Gospel. Lk. 18:19-14.
Jesus relates the parable of the two worshipers going to pray.
One, a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The latter humbly repents before
God. And Jesus says that the second one was the recipient of God’s grace than
the one who exalted himself.
Reflection.
The readings invite us to be humble and place all our trust and
hope in the Lord. They also invite us to open ourselves to the Lord and to turn
to Him for help. For, he raises the weak and the fallen that turn to Him. He
protects and guides those who are His. He blesses those who are genuine and
humble. To those who are open, he opens himself up. Therefore let us humbly
surrender ourselves to Him.
Another reading ( Sir. 35: 12-14, 16-19.- God is being presented to us as just and fair. He is not partial towards the poor. He will listen to the weak and the fallen. To all those who turn to him for help he will give His blessings. But He will have a special concern to the fatherless and the widow.) shows us that the Lord is just and fair.
Therefore he is impartial. He will listen to the weak and the fallen and to all
those who turn to Him out of faith and love. He will not ignore the
supplications of the fatherless nor the widow when she pours out her story; the
one whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted, and his prayers
will reach the heavens. We are weak and fallen let us turn to the Lord with
faith and love.
In the Gospel, through a parable the Lord show us how the humble
and the gentle will receive God’s blessing rather than the proud who boast of
themselves. The parable is about two people who went to pray; one a Pharisee
and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed thus about
himself. “God I thank Thee that I am not like the other man; extortioner,
unjust, adulteress or even like this tax collector.” Standing far off the tax
collector would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying.
“God, be merciful to me a sinner. The Lord Himself says, “I tell you this man
went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts
himself will be exalted. “Therefore let us genuinely and with all simplicity
turn to the Lord to receive His graces.
St. Paul in the ( 2 Thim. 4: 6-8, 16-18. - St. Paul mentions that his life is approaching its end. He is proud of himself for he has kept his faith alive. He recalls how the Lord has protected him and given him strength to preach the Good News.) confirms God’s blessings and
protection on all those who place themselves in His hands through love and
service. St. Paul here presents himself as one who has come to the faith. And
now he is ready to receive the reward of blessings and graces from God. He says
“At my first defense no one took my part, all darted me. May it not be charged
against them, but the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the
word fully, that all the gentiles might hear. So I was rescued from the Lion’s
mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me for his heavenly
kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever Amen.” The same protection and
guidance would be ours if we are faithful to Him.
Aid Story.
In the first part of 1918, when the Final German offensive
seemed to be overwhelming the allies, Foch was appointed Generalissimo on the
Western Front. Dawn of July 18 was the day chosen for the great
counter attack on which the issue of the war depended. At the allied G.H.Q. on
the evening before, all preparations were completed at last, and Foch left his
office, telling his staff officers to leave him undisturbed for an hour if
possible. A motor cyclist rushed with a very urgent telegram on which the staff
felt Foch himself should decide. Thinking he was snatching some sleep, they
went to his billet, but he was not there. At last they found his personal
orderly, who knowing the Generals habits led them to the village church. There
was Foch, kneeling motionless before the Alter. He read the telegram, gave his
answer, and as the staff officer left the church they saw him already on his
knees again, with his eyes on the tabernacle.
“Always when I leave His temple wrote Foch once. “I feel
stronger and above all more certain. It is there that I have taken the greatest
decisions on the War.”
Aid Story 2.
The girl knelt in the confessional and said, “Bless me father,
for I have sinned.”
“What is it child?” “Father I have committed the sin of
vanity. Twice a day I gaze in the mirror and tell myself how beautiful I am.”
The priest turned, took a good look at the girl, and said, “My
dear, I have good news. That isn’t a sin, it’s only a mistake.”
www.stjosephschurchkanuwana.org
Ranjan De Mel.
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