Reflection for  THURSDAY, 25th Week, Ordinary Time.

By


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

Today's Word

Luke 9:9

But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.  

Today's Reflection

We know what the First Commandment is: "I am the Lord thy God: thou shalt have no other gods before me".

So practically speaking, it means that we believe and worship God alone, and we serve Him and no other.

But of course, that is easier said than done. Because every sin and wrong doing is essentially a breaking of that First Commandment.

And even when it comes to priorities, do we put God first above everything else, including our own personal priorities?

In the 1st reading, the people who came back from exile were supposed to get started with the rebuilding of the Temple.

But because they had their own needs and priorities, the building of the Temple hardly got started, as the materials were used to build the peoples' homes first, and they were getting comfortable and slowly forgetting about the rebuilding of the Temple.

So the prophet Haggai addressed the people with this: Reflect carefully how things have gone for you. You have sown much and harvested little; you eat but never have enough; drink but never have your fill; put on clothes but do not feel warm.

Yes, that same message is also for us: Reflect carefully how things have gone for you.

When we say that we believe in God and serve Him alone, then God is the top priority over and above our needs and priorities.

Let us do what God wants of us and He will provide for our needs. When we do God's will, God will also take care of us.


Saint of the day

We celebrate today the Feast of a modern saint… an exemplary and prayerful priest: St Padre Pio of Pietrelcina.

He inspires us today to closely follow to Lord…

through the paths of prayer, penitence and penance.… even if it means suffering and undergoing pain for Jesus’ sake… even when we find ourselves rejected and misunderstood

He would say, “In all the events of life, you must recognize the Divine will.

Adore and bless it, especially in the things which are the hardest for you.

The more you are afflicted, the more you ought to rejoice… because in the fire of tribulation the soul will become pure gold, worthy to be placed and to shine in the heavenly palace.”

And also, “Even if the world were to capsize… if everything were to become dark, hazy, tumultuous… God would still be with us!

Prayer is the best weapon we possess. It is the key that opens the heart of God!”

Let us seek the intercession of St Padre Pio, to always listen to our conscience… and have the courage to unload every burden of guilt, by walking on the path of goodness!

GOD BLESS YOU 

Good morning. Have a nice safe day