Reflection for MONDAY, 21st Week, Ordinary Time

By


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

Today's Word

Mathew 23:13-22

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.

“Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’  You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.


Today's Reflection

When a stone is thrown into the water, ripples are created.

It is an ordinary occurrence, but a reflection can be made about it that pertains to our lives.

What we say and what we do also has ripple effects on others.

And as Christians, our actions or ripple effects are certainly not something ordinary.

We carry in us, the message of the Good News of salvation, and others would expect to see and hear this message in action.

St. Paul says in the 1st reading, that when he brought the Good News to the Thessalonians, it was not just words, but also with the power of the Holy Spirit and with conviction.

His words and his actions were observed by the Thessalonians and that brought about their conversion.

The ripple effect was that the Thessalonians showed their faith in action, worked for love and persevered through hope in  Jesus Christ.

That too must be our direction and purpose in life.


Resolution

Let's resolve to accept the ripple effects of our words and actions be the message of the Good News of salvation for others.

GOD BLESS YOU 

Good morning. Have a nice safe day.