Lenten Message of Pope Francis based on Fratelli Tutti No. 41

During the Fourth Week of Lent, let us reflect on the words: ‘I’ exist because ‘we’ exist.

Does my joy come from self gratification or does it lie in making others happy?

MARCH 15: An individual and a people are only fruitful and productive if they are able to develop a creative openness to others 

TODAY’S WORD

By


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

“Sir, come down, before my child dies” (Jn 4: 49)


TODAY’S REFLECTION

The Gospel of the Day presents an incident of a “person who stayed calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”Jesus is in the land of Galilee…away from his hometown. (Jn 4:43)

In this Gentile land, a royal official whose son was ill – nearing death – approached Jesus, seeking for a healing. This royal official had a mixed bag of faith…

He had faith in Jesus, which made him to come a long distance to meet Jesus.  His faith was however, mostly prompted only because of a need for a healing.  Often our faith resembles this royal official… turning to the Lord only in times of afflictions and troubles… having our own doubts on whether the Lord can really work miracle in the way I want. But we must also remember…… hard and difficult situations, are willed by God, to allow for miracles and healings, which ought to become the springboard for a deeper and committed life of faith! … the Lord has His own ways and means of working powerfully in our lives, and we need to have the openness and humility to receive them in His way and in His time!

Moments of immense difficulties and crisis often cripple us.  Times of tremendous hardships and pains often cause worries to us.  But, the Lord constantly invites us “to stay calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”  It’s His grace that strengthens us. It’s His mercy that empowers us.


RESOLUTION: Let’s resolve to adopt and personalize this great secret of “staying calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

Have a great Day.  May God’s amazing presence go before you in all that you do during this week.  Let’s continue to pray for the release of Fr. Stan Swamy.