Reflection for, FRIDAY, 13th Week, Ordinary Time.
Today's Word
By
Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore
Mathew 9 : 13
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Today's Reflection based on First Friday
In the Catholic Church, a votive Mass is a Mass offered for a special intention.
Traditionally, the practice is that on the 1st Fridays of the month, when there is no special feast, the Mass is offered in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
One of the promises of Jesus to those devoted to His Sacred Heart is that those who actively participate in the 1st Friday Mass will be granted the grace of final repentance and His Heart shall be their assured refuge at the last hour.
Besides the intentions offered in this Mass, we offer this Mass in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and we give thanks for His love and mercy.
We also express our repentance and make reparation for our sins and the sins of humanity against God and against the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Through His Sacred Heart, Jesus reaches out to sinners and His pierced Heart continues to pour out love, mercy and forgiveness.
In this Mass in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us give thanks and let us pray for forgiveness for our sins and the conversion of sinners.
Today's gospel presents to us the call of Mathew and see
Jesus very emphatically declaring, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Mt 9:12)
This verse is the key to understand and gauge the style of reaction, when we encounter the Lord…
The one who needs Him – will relish Him!
The one who feels no need of Him- will reject Him!
The one who acknowledges that one is sick, weak and in need of God’s grace and mercy – will find in Him a Saviour!
The one who vehemently says that one is all fine, self-motivated and strong willed – will fail to find any consolation in Him!
Here then is a wonderful check-meter to test my passion, my longing and my intensity of love for the Lord…
Have I discovered that by myself I cannot achieve everything that life demands of me….?
… and in the Lord alone, I have the answer to my problem and a solution to the puzzles of my life!
Do I realise that as a human person, I often fall into the snares of sin and can get easily caught up in evil traps… ?
… and in the Lord alone, I have the antidote to sin and a remedy to overcome the pitfalls of wickedness!
St Mathew presents a beautiful picture, of embracing the Lord fully into life because He realised and discovered the intimate need of the Lord in his life.
He experienced Jesus as an “Aim-day-co” – the One Who told him “Turn this Way”…
… away from the ways of sin and Turn towards the Way of Salvation!
… away from the ways of corruption and Turn towards the Way of Christ!
On this First Friday of the Month, as we offer ourselves to the Sacred Heart of our Blessed Lord…
… may we be inspired by St Mathew and imitate his example in surrendering ourselves totally to the Lord’s Sovereignty…
… and thus be an “Aim-day-co” – the one who tells “Turn this Way” to many people in our lives!
Resolution
Let's resolve to learn the meaning of God's mercy and may we be witnesses of God's mercy to others.
GOD BLESS YOU
Good morning. Have a nice safe day.