Will you grow up please!

Wednesday, 22nd week in Ordinary Time

5th September, 2018: 1 Cor 3:1-9; Lk 4:38-44

The Church finds itself today in a situation of growing up, under the leadership of Pope Francis. We have a great example in the very concept of a Pope Emeritus and a Pope living in perfect union of heart and mind, setting an example for the entire Church and those who are related to that Faith Community in any way. We are called to be of one heart and one soul (cf. Acts 4: 32) not claiming to belong to Apollos  or to Cephas or to Paul (cf.1 Cor 1:12).  

How sad to see Churches divided on certain unchristian considerations... some churches sealed and communities broken into pieces... and in most of these cases those who are to lead themselves are the causes of division. We have a clarion call to grow up! Pope Francis once said these words beginning of this year: "we should recognise with sincerity and pain that our communities continue to live in division that is scandalous. Division among us Christians is a scandal.  There is no other word: a scandal." We see Jesus in the Gospel today that he refuses to get stuck to the praises, recognition and acceptance. He decides to move on.. to grow on... to grow up!

Mother Teresa, whom we celebrate and thank God for today, lived this call, the call to unite people in goodness of the Lord. To us today, this is the very call that we have. This is the call from the Lord: will you please grow up! Don't blame the situation. Don't blame those who are around. Don't blame the times. Don't blame anyone... just grow up!

Being SPIRIT-ual People!

Tuesday, 22nd week in  Ordinary Time

4th September, 2018: 1 Cor 2: 10-16; Lk 4: 31-37

Being Spiritual in its core means, getting in touch with the indwelling Spirit. 

The Spirit is the innermost being of our selves. We are formed in the image and likeness of God and the Spirit of the Lord dwells within us. The more we realise that and the more we are convinced of that, the more we would see our selves capable of bringing transformation to ourselves, to others around and to the context around. The so-called great people who make a difference in their own way, are fundamentally those who have come into grips with this innermost core of their beings - the Spirit. We see Paul speaking of it in the first reading and we see Jesus manifesting it in himself in the Gospel passage. 

The invitation is now for us to realise the core of our beings: the indwelling Spirit - getting in touch with the Spirit and getting into the grip of the Spirit, that great things may happen in and through us. We need not look to perform or prove ourselves. Things will happen and people we see it, when we are in the grip of the Spirit. Let us get into the depth of ourselves and get in touch with the indwelling Spirit. 

Rejecting God is acting against the Spirit, for the Spirit reveals to us in the heart of our hearts! Claiming to know God, is faking spirit, just like the demons which claimed to know God and the Son of God. Knowing God and surrendering ourselves is truly knowing God and it is being Spirit-ual people!