Build Bridges!

 

6th   Week Friday of Ordinary Time

Year One

Gen 11:1-9

Build Bridges!

Humans wish to show their power and engineering skills to build a tower to reach the heavens. God, at the pride of humans, confuses their language as they cannot coordinate and progress with the edifice's construction. Humans were scattered and confused with their language. They dispersed on the face of the earth. Today, due to the means of communication, we are able to understand other people's language to a great extent. Humans are brought together, but human pride and selfishness divide them with the most sophisticated ways of war and avarice.

Do we use our language to build bridges or barriers?

Year Two

James 2:14-24,26

One can speak good words to those in need. They are helpful, and they may help him get out of trouble. Good words alone are not enough. To wish someone to take care of and do well is not enough. One in one’s reach has to extend one’s hand to help those in need by word of mouth and action. Faith without acts is dead. If our faith must be genuine and alive, we must reach out to the needy in action.

Do our actions speak our faith?

Gospel: Mk 8: 34-9:1

He called the crowd with his disciples and said, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. What will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’  And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, some standing here will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power (Mk 8: 34-9:1).

Meditation on the cross is the most fruitful meditation one can make. The invitation to take up our crosses and follow Jesus is the way of life to eternity. Only those who ponder the mystery of the cross and live according to that mystery will be able to understand life and the message of Jesus.

 There is no resurrection without the cross. Let us learn to pound on, meditate on, and contemplate the mystery of the cross. The highest prayer, meditation, and contemplation on the mystery of the Cross are the most beneficial. These ways of prayer lead us to communion and union with God.

Do I take time to think of the suffering of Jesus on the cross?

Fr Putti Anthaiah sdb

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Follow Jesus!

  First Week Saturday Ordinary Time Saturday Year One Heb 4:12-16 The Word of God is powerful. It can do the impossible and transform people. Let us read the Word of God. As we know, it is inspired and does immense good. Those who read the Word of God will not go astray. It sustains in times of fragility and temptation. Jesus is the supreme high priest. He was born among humans and lived among them, knowing their frailties. Jesus knew what it meant to be human. He will very well sympathize with us and lead us to believe that we can overcome our sin and guilt and live as sons and daughters of God set free forever. Jesus knew what it meant to be human. Year Two 1 Sam 9:1-4, 17-10; 10:1 Samuel Anoints Saul Meditation Saul, the son of Kish, had gone to look for lost donkeys. Samuel was on search to anoint someone for the Lord. On the first sight of Saul, the Lord speaks to Samuel to anoint Saul. He anoints Saul with a flask of olive oil he carried, pours on Saul’s...
Read more

Forgive Yourself and Be Kind to yourself!

  3rd Week Wednesday of Ordinary Time Year One Heb 10:11-18 Meditation Forgive Yourself and Be Kind to yourself! Jesus once and for all offered the sacrifice and is now seated at the right hand of God. He is waiting for the enemy's fall and eternal life for all creation. It is true that Jesus has reconciled humanity with God once and for all. God has reconciled us to the Father, and we can be set free. We are liberated people of the Lord. We remember our sins; in fact, the memory of sins is a blessing so that we do not fall and fail again. The Lord promised us that he would no longer remember our sins. It seems like a paradox: God forgets our sins, and we remember them. Forgiving oneself is a gift to oneself, and faith to trust in his promises. Do we forgive ourselves? Year Two 2 Sam 7:4-17 God speaks to David through Nathan to build a house for him. God felt the necessity of a place for him. God lets David know through the prophet Nathan his desire to have a temp...
Read more

Let us Go on God's Way!

  3 rd February 2024 4th Week: Ordinary Time Monday Heb 11:32-40 Mediations Let us Go on God's Way! Great men and women in the history of God’s plan suffered. Suffering for the cause of God and doing great things for the Lord is no avail. It may not make one perfect in life. Doing great things for God without God’s hand and his way is useless. One has to suffer rightly for the cause of God, and it is God who gives us perfection through his grace. It is not that we have gained perfection through our efforts. Do we go on God’s way or our own way? 2 Sam 15:13-14, 3;16:5-13a David Flees Meditation David’s son Absolom turns against him. Absalom wants to kill David. David is cursed for his evil ways. He has to flee from people. As he passes by, he experiences rejection from the people. It happens that one has to go through the face of rejection from people in life for the evil one has done. It is part of life. At one time or another, humans become contemptuous of peo...
Read more