Reflection for Wednesday 25th Week in Ordinary Time

By


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

Today's WORD of GOD

Luke 9:1-3

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.  He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.

Today's Reflection

Leading the Way

Ezra was Like Another Moses, Urging His Hebrew People to Faithfully keep Their Covenant with GOD. Ezra Set Out to Encourage & Guide the Weary People. He Re-Edited the Books of Moses as Their Guide to Living, & Added Interpretations of the Law, which Developed in Later Centuries into the Famous Talmud.

He Begins with an Abject Confession, Identifying Himself with His People’s Guilt, “My GOD, I am too Ashamed to Raise my Face to U, for Our Wicked Deeds are Heaped Up Above Our Heads.” Then He Declares that Divine Mercy has Blessed Them Again; They are a Remnant, like a Sapling firmly Planted in the Holy Land. By GOD'S Providence They also Enjoy the Goodwill of the Persian King, who Helped Rebuild the House of GOD. Sober Realism Marks This Sermon of Ezra. Sometimes We Need 2b Told Things Bluntly, Admit Our Mistakes & Take Responsibility for Them, & then Count Our Blessings, for Things are Not as Bad as We Suppose. There is a Future for Us & for Our People, Our CHURCH.

On a Happier Note, the Gospel Shows JESUS Sending Out the Apostles, to Cure the Sick & Promote the Reign of GOD. These Missionaries Need Not Carry 🍞 or Money, Not even Staff & Traveling Bag. They Brought a Blessing by Their Joy & Trust, Inviting Others to Share Their Trust in GOD. Occasionally the Shadow of a Living Saint Crosses Our Path in Somebody We Meet. We should Encourage Their ideals, Support Them, & Welcome Them into Our Homes. Then the Grace of GOD will be Among Us.


Travelling Light

When JESUS Sent Out HIS 12 on Mission HE Wanted Them to Travel Light. They were to Depend on the Hospitality of Those to whom They Preach the Gospel. Rather than be Overly Self-Reliant, They Needed 2b Reliant on Others, to Trust in the LORD, who would Help Them through the Kindness of Strangers.

We all Like 2b Independent, & to some Extent We Need 2b. But We are Never Completely Self-Sufficient. We began Life Completely Dependent on Parents & Others, & as We Come towards the End of Life We will Equally Need Others to Care for Us. Even between These 2 Points of High Dependence, We Depend on Others for what We Do Not have Within Ourselves. Why Deprive Ourselves of Rich Resources that Others can Offer Us? The LORD Wants Us to Welcome the Kindly Service of Others.

Good Morning

GOD Bless Us All Today