“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
Daily Reflections
Monday, 14th August 2017.
Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest & Martyr
Dt 10: 12-22;
Ps 147: 12-15, 19-29;
Mt 17:22-27
CHOSEN FOR A PURPOSE!
In the Gospel, the tax collectors of the temple come to Peter and ask him why Jesus doesn’t pay the normal temple tax. Peter, in turn, asks Jesus this question and Jesus makes it clear that He does not owe tax, given who He is. However, He sends Peter to obtain a coin miraculously from the mouth of a fish so that others are not offended. One thing this story reveals is that, at times, the foolish and unimportant concerns like taxes are not worth fighting about. It’s easy to allow unimportant issues to get in the way of our service of God. It is also a common experience for people to turn trivial concerns into major issues. We, as Christians, need to keep our eyes on what is important in life and not allow ourselves to be drawn into these foolish battles.
Eleanor Roosevelt says: "The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience." And Ralph Waldo Emerson puts it: "The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, and to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well."
Jesus makes known his purpose of coming into the world by speaking of his death and resurrection to his disciples. He wants to make clear that his purpose of coming into the world is not to make himself an earthly King; but to save the world from sin by upholding the values of heavenly kingdom. Being a Christian I too have been called to discern the purpose of my life and to be a responsible citizen of earth and heaven. What is my response? Do I know the purpose of my life?
Prayer: Lord, Help me to turn away from unimportant conflicts in life, even to the point of embracing injustice in a sacrificial way. May I never claim my rights over the joy of embracing deep humility. Help me to discern the purpose of my life and be a responsible citizen of my country but above all of heaven. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.
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