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Today's reflection:
A. Back ground: TODAY 17th July 2016 we are in Cycle 3: celebrating 16th Ordinary Sunday mass.
Today church invite us to analyze famous Martha/Maria story:
Last sunday, we reflected about famous Samaritan Story, reminding us;
About our neighbor and christian mystery of suffering:
We further found:
(1) As Christians we are ignorant about our neighbor, though we accept human as one family with God as father
(2)Going against 10 commandments and 7 vices, is sin. Sin will result in guilt in your life, as well as liable for punishment during this life or in purgatory. But we found God can change your life resulting sufferings for you. Hence the reason for your suffering, cannot be clearly identify. Unlike most of other religions, catholism, follows, Suffering is not only due to U'r sin. Hence you have main obligation to support a suffering person, since(1) we don't know clear reason to the suffering (2) every human belongs to 1 family.
In short, as catholic, you cannot judge anybody who is suffering,and cannot assume that his suffering is due to his own fault. You have to always help,suffering person. Today readings,this Christian concept of suffering is further developed.
B.When we summerise Todays readings
Gen (18:1-10) says: God promise of a son to abraham
Paul (col 1:24-28) explains, your responsibility of revealing God message and value of Christian suffering
Lk 10:38-42 says famous Martha & maria story. How people evade responsibility in saying this is not my duty:
C. Reflection:
We found that both Samaritan and Martha Maria stories is showing very much the practical application of christianity to the present society.
It appeals for us to reflect; 5 major messages:
(1) Extension of last sunday reflection, you evade your neighbor, today, gospel says, you evade God's word and worry about many things like Martha
(2) Last sunday, Jesus explained who is your neighbor, this sunday, 1st and Gospel reading talks about, value of hospitality.
Abraham,shows gracious hospitality to 3 strangers, who rewarded him with the promise of a son. Jesus were invited to the house of Martha/Maria. Martha shows hospitality to Jesus by preparing,meal for HIM, while Mary listen to HIS word.
This further explain;
When you don't associate with People, you will not get different opinions. When God want,to advice you, how HE can do that? When you are not associating with another humans. Hospitality is one of the key factors to be satisfied, in order for you get information with regard to God's plans from 3rd persons.
Catholics have to build up relationship among humans, since they all belong to one family. That is why,they are pioneers in forming many social orgernisations to help various needs of people. Such as schools,hospitals,etc.
(3) Last sunday, we analyzed, what is christian suffering, this sunday too,paul invited us to analyze further.
Paul remind us that in some mysterious way the christian is privileged to participate in the passion of Jesus,and that there is some quota of suffering that the church & her members must endure before Christ's victory is final and complete.
This will further allow us to think,that the Christians need not, should not, morbidly look for suffering. It comes to us in varying degrees.
when suffering does happen, person should make use of all natural means to get rid of it. For example: by consulting doctors; but if natural means fail, one may have to accept and generously pin with as much love as possible, always keeping in mind the paul's word.
By HIS own passion and death Christ gave us a new meaning of suffering, which when united with HIS own, can become a means of purification and of salvation for us and for others.
(4)This sunday, Jesus, invite us to analyze, why Martha complains about Maria?. Obviously when you invite a person to your home, one person has to talk with him, while other person has to prepare meal for him.
Both these duties cannot be done by one person, so Jesus here showed us that duty and Love is 2 different things. You should avoid envy, understand that you are created to carry out a special task, than others,resulting not to analyze others job. HE showed that we should avoid envy in our life, for us to develop Love. Marth and Maria both invited Jesus home, because they both love HIM. So Martha should be clear, that her job also important for Jesus to enjoy hospitality of their home. So she should do the job without complain. Also though it was not mention here, Maria, should understand the participatory role Martha is doing. This is similar to Catholicism. There are priest, there are brothers & sisters who has devoted their life, for the service of God. Both priest and these devoted brothers and sisters, should understand each other, for their God's work to the society without differentiating who is superior to other.
(5)Lastly, Jesus is showing, that specially in the modern world, you hide you are a catholic,and feel little(or shy) to talk about God's Kingdom.
D. Summary of 16 ordnary sundays:
So in conclusion of let us summarize what we have Reflected, up to this 16 th ordinary sundays. Which aimed at how to enjoy your life as a Catholic.
It mainly focused;
(1) How to be a good Catholic professional (2) how to manage your life crosses.
(3) All religions in the world are good, and we respect them, since, all, of them advocate love the society, but how to identify the clear difference between other religions with catholism
(4)All religions in the world say, love your neighbor, don't sin, how to erase the bad effects of sins, in your life. What is specifically followed by Catholics, in order to erase bad effects of sins, so that you can extend your love to God with love to society
(5) What is the definition of sin in catholism/ adhere to 10 commandments/avoid 7 vices(sloth,anger,pride,envy,avarice,lust, gluttony)
(6) How to understand and manage suffering of your life
(7) What are the categories of catholics/ Priest and layman and what are their functions.
(8) What is swot analysis, how to apply as catholic swot analysis in to your life
(9)Today, we analyzed, the value of relationship building, what is difference between duty and love, value of avoiding Envy in our life, and what is christian suffering;
(10) Up to now we have
Covered 4 vices, out of 7i.e Sloth,anger, pride and Envy
GBU
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