Have Grateful Memory!

 

19 Week Ordinary Time Thursday

Year One

Josh 3:7-10a, 11,13-17

Have a Grateful Memory!

When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people. Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing toward the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan. (Josh 3:14-17).

The ark of the covenant was carried by priests to the river Jordan and the river parted as the red sea parted and the people of Israel could cross the red sea. The word of God brings to us the wonder of the river Jordan parting while the ark was being carried into the river of Jordan. Lord keeps doing wonders time and again. The wonders of God are being worked again and again. We do survive on the daily wonders of God in our life. Lord keeps on working miracles and humans’ memory is short and they forget them easily. Humans live as if God has done nothing to them. We need to recall time and again the wonders that he had worked for us to be focused and live our life. To keep our memory pure and grateful to God is very much need in loving God and living life meaningfully.

Do we have grateful memory of God?

Year Two

Ezekiel 12: 1-12

 God commands the prophet Ezekiel to act out a symbolic exile in front of the people of Israel. This passage is a dramatic and prophetic gesture intended to reveal the coming judgment, specifically, the exile of King Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem due to their rebellion and spiritual blindness.

Ezekiel is told to: Pack his belongings as if going into exile.  Leave his home in the sight of the people. Dig through the wall and carry his things out in the dark.  Cover his face so he cannot see the land. This act is meant to be a living prophecy, communicating through action what the people refuse to hear with their ears or see with their hearts.

Where might I be spiritually blind or deaf to God's call? Am I willing to listen to the "symbolic actions" God may be using in my life? What patterns of rebellion might God be trying to correct in me? How do I respond to God's warnings — with humility or resistance?

Mt 18:21-19:1

 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?”  Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but I tell you, seventy-seven times. (Mt 18:21-22).

Jesus offers many lessons for life. He teaches us about forgiveness. The way to happy life is to forgive and forget. We often find it hard to forgive and forget those who do evil to us. The word of God says before the sun sets learn to forgive; it is a good dictum to hear but hard to follow. Most of the people hold grudges for a long time if not for few days. It spoils their days and leads to their own harm, bringing down their efficiency at work.

Jesus tells us what to do to those who offend us.  He tells us to forgive; forgive unceasingly.  We need to forgive daily and do not keep the score of the wrong done by others. Learn to forgive and let go. If you can forgive your enemies, you will be a good follower of Christ.  It is not achieved in one day; it has to be learnt and practiced. Continuous practice of such forgiveness will make us true disciples of Jesus.

Do I consider forgiving as cowardice or a way of being a true disciple of Christ?

Fr Putti Anthaiah sdb