Thursday, June 14, 2018
TODAY'S REFLECTION - THURSDAY-10TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Methodius I Patriarch of Constantinople
1 Kings 18:41-46/ Psalm 64:10-14/ Matthew 5:20-26
COME TO TERMS WITH YOUR OPPONENT
Beloved, there are some people who think/claim/say/believe, that they have the power to let it rain, when there is drought or let the rain stop, when it is too much. In our today's first reading, God allowed drought in the land of Israel for some time and He alone had the Sovereign power at His own time, to allow the rain to fall. This tells us that we have no power of our own. We depend on God.
Friends, Jesus draws our attention to the root cause of killing, which is: anger. Anger is a neutral feeling. It is neither good nor bad. It depends on who is angry, why one is angry, with whom one is angry, what one does and says when one is angry, etc. When some of us are angry, we harbour or try to hide it or pretend to portray our true selves or feelings. Some of us shout at or insult others. We vow never to talk to or greet or have anything to do with or forgive the person we are angry with. Jesus encourages us to seek reconciliation. That, we should try to come to terms with our opponent in good time. For Jesus, just attending Church or prayer meetings without love, forgiveness and reconciliation is a contradiction in terms. It is below expectations, it is minimalism. How can we be or want to be in the presence of God and can't reconcile or forgive? If we can't forgive or reconcile, if we keep insulting one another, if we harbour grudges, then we can easily kill our opponents.
May God give us good rainfall pattern throughout the farming season. We pray for the grace to forgive, reconcile or come to terms with people who have offended us in one way or the other. BE BLESSED.
Fr. Gaa (0206954323/0240308878)