Reading: From the Gospel according to St. Matthew 10: 5- 15
Dear and Respected Brethren,
In today’s reading we find our Lord’s instructions given to the twelve Apostles before they were sent for the trial field work. We have meditated on this Scriptural portion several times. Still let us attempt to yield more from these divine words. It is hoped to meditate on 2-3 words uttered by our Lord like lost sheep (Verse 6), Preach (Verse 7), worthy (Verse 13). Let us take one by one. The shepherd takes out the sheep in the morning and takes care of them while they rear in the valleys or among the bushes. In the evening he brings them back to the shed and closes the entrance. When the herd of sheep is taken together to the green valleys, a few at least runs ahead with certain hidden agenda of their own. They must have been under the influence of the evil spirits. So they escape from the group as they are over smart and selfish. They go in to the dark and thick forests and endanger their lives even. For all of us God is providing all our needs. If we get selfish, we might feel bad of others and we might try our own ways to get more and more worldly riches by hook or crook. As soon as one person gets victim of selfishness, he spoils himself and gets aloof from God and His divine love. The people who remain out of the radius of the love of God with rotten and rough hearts instead of having kind, loving and caring hearts are meant to be the lost sheep among the faithful. Each and every Christian is supposed to look for their own brothers and sisters who remain in darkness without God and His love, and to bring them back to God’s fold. The responsibility to look for the lost sheep is wrested with each and every one of us. We cannot escape from God’s question at any moment “where is your brother….” We cannot answer “God it is the responsibility of the Church and Parish. If they do not care these things, how could I answer?” Let there be a concern and look out in our attitude and feeling.
The next word is Preach. Preach means proclamation of redemption gained by our Lord and Redeemer, eternal life gifted by our Lord, Abiding life in Him. So also it reminds that we are children of God and also remind to be humble in our word and deed alike. We use the term for the speeches based on the gospel. In fact the Holy Eucharist is the Preaching. In Holy Eucharist we enjoy and participate the redemption and salvation from the bondage of sins and death. Lord is the word of God incarnated from the virgin and Holy Spirit. When one might partake the flesh and blood of Lord Jesus (Holy Eucharist) he or she gets the eternal life. He or she abides in and with Lord Jesus from the very moment.
The next word is worthy. We all say we must be worthy to be… What sort of worthiness is desired by our Lord. Our domiciles are supposed to be the domiciles of God. We often keep a decorated piece with the words “Christ is the head of this house”. If we would keep such wordings, it must be so. The house is to be governed by Christ. Are we providing the due prominence to Christ in our houses? Do we consider our houses as the gift of God or our own houses of our own effort? We must keep the house worthy enough for the stay of our Lord God. So also we the humanity are the temples of God. We must keep it worthy for the God to stay in us. In verse 13 we read, “ And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.” Let us make sure that God is there in our minds and hearts and so also in the houses wherever we might stay.
May God bless us all
Jose Kurian Puliyeril
Kottayam
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