TODAY'S WORD

‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you!” (Is 35:3-4)

REFLECTION
Todays first reading Prophet Isaiah exhorts, encourages and reminds “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you!”

The Gospel is the healing of the paralytic, when Jesus comes into His own town.

Seeing the paralytic being brought on the stretcher, and admiring their faith, Jesus had said, "Courage child, your sins are forgiven" (Lk 5:20)

However, some of the scribes got irked hearing these words and said, "Who is this who speaks blasphemy?" (Lk 5:21)

But Jesus, who knows the hearts of people.... who reads the thoughts of all, said: What are you thinking in your hearts?(Lk 5: 22)

Are we ready to throw of all those unbecoming stuff from our hearts, and place the Divine Mercy of the Lord, enthroned in our hearts?


QUESTIONS TO PONDER

"What are you thinking in your hearts?" or "Why do you think evil in your hearts?" or "Why do you harbour evil in your hearts?"

Am I a person who is unable to tolerate the good things happening in other people's lives?

Am I someone who gets irked and irritated when the other person prospers in happiness?
 
We sometimes adorn the walls of our hearts with much filthy stuff uncharitable thoughts, indecent words and jokes, hurtful views of people or crude perspectives of situations.

The Lord feels hurt and sad by this our "harbouring of evil in our hearts"

SAINT OF THE DAY

ST. AMBROSE, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

Let us seek the intercession of St Ambrose, Doctor of the Church on his feast day.

His words come as a reminder to us: “Our own evil inclinations are far more dangerous than any external enemies!”
With him, let us also pray: “Many a sin has sullied me in body and in soul, because I did not restrain my thoughts nor guard my lips: nevertheless it is to Thee, O God of Majesty and Love, that I turn in my extremity, for Thou art the Fount of Mercy; to Thee, as quickly as I may, I speed: for Thou alone canst heal me; I take refuge under Thy protection!”

GOD BLESS YOU ALL WITH AN AWESOME WEEK AHEAD