Nehemiah Sent to Judah!

 

Note: This reflection is not of the Feast of St Teresa of the Child Jesus.

26th Week Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Year One

Neh 2:1-8

Nehemiah Sent to Judah!

Meditation

Nehemiah was serving the King. Nehemiah served the wine to the King Artaxerxes and appears to the king sad; the king asks him why are you sad; he says how can I be happy when the city and tombs of our ancestor are ruined and without care. Nehemiah wants to do something to his ancestor’s tombs and so the king gives his necessary permission and allowance to proceed with his plea.

Today we keep the feast of St Francis of Assisi a great saint of the catholic Church. The family and fraternity of Franciscans is probably the biggest. St Francis heard the voice to rebuild the Church and he in fact rebuilt the ruined Church physically and spiritually. Today we are asked to take care of the mother earth. Now India has made landing on the sister moon for more explorations through Chandran 3. We need to keep in mind that we are to take care of the universe and life in the universe for humans, who  are endowed with intelligence.

Are we ready to put use human intelligence for the praise of God?

Feast of St Francis of Assisi

Year Two

Job 9:1-12, 14-16

Your hands stretch out the heavens. Your breath stirs the stars.  You move, and the mountains shift.

You speak, and light obeys. But I? I do not even understand my own heart.  Job does not deny Your greatness — he is overwhelmed by it. You are not tame, not predictable, not bound by my ideas of justice or timing.  You are the God who passes by and leaves no trace, the God who acts but does not explain.

If I tried to answer You, I wouldn’t find words enough. Not in a thousand lifetimes.  Not with a thousand voices.  You are mystery. Unreachable, untouchable — and yet You are near. Is that not the paradox of faith? That You dwell in unapproachable light, yet walk in the garden at evening?  That You silence storms but are found in stillness?

 What can I say to You, O God?

Lk 9:57-62

 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”  And Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”  Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”  And Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Lk 9:57-62).

Jesus following the Father in heaven on this earth is perfect example for us. He has no security and comfort. He was on the mission of the Father in heaven. He called some to follow Him, they had their excuses and conditions. The invitation of Jesus to follow Him demands total renunciation and single mindedness in following of Christ for His Kingdom. The one who wants to follow Christ there is no chance of looking back and if so one is not fit for the kiddom of God.

Do I put my hand on the plough of the ‘call of God’ and hesitate to follow Him?

Fr Putti Anthaiah, sdb