“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
Daily Reflections
Tuesday, 11th July 2017,
Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of the St. Benedict, Abbot
Gen 32:23-33;
Ps 16:1-3, 6-8;
Mt 9:32-37
STANDING STRONG IN THE MIDST OF CRITICISM
When we reflect upon the Catholic Church’s long, unbroken continuity, extending back to the very days of the apostles, her grand, inspiring traditions, her holy Sacraments, her unity of doctrine, her Apostolic authority, her splendid role of Saints and Martyrs, enhanced by the petitions of the Mother of our Lord and last, but not least, when we consider the abiding presence of our Savior on the Altar, We feel that this One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church has given order to confusion, sunlight for darkness. Indeed, right from the beginning, the Church has always faced one or the other heresy. However, the Church has withstood all the heresies that attacked the core of apostolic traditions. The Church has remained faithful and will remain faithful to the core of Christian faith.
The gospel tells us that Jesus often had compassion for the helpless, suffering and marginalized persons. His miracles and teaching received contrasting reactions from the crowds and the Pharisees. The reaction of the crowds, normal everyday people was one of amazement, due to their simple and pure faith that accepted what it saw. The reaction of the Pharisees was one of judgment, irrationality, jealousy and harshness: (“He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” The Pharisees were filled with a certain jealousy and envy.
We too perhaps many times come across people questioning our faith, especially regarding our veneration to Mother Mary and to the saints, or the sacraments especially the sacrament of confession and so on. How do we face them? Like Jesus, we need to be tough when people question us contrary to our faith and gospel values. We need to be sensitive concerning the demands of our faith.
Reflect, today, on the way you normally think and speak about others. Do you tend to be more like the crowds who saw, believed and were amazed at the good things Jesus did? Or are you more like the Pharisees who tend to fabricate and exaggerate in their conclusions. Commit yourself to the normalcy of the crowds so that you, too, can find joy and amazement in Christ.
Prayer: Lord, I desire to have a simple, humble and pure faith. Help me to see You and to be amazed at Your presence in the lives of those whom I encounter every day. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.
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