Be Aware of Devil!

 

32nd week Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Year One

Wis 2:23-3:9

Meditation

Be Aware of Devil!

God created us in his image and likeness. He created us from nothing. Once he created us, he wants us to be with him for eternity. He does not want us to be corrupted but to be immortal. God created us in his image means he wants us to be like him forever. God shares himself to some extent with creatures and humans. God’s love is manifested in this aspect of sharing his nature to some extent with humans.

God created us in freedom. But humans struggle and fight for freedom, and in fact, God gave us freedom without any limit. God is not an oppressor or controller but a liberator in all possible ways. Since the choice is important in freedom, God allows those who choose to be lost in sin or to be saved to make their own free choice. The devil is envious of human freedom and humans sharing God’s nature, so the devil, through her envy, brings death into the world.

Are we aware the devil is envious of humans?

Year Two

Titus 2:1-8

Let Age Determine Your Character!

In the letter to Titus, St Paul instructs all age groups of people. He tells the older men to be sober-minded, the older women to be reverent in behaviour, and younger men and younger women have to be self-controlled to carry out the responsibility of taking care of their spouses and taking care of their tasks in the world and the family.

Let everyone take responsibility according to age. The body and mind will tell one what has to be done according to age and situation. Pay attention to your body, mind, soul and spirit. Do not be deceived by the world into doing things that are not fitting. Let everyone integrate life into age and action. The uppermost aim and purpose is to set an example for the young in the life of faith and in the life of the world.

Do we pay attention to our body, mind, soul and spirit?

Lk 17: 7-10

Look at Service as Gift!

“Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’?  Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me; put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’?  Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded?  So, you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’” (Lk 17: 7-10).

The master and slave relationship is one of mutual faithfulness. The servant is to serve the master, and the master is to take care of his or her servant. The master does his service and the servant does his work. We are the servants of the Lord in the kingdom of God. Whatever we may do for the Kingdom of God, it is only our duty. As the servant is not thanked for the duty of service he or she does, so also we will not be thanked specially for what we have done. As we are given life and duty, we have to fulfil our duty in the kingdom of God. Let us not look for rewards and awards but for service. It is a gift to serve in the Kingdom of God.

Do I look at my service as a gift I give to others?

Fr Putti Anthaiah, sdb