Reflection for Wednesday 14th Week of Ordinary Time 

By

 

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest, Bidar

Today's WORD of GOD 

Matthew 10: 1-7

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is called Peter and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;  Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 

Today's Reflection on 1st and gospel Reading 

In the Gospel Today JESUS Gives Authority to HIS 12. 

HE Empowers Them with HIS Own Power & Authorizes Them to Carry on HIS Own Mission. But this Power & Authority is Not to Subjugate & Manipulate Others. 

It is Not for Seeking & Promoting Self-Interests. The Real Power & Authority is Divinely Sanctioned. 

It Comes from GOD. It is therefore Something Divine & Sacred. 

It is also Meant 2b Kingdom-Oriented. 

That is why, JESUS Orders HIS Disciples, to Preach that “The kingdom of GOD is at Hand”. 

That is why, as HE Endows Them with Authority, the Purpose too is Clearly Mentioned. 

It is to “Cast Out the Unclean Spirits, & to Heal Every Disease & Every Infirmity”.

The Kingdom of GOD is Not Merely a Spiritual Domain, with Lots of Spirituality & Religious Activities. It is Where & When GOD Reigns. 

It is the Situation & Experience of GOD Being Near to Us, Taking Control of Our Life. It is where the Godly Values of Love, Justice, & Peace Prevail.

Any Authority that Reels on the Heels of Human Manipulation is a Degenerated One. 

Any Authority that Does Not Preserve Its Sanctity but is so much Tainted by Worldliness is Already a Corroded One.

Further, Any Authority that is Ego-Centered, Ego-Projecting, & Ego-Promoting is a Mean Authority.

Further, the Mission Entrusted to the Disciples is Primarily Directed to “the Lost Sheep”. 

That is, 1st of all, It is a “Mission Within”, a Mission to Repair, & Rejuvenate Our Own Selves, Our Own Lives, Our Own Hearts, Our Own Communities & Families, Our Relatives, Friends, & Surroundings. 

At Times, We may be More Worried about Changing the Whole World but Neglect Our Own “Small Worlds” that We Live & Interact with Day In & Day Out.

The Fact that the Names of the 12 Apostles are Mentioned Indicates that Our Vocation & Mission is Very Personal & Personally Significant. 

It is Not Only a Collective, Community Mission of the CHURCH, but also of Each Disciple.

What Kind of Labourer am I? Am I so Eager for Positions? Or am I who Quietly Works in the Background? 


Good Morning

God bless you with a pleasant day