True Persons of God...

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

August 8, 2023: Celebrating St. Dominic
Numbers 12:1-13; Matthew 14: 22-36

The Word speaks of two men of God today - not merely by the popular title but by their very life style and by the way they responded to tough situations. Moses, against whom the very people whom he served grumbled, including his closest collaborators. What did he do? Held it against them? No, that was not becoming of a man of God. Even when Miriam stood affected by her own sin, he intercedes with the Lord, obtaining her health back. he proves to be a man of God.

Jesus the Son of God, the ideal man of God proves himself so, by being so unaffected even when he knew his own disciples knew him not. They did not understand him, they thought him to be an evil spirit. In spite of it, when Peter wishes to walk on the water, he gives him that privilege. He was so patient, kind and gentle with the disciples, because that is the mark of a person of God, a God who abounds in mercy and love.

A third man of God whom we are given with today, is St. Dominic, the 12th century Religious Founder - one who is attributed with the great miraculous event of receiving on our behalf the Marian Rosary. Dominic as the very name means, belonged to God and lived his life for the people of God and for the spread of the Reign of God.

The call is loud and clear - to live for God, for God's people and above all for the establishment of the Reign of God, here and now - just as these true persons of God. 

Fed Up - a frequent word today!

WORD 2day: Monday, 18th week in Ordinary time

August 7, 2023: Numbers 11:4-15; Matthew 14:13-21

The very first thought from today's Word, could remind us of so many experiences today. Boredom of the youngsters, hatred for the routine on the part of the middle agers, not feeling happy with what one has or does - these are prevalent experiences pointed out by many today. An oft-used term for this experience is feeling or being fed up. 

The first reading has an example of what we humanly do when we are "fed up" and the Gospel portrays the true Christ-ian response. Humanly speaking when we are fed up, we grumble. Moses was no different from the people - they grumbled among themselves but Moses grumbled to God. Finding fault with God and asking God for an explanation is nothing wrong. But it is justified only when a meaningful warm rapport precedes it. Moses had that disposition, the people did not - that is why the former was justified, the latter were not.

However, Jesus shows a qualitative difference in the way he would respond in a situation like this: Jesus was "fed up" too, when he knew what they did to John the Baptist. He knew, that was how his life would go too. When he wanted to really grieve for his cousin and great prophet, he could not. People were there too, they were every where. Was Jesus "fed up"...no, he wasn't. He went to the extent of making sure the people were fed, not fed up! 

What is important to ward off the feeling of being fed up, is to count your blessings, everyday, every little thing that comes to you! And with that mindset - we would reduce hearing: Fed Up - a frequent word today!