REFLECTION FOR SATURDAY SIXTH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE


TODAY'S WORD

By


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

John: 16:28 "I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”


FIRST READING REFLECTION

The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles gives us a very striking picture of how the members of the early church ministered to each other.

Apollos had come to Ephesus from Alexandria. He was both an eloquent and a learned man, but he needed further instruction in the faith of Jesus.

This instruction was provided by a married couple, Priscilla and Aquila, who were in a position to give him the instruction he needed.  

Apollos then wanted to cross over from Ephesus in the Roman province of Asia to Corinth in the Roman province of Achaia.

Here again, he needed help. The church in Ephesus wrote a letter to the church in Corinth asking that he be welcomed. It was in effect a letter of recommendation.

Having received so much help from the church in Ephesus, Apollos was a great help to the church of Corinth on his arrival. ‘He helped the believers considerably’.

Apollos received from the gifts of other believers and gave to other believers from his own gifts. This is an image of the church in every generation.

The Holy Spirit has gifted each one of us for the service of others in the church.

We each have something to give to others and something to receive from others.

Within the church, we are all interdependent. Even more fundamentally, we each have something to give to the Lord, present in others, and we have a great deal to receive from the Lord.


GOSPEL REFLECTION

The Gospel of the Day is a testimony to Jesus affirming the assuring and loving presence of God, our Heavenly Father.

Jesus declares these beautiful words, which ought to be inscribed in golden shades, on the canvas of our hearts, “… the Father Himself loves you…” (Jn 16: 27a)

This is indeed one of the mightiest and loftiest truth that we all need to know, experience, be convinced of, and live constantly in its assurance.… the truth that “The Father Himself loves us!”

Every person longs for love and longs to be cared for...Human love, however, sometimes fails to answer to this basic and essential need.

Sometimes people around us get too busy, to even care for us…

Sometimes, people from whom we expect love, fail to understand our need.

Sometimes, people who ought to care for us, fall short of their responsibility….All this could leave a feeling a hurt within us.


All this could imprint a wound of sadness inside of us.


But in such moments of feeling lonely and desperation, especially, Jesus assures and promises us that we are not abandoned or left lonely…


Instead Jesus emphatically proclaims that just as He was loved by His Father, we too are loved by our Heavenly Father!


It is confidence in this tremendous love of the Father… that will make us to seek whatever we wish in life, knowing that our prayers will be answered, in the way and the time, that He, My Father wishes! (Jn 16: 26)

His Love will make me delight in His Will, letting go of my personal desires!


It is conviction in this unconditional love of the Father…… that will make us to enjoy a deep sense of joy and bliss, knowing that in any situation of gloom or sadness or tension or worry, He, My Father, is taking me through! (Jn 16: 24)

His Love will make me want to do only His Will, setting aside my individual wantings!

Our Heavenly Father, our Abba is in deep love of each one of us…


The Crucifix is the proof of this “mad love” of the Father.


RESOLUTION

Lets resolve to know that  with His grace, we can deepen our love and conviction in the Amazing Love of the Father. May we be privileged to hear:

“Wow!! He finished his/her life, and gained eternal life!”


Good Morning.  God bless us with a hopeful weekend

Let's pray for each other to face the challenges this Pandemic poses.