✝️ REFLECTION CAPSULE FOR THE DAY – Sep 25, 2021: Saturday
“Asking the Grace to remain ever faithful to the Lord and to be loyal to His Love and His Kingdom”
(Based on Zech 2:1-5, 10-11a and Lk 9:43-45 – Saturday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time)
“Julius Caesar” is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare.
>> It is one of several plays written by Shakespeare based on true events from Roman history.
The life of Julius Caesar engrossingly proceeds with placing a great trust in his best friend Brutus.
Brutus, though his closest and most trusted friend, was albeit a misled man.
>> Therefore, among the conspirators who finally assassinated the Roman leader on March 15, 44 was Brutus as well.
>> Caesar had not only trusted him, but also favoured Brutus as his own son.
The Roman history tells that Caesar had first resisted the onslaught of his assassins.
>> But when he saw his beloved Brutus among them, with his dagger draw, the Roman Emperor ceased to struggle and withdraw every attempt of resistance.
He pulled the top part of his robe over the face and asked the infamous question, “Et tu, Brute?”
(You too, Brutus?)
“YOU TOO, BRUTUS?”
… A question which cuts across the marrows of the bones and the pierces the depths of the heart, to express disgust and contempt of the deadly human vice of betrayal!
… A question which cuts across civilizations and generations, to show forth the abhorrence and the detestation of the wicked trait of disloyalty!
The Gospel of the Day presents a mighty warning by Jesus on the danger of we becoming betrayers to Him and His Love!
Jesus tells His disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands!” (Lk 9: 44)
>> Jesus gives a forewarning to His disciples on the sword of betrayal that would be his painful lot.
This betrayal had to be faced on different levels..
… an act of betrayal through a kiss by Judas Iscariot
… acts of denial by Peter, His close disciple
… acts of abandonment by His other disciples
… acts of rejection by the chief priests and elders
… acts of passivity by the people for whom He had served
Today our Lord poses the same question: Am I betraying Him in my acts and deeds?
Is the Lord, calling us by name, asking us, “Et tu,___ ? “You too, __?”
Do I betray the Lord by failing to avoid occasions of sin and constantly moving away from doing His Will?
>> Do I betray the Lord with my words of unpleasantness, judgmental nature and destructively critical?
>> Do I betray the Lord by being unkind, unforgiving and harbouring grudge by my actions?
>> Do I betray the Lord by causing harm to others and being insincere in my works?
Let us ask the Grace to remain ever faithful to the Lord and be loyal to His Love and His Kingdom.
Like St Philip Neri, may we too pray:
“Watch me, O Lord, this day; for, abandoned to myself, I shall surely betray thee.”
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 SPIRIT OF CHRIST IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME
>> John the Baptist is “more than a prophet.”
>> In him, the Holy Spirit concludes his speaking through the prophets.
>> John completes the cycle of prophets begun by Elijah.
>> He proclaims the imminence of the consolation of Israel; he is the “voice” of the Consoler who is coming.
>> As the Spirit of truth will also do, John “came to bear witness to the light.”
>> In John’s sight, the Spirit thus brings to completion the careful search of the prophets and fulfils the longing of the angels.
>> “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. and I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God… Behold, the Lamb of God.”
>> Finally, with John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit begins the restoration to man of “the Divine likeness,” prefiguring what he would achieve with and in Christ. John’s baptism was for repentance; baptism in water and the Spirit will be a new birth (Cf. CCC # 719-720)
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Nelson MCBS 