Sunday, July 27, 2014

WORD 2day: 28th July, 2014

The God of small things!

Jer 13: 1-11; Mt 13: 31-35

God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God (1 Cor 1:27-29). Jesus is fond of presenting his Father as the God of small things! He thanks God for keeping the secrets from the elites but revealing them to children (cf. Lk 10:21) and compares the Reign of God to a mustard seed and to a pinch of yeast. He invites us to learn of his meekness and humility (cf. Mt 11:30) and mediates the salvific love of God through his sheer obedience (cf. 2 Phil). Mindful of this, St. Paul sighs, "what do we have that we have not received?" (cf. 1 Cor 4:7).

Let us remind ourselves of our smallness before God! It is nothing more than a realistic understanding of what we are in front of the majesty that God is adorned with. It is better to be a small little thing in the presence of God than a mighty big being without God. It just would not make any sense; not forever! The foolish man says in his heart, 'there is no god' - derides the Psalm (14:1). The secret lies in keeping it simple and being grateful for every small thing that we have; for our God is a God of small things!

Those who love God...

27th July, 2014 - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Kgs 3: 5, 7-12; Rom 8: 28-30; Mt 13: 44-52

What would be your prayer, if God gives you an offer as God did to Solomon?

What would be your choice from a variety of spread: success, prosperity, happiness, and a life close to God....?

When things seem to go wrong... what do you do: get nervous, get frustrated, get anxious or you remain calm because God knows what is best and will work everything out for your good!

How much does God matter to you in your life? Or in other words what are all the things that you would keep aside in order to be with God?

St. Paul in the second reading today declares that God works for the good of "those who love God"... do you really belong to that category? the category of "THOSE WHO LOVE GOD"?

For today's reflection, this clip can help: