Thursday, May 24, 2018
TODAY'S REFLECTION - THURSDAY, 7TH WEEK - ORDINARY TIME
Our Lady Help of Christians
James 5:1-6/ Psalm 48:14-20/Mark 9:41-50
CUT OFF ANY STUMBLING BLOCK
Beloved, in our today's first reading, St. James wants us to reflect on the worthlessness of earthly riches/possessions, that is, how we acquire them and how we use them. What earthly wealth do I have? How did I get it? How am I using it?
Friends, Jesus, in our today's Gospel reading encourages us to show kindness to others: give water to those who are thirsty and help the needy. He went further to say that it is more serious to lead others into sin. That we should avoid scandalising the little ones or the ignorant, based on what we do and say. Our duty is to be instruments of salvation. But before we can be saved ourselves and or help others to be saved, we need to cut off all stumbling blocks or eliminate any evil tendency which can lead us/others into eternal damnation. We can do this through self-sacrifice, self-discipline and self-denial. We need to purify ourselves or do away with all impurities. Some of the stumbling blocks or impurities could be materialism, greed, wickedness, pride, selfishness, bad friends, self- indulgence etc. We need to sit and reflect on what can help us to attain salvation or draw us closer to God and what can lead us and others into perpetual punishment. Let us pray for the grace to be helpful to others. We should also have the courage and the will power to eliminate anything that can lead us into hell. BE BLESSED.
Fr. Gaa (0206854323/0240308878)