TODAY'S WORD
By
Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore
1 John: 4:20 "Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen."
TODAY'S REFLECTION
In the first reading St John reminds us: “We love, because he first loved us!” (1 Jn 4:19)
The Gospel of the Day is an encounter with Jesus the great Carpenter.
He is no ordinary one.
Jesus is in His hometown of Nazareth.
He walks into the synagogue, as was His custom.
He is handed over the book of prophet Isaiah and reads a prophetic passage.
All were amazed at His gracious words and they began to ask each other, “Isn’t this the Son of Joseph” (Lk 4:22)
Yeah, Jesus was the Son of Joseph, the carpenter!
And this Child of Joseph, was Himself also a carpenter!
The people would have murmured this statement to belittle Jesus.
The people would have referred Him so, because of their bias and prejudice.
The people perhaps called Him that way to show that He was just ordinary – one of them.
But what the people murmured or muttered or grumbled was indeed true…
Even later on, the people would refer, “Is He not the carpenter, the son of Mary…” (Mk 6:3)
The Jewish people were in great expectation of a Messiah.
Their concept of a Messiah would have been one who is very powerful, kingly, majestic etc.
But Jesus, the Messiah doesn’t ornament Himself with all such expected grandeur.
He doesn’t robe Himself with a showy magnificence or armour Himself with majestic works.
He identified Himself with the common people
He became one with humanity with hard labour and gritty toil.
The Great Carpenter of Nazareth is wanting to do the same in our lives…
He wants to create us anew and refashion our lives.
He wants to give new shape and utility to our brokenness and damaged parts of life.
Hammer in some of the nails of discipline and virtues?
Chisel away sin and other unwanted portions of our life?
Polish some places of life that have lost its sheen and shine?
Drill in some screws to tighten the lethargic and sluggish areas of life?
Level some habits in us that can hamper the balance of our spirituality?
Measure some of our activities to determine how much exactly is needed?
Yes, the Spirit of the Lord is upon this Great Carpenter of Galilee, “…to bring glad tidings to the poor;
Liberty to the captives; Recovery of sight to the blind;
Let the oppressed go free;
To proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord” (Lk 4: 18-19)
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
What is my understanding about the duties and responsibilities entrusted to me?
Am I aware that in all works small and great, I can be giving glory to God?
Do I perform all my tasks, with a Sacred Sense that it’s an extension of God’s creative works?
Are we ready to let the Great Carpenter of Nazareth to work in our lives?
He wants to mend us…
He wants to repair us…
He wants to fashion us anew!
RESOLUTION
Lets resolve to Knock. The Carpenter is already here…
Let’s open the door to Him…
no matter, even if the door is also damaged!! He is ready to work on it.
Let us entrust our lives into the care of the Great Carpenter of Nazareth….!
Have a blessed day.