Truth of the Gospel

Today’s Gospel Text: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes. Matt 10:16-23

Reflection: In a situation when there is a negative outlook to life any warrior or conqueror would advise his followers to take up weapons.

Let’s not be shocked, Jesus did not have a very high opinion of men. Yet, it doesn’t mean that he did not love them or care for them. He came for them, who were sinners. 

His was an action that was based on love, he came to save mankind from the eternal hell and he knew that men will still reject it and behave like wolves,  thinking that they are the righteous ones. 

How could he ever advise his followers to take up weapons?

Instead, even to this day, men do all that they can to suppress the truth of the gospel and prevent the spread of the gospel of truth for a cause which they think is greater than the truth of the gospel.

There are many in our times dedicated to the gospel and take vows to be faithful to the service of the gospel  and ultimately promote their own agenda and even interpret the gospel of truth to suit their agenda.

What is more they have even become instruments of persecution to those who oppose them in the light the gospel of Jesus Christ and promote those who are enemies of the gospel.

There are governments and institutions created whose sole agenda is human emancipation and development yet not knowing what they want to achieve or if they have a goal then it is purely for longevity or economic independence.

All these will look at the gospel of truth with suspicion and will use all their resources at hand to abuse their authority to suppress the freedom which humans should enjoy in their search for the eternal truths.

The many religion’s and the fanaticism adds to the confusion.

As for us Christians the message of Jesus is clear: " But he who endures to the end will be saved." (vs. 22)

Prayer: Lord our God, raise up men and women to labor in your vineyard and harvest men and women to be instruments of your gospel.

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

Privileged Children

Today’s Gospel Text:  For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward. 42 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For every one will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltness, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." Mark 9:41-50

Reflection: The whole issue of Salvation only in Christ Jesus has often confounded theologians and many find it difficult to gulp the Church’s stand or the scriptural truth.

This Salvation in Christ Jesus also accomplished in the world in many ways thorough his holy saints and faithful is another area of contention for those who have rebelled against the Catholic foundation.

In the gospel passage of today we are given an hint in the possible working of the Salvific grace at work in and through the church of God; which is an instrument of salvation to the whole world and also the sacrament of grace:

“Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward.” (vs. 41) 

Christians have a privileged place in society, not because it is the society that gives them the privilege but God who gives it to us on account of our belief in Jesus or because we bear the name of Jesus and this privilege has to be lived in the same way acknowledging God as the giver and one the who deserves all glory. 

If anyone is uncomfortable with this privileged place and instead would like to look at all humanity in the equality sense of the term then they are definitely thieves and robbers among his followers and not expert theologians.

Their crime is to enjoy the privilege of Christianity and the church and whatever they do in his name they do it to promote their own self glory, thus robbing Christ Jesus and stealing his glory from him.

Jesus identifies himself with every individual who bears his name, including the least and the miserably poor among his followers.

Thus Christians are light of the world and also the salt of the earth and in keeping with their special privilege no one can steal that privilege which they enjoy because their privileged position comes from God and their lives entrusted to him.

Jesus always identifies himself with his own and no one can separate them from his love.  (cfr. Rom. 8:39; Jn. 13:1, 10: 3-4; Acts 9: 4; 22: 7; 26: 14)

Prayer:  Father we thank you for the privilege you have given us to call you Father and also to be called to bear the name of your Son Jesus.

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

Personal Opinion or Truth

Today’s Gospel Text:  Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag'dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." 3 Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. 4 They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; 5 and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, 7 and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. John 20:1-9

Reflection: There is usually a vast difference between the way a man will give directions and a woman.  This is so on account of the way men think which is far different from the way a woman thinks.

Each of them is a beautiful creation of God, who made them different so that they may, each according to their gifts; toil in harmony in this beautiful creation which God has created.

In the light of this, the sociological theory which looks at equality of the sexes from its own narrow perspective, aimed more at aping the male,  is not only detrimental towards the blossoming of the woman but also detrimental for her growth and well being.

There may be at time certain exceptions to the rule, when women have taken up leadership and fitted well in professions dominated by men.

In the gospel passage we have one of the first witnesses to the resurrection, a woman called Mary of Magdala who relates her experience of the resurrection:

"They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." (Vs. 2)

If one goes by the pure witness of her words then one could end up in trouble.  She has witnessed a fact but her comprehension and interpretation of that fact is her personal reading into that fact.

Did they really take the Lord out of the tomb?

Who are these, “they”? Probably a few!

“We do not know where they have laid him,” could mean that they have laid him somewhere, possibly hidden him.

Thanks to their Jewish background, the apostles decide to have a look at it themselves and what they witness and how Simon Peter interprets we do not know.

But the other disciple interprets that in the light of what Jesus has constantly drilled into them about his resurrection.

Mary of Magdala is representative of some of our modern day theologians and hierachy who teach their opinions as truth, make judgments and thus misrepresent the church of the Crucified Christ, now risen.

Prayer:  Lord, save your church by raising-up disciples who believe in your word and proclaim them to them even as they allow it to be fulfilled in their lives.

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