Breaking the Word

St.Thomas the Apostle, Monday  – 3^rd July 2023 — Gospel: Jn 20, 24-29

Transcending Human Weakness

We need to appreciate and admire the humanness and faith of the apostles in Jesus, especially after his resurrection. This equanimous status was not the same in all the apostles. As we know from the Gospel, in the case of Thomas it was shattered. All the apostles knew Jesus before, saw his work, heard his words, and followed him. Yet at times, it was difficult, sometimes dangerous, but they continued to have their firm belief in him. In faith we need to make that leap, to go against common sense and our basic instincts. It seems Thomas hit a point where he couldn’t make that leap based on what the other apostles told him. Thomas needed the experience of risen Jesus to transcend his human weakness. In that personal encounter, Jesus acknowledges the humanity of the doubt by saying, “Blessed are those who have not seen and believed.” Every time we pray, every time we join in a family or community for worship we take that leap of faith. When we pray in thanksgiving or gratitude, whether we are desperate or lonely, we are making that leap. In an often broken world, when taking that leap of faith is hard, risen Jesus is there to strengthen us with his fidelity and kindness. We are encouraged by the words of St.Paul, that we are all part of a community with Jesus as the cornerstone, and in him we are being built together (Eph 2,20-21).

12^th Week in Ord. Time, Saturday – 1^st July 2023 – Genesis 18,1-15; Mt 8,5-17

Blessings of Hospitality

In the first reading, true to the culture of his time, Abraham offers hospitality to three strangers who pass his tent pitched near the tree of Mamre. Abraham ran forward to greet them and bowed profoundly before them. He immediately asks them to accept the hospitality of his tent. At first, Abraham sees his guests as mere human beings and welcomes them warmly; their superhuman character is only gradually revealed.  He offers them water to wash their hot and dusty feet and suggests they take some rest under the shade of a tree. He goes out of his way to invite them to have some food and refresh themselves before continuing his journey. He tells Sarah to take almost three measures of flour in order to prepare rolls. He himself chooses a tender to be slaughtered and prepared for the guests. Obviously, the meals prepared for Abraham’s guests were more than sufficient for three visitors to eat at one meal. Finally, Abraham himself serves his visitors rather than by one of his own servants to serve them. After the three have enjoyed the generosity of Abraham, they issue a promise of a birth of a son within a year’s time. Thus, Abraham becomes the model of typical courtesy and hospitality to the stranger and at the same manifests the hospitality of the Ancient Near Eastern culture.