Reflection for Tuesday, 26th Week in Ordinary

By


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

Today's WORD of GOD

Zechariah 8:21-23

Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”

Today's Reflection


Hope in a Hopeless Place

The Book of Zechariah Shows the Effort of the Eponymous Prophet to Restore a Dispirited Community & Spur Them to Action in Rebuilding Their Dilapidated City. After a Half Century of Exile in Babylon the 1st Batch of Exiles had Returned to Jerusalem, with Great Expectation of a Glorious Future. But the Reality They Faced was Quite Different. The City of Jerusalem was Decimated; Its Population very Poor & Struggling to Survive. Along with the Material Misery there was also the Emotional Loss 2b Dealt with. Most of Those who Returned still had Relatives in Exile, & Separation. Separation from Family was a Great Sadness. In all of this, Zechariah Writes to Communicate GOD'S Promise of New Hope.

Chapter 8 Contains Clear Promises of a Brighter Future. Zechariah Offered a Positive Vision for the People. Later He Says “Their Hearts shall be Glad as with Wine. Their Children shall See It & Rejoice.” (Zech 10: 7). The New Deal was to Encompass the Entire Community, from the Older Folk Sitting in the Streets to the Children Playing.

The Mention of Children had Warm Emotional Significance. Many Families with Young Children would Not have Risked the Arduous Journey from the Babylonian Exile Back to Jerusalem. Those had Chosen rather to Stay in Babylon, in the Fertile Land of Exile. Also Among Those who had Not Gone into Exile, Sickness & Poverty had Taken Its Toll. Hence the Vision of a Renewed Jerusalem with Its Happy Children was Intended to Create a Positive Vision for the Future of the Community. (from Warner D’Souza)

In Face of Rejection

JESUS Experienced Rejection, when HE was Denied Entry to a Samaritan Village. HE was Obviously a Jew Heading for Jerusalem, & that Made Them Reject HIM with a Firm & Heartless “Keep Out.” Just as Hatred was a Standard Samaritan Response to Jews, so the Disciples’ Anger was a Standard Jewish Response to Samaritans. They were so Angry as to Call on GOD to Curse the Hostile Village. They Wanted Savage Revenge.

How Differently JESUS Responded to the Samaritan Rejection. HE Simply Turned Around & Walked Away, to Preach HIS Message Elsewhere. HE Kept HIS Serenity in the Face

of Hostility & Rejection, Opting to Peacefully Accept Their Choice. This Kind of Patience is Meant to Become Our Trademark too. How We Behave in the Face of Rejection should be Guided by Something Deeper, by Our Relationship with the LORD & Our Being Formed in HIS Spirit.

Good Morning

GOD Bless Us All

Have an amazing day.