God’s Spirit is at Work!

 

22nd Week Monday in Ordinary Time

Year One

1 Thess 4:13-18

Meditation

God’s Spirit is at Work!

These days, we hear that we may lose anything and everything in life, but not hope. Christians are people of hope. Hoping for a new earth and a new heaven. This life offers trials and hardships with many consolations. Christians hope for everlasting life. Life of joys, satisfaction, contentment and unending bliss in heaven. We know we are not eternal on earth, but there is a possibility for us to be eternal in heaven with our body and soul.  Many faiths believe in life after death in different ways; the idea of Christianity gives a complete picture of salvation for those who have faith in Jesus and live a good life. Every religion teaches that for one to be saved, a virtuous life is needed, but those who have faith in Jesus are graced and saved by the Redemptive Act of Jesus.

Do we believe in the Redemptive Act of Jesus?

Year Two

1 Cor 2:1-5

God’s Spirit is at Work!

St Paul tells the people of Corinth that he has not come to preach human wisdom. He went into people and preached Jesus crucified with fear and trembling. He was preaching the Word of God with holy fear, reverence, and love for the Word of God and the realization of the unworthiness of the preaching at the wonders of God’s Marvellous.

The preaching of the Word of God, the proclamation of the Word of God, and living witness of the Word of God is not by eloquence, wisdom, and power. But it might be of God and the Spirit of God who is constantly at work in sowing the Word of God and harvesting the produce.

Are we aware of the Spirit at work in us?

Mk 6:17-29 reading Lk 4:16-30

 When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” (Mk 6:22-23)

The narration of St. John the Baptist’s beheading is very dramatic to narrate, interesting to listen to, and captivating to speculate. The death of John the Baptist somehow resembles and foreshadows the death of Jesus. Both of them died unjustly but for the greater cause. This kind of martyrdom occurs even now in our own context.  There were many prophets like John the Baptist, who sacrificed their lives for a just cause, and there are contemporary prophets living among us with a prophetic witness to Christ. God, who made them to be prophets, will give them strength to face the consequences of their witness. The noble people suffer in today’s context in the hands of present-day Herod and Herodias.

Are we ready to speak the truth like John the Baptist?

Fr. Putti Anthaiah, SDB

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