Reflection for FRIDAY, 17th Week, Ordinary Time.

By

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Assistant Parish Priest,Manjeshwar,Kasargod

Gospel Passage fir the Day 


 Matthew 13:54-58   

Coming to his home town, Jesus taught the people in their synagogue in such a way that they were astonished and said, ‘Where did the man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? This is the carpenter’s son, surely? Is not his mother the woman called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Jude? His sisters, too, are they not all here with us? So where did the man get it all?’ And they would not accept him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country and in his own house’, and he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Reflection on the Day's Readings 

The human need for acceptance is critical for growth and development.

Even when we are in our mother’s womb, we could already feel our mother’s emotions towards us.

Whether in the womb or in the world, we will have to develop our self-confidence so that we can find our place in the world, as well as our standing with others.

But it can be challenging and difficult when we face criticism and rejection.

We would have to dig into our self-worth to keep going and believing in ourselves.

When Jesus came to His hometown and taught the people in the synagogue, His own people were astonished, and then came the criticism and finally rejection.

Jesus had to stand His ground and to believe who He really is and also what His mission is.

And Jesus also calls out to us who are His disciples to be prepared for criticism and rejection.

Jesus called out to St. John Vianney to be a priest, and at first, he faced criticism and rejection because of his lowly status as well as being intellectually slow.

But St. John Vianney persevered in his holiness and devotion, he became a model and patron saint of all priests.

Jesus has called us to be His disciples. He gave us dignity and self-worth so that we can witness to His love for all peoples.

May our confidence be in Jesus alone, and we will stand our ground and hold our heads up.


 Saint of the Day 

August 4 | St. John Vianney

A man with vision overcomes obstacles and performs deeds that seem impossible. John Vianney was a man with vision: He wanted to become a priest. But he had to overcome his meager formal schooling, which inadequately prepared him for seminary studies.

His failure to comprehend Latin lectures forced him to discontinue. But his vision of being a priest urged him to seek private tutoring. After a lengthy battle with the books, John was ordained.

Situations calling for “impossible” deeds followed him everywhere. As pastor of the parish at Ars, John encountered people who were indifferent and quite comfortable with their style of living. His vision led him through severe fasts and short nights of sleep.

With Catherine Lassagne and Benedicta Lardet, he established La Providence, a home for girls. Only a man of vision could have such trust that God would provide for the spiritual and material needs of all those who came to make La Providence their home.

His work as a confessor is John Vianney’s most remarkable accomplishment. In the winter months he was to spend 11 to 12 hours daily reconciling people with God. In the summer months this time was increased to 16 hours. Unless a man was dedicated to his vision of a priestly vocation, he could not have endured this giving of self day after day.

Many people look forward to retirement and taking it easy, doing the things they always wanted to do but never had the time. But John Vianney had no thoughts of retirement. As his fame spread, more hours were consumed in serving God’s people. Even the few hours he would allow himself for sleep were disturbed frequently by the devil.

Who, but a man with vision, could keep going with ever-increasing strength? In 1929, Pope Pius XI named him the patron of parish priests worldwide and proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI during the year of priests as patron saint of all priests.

St. John Vianney, pray for us.


         GOD BLESS YOU

Good morning. Have a nice day. 

HAPPY FEAST of JOHN MARIA VIANNEY, THE PATRON OF ALL PRIESTS.