Saturday, May 26, 2018
TODAY'S REFLECTION - SATURDAY, 7TH WEEK - ORDINARY TIME
St. Philip Neri, presbyter, religious founder
James 5:13-20/Psalm 140:1-3,8/ Mark 10:13-16
HAVE A CHILD-LIKE DISPOSITION/ ATTITUDE
Beloved, today, Holy Mother Church celebrates the memorial of St. Philip Neri. St. Philp Neri sought his own sanctification and that of others. He led a disciplined and humble life of prayer and penance. He charitably visited the sick in the hospitals and the irreligious on the streets. He founded a confraternity and encouraged the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. He listened to confessions more frequently. His daily morning prayer was, "Lord, keep your hand over Philip this day, or Philip will surely betray you."
St. James, in our today's first reading, helps us to know when to do/say what in life. He said, when we are in trouble, we should pray. When happy, sing hymns. When sick, send for the elders of the church to come and pray for you. When a brother/sister strays away, bring him/her back. When I am in any of the above situations, what do I do? We need to pray for one another, whether we are in trouble or not. St. Augustine says he/she who sings, prays twice. Singing gladdens our hearts. We have different kinds of sicknesses/diseases/illnesses. If we know the kind of sickness, then, we should go to the right place. But be mindful that God is the Doctor of all doctors. We get healing when we receive the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist, Confession and Anointing. In the Sacrament of the Sick/Anointing, the priest listens to the Confessions of the Sick person, if he/she can talk. He anoints the person with the oil of the Sick that was blessed by the bishop during Chrism Mass (not anointing oil or any other oil). The person then receives Holy Communion. As believers this is what the Catholic Church teaches.
Friends, in our today's Gospel reading, people brought their children to Jesus for him to touch them but his disciples tried to turn them away, but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to these that the kingdom of God belongs." Am I friendly and approachable [towards] children? Do I attract children to myself or do I shun them, or send them away? Jesus encourages us to have a child-like disposition/attitude. Spiritual childhood is not spiritual immaturity or foolishness or softness. It entails simplicity, humility, sincerity, trust, obedience, confidence, etc. If we have child-like disposition, we won't keep grudges or deceive others or seek revenge. If we have the disposition of a child, Jesus himself will embrace us, bless us and help us to enter the kingdom of heaven. Let us pray for the grace to know what to do/say when we find ourselves in certain situations. We also pray for the grace to really be like children before our heavenly father. BE BLESSED.
Fr. Gaa (0206854323/0240308878)