Reflections for Monday 3rd Week of Advent 

Memorial of St. Lucy, virgin & martyr 

By


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

Today's WORD of GOD 

Mt. 21: 24 - 25 

Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” 

Today's Reflection 

The Leaders Feared the People’s Wrath & would Not Dare to Say that John the Baptist was a Fake. Yet under No Condition were They Willing to Agree that John who Pointed to JESUS as the Promised One could ever have Spoken with Divine Authority. Common Sense & a Strong Consensus among Many Good People Cannot be Denied Without Denying GOD, Their Creator, Nor can Anyone Remain Passive or Neutral when such a Person as John Speaks in the Name of GOD.

Sophisticated People, or Indeed most of Us in Areas of Life where We may Feel Educated & Secure, will Continually Be Challenged by Common Folk who Speak the Honest-To-GOD Truth. Unless We Listen to Them & Seek the Truth, JESUS will Say to Us: “Neither will I Tell U on what Authority I Do the Things I Do.” LORD, Give Me an Open heart to Listen & a Willing SPIRIT to Respond to U, in My Life.

The House of GOD

The Question Asked of JESUS in Today’s Gospel Follows from HIS Cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem, “What Authority have U for Acting like This?” The Religious Leaders Claimed Authority over the Temple & They certainly had Not Given JESUS Permission to Do what HE Did, Driving Out all who were Selling & Buying in the Temple, Overturning the Tables of the Money Changers & the Seats of Those who Sold Doves. JESUS Did Not Give a Direct Answer to Their Question. but the Attentive Reader of Matthew’s Gospel Knows where JESUS Gets HIS Authority. From the Start of This Gospel We are Told that One of JESUS' Names is Emmanuel, which Means “GOD is with Us.”

GOD is Present in a Unique Way in JESUS, & that is why JESUS has such Authority in GOD'S House, the Temple. Because JESUS is GOD with Us, JESUS Knows what is in Keeping with GOD'S Will & what is Not. HE Clearly Saw that the Way the Temple was being Run was Not in Accordance with GOD'S Will. We are Drawing Ever Closer to the Feast of the Birth of JESUS, Emmanuel, GOD with Us. We Celebrate the Birth of This Child because We Recognize that HE Came to Reveal GOD'S Will for Our Lives by All that HE Said & Did. HE Not only Reveals GOD'S Will for Our Lives; HE also Empowers Us to Live in This Way by Pouring the HOLY SPIRIT into Our Hearts.


 Saint of the day

St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr

The mother of SAINT LUCY suffered four years from an issue of blood, and the human help failed. Saint Lucy reminded her mother that a woman in the Gospel had been healed of the same disorder. “Saint Agatha,” she said, “stands ever in the sight of him for whom she died. Only touch her sepulchre with faith, and you will be healed.” They spent the night praying by the tomb, until, overcome by weariness, both fell asleep. Saint Agatha appeared in vision to Saint Lucy, and calling her sister, foretold her mother’s recovery and her own martyrdom. That instant the cure was affected; and in her gratitude the mother allowed her daughter to distribute her wealth among the poor, and consecrate her virginity to Christ. A young man to whom she had been promised in marriage accused her as a Christian to the heathen; but our Lord, by a special miracle, saved from outrage this virgin whom he had chosen for his own. The fire kindled around her did her no hurt. Then the sword was plunged into her heart, and the promise made at the tomb of Saint Agatha was fulfilled.

Saint Lucy is also the Patron of people suffering from eye ailments...

Good Morning 

GOD Bless Us All

Have a great week ahead

Let's pray for leaders in Karnataka

HAPPY FEAST of SAINT LUCY, VIRGIN & MARTYR