Shalom: Carrying God's Message
Thursday, 14th week in Ordinary Time
Gn 44:18-21, 23b-29, 45:1-5; Mt 10: 7-15
The Lord sends the twelve to carry his message to all the people of Israel, a message of gladness, healing, restoration, peace and joy, in short Shalom! That is the greeting of the Jews when they meet each other. The Arabic equivalent of that is what the brothers and sisters of Islam use: salaam. This shalom is fullness of blessings that we wish for our brother or sister in the Lord, or for that matter that is what we wish for the whole world as sons and daughters of the Good Lord. We may wonder, why the whole world. ..is it not only those who are good to me, those who are my well wishers; but the Lord and the Word today has it otherwise.
We are presented with the example of Joseph who in spite of all that they did to him tells the rest of the songs of Jacob, "I am your brother"! That is the true Christian attitude expected of us. This is possible only of we look at everything from the perspective of God as did Joseph!
Let this day be another opportunity for us to carry the Lord's message: Shalom to all!