Reflection for Tuesday, 15th week of Ordinary Time
By
Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Assistant Parish Priest,Manjeshwar,Kasargod
Gospel Passage
Matthew 11:20-24
Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been worked, because they refused to repent.
‘Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard on Judgement day with Tyre and Sidon as with you. And as for you, Capernaum, did you want to be exalted as high as heaven? You shall be thrown down to hell. For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been standing yet. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard with the land of Sodom on Judgement day as with you.’
Reflection on the Readings
In today’s first reading, we see how that story began: with the love and courage of a mother. Facing Pharaoh’s death sentence on all baby boys of the Hebrew race (Exodus 1:22), this poor woman didn’t have any good options. She only knew that if she didn’t take action, her son would be killed. So she put him in a basket in the river, sent her daughter to keep an eye on him, and hoped for the best. How happy she must have been when Pharaoh’s daughter saved him (2:5-10)! And how blessed we are that this boy, Moses, grew up to become such a powerful instrument in the hands of the Lord!
Moses’ mother was faced with a momentous decision, and she had to make it without the benefit of a prophetic declaration guiding her or the assurance that her baby would live. Even so, God was at work, paving the way for him to deliver his people from Egypt. Through this woman’s decision, God was able to bring about his plan to rescue Israel.
We all face difficult decisions at times. Medical treatments, work-related dilemmas, bumpy relationships, and the like can all require hard choices. We can’t always discern which path is the right one or what the outcome will be. This story, however, can reassure us that God is intimately involved in our lives and working through our decisions. What’s more, even if we make what in retrospect seems like the wrong decision, we can trust that God will bring about something good from it.
Maybe you are facing a difficult decision right now, or perhaps you are wondering if a previous decision was the right one. Remember that you don’t know the whole story - but God does! So even as you make hard choices, you can trust that He is always working, even if you can’t see it just yet. He is always bringing about His intentions, not only for you, but for the whole world.
The reading warns us that sin not only ruins places but the people in those places. But nothing is impossible for God and upon true repentance through Christ, even the greatest sin is pardoned. Upon true repentance, even the greatest ruin can be prevented - even Sodom - Jesus makes it clear that if he was sent there, the city would have remained. Thus, it is of utmost importance that we shouldn't neglect the love and blessings of Christ - our friend who has been sent to us to raise us from our sinful and desolate state.
GOD BLESS YOU
Good morning. Have a nice day