TODAY'S WORD

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

"By your perseverance, you will secure your lives" (Lk 21: 19)

Reflection

The Gospel of the Day reminds us of this factor:

For the one who believes in Christ...

Every sickness, can be a moment to experience the Lord as a Healer.

Every financial crisis, can be a moment to experience the Lord as the Provider.

Every spiritual struggle, can be a moment to experience the Lord as the Saviour.

Every break in relationship, can be a moment to experience the Lord as the Unifier.

Every encounter in failure, can be a moment to experience the Lord as the Sovereign Lord

Every doubt of the future, can be a moment to experience the Lord as the Supreme Master

The Lord continues His discourse on the signs of the end times and the forthcoming persecutions that will be the lot of those who believe and follow Him.

The list of persecutions is too long, right?

For those who consider Christianity as an easy stroll in the part, this is a shocker!

For those who consider following Christ as comfort on a bed of roses, this is a stunner!

Sometimes our faith in Christ remains merely a statement on paper.


As Baptized people - whether as infants or as adults – we’ve the duty to grow in the grace bestowed on us.

To follow Christ is a privilege granted to us.

To become His Disciples is a special opportunity conferred on us.


But we often squander away the blessings that the Lord gives us without realizing its worth.

The Lord however, invites us to a life of deeper perseverance and courage:


Jesus has shown us the path in the Way of the Cross.

Jesus has broken Himself for us in the Holy Eucharist.


In Him is True Life.

In Him is Genuine Peace.

In Him is Everlasting Happiness.

Let us hold firm to our Crucified Lord and persevere in faithfulness to our Persecuted Master.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

How do I face the challenges  as a Christian in todays world?

Am I ready for persecution  from outside, from inside and from my adversaries?

In times of persecution,  torture and humiliation, do I still. Practice Christian Values or do they take a back seat?

SAINT OF THE DAY

ST. CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA

May the saint of day St. Catherine of Alexandria teach us to be ready to sacrifice our life for Christ and his values as she offered her life.  May this saint of the wheels be an inspiration to be focused  on Christ and his kingdom, knowing that Christ  accompanies on this our journey and one day we will be in heaven to sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb of God (First reading).