Reflection for THURSDAY, 18th Week, Ordinary Time.
By
Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore
Today's Word
Mathew 16: 22-23
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Today's Reflection
If a company were to set up a "Feedback Department" there might be difficulty try to get personnel to staff it.
Because one thing for certain is that there will mostly be complaints coming to that department, and it will be day in day out.
There is only some much that one can take about complaints.
One possible burnout could be that there will be growing resentment within and it turns into bitterness.
In the 1st reading, the people complained about the lack of water, and they challenged Moses and Aaron.
It had been countless times that the people complained but this time it really got into Moses.
As much as he did what the Lord had instructed, Moses vented out his resent and frustration on the people.
In the gospel, Jesus began to make it clear to His disciples that He was destined to go to Jerusalem and to suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes.
The Peter began to remonstrate with Him, but Jesus rebuked him sharply.
Once again Jesus was teaching His disciples and also teaching us what it means to serve God and to serve others.
We have to be prepared for a thankless task as well as scorching complaints.
But God sees, God knows how we try to bear it up.
Resolution
Let's resolve to focus on how Jesus had served us even to offering His life on the Cross.
GOD BLESS YOU