Breaking the Word – Page 2276 – Rev. Dr. Victor Antonyraj SDB

24.06.11 JOHN THE BAPTIST

Posted under Reflections on June 24th, 2011 by

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, "No. He will be called John." But they answered her, "There is no one among your relatives who has this name." So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, "What, then, will this child be?" For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel. (Lk 1:57-66, 80)

The birth of the son is a happy event. The neighbours and friends rejoiced with the mother. It was because the God had shown his mercy towards her. Birth of the child is not a mere physiological event. It is not just a natural event or a casual event. For a believer is the outcome of the mercy of God. That is why every believer thinks that for the birth of the child three persons are involved: the father of the child, the mother of the child and God.

Naming of the child is an important event for the Jews. The name revealed the character of the person. It revealed the qualities of the person. So they chose the name in such a way that the child’s character was found in it or at least the character they wanted the child to possess. Naming of the event is also a community event because the community is the witness to the character of the child and the community has the responsibility to see the growth of the child according to the name.

Naming of the child makes the father of the child to be free to speak. Naming of the child gives authority to the father to speak openly on public. It makes the relatives and friends wonder. It may be due to the collective responsibility towards their role in making the child to be what it should become. Since the hand of God was in with the child, he grew to be what he should be.

23.06.11 WORD OF GOD

Posted under Reflections on June 23rd, 2011 by

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?' Then I will declare to them solemnly, 'I never knew you Depart from me, you evildoers.' "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined." When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. (Mt 7:21-29)

Jesus gives a clear description of the people who will enter the kingdom of God. All those who express God as Lord and pray to him addressing him as Lord are not the ones that will enter. Even those, who prophecy in the name of the Lord, are not the ones who will enter. Even the miracle workers and the exorcists are not the ones to enter the kingdom. Jesus clearly rules out those who address God and the prophets and the miracle workers.

Kingdom of God is meant only for those do the will of the father. God has a plan for the creation and he has a plan for everyone and his plan and his will need to be discerned by the people and exercised. Probably will of god is not revealed in prophecy and mighty works. (They may contain in most cases but not in all). That is why the discernment of the will of god is very important. Jesus himself in the garden of Gethsemane said “not my will but thy will be done”. It was difficult for Jesus to discern the will of God. He asked the disciples to pray with him while he discerned.

Word of god is the sure ground on which one be secure. Probably Jesus intends to say that in the word of God one will be able to find the will of God. That is why he give the parable of the building on the word of God. Anyone who builds on the word of God is sure of safety and security and stability.