all of us to be prepared by living according to the commandments of God.
This living according to the commandments is very well spelt out by St John in today’s first reading when says that the true manner of living according to Jesus is to Love God and Love Neighbor, which are greatest of all commandments.
Let us seek the intercession of the Saint of the Day – St Frances Xavier Cabrini the first United States citizen named as a saint and be inspired by her life and words…
“Rest?” We will have all eternity in which to rest. Now let us work.”
“Pray, pray always, and ask unceasingly for the Spirit of Prayer. The Spirit of Prayer means praying in accordance with the Divine good pleasure, willing only what God wills.
… It means that we have our minds fixed on prayer at all times, in all places, working, walking, eating, speaking, suffering; habitually and always.”
Reflection: Am I focusing on the World or on God?
Do I wholeheartedly love God and my neighbor?
Am I willing and ready to lose my life in order to possess Jesus?