SIN CLOUDS OUR LIFE ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Daily Reflections

Wednesday, 18^thJanuary 2017,

Second Week in the Ordinary Time

Beginning of Christian Unity Octave (Upto 25^th January 2017)

Heb 7: 1-3, 15-17;

Ps 110: 1-4;

Mk 3: 1-6

SIN CLOUDS OUR LIFE

It didn’t take long for the Pharisees to allow envy to cloud their thinking about Jesus. The Pharisees wanted to be looked up to and honored as the authentic teachers of the law. So when Jesus showed up, and many were astounded by the authority with which He taught, the Pharisees immediately began to criticize Him. The sad reality we witness in their actions is that they appear to be blind; envy fills them keeps them from realizing that they are actually acting with extreme irrationality. Sin confuses us, especially spiritual sin such as pride, envy and anger. Therefore, when someone becomes consumed with one of these sins, that person most likely does not even realize how irrational he becomes.

Jesus is put in a situation where He chooses to heal someone on the Sabbath. This is an act of mercy. It is done out of love for this man to relieve him of his suffering. Though this is an incredible miracle, the disturbed minds of the Pharisees look only for a way to twist this act of mercy into something sinful. We all struggle, to one extent or another, with sins like this. We all struggle with letting envy and anger sneak in and distort the way we relate to others. Then, too often we justify our actions just as the Pharisees did. Let us reflect on our lives and then ask Jesus to heal and sanctify them.

Also as we begin the Christian Unity Octave, let us not be prejudiced to our other Christian brothers (Protestant, Orthodox, etc.,) who are not in full ecclesial communion with the Catholic Church. Let us be people working and praying for the Christian unity and ecclesial communion.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please do forgive me for all my sins. I am sorry and I pray that I will be able to see all that clouds my thinking and acting. Free me and help me to love You and others with the pure love I am called to have. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.