Breaking the Word – Page 2353 – Rev. Dr. Victor Antonyraj SDB

06.02.11 GOOD DEEDS & GOD’S GLORY

Posted under Reflections on February 5th, 2011 by

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. (Mt 5:13-16).

Salt is to give taste and season the food. Jesus tells his listeners that they are the salt of the earth. His disciples are to give taste to the earth and season the earth. His followers are not just to live and let live the others. Their life is not self oriented either. Life of any disciple of Jesus has to communicate something to the people around. Disciples have to season the world and give taste to the world.

Disciples are also light of the world. They have to illumine the world and they have to be visible. Again, like the salt, light is not for itself. It is for the others. And the qualities of light are to be seen and illumine the others. Disciples lives are to give light to the others.

Good deeds of the disciples are the salt and light. Jesus concludes thus saying that the people may see your good deeds and give glory to God. Good deeds of the disciples should add taste to the world and season the world. Good deeds also should illumine the world and be seen as good deeds. These good deeds are those that give glory to God. The disciples should not expect rewards for themselves for the good deeds done. The goal of the good deeds is the glory of God.

05.02.11 COMPASSION

Posted under Reflections on February 4th, 2011 by

The apostlesgathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. (Mk 6:30-34)

The disciples came back to Jesus after their successful mission. They knew from whom they got the power and authority to teach and heal and they returned to him to report about their successes. Probably the people would have expected that the apostles continued their work on their own. Since the power and authority was with them they could have continued on their own. They were aware that these were from Jesus and they wanted to be accountable to Jesus.

Jesus wanted his apostles to rest a while. He did not want them to be work oriented. Work was important and in fact it was he who had said that the harvest is plenty. Even though the mission was enormous yet he did not want his apostles to be burned up before time. And it was Jesus who took them to a deserted place to rest and be without disturbances from the people.

But when Jesus saw the crowd following and searching for them, Jesus could not but go to be of help to them. People became his main and only concern. When people long for assistance Jesus is ready offer even though it might be demanding. Jesus was ready to sacrifice anything for the people who search for him. And that was his compassion.