Lord Wishes to Save Us!

 

23rd week Monday in Ordinary Time

Year One

Col 1:24-2:3                                        

 I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,  the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints.  To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me… For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face.  I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 1:24-2:3).

Meditation

St Paul has passion for preaching the word of God. He met Jesus on the way to Damascus. This experience transformed him. It was a lasting experience of Jesus. It was downfall of pride and growth in the humility of Jesus. The image of Jesus is perfectly formed in him. He lived and toiled to make that image of Christ be formed among the Gentiles and the nations. He was able to inspire them through his preaching, travelling, living and writing. He moved everyone to Christ the Saviour of us all. For St Paul Christ is alive and each one has to grow in Christ. It is not enough to have the knowledge of Christ but to be mature in him. To be mature in him would mean to put on Christ and to part take in the paschal mystery of Christ, which is the way to redemption as persons and as community of God.

Do we consider ourselves as the servants of Jesus to proclaim his message?

Year Two

1 Cor 5:1-8

Lord Wishes to Save Us!

There are many ways of sexual deviations among the people. St Paul warns a man sleeping with his father’s wife. He communicates to the community to take care of him and that he overcomes his desires of the flesh, and that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. St Paul does not condemn him but wishes for his renewal, and he may be saved on the day of the Lord. Every kind of weakness and temptation may pass and overcome the evil inclinations with the grace of God.

God gives grace and means to all those who struggle and make an effort to live good lives. To live in the Lord, a holy and blameless one has to let the old pass and move to the new. One has to give up the old ways that are not helpful and welcome new means and new ways to live in the Lord. The Lord will provide opportunities and means to live a life worthy of him. Let us be humble and take up every weakness and failure as human beings who require God’s grace.

Are we aware of the possibility of means of Grace?

Lk 6:6-11

 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?”  After looking around at all of them, he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored (Lk 6:9-10).

The Jews were upset that Jesus restored the withered hand of a person on the sabbath. It was unlawful for the Jewish people. They see the law and only the law; they are blind to the fact that the law is meant to uplift and to do good to the people. They have forgotten about the law and its good, and are worried about the observance of the law. A law can have exceptions if there is a possibility of a greater good.  We need to see the good in the law and its benefits, and we should be able to go beyond the law for our own good and the good of others with the grace of discernment for greater good in the Lord.

Do I see beyond the law for greater good in Spirit?

Fr Putti Anthaiah, sdb

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