TODAY'S WORD 

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.  But I tell you, Elijah has already come,and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished.  In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”  (Mathew 17: 11-12)

Today's Reflection

1st reading, the Lord, the Holy One of Israel says this: I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is good for you, I lead you in the way you must go. If only you had been alert to my commandments, your happiness will have been like a river.

So we know the solution to our grumbling, our complaints and our criticisms against people or situations.

We must turn to the Lord our God and learn His ways and walk in His paths.

The Gospel says that John the Baptist...

wore a clothing made of camel's hair

had a leather belt around his waist 

had food of locusts and wild honey (Mt 4: 4)

This appearance was very similar to that of Elijah, the Prophet (2 Kings 1:8)

But in their encounter with John the Baptist, the people failed to recognise him as the "Elijah who was to come" 

And thus John the Baptist came to be ...rejected.. derided... finally killed!


Many times in our life, we too "miss the point" in our encounter with the Lord...

He gives His Beautiful Word to us..... but we fail to be encouraged by It and live by It

He makes many wonderful promises of assurance and guidance..... but we fail to live a life of trust and confidence

He offers Himself wonderfully in the Sacraments, especially Confession and Holy Eucharist..... but we fail to derive the necessary fruits from Them


Today, the Gospel invites us, to look at God's Promises, God's Word's and God's Will...

... and discover the true purpose of it in our lives.

This is more true as we prepare for Christmas...

Jesus is the BIG POINT of the Christmas

Let us dare not "miss Him"!


May we prepare our hearts to receive His Word as He wishes, in our life...

... and seek to live, in total accord with Him! 


Let us pay attention to them and take heed that we may rejoice at his great appearing. Peace be with you.


SAINT OF THE DAY

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe has reached various parts of the world. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a convert, Juan Diego, who had a church built at Guadalupe in her honour. In this place Mary showed herself as a tender and compassionate Mother, reaching out to the poor and calling them to faith in Jesus Christ. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of the Americas.

Our lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

God bless your day to rely on God knowing our help comes from Him alone.