Reflection for, MONDAY, 13th Week, Ordinary Time.

Today's Word

By


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

Mt 8:18  

“When He saw the crowd press around Him, Jesus gave orders to cross to the other shore”


Today's  Reflection

The city of Sodom was a relatively big city during the time of its existence.

A reasonable estimate of the population of that city could be about 50,000 or more

Abraham pleaded with God that if there were 50 just persons in that city, would God spare that city?

50 out of 50,000 is only 0.1%, so in theory 50 just persons should not be too difficult to find.

Abraham could have immediately gone in search of those 50 persons.

Instead he went on to so-called "bargain" with God until it was settled at 10 persons.

We may admire Abraham's boldness to keep pleading with God and reducing the number to 10.

But what must come across is God's mercy and compassion.

God will forgive us our sins when we turn to Him in repentance and in humility.

The gospel of St Matthew presents Jesus performing many miracles and healings… and a “Crowd” being attracted to the Lord.

Where there is a miraculous event, a crowd gathers.

But the Lord, wished to sift this Crowd.

He says, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His Head” (Mt 8: 20)

Jesus does away with any promise of security and comfort

He discourages people from following Him for having a better material life!


It was not that He didn’t want many people...but He wished to purify their motives & make them authentic in their following Him!

He sifts and sieves and strains the “Crowd”…to get together the “Disciples”.

Where there is a miraculous event, a crowd gathers…


But when there is an exhortation in being committed to that miraculous event… the crowd is filtered…and only the Disciples remain back!


The Lord is asking us today…

Are we just a part of the CROWD…?

… or are we ready to be filtered, and be a DISCIPLE?

It is easy to be part of a Crowd….


Resolution

Let us resolve to live a just and virtuous life.

GOD BLESS YOU 

Good morning. Have a nice safe day and an amazing week ahead.