Reflection for THURSDAY, 15 JUNE 2023 10th Week in Ordinary Time

By

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Assistant Parish Priest,Manjeshwar,Kasargod

Reflection after Meditative Reading of Today's WORD of GOD 


Matthew 5: 20 - 26 


Anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

  ‘You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire. So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.’

 Reflection on the Readings 

The Most Basic Principle & Practice in Photography is that the Camera must be Checked to See if the Lens is Clean or Not. Our Eyes are like the Lens of a Camera. It is Not Just the Pair of Eyes that are in Question but the Eyes of the heart . 

The 1st Reading Talks about a Veil Over the Minds of the Israelites. It would Not be Removed Until They Turned to the LORD. For Us who Profess Ourselves as Christians, We too must be Careful of a Veil Over the Eyes of Our Hearts. We too can Succumb to the Veil of Easy Christianity, Cheap Grace, Gospel of Prosperity & Risk-Free Discipleship. 

When U Hear Moses on a Sabbath Visit to the Synagogue, U have a Veil over Your Face. U are so Full of Moses that U Cannot See GOD. That Veil Over Your Face is Prejudice. Turn to GOD & the Veil will Vanish. Where the Spirit of God is, there is freedom. Truth will make you free. 

Christ is Reflecting the Glory of GOD as a Mirror Reflects an Image. That is the Aim & Purpose of Our Lives: Uniformity with CHRIST. The Message of Salvation will only Come to Those who Remove the Veil. No One is as Blind as Those who Do Not to See. We, Paul Says, are only the Servants of CHRIST. GOD Gave Us the Light of Faith so that We See the Glory of GOD Shining on the Face of CHRIST.

In the Gospel CHRIST Tells Us that Our Practice of Love should Go Farther than that of the Scribes & Pharisees. All Laws & the Whole Discipleship are Based on Love & Creating a Climate of Love in which Christians Do Not only Not Kill in Acts of Violence but Not even Damage Relationships in Words & Thoughts. 

JESUS Says: If U are Not Better than the Scribes & Pharisees, U Cannot Enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 

The Pharisees Made It Their Job to Judge People on what They Did in Observing the Law. JESUS Knows that Sin has Its Source in the Mind of Man. Stop what Leads to Sin. Thou Shalt Not Kill. 

Anger is the Source that Leads to Killing. Stop the Provocation to Anger such as Insults & Killing will Cease. There are 2 Urgent Reasons for Not Provoking Anger. Man Cannot Offer a Sacrifice for Sin, when there is a New Sin already in His heart. 1st Get Reconciled with Your Brother then U will be Reconciled with GOD. 

The Special Urgency is Due to the Fact that We are Already on the Way to the Judge. We must Make Peace before We Meet Our Judge.


Good morning

Wishing you a delightful and happy day with God's abundant blessings.

Let's pray for priests and Religious in crisis.