TODAY'S WORD
By
Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore
Hebrews: 12:4 "In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood."
TODAY'S REFLECTION
The 1st reading says that suffering is part of life's training, we may wonder what is the training for.
It says that the Lord trains the ones He loves, and as God's children, we must be prepared for that training in suffering.
But it is a training in love. Love is a sacrifice and it entails suffering.
Suffering without meaning is futile and it only makes a person bitter and hardened.
But suffering with love and for love makes us united with Jesus who suffered for us in order to save us and to make us understand the power of love.
Life is more than just eating and drinking and what to wear and what to enjoy.
Life is about the discovery of God's love for us and that will be through the Cross of Christ.
The Gospel of the Day presents this dual-reaction to Jesus, the Word of God…
… an initial sense of rejoicing and enthrallment
… and later, a purposeful rejection of the Divine Ways and Will
The immensely charismatic personality of Jesus is revealed in the Gospel today.
Jesus came to His own country (Mk 6:1).
On the Sabbath Day, Jesus began to teach in the synagogue…
….and many who heard Him were astonished! (Mk 6:2a)
The popularity and the fame of Jesus was on the rise…
He had healed many who were with various sicknesses and diseases.
He had cast out demons from many who were possessed and under bondages.
Jesus became a sought-after person…
… an attraction for many people!
His tremendous passion for the missions was admiring…
His spectacular urge to preach the Kingdom of God was amazing…
This unfazed commitment to the mission, caused feelings of astonishment!
And so the people began to question…
“Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given Him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by His Hand?” (Mk 6:2b)
Jesus, while in this world….
… was misunderstood
… was contradicted
… was criticized
While in the world, as Christians, we will also have to face a lot of oppositions, criticism and even persecutions…
…. Our own world may be filled with shattered hopes, unfulfilled dreams, meaningless miseries etc
But the Lord assures that I AM “the One who heals the broken-hearted”. (Ps 146:1)
Let us be filled with the power and spirit of Jesus, “the One whom we ought to preach by our lives” (1 Cor 9:16)
A genuine and honest encounter with the Word of God always causes a great impact on people…
Some either feel greatly drawn by the Divine…
Some however, also feel a great sense of denial and refusal of God’s Ways
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
The mighty charismatic personality of Jesus caused a dual effect…… one positive and one negative… one supportive and one obstructive.
We need to examine our life and check:
“What is the effect that Jesus has on our life?”
Are we persons who are supportive of the plans of God in our life…… or do we obstruct the workings of the Lord, especially when we don’t understand His ways?
Are we persons who are grateful to the Lord for His mighty works in us…… or are we able to see only at the negativities of life and end up criticizing God?
As Christians, we are people who have said “Yes” to follow ‘this’ Jesus… He who wants us to follow Him in healing the world… He wishes us to become agents of casting out demons and unclean spirits… He who waits on us to preach and teach the Kingdom of God to all people anywhere
To be like Jesus, we need to imitate Him, not just in works… but above all in His Being!… Totally committed to a life of prayer and union with God (Mk 1:35)… Passionately zealous for the salvation of people (Mk 1: 32-33)… Absolutely focused on the needs of the Kingdom of God (Mk 1:38)
Do I have my prayer life and communion with the Lord as the greatest thrust and push in all my activities, undertakings and ministries?
Do I have a deep desire and commitment to bring God’s love to all people and be passionate to share Him to all others?
Do I remain undistracted in the midst of all worldly attractions and forego personal pleasures by remaining focused on His Kingdom alone?
What is our Reaction and Response to Jesus, the Word of God?
RESOLUTION
Let's resolve that with love, and to suffer for love and suffer with love, we will discover the meaning of our lives on earth.
† Saint of the Day †
St. Blaise
Hieromartyr, Holy Helper:
Saint Blaise was a physician, and bishop of Sebastea in historical Armenia (modern Sivas, Turkey). According to the Acta Sanctorum, he was martyred by being beaten, attacked with iron combs, and beheaded. He is the patron saint of wool combers. In the Latin Church, his feast falls on 3 February, in the Eastern Churches on 11 February.
Many Catholics remember St. Blaise's feast day because of the Blessing of the Throats that takes place on this day. Two candles are blessed, held slightly open, and pressed against the throat by the priest as he says the blessing. St. Blaise's protection of those with throat troubles comes from his healing of a boy who had a fishbone stuck in his throat. The boy was about to die when St. Blaise healed him.
On February 3 we celebrate the feast of St. Blaise, whom Divine Providence gave the special grace of curing sicknesses of the throat. After or during the Mass on this day, depending on the case, the priest gives the Blessing of St. Blaise. He touches the throat of each person with two crossed candles, at the same time saying a prayer asking the protection of the Saint to cure maladies of the throat.
St. Joseph pray for all Christian families especially that are broken and those on the crossroads.
Through the intercession of St. Blaise, lord heal the ailments of my throat and heal them.