✝️ REFLECTION CAPSULE FOR THE DAY – July 20, 2021: Tuesday
“Being willing to positively respond to the invitation of the Lord to be a member of ‘His Family!’”
(Based on Exo 14:21-15:1 and Mt 12:46-50 – Tuesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time)
We sometimes find advertisements, in newspapers or magazines, that invite the readers to apply for a job or a task.
These ads…
… attract those who are interested by mentioning the various packages and privileges
… inform regarding various factors and parameters that makes one eligible for that post or duty.
The Gospel of the Day presents such an open-invitation – in a bid…
…. to attract all, to the Kingdom of God, by mentioning various packages and privileges
… to inform, regarding various factors and parameters that makes one eligible for the Kingdom of God
In the Gospel passage, we read that “The family of Jesus come to meet Him, while He was at ministry” (Mt 12: 46)
“Someone told Him, ‘Your Mother and Your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you” (Mt 12: 47)
But the Lord makes use of this context to put forward a very important truth:
>> Spiritual bonding with God, the Father takes higher precedence over blood bonding.
>> Spiritual relations are to be given a higher priority over the generational heritage and legacy.
A new and significant understanding is put forward by Jesus to define “His Family”
“… whoever does the Will of My Heavenly Father is My brother and sister and mother” (Mt 12: 50)
Thus, we see a wonderful ad that Jesus displays…
An ad…
…. to attract all, to the Kingdom of God by mentioning various packages and privileges
… to inform, regarding various factors and parameters that makes one eligible for the Kingdom of God
Here are the main aspects of this great ad…
1. The Offer: Being a member of the Family of God
Jesus makes a open and loving invitation for all to be part of His Family.
We are given a privilege to be called the brothers and sisters of our Blessed Lord!
What a great honour!
>> What a wonderful favour!
2. The Qualification: Seeking and doing the Will of God
The most essential and basic qualification to possess the offer of being a member of the Family of God, is to seek and do the Will of God.
Jn 1:12 says, “… to those who accept Him, He gave power to become children of God”
3. The Privileges: Divine Peace and Happiness on the earth and promise of life eternal
The One who is part of the Divine Family, also is privileged to share in the life and happiness of the Divine Family!
Jn 6:40 declares, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
4. Who can avail the offer?: Anyone, who is daring to sacrifice one’s personal agenda
The one who can apply for this “offer” of being a member of God’s Will is to possess a dare and courage: to let go of one’s personal desires in life, and seek to embrace what God wants of him/her.
Mt 16: 24 says, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.
5. When should it be applied?: At the earliest, in the first instance possible
The opportune time to take the initiative to participate in the Divine Family is “now”
In the parable of the ten virgins, in Mt 25: 1-13, the five virgins missed the opportunity to be part of the wedding feast, because of their delay and postponement.
2 Pet 3:9 says, “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but He is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Our Blessed Lord would be delighted to have us as part of His Divine Family.
>> For this, He also gives out His ad…
… attracting us to the Kingdom of God
… informing us of the various factors and parameters
Are we willing to positively respond to this invitation of the Lord?
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:
JESUS AND ISRAEL’S FAITH IN THE ONE GOD AND SAVIOUR
>> If the Law and the Jerusalem Temple could be occasions of opposition to Jesus by Israel’s religious authorities, His role in the redemption of sins, the Divine Work par excellence, was the true stumbling-block for them.
>> Jesus scandalized the Pharisees by eating with tax collectors and sinners as familiarly as with themselves.
>> Against those among them “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others”, Jesus affirmed: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
>> He went further by proclaiming before the Pharisees that, since sin is universal, those who pretend not to need salvation are blind to themselves.
>> Jesus gave scandal above all when He identified his merciful conduct toward sinners with God’s own attitude toward them.
>> He went so far as to hint that by sharing the table of sinners, He was admitting them to the Messianic Banquet.
>> But it was most especially by forgiving sins that Jesus placed the religious authorities of Israel on the horns of a dilemma.
>> By forgiving sins, Jesus either is blaspheming as a Man who made himself God’s equal, or is speaking the Truth and His Person really does make present and reveal God’s Name. (Cf. CCC # 583-584)
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Nelson MCBS 