Sons of God

Today’s Gospel Text: Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matt 5:1-12

Reflection: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (vs.9)

There have been many great men of history who have worked for peace in the world and many have seen their success in achieving peace and understanding among nations and tribes.

Many of these great men have been honored during their life time and their efforts recognized and acknowledged.  Many in our times walk in their footsteps and hold them as models of peace.

But you look at the world that we live in and find that peace still eludes us.

Likewise we have some in the church too who have received such honors for their work to bring about peace and understanding in society and working towards a world of equity and peace.

Can we in keeping with the beatitude call these workers of peace, be it in the church or outside, as “sons of God.”

Even though it is done yet it is a perversion of the gospel to do so and unfortunately there are many in the church too who apply this title to these workers of peace.

Men in the world may work for peace and so too the men of the church work  in a worldly way but they cannot be called “sons of God”

External peace is no guarantee of peace within nor can it assure us a lasting solution in the external realm. 

When the scripture talks about peace makers it refers to those workers who bring about peace in the lives of individual,  in their hearts and mind, through the proclamation of the gospel of reconciliation.

In other words we need to first look within each one of us and ask why each one is not totally at peace with self and thus with others.

Scripture reveals to us that the root cause of the absence of peace in society is on account of our rejection of God; more so we act as enemies of God and hence ever in turmoil in our hearts.

Jesus came to reconcile us to the God and thus help us enjoy the peace in our hearts.

Thus in keeping with this truth, those are peacemakers who proclaim the gospel of reconciliation or also referred to as the gospel of peace and thus become "sons of the living God" 

Prayer:  God our Father, you have called each one of us to be your children and take up the responsibility of proclaiming the gospel of peace and thus affirm their calling to be sons of God.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Greatness of John the Baptist

Today’s Gospel Text:  And his father Zechari'ah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,  68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people, 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, 74 to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 through the tender mercy of our God, when the day shall dawn upon us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1:67-79

Reflection: Referring to his Child, John the Baptist, Zechariah after receiving his healing, prophesies: “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins” (Vss. 76-77)

Jesus referring to John the Baptist calls him thus: “I tell you; among those born of women none is greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." Luke 7:28

What is it that makes John the Baptist so great and those least in the kingdom of heaven greater than John the Baptist?

If one understands the term "least in the kingdom" then they are those who made themselves nothing for the sake of Jesus and by giving up everything for him, in order to proclaim the salvific message of the Gospel.

John the Baptists greatness lay in the role, which Zechariah prophesies as that of preparing the way the Lord and to give knowledge of Salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins.

No wonder scripture praises them thus: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns." Is. 52:7

Our sins separate us from God and no matter how much we try and what methods we employ, whether so called eastern prayer methods or programmes of human emancipation, we cannot be saved apart from the salvific action of God accomplished in Christ Jesus of which John the Baptist was a herald.

Therefore the Apostle Paul speaks: “..who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.  So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 5:18-21

Prayer: Lord, teach me in what way I could be your instrument in bringing your good tidings to the world, especially my neighbor.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Grace of Baptism

Today’s Gospel Text: In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." Luke 1:39-45

Reflection: How did Elizabeth come to know that that Mary along with the child in her womb was special and blessed?

From this incidence in Scripture we learn that Elizabeth's source of knowledge was a divine one, rather a divine infusion of knowledge merely by hearing the voice of Mary’s greeting.

Simultaneously another miracle that took place was this; the healing of the child in Elizabeth’s womb and that is why we have another instance of one born sinless besides Jesus and Mary who were even conceived without original sin.

In a way, what we see happening in Elizabeth and John the Baptist are the graces of baptism, at work in them.

When one is baptized in the grace of the Holy Spirit one begins to recognize the divine presence in their midst and God's hand at work in the many things of creation.  

When Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit, she began to exclaim in a loud voice recognizing this presence of God in her midst. Further, she acknowledges Mary to be blessed too and bursts forth in praise of the Mother of the Lord of all ages. 

It is a grace of humility, which acknowledges the presence of God in Mary’s womb and the blessedness of her state, irrespective of her age, experience or position as legitimate wife of a priest.

This grace brings about a great healing; the fruit of our reconciliation with God - An action accomplished by non other than Christ the reconciler.  This healing in the inner spirit brings joy, happiness and peace to the one who receive it and a great sense of wisdom and maturity. 

The child in the womb of Elizabeth shows all these qualities of health, joy, happiness and peace and what is more he now knows in whose presence he must leap with joy.

This is the grace that needs to be working in each one of us; if not then we need to ask God to renew in us the grace of Baptism, in order that we may become effective instruments of his grace.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, the giver of all life, help us to be totally reconciled to you and receive from your presence the graces to be your instrument to others.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us