The Way of the Lord is not Our Way!
21th week Saturday in
Ordinary Time
Year One
1Thess 4:9-12
Now concerning the love of the brothers and
sisters,[a] you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves
have been taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do love all the brothers and
sisters[b] throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, beloved, to do so more and
more, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with
your hands, as we directed you, so that you may behave properly toward
outsiders and be dependent on no one. (1Thess 4:9-12).
Life and actions go
together in living the love of God and love of the brothers and sisters. St
Paul invites the Thessalonians to love God and one another, which we need
not be taught by anyone. He tells them to live quietly, to do their work and to
earn their living. It can happen that we become dependent on people for our
living. We need to earn our bread and living. Let us not take anyone's service
for free; let everyone be paid what is his/her due both in words, action and
kind. Let us be interested in the well-being of the others; that is, showing
love concretely. Loving, being good, and working means to see about the
sustenance of the people with us and around us. Genuine love, life and action
invite us to create a work culture of community at the service of God and the service of one another.
Do we create
opportunities for people to make their living?
Year Two
1 Cor 1:26-31
The Way of the Lord is
not Our Way!
God calls those whom he
wants and qualifies them. God does not choose people of the royal family. God
loves us because we are his creation. He loves us for he created us in his
image and likeness. Our birth and background do not matter to him. What matters
to him is our love for him and our use of the freedom that he has given us. He
loves the responsibility that we make use of it for our growth and the good of
others.
God surprise the proud by
choosing what is weak and foolish in the world to shame the wise. God can raise
a humble person to great status. It is not the worldly consideration that
matters to him. The thinking of the Lord is different from those of the worldly
people. It is through Jesus we are saved. We have salvation in Jesus who died
on the Cross. If at all one boast let him boast of the Jesus who died on the
Cross.
What do we boast about?
Mt 25:14-30
For to all those who have, more will be given,
and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what
they have will be taken away. (Mt 25:29)
The Lord gives talents to all of us. We are
asked to multiply them. Some of us bury them without making use of them for the
betterment of ourselves and for others. It is true in the world that those who
have more, will be given more. Those who have less will lose what they have, for
they do not work hard. It is the ability
and gift to make use of resources, talents and multiply wealth. It is not only a business technique that makes us grow in our possessions but also depends upon the integral life of a person
coupled with the grace of God. Those people who advance in life and in
wealth are also God fearing and deal well with people. So, it is true that
those who have more will be given more and those who have less, even what they have, will
be taken away.
Do I make use of the
resources I have and multiply them?
St Euphrasia Eluvathingal
Fr
Putti Anthaiah sdb
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