REFLECTION FOR  WEDNESDAY, 18th Week, Ordinary Time.

By


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

FEAST IF ST. JOHN MARY VIANNEY, PATRON OF  PRIESTS

TODAY'S WORD

Mathew 15:27-28

Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.


TODAY'S REFLECTION

Gold is tested by fire, and the strong are tested by adversity.

In the 1st reading, the people were put to the test when they heard the reports about the land they were to enter into.

When they heard how strong the inhabitants were, they raised their voices and cried aloud and wailed all night.

While they were aware of their limitations, they also did not trust in God who had promised them the land and would deliver their enemies into their hands.

Put to the test, they did not have recourse to the strength of the Lord but showed their weakness, and they paid the price for it, and what a heavy price it was.

In the gospel, the Canaanite woman's faith was also put to the test. Her patience was tested.

She persevered and she was rewarded for her faith in Jesus.

In school, we were taught a lesson and then given a test.

In life, we are given a test that teaches us a lesson.


Resolution

Let's resolve to  learn the lessons of life and grow strong to face the adversities we face in day today life, imitating the life of St. John Mary Vianney


SAINT OF THE DAY

St John Maria Vianney

St John Maria Vianney is the patron saint of priests.

As a priest, he made it a point to help all the needy in his parish or in the region around him.

Once, word was sent to him that a very sick man of his parish was seeking to make confession.

However, this man was pretty far off from the place where the church was.

It was a time when vehicles were too sparse.

The climate was bitter cold and the rain storm was blowing in.

But the zeal in the heart of the saintly priest was still greater.

So, he picked up his cloak and started his walk to the sick man’s house.


The freezing cold pierced through his frail bones

The lashing winds wrenched his body in frosty pain


Yet, St John Vianney trekked on!

Finally he reached the house of the sick man.

By the time he arrived, St Vianney himself was shivering and wobbly with high fever.


He fell so ill, that he had to hear the confession, lying down, beside the sick man’s bed.


Many in fact, even thought, that the priest was more sick than the penitent ill-man!

The determination and the willingness of the Saintly Priest made sure that the sick man would experience God’s immense mercy and forgiving love.

Today we celebrate the Feast of St John Maria Vianney, the patron saint of all the priests!


As a young son, he had to face resistance from his father, who was opposed to his being a priest, due to financial difficulties as well as the strained political climate of his time

As a young seminarian, he had to face hardships in the seminary, due to his difficulties in studies

As a young priest, he had to face isolation from the parish at Ars, where he was first appointed, due to the indifference and the secular lifestyle of the people in the village.


But despite this harsh experience…

… he held on to “Doing the Will of God, and be His faithful follower!”


St John Maria Vianney placed His entire trust in the Power of God


Let’s learn to imitate the fortitude and perseverance of St John Maria Vianney

St John Maria Vianney and the Canaanite woman in the Gospel, placed their entire trust in the Power of God


This would turn their “rejection and dejection” into a “celebration and jubilation!”


On this Feast Day, let us specially seek the intercession of St John Maria Vianney…

… to remain “faithful and firm”, in moments of “dejection and rejection”


And thus, seek to imitate our Blessed Lord.


May the words of the Saintly Priest motivate us:


“You cannot please both God and the world at the same time; they are utterly opposed to each other in their thoughts, their desires, and their actions.”

“I tell you that you have less to suffer in following the cross than in serving the world and its pleasures.”


Let us also pray specially for Priests all over the world, that their Patron Saint

St John Maria Vianney – may intercede, to help all priests…

to be more holy and faithful to their Noble Vocation

to be more zealous in administering the Sacraments and giving His Word

to be more passionate in Loving the Lord and bringing many more to His Love

Happy Feast to all the Priests!


God Bless! Live Jesus!