The Kingdom of God is Near!

 

23rd week Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Year One

Col 3:1-11

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your[a] life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.  These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life.  But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive[d] language from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices  and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator.  In that renewal  there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!(Col 3:1-11).

Meditation

For every Christian, the mind has to be set on heaven and not things of the earth. We live in the world but we live for the world to come. We know we are passing from this world to the everlasting world. A Christian gaze is fixed on heaven. Everything is secondary compared to the glory to come. Humans are aware that they make idols of impurity and greed in this world; instead, we should take care to practice the virtues of purity and generosity in life. The only way to face evil is not letting it overtake but practicing the opposite values of the Kingdom.  In a relationship, one easily becomes angry and uses abusive language. We have no right to be angry and lead someone to sadness. Let us overcome anger with the conscious practice of gentleness and meekness. It is not with anger and wrath that we win over the hearts of people, but with kindness and humbleness.

Are we aware that the way to win hearts is through kindness and humility?

Year Two

1 Cor 7:25-35

Meditation

The Kingdom of God is Near!

St Paul speaks of indifference to family life, due to the imminence of the Kingdom of God. Marriage is good, and family life is God's blessing. It is God’s will that one should have a family, bring up the children in faith, and realize God’s will in the family. Today, family life is a great responsibility, and many are afraid of the commitment to a life partner and the duties of the family. As the Kingdom of God is near, one may have to give up family life, which is good and necessary, for the sake of the Kingdom of God. There is a need to work for the Kingdom of God with an undivided heart.

“I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how to please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord” (1 Cor 7: 32-35).

What do you do to work for the Kingdom of God?

Lk 6:20-26

 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.  “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.  “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh (Lk 6:20-26).

The Lord is blessing the poor and sorrowful. Yes, indeed, they are blessed for they are poor and in sorrow. Poverty reveals the standard of their life, the lack of things in their life, and the basic needs, such as shelter, clothing, and food, for which they are in need.  The sorrow, pain, suffering and sickness. Their hunger will be removed with good food, and their sorrow will be removed with joy and happiness. Are these only the empty words of Jesus? No, they are not empty words of Jesus; they are being fulfilled in our lives.

Do I believe that those who are hungry and in sorrow will have plenty to eat and a lasting Joy in their lives?

Fr Putti Anthaiah, sdb

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