A JESUIT'S BLOG
Friday, 20 June 2025
Saturday, June 21, 2025 - How often do I try to be in two places at the same time or at two times in the same place?
To read the texts click on the texts: 2 Cor 12:1-10; Mt 6:24-34
The
text of today begins by stating a general rule that undivided attention can be
given to one person alone at a time. If there is more than one, then the
disciple’s loyalty is certainly split. One must decide whether one will allow
oneself to be controlled by wealth and the things of this world, or whether one
will realise that they cannot bring true happiness. The prohibition, “Do not
worry” dominates the rest of this pericope and is used six times in it. The
call to look at nature (the birds of the air and the lilies of the field) is a
call to learn how God in his providence provides for them. This does not mean
that human beings do not have to work for their living, rather it means that
even after working as hard as they can, humans must realise the life is much
more than simply work and earning a living. It has also to do with being.
There
are indeed many distractions in life, which sometimes can take us away from
where we ought to look and focus. While planning is good and desirable, what is
undesirable is useless worry or anxiety. When we stir the sugar in our coffee
or tea every morning we are already thinking of drinking it. When we are
drinking our coffee or tea, we are already thinking of washing the cup. When we
are washing our cup, we are already thinking or drying it When we are drying
it, we are already thinking of placing it on the rack and when we are placing
it on the rack we are already thinking of what we have to do next. We have not
stirred the sugar, nor have we have drunk the coffee, nor have we washed it nor
placed it on the rack. If one takes one moment of one day at a time and gives
of one’s best to that moment, life will be well lived.
Thursday, 19 June 2025
Friday, June 20, 2025 - If you were given the chance to take just ONE THING with you when you die, what would it be?
To read the texts click on the texts: 2 Cor 11:18,21-30; Mt 6:19-23
The
section that begins in 6,19 concerns knowing where one’s priorities lie.
Treasure stored on earth is of not much use because it is temporary and passing
and gathers rust and also can be stolen. Rather heavenly treasure is permanent
and eternal. A person’s attention will be concentrated on where his/her
treasure is. Thus instead of concentrating on the temporary it is better to
concentrate on the eternal, the impermanent. If one does not perceive
correctly, one’s whole orientation will be incorrect and one will live a life
of futility, concentrating on what is really not essential.
Sometimes
we lose focus in our lives and waste so much time on trifles. We are so
concentrated on gathering up for tomorrow and the next day, that the present
day passes us by and we find that we have live it unaware. An occasional
examination of our priorities is required to bring back our focus on what is
really necessary.
Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Thursday, June 19, 2025 - Is there someone who you think has hurt you whom you have not yet forgiven? Will you forgive that person today?
To read the texts click on the texts: 2 Cor 11:1-11; Mt 6:7-15
In the text of today, we read what is commonly known as the "Our Father". However, a better term for this would be "The Lord's Prayer". The reason for this is because there are two versions of the same prayer. The other is found in Lk. 11, 2-4. There, the pronoun "Our" is missing and the prayer begins simply with "Father". Also the context of the prayer in Matthew and Luke is different. While in Matthew the prayer is told in the context of the Sermon of the Mount, in Luke it is told in response to the disciples’ request to Jesus to teach them how to pray (Lk 11,1). Be that as it may, in both Matthew and Luke the point is clear that the prayer is primarily a prayer of dependence on God who is Father. This dependence is for something as dramatic and magnificent as the Kingdom and also for something as routine and regular as bread. Both prayers have also the theme of forgiveness, which is received from God and given to others.
The
Lord’s Prayer is not just a prayer; it is also a way of life. The words of the
prayer communicate the attitude that one must have toward God and others. While
we must acknowledge our dependence on God for everything that we need and
regard him always as the primary cause, our attitude to others must be one of
acceptance and forgiveness.
Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 - How often have you made “means” ends in themselves?
To read the texts click on the texts: 2 Cor 9:6-11; Mt 6:1-6,16-18
Immediately
after the six antitheses (5,21-48) in the Sermon on the Mount, there follows
instructions on three practices that were common among the Pharisees as a sign
of closeness to God namely almsgiving, prayer and fasting. All three though
only a means to reach God can be made ends in themselves. Almsgiving can be
ostentatious, prayer can be used to show-off and fasting can be used to point
to one’s self. Jesus cautions the listeners about these dangers and challenges
them to make them all internal activities that will lead the way to God rather
than being made ends in themselves.
For
us as Christians, Jesus has simplified matters. There is absolutely no
obligation in the Christian way of life except the obligation to love. When
there is love then all our actions come from our hearts and spontaneously
without counting the cost. Almsgiving becomes generous and spontaneous, prayer
becomes union with God and leads to action and fasting is done in order to show
our dependence on God and not on earthly things.