TODAY'S WORD

By


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

“Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Matthew 21:25–27

REFLECTION

FIRST READING calls us to *Yield to the Spirit of truth rather than falsehood
When the Israelites began to enter the promised land, after their wilderness sojourn of forty years, they met stiff resistance and opposition from the people around them. Balak, one of the local rulers in Canaan, employed the services of Balaam, a prophet of Baal, to put a curse upon the Israelites. Balak wanted to scare the Israelites away through fear and ill omen. Balaam, however, prophesied blessing and protection to the Israelites rather than cursing and destruction. He yielded to the Spirit of truth rather than to the spirit of falsehood. He spoke the word of God contrary to the words which King Balak wanted him to speak. Balaam even prophesied that a star would one day announce the coming of the Messiah King from the house of Jacob. This king would destroy all the enemies of God's people and establish a kingdom of peace (Numbers 24:17).

The Gospel of the Day presents such a critically harsh and uncharitably closed attitude of the chief priests and scribes and elders towards the person and ministry of Jesus.

MY ROLE

Call to root out all pessimistic mindset, to set aside all knowing specialists attitude and put on a non
expert attitude like that of children so that I may allow the message of the gospel to pierce my heart and to get transformed through the reception of the sacraments, thus be able to grow in holiness and humility.

SAINT OF THE DAY

ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS

Let us seek the intercession of St John of the Cross, whose feast we celebrate today.
He is the great Saint of Mystical Theology and the author of the classics, “Ascent of Mount Carmel” and “Dark night of the soul”

To his words, let us give heed:
"A soul enkindled with love is a gentle, meek, humble, and patient soul
"We must dig deeply in Christ."

He is like a rich mine with many pockets containing treasures: however deep we dig we will never find their end or their limit.
Indeed, in every pocket new seams of fresh riches are discovered on all sides."

*Happy feast of St.. John of the Cross.*

*May the Spirit of the Lord be with us during the days of this new week to teach us to be humble*