REFLECTION CAPSULE FOR THE DAY: Wednesday

“Growing into Convinced and Certain and Confident Christians!”

(Based on Deut 4:1-9 and Mt 5:17-19 – 3rd Week of Lent)

A university student was seen with a large “K” printed on his T- shirt.

When someone asked him what the “K” stood for, he said, “Confused.”

“But,” the questioner replied, “you don’t spell “confused” with a “K”!

The student answered, “Well, you don’t know how confused I am!”
The confused state of mind led to be boy to display a totally confused and puzzled look!
How often is this true in our own lives as a Christian…
>> We fail to have certain convictions in our faith…
… and the resultant life that is displayed outside, is one of confusion or uncertainty.

>> We fail to be sure of what our life of faith is…
… and as a result, we fail to bring people to experience God’s love and instead, sometimes even lead others astray.
The Gospel of the Day is a peek into the conviction that Jesus had in His life of preaching and mission…
… and a challenge for us to become persons who become fervent and convinced in teaching the commandments of the Kingdom of God.
The Gospel is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount.
>> Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfil” (Mt 5: 17)
One of the distinguishing features in the preaching and teaching ministry of Jesus was His deep conviction and certainty.
>> Jesus did not speak as if He was blabbering on some unknown topic.
>> Jesus did not mutter words as if He was whiling away time to talk on a strange issue.

Instead, Jesus was thoroughly convinced of what He spoke and taught.
It was this deep-seated conviction that made Him to say that He had “come not to abolish the law or the prophets”.

The message of Jesus contained newness and freshness.
>> However, it was not a preaching that was entirely new

It was a teaching that was born in deep certainty and delivered with utmost conviction.
>> He was the fullness of the teachings of all the Law.
>> He was the fulfilment of the prophecies of all the Prophets.

This gave it a fresh crispiness.
>> This gave it a refreshing perspective.
Do we also possess a similar conviction and certainty in our Life of Faith, just as Jesus displayed?

The Lord demands such a requirement.

Hence, He would say, that “whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so, will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 5: 19)
Our Christian lives are sometimes marked by an unwanted uncertainty and confusing convictions.
>> We know a little bit about our faith
… but not deep enough.

>> We know a little bit concerning our teachings
… but not in its depth.

>> We know a little bit about the virtues we are to live
… but not fully convinced of it.
As a result of this ‘unsure’ attitude and ‘confused’ mentality, we are unable to
… (1) live a true and honest Christian lives
… (2) witness and teach others our genuine faith
Let’s deepen our conviction in the Commands and Truths of our Faith, for through them, the Lord blesses us with wisdom and understanding:
>> “Keep them and do them; for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people’!” (Deut 4:6)
May we not remain confused Christians; rather experience the love and mercy of the Lord…
… and make efforts to grow into Convinced and Certain and Confident Christians!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
– Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
Bengaluru, India

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “ It is not those who commit the least faults who are the most holy
>> But those who have the greatest courage…
… the greatest generosity
… the greatest love
… who make the boldest efforts to overcome themselves, and are not immediately apprehensive about tripping.”
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