TODAY'S WORD
By
Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore
“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it only remains a seed; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (Jn 12:24)
TODAY'S REFLECTION
Today’s first reading portrays in striking language the goal of our earthly journey. It speaks of ‘the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem… in which everyone is a ‘first born’ and a citizen of heaven’.
In this heavenly city, the distinction between citizens and non-citizens will not apply.
All will have equal access to God and to his Son. Jesus’ mission was to make something of this heavenly city a reality on earth.
This is what he meant by proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand.
He gathered people from all walks of life and backgrounds around himself, declaring that they could all be his brothers and sisters if they did the will of his heavenly Father, if they followed in the way of God’s Son.
He taught his followers to pray to God his Father, ‘thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’.
He called others to help him in his work of creating an opening for the coming of God’s kingdom, the city of the living God.
This is what we find Jesus doing in today’s gospel reading, as he sends out the twelve to share in his mission of word and deed. In the course of the gospels, he calls and sends out many more, men and women.
He needs each one of us to share in his work of creating an opening for the coming of the city of the living God, a community where all are cherished equally as sons and daughters of God and brothers and sisters of Christ.
Our earthly cities fall far short at times of the city of the living God, but the Lord needs the goodness and the giftedness of us all if our earthly cities are to become more like the heavenly Jerusalem
To be a witness for the Kingdom of God is the call and duty of every Christian.
It is a decision to be made
It is a decision to be lived
It is a decision to be nurtured
Christ made this decision of being entirely and wholly dedicated to His mission
And He invites His disciples – His followers – to also commit themselves to the mission
Jesus had many occasions and chances to escape from this dedication…
He could have chosen to enjoy popularity and fame arising out of His mighty deeds…
But He made a “decision” to not compromise on the truths and convictions
He could have chosen to dilute some of His teachings and make life more “cosier”…
But He made a “decision” to remain firm and grounded on the fundamentals of eternity
He could have chosen to forego some of His values and have some “adjustments”…
But He made a “decision” to be faithful and loyal to the mission and duties entrusted to Him
Our life as a witness for Christ and His Kingdom is sometimes greatly influenced and prejudiced…
We sometimes don’t mind… being a little relaxing on some Church teachings… making some adjustments to remain popular and not have a bad name… diluting some values in order to appear as secular and sociable…
The Church is often under tremendous pressure to change some of Her moral teachings
The Church is often under blatant attacks to alter some of Her time-and-tested values
Most often, the motive behind all such attacks are a ‘life of ease’, a ‘life of comfort’, a ‘life of personal satisfaction’ etc…
Christ today, however, needs witnesses who are willing to undergo pains and persecutions…
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
Are we – you and I – ready to shape our destiny as per God’s Holy and Perfect Will?
What is our decision?
SAINT OF THE DAY
ST. JOHN DE BRITTO
The Martyr St John de Britto gave up… His native land… His personal desires… His family ties… His very life itself.
All for the sake of Christ and His Love
All for the sake of the Kingdom and its values
All for the sake of His Church and Her teachings
In his words, “Not to answer the vocation as I ought, would be to provoke the justice of God”
RESOLUTION
Let us resolve to be true and faithful to the vocation we have received and the way of life we have chosen…
Christ needs martyrs who are willing to… live His teachings… teach His teachings
Christ needs martyrs who are willing to give up their…
… physical life in the face of being persecuted for Him
… economic life and depend on Him as the true treasure
… social life to bear insults and humiliations to live His values
Yes, Destiny is shaped by moments of decision!
Happy Feast of St John de Britto!
Let's pray fir all the Priest's and religious that they become agents of living the teachings of Jesus and teaching his teachings