✝️ REFLECTION CAPSULE FOR THE DAY – Sep 07, 2021: Tuesday
“Saying Yes to Jesus, by contributing our mite in spreading the Gospel and making this world to experience and recognize God’s tremendous love!”
(Based on Col 2:6-15 and Lk 6:12-19 – Tuesday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time)
There is “trial by jury” in the British legal system.
A jury consists of 12 individuals chosen at random from an appropriate panel.
>> Anyone who is on the electoral register aged between 18 and 70, and who has been ordinarily resident in the UK for five years since the age of 13, is qualified to serve on the jury.
In his essay “The Twelve Men”, dealing with this British jury system, G. K. Chesterton wrote:
“Whenever our civilization wants a library to be catalogued, or a solar system discovered, or any other trifle of this kind, it uses up its specialists.
But when it wishes anything done which is really serious, it collects twelve of the ordinary men standing around…
>> The same thing was done, if I remember right, by the Founder of Christianity.”
And it’s true, right?
>> Jesus did choose twelve people of ordinary standing and average repute as His Chosen Apostles.
The Gospel of the Day presents this account of this choosing of the Twelve by Jesus, the Master.
>> Twelve persons of varied character…
… invited to be part of the ‘One Kingdom Mission’.
>> Twelve persons of different backgrounds…
… invited to be part of the ‘One Jesus Culture’.
>> Twelve persons of dissimilar emotions…
… invited to be part of the ‘One Love Civilization’.
Let these twelve persons today teach us something simple yet profound for our Spiritual Lives:
1. Simon, called as Peter: The one known for his wavering temperaments yet faithful and simple in his attitude.
>> Assets that can be learnt: To be humble enough to accept our mistakes and correct them
2. Andrew: The one who left fishing and at the multiplication of loaves, brought the five loaves and two fish to Jesus
>> Assets that can be learnt: To bring simple things before God who can work great wonders
3. James: The one who was zealous and who accompanied the Lord at many crucial events of His life
>> Assets that can be learnt: To be zealous for the Kingdom of God and be ready to be in close company with Jesus
4. John: The one who was loyal and displayed tremendous love and faithfulness to His Master
>> Assets that can be learnt: To be faithful and loyal to the Crucified One even in the midst of all uncertainties.
5. Philip: The one, with a Greek name, who told another disciple about Jesus & also helped the Greeks to come to Jesus
>> Assets that can be learnt: To be a person who brings other people to the saving presence of Jesus
6. Bartholomew: The one who was shocked that Jesus was from the lowly Nazareth but was quick to trounce this feeling
>> Assets that can be learnt: To let go of prejudices and preconception about persons and situations
7. Matthew: The one who was given an opportunity to reform his way of life and was generous to let go of his possessions
>> Assets that can be learnt: To be free from material attachments in order to follow Christ freely and fully
8. Thomas: The one who was highly daring and also frank and straightforward in his Faith and his attitude
>> Assets that can be learnt: To be bold about one’s faith even if it means to seek a clarification from God
9. James, son of Alpheus: The one who gets hardly any mention except being called by Jesus and being with the others in the Upper Room after the Ascension of Jesus
>> Assets that can be learnt: To remain in the backdrop, in serving the Lord and being unfazed even if not popular
10. Simon, the Zealot: The one who is also hardly mentioned but is identified with having a great religious zeal
>> Assets that can be learnt: To curb one’s personal instincts and likings in order to suit the style and spirit of Jesus
11. Judas Thaddeus: The one who wrote the Beautiful letter of Jude and exhorts to be faithful to Christ even in hardships
>> Assets that can be learnt: To learn to be faithful and strong even when persecuted for being a Christian
12. Judas Iscariot: The one who gave up his love of Jesus for the sake of the love of money
>> Assets that can be learnt: To avoid the subtle trap of materialism and instead remain focused on Jesus always
>> Twelve persons of simple nature…
… teach us many secrets and virtues to be powerful witnesses of the Kingdom
>> Twelve persons of ordinary calibre…
… teach us to become the extension of the love and mission of Christ Jesus
The Jury or the Panel of Twelve Ordinary Persons, chosen by Jesus, have contributed their mite in spreading the Gospel and making this world to experience and recognize God’s tremendous love!
>> The Master now seeks the same of us too…
St Paul reminds us of the beauty of the Gift of Faith that all of us have received, and of the need to be focussed without being lured by worldly thought-patterns:
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
>> See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe…
… and not according to Christ!” (Col 2:6-8)
Though ordinary or simple or little or weak we are – just like the Apostles…
… He still trusts, invites and calls all of us…
Shall we say, Yes?
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
THE JOINT MISSION OF THE SON AND THE SPIRIT
>> The One whom the Father has sent into our hearts, the Spirit of His Son, is truly God.
>> Consubstantial with the Father and the Son, the Spirit is inseparable from them…
… in both the inner life of the Trinity and his gift of love for the world.
>> In adoring the Holy Trinity, life-giving, consubstantial, and indivisible, the Church’s faith also professes the distinction of Persons.
>> When the Father sends His Word, He always sends His Breath.
>> In their joint mission, the Son and the Holy Spirit are distinct but inseparable. To be sure, it is Christ Who is seen, the Visible Image of the invisible God, but it is the Spirit who reveals Him. (Cf. CCC # 689)
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Nelson MCBS 