Reflection for, MONDAY, 15th Week, Ordinary Time.

By

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


 Gospel Passage 

 Matthew 10:34 - 11:1   

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be those of his own household.

‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.

‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me.

‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward.

‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

 Reflection on the Readings 

A bully can be seen as someone who seeks to harm or intimidate those whom they perceive as vulnerable.

Obviously, a bully would use some advantages that he has over those whom he is bullying.

It may be his bigger size, or that he has a gang with him, or that he has some higher backing.

The bully also knows that the ones he is bullying are not able to fight back or retaliate.

But the sinister side of bullies is that they have underlying motives like oppression, extortion and even enslavement.

In the 1st reading, the Pharaoh can be called a big bully. 

He had power and authority, as well as an army, and he used it to oppress and to enslave the Israelites.

And he even resorted to infant genocide so as to preempt any future opposition.

But whether it was the Pharaoh or the present-day bullies, they forget that there is a God, and God is watching them in their misdeeds.

And God will deliver those who are oppressed and tormented.

Let us pray that those in authority and those who have power will realise that they will have to be accountable for what they have been given.

May they use their authority and power for justice and for the good of the lowly and helpless.

Jesus is challenging us to make personal sacrifices for the sake of His kingdom.

Can we sacrifice our worldly Priorities, wholeheartedly, for His offer of salvation to follow Him ?

If my goal is Eternal life, I should be willing to carry my daily  crosses, deny myself and focus on Him alone.


          GOD BLESS YOU

Good morning. Have a nice day