✝️ REFLECTION CAPSULE FOR THE DAY – May 21, 2021: Friday
“Trusting in the Goodness of the Lord and being hopeful in the Mercy of the Lord, let us, tell the Lord: ‘Yes, Lord, I love you!’”
(Based on Acts 25:13-21 and Jn 21:15-19 – Friday of the 7th Week in Eastertide)
A little boy one day approached his father who he knew, was well versed with the terms used in the Bible, with a doubt.
“Daddy,” asked the boy, “what is the meaning of Cherubim and Seraphim. We hear it so often in the Bible.”
The father, appreciating the Biblical curiosity of his child, after some thoughtful moments answered:
“Cherubim is a word which means “knowledge”
The word Seraphim stands for “flame”
It is commonly understood that Cherubims are angels that excel in the knowledge of God…
… and the Seraphims are those who excel in the love for God.
“Ah,” answered the boy, “In that case, I wish and hope, that when I die, I will be a Seraphim!
I would prefer more to love God, than to know everything!”
Of course, Cherubims and the Seraphims have their own importance in the order of Angels.
But what the child innocently expressed was his desire to love the Lord more!
How about us?
>> Do we also desire to Love God…?
… more?
The Gospel of the Day is the encounter of Jesus with His chosen Disciple Peter…
… who “knew Jesus” a lot
… but was yet to “love Jesus completely!”
The incident presents St Peter grappling with his weaknesses in expressing his love for his Master…
… and Jesus, knowing very well the frailties of his chosen one, entrusting great responsibilities on him.
Jesus in His post-resurrection appearances to the Apostles, engages in a special one-to-one conversation with the Peter, the leader of the chosen ones…
It’s interesting to see the choice of the Lord for Peter as the leader of His chosen ones.
Peter was a fisherman by profession…
>> Like the waves, his faith and trust in the Lord would also often waver…
>> Like the winds blowing heavily, his zeal for the Lord would also often vacillate…
Yet, the Lord chooses him to be a “fisher of man” for His Kingdom…. expecting him…
… to be like the fish – finding life and vibrancy only by being in the waters of grace and mercy
… to be like the net – gathering up the children of God and keeping them together
… to be like the boat – not being stuck on the shores, but ready to launch into the deep waters of evangelization
Peter had undoubtedly a lot of interest and zeal in the Lord… and in His Mission.
>> Yet by nature, he tended to be more emotional… indecisive…fluttering
And this caused him to deny the Lord three times, during the passion of the Lord.
>> But the Lord, in His infinite mercy, restores the brokenness in the relationship, with His healing love.
Our lives too, so often, resembles that of Peter.
>> We fluctuate in our commitments to the Lord…
>> We easily break many of the resolutions made to the Lord…
>> We very often go astray, despite having experienced much love from the Lord…
Yet, Jesus does not abandon us.
>> Like the Shepherd, who comes after His lost sheep…
>> Like a Potter, who re-moulds His work when dis-shaped…
>> Like a Physician, who attends with patience for His ailing patient…
The Lord comes to us…
>> And with much hope puts forward the same question, that He asked Peter:
“Do You love Me?”
The Lord awaits an answer…
It will be easy to jump in and say “Yes, Lord, I do love you”.
But…
… let our answer, not just be triggered by emotional feelings
… let our answer, not be simply impelled by a ritualistic custom
Rather, from the depth of our inner-being…
… acknowledging our sinfulness and failures…
… realizing our weaknesses and shortcomings…
And yet….
… trusting in the goodness of the Lord…
… hopeful in the mercy of the Lord…
Let us, tell the Lord…
… “Yes, Lord, I love you!!”
Let the courageous example of St Paul also be an inspiration
His life of bold witness to Jesus and His Resurrection, made him to become a point of discussion even among the high Roman ruling circle (Acts 25:13-21)
God Bless! Live Jesus!
– Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
Bengaluru, India
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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
YOU DID NOT ABANDON HIM TO THE POWER OF DEATH
>> After his fall, man was not abandoned by God. On the contrary, God calls him and in a mysterious way heralds the coming victory over evil and his restoration from his fall.
>> This passage in Genesis is called the Protoevangelium (“first gospel”): the first announcement of the Messiah and Redeemer, of a battle between the serpent and the Woman, and of the final victory of a descendant of hers.
>> The Christian tradition sees in this passage an announcement of the “New Adam” who, because he “became obedient unto death, even death on a cross”, makes amends superabundantly for the disobedience, of Adam.
>> Furthermore many Fathers and Doctors of the Church have seen the woman announced in the “Proto-evangelium” as Mary, the mother of Christ, the “new Eve”.
>> Mary benefited first of all and uniquely from Christ’s victory over sin: she was preserved from all stain of original sin and by a special grace of God committed no sin of any kind during her whole earthly life.
>> But why did God not prevent the first man from sinning? St. Leo the Great responds, “Christ’s inexpressible grace gave us blessings better than those the demon’s envy had taken away.”
>> St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, “There is nothing to prevent human nature’s being raised up to something greater, even after sin; God permits evil in order to draw forth some greater good.” Thus St. Paul says, ‘Where sin increased, Grace abounded all the more’; and the Exsultet sings, ‘O happy fault… which gained for us so great a Redeemer!’ (Cf. CCC # 410-412)
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Nelson MCBS 