Reflection for Saturday 25th Week in Ordinary

By


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

Today's WORD of GOD

Luke 9:44-45

“Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

Today's Reflection

Life’s Possibilities

The Vision of Zechariah is from the Early Part of the Prophecy. Such Visions Helped Strengthen the People’s Sense of Identity when Times were Bleak, & during the Early Post-Exilic Period the Temple was still in Ruins, the People of Jerusalem were Dismayed & Their High Priest Joshua was Clad in Filthy Rags (Zech 3: 3).

But Zechariah Believed a New Day was Dawning. He Dreams of a Better Future & of such Peace for Jerusalem that No Walls are Needed, with the Glory of the LORD at Its Centre.

Zechariah Teaches Us Not to be too Gloomy or Pessimistic. Each Sorrow can be Transformed into a Reason for Hope. In GOD'S Name He Says, “I will Favour Jerusalem & the House of Judah; Do Not Fear.” Then He Lays Out some Basic Moral Guidelines:

“Speak the Truth to Each Other; let there be Honesty & Peace in Your Judgements.”  He Combined Visions with Earthly Practicality, for He was a Moral Reformer.

Likewise, JESUS was Preparing HIMSELF & HIS Disciples for Hard Times Ahead, when HE would be Handed Over to HIS Enemies. If the Disciples Failed to Understand This, It was because They were Unwilling to Hear It. They would Not Ask about It, in case HE Repeated what They Feared HE had Said. But HE Warned Them Again as They Approached Jerusalem. Like Zechariah, JESUS had a Vision that Sustained HIM through the Bleakness of Life, to Reach the Promised Land.


What Drives Us?

Praise & Admiration from Others can be Fickle. It can be There One Day & Gone the Next, & JESUS was Aware of This. Sometimes the Crowd was Cheering for HIM. But at the very Height of HIS Celebrity HE Warned, “the Son of Man is Going to be Handed Over into the Power of Men.” JESUS was Not Seeking Celebrity, but to Do GOD'S Will, to Complete HIS Mission. Therefore HE had to Go Up to Jerusalem, Dangerous as It was, because that City too Needed to Hear the Good News of GOD'S Grace.

The Life of JESUS Invites Us to Ask Ourselves, “What Really Drives Us?” Is It the Need for Recognition by Others, or is It Something Deeper? We Need to make JESUS' Desires & Priorities Our

Own, to be about the FATHER'S Business, to Keep Sharing in GOD'S Work, in Keeping with Our Station in Life. Then We will Know Not just the Satisfaction of Human Approval but the Deeper Joy that Comes from Fitting in with GOD'S Purpose for Our Lives.


Good Morning

GOD Bless Us All Today

Have a lovely day and a great weekend