To submit to the Lord

WORD 2day: Saturday, Third week in Ordinary time

January 27, 2024 - 2 Samuel 12: 1-7, 10-17; Mark 4: 35-41

The first reading today brings out the best element of David for our consideration. David was favoured in the eyes of God, not for his valour or for his victories, nor for his eloquence or for his talents. The outstanding quality of David, that makes him an example to all of us, is his humility and his capacity to listen to the Lord.

Humility is the ability to see the truth. And the capacity to listen to the Lord is the easiest way to observe the truth; the truth that is ever present right in front of our eyes. Even while Nathan was speaking, David did not realise the truth; but when the prophet said to David, "You are the man!", David realised his folly, that he has deluded himself from seeing the Lord who was right there with him all the while, even when David indulged in all the evil that he did. In his humility, he submits himself instantly to the mercy of the Lord.

Weak as we are and tempted as we are, our capacity to listen to the Word of the Lord and our humility to submit ourselves to the mercies of the Lord, are those which can really make us persons of faith. The storm and the sea, the heavens and the creatures therein, everything obeys the Lord, and why should we hesitate to submit to the Lord?

In faith, we shall ask the Lord, and the Lord shall give us a pure heart and a steadfast spirit, humble and honest, to submit to the Lord!

The seed and its fruits

THE WORD AND THE SAINTS

January 26, 2024: Remembering Sts. Timothy and Titus

2 Timothy 1: 1-8; Mark 4: 26-34

Timothy and Titus are two models we are presented with today. They were both finds of the Apostle Paul on his journeys. Inspiring the listeners to make a life choice is a special gift that some are given with. St. Paul possessed this and he used it well for the Reign of God. Timothy and Titus join the great band of apostles that Jesus initiated.

How beautifully Paul speaks of faith in the first reading of today (we have chosen the one from the letter to Timothy)... as something that is gifted, something that has to be nurtured and something that has to be celebrated and handed over!

Faith is a gift from God, as life and growth are. Just like the sower sows and waits for the grains to sprout, so do we sow all the goodness that we can and wait for the life and growth that God alone gives. We cannot be impatient and agitated to see their fruits, fruits will appear in God's own time, for it is the Lord who is at work!

Our faith has been sown in the ground of our hearts, it has to grow into the Reign of God on earth. Our responsibility is to nurture the seed (the faith) and await the fruit (Reign). It is not within our capacity to establish the Reign where we are, but it is within our capacity to live our faith to the full, because we are given a Spirit of power, love and self control! When we live our faith to the full, the Reign shall sprout!