Be Grateful!

 

5th Week of Lent Tuesday

 Numbers 21:4-9

Meditation

Be Grateful!

The people of Israel grumbled in the desert that they did not have sufficient to eat. The grumble is the disgruntled person's attitude. Gratitude is the attitude of content people. The Israelites were discontented and grumbling at the Lord. They angered God. God sent serpents, and those bitten by the serpents were dying. In fear and frustration, they prayed to God, and God instructed Moses to build a pole in the desert and place a bronze serpent on it; those who looked at it would live.

It was not the bronze serpent that was raised in the middle of the desert that saved them but faith in God. God, who brought them safely from Egypt, will save them. Faith in the wonders of the Lord is very important.  The memory of God’s good actions is very easily forgotten by us. Let us remember and recall time again the wonders that the Lord has done in our lives lest we begin to grumble instead of being grateful.

Are we grateful or disgruntled?

Gospel: Jn 8:21-3

Meditation

 Again he said to them, "I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come."  Then the Jews said, "Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?" He said to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.  I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he."  They said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Why do I speak to you at all?  I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him."  They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father.  So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him."  As he was saying these things, many believed in him (Jn 8:21-30).

Faith in Jesus is salvation. We enjoy our life on earth. At the end of life, we wish to be in the presence of God. To be with God is possible if we live good lives. A good life is possible when we have faith in Jesus. Jesus is the way, truth, and life.  Jesus is God himself. He was lifted up on the cross; Jesus promised that when he is lifted up, we will know him as the Saviour. Faith in Jesus and living the faith concretely in life will lead us to eternal life.

Do I have faith in Jesus?

Fr Putti Anthaiah Sdb

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