REFLECTION CAPSULE FOR THE DAY – July 08, 2020: Wednesday
“Let us co-operate with Our Strange Master, Who calls us to ‘Dare to be Different!’”
(Based on Hos 10:1-3,7-8,12 and Mt 10:1-7 – Wednesday of the 14th Week of Ordinary Time)
Jesus is strange!
> And he loves to do strange things!
“Dare to be different” is a call which echoes very much through the corporate sector today, and also in many areas of our life!
> And Jesus, certainly, is a model and an example for each one of us, in this ‘Daring to be Different’!
And this strange and daring Jesus – Who loves to do things differently –
…throws up a classic example for this, in today’s Gospel Reading, by choosing The Twelve…
>Twelve strange persons to be His Daring disciples.
We could have a short litany of adjectives to describe or portray these Twelve…
Let’s get set with a mini-dictionary:
> Ordinary, Mundane, Shy, Absent-minded, Introvert, Prejudiced, Inhibited…
> Hated by society, Craver of power, Zealous in quick actions, Betraying Characters…
> Sceptics, Unsteady Temperaments, Cynical….
The list is long, right?
Maybe, some of us, also very much possess these characters and traits!
> Is it True?
But, with all these varied personalities and natures, Jesus, the Daring Master, chose His twelve, having these characters…!
The Lord loves to transform and change…
> He changed the water into wine…
> He transformed a few loaves of bread and fish as food for thousands…
> He changed the raging sea to calmness and serenity…
> He transformed sicknesses in people to good health and new vigour…
> He changed the static and inhuman view of the Law to a dynamic and loving perception…
Yes, the Lord loves to transform and change…
> And this Lord, who loves to transform and change, also worked wonders with the Twelve!
These Twelve, with their varied personalities and characters, were handed on the Charge to continue the Gigantic Task of their Daring Master: “To be the Ambassadors of the Kingdom of God”
> To be with Him and to be sent out
> To have authority over unclean spirits and drive them out
> To cure every disease and illness and to preach!
These chosen lights were to cast their rays over the rest of humanity, in all nations.
Are we also hearing the Call of the Lord, to be the Ambassadors of His Kingdom, in the place where we are, in the state of life, that we are in?
Let us not be worried about our nature or temperament or character or weaknesses.
Yes, the Lord is strange…
… and He loves to do strange things
> He is CRAZY over us!
The Lord also loves…
… to transform and to change
> He is Willing to TRANSFORM us!
The only thing that He needs from us… is Our Consent.. Our Willingness…our Openness!
> Let no negative feelings come in the way of this Deep Desire of the Lord…
Like the Israelites in Hosea 10:1…
… Let us not boast on our prosperity or our richness
… Let our hearts not remain divided in our loyalty
> Let us instead plough a new ground…seeking the Lord…
> The Kingdom of God is a vineyard…
… it needs labourers!
> The Kingdom of God is a net…
… it needs fishermen!
> The Kingdom of God is a field…
… it needs sowers and reapers!
> The Kingdom of God is a flock…
… it needs shepherds!
Yes, the Lord is calling… the Lord is desiring… the Lord is wanting…
> Are we hearing?
Let this not remain a Missed Call!
> Let’s pick up, and answer…
… and Co-operate with the Strange Master, Who calls us to “Dare to be Different”!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
- Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
Bengaluru, India
Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “ The Lord asks for your heart.
> Give it such as it is!
Are we not aware that everything that is remitted into His Divine Hands is converted to good?”
Nelson MCBS 
Reblogged this on LLE Bands.
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