Breaking the Word

26^th Week in Ord. Time, Friday – 30^th September 2022 — Gospel: Lk 10,13-16

God Cares as Community

Jesus demonstrates lots of emotion in this passage. He chastises the Jewish towns because their citizens were insensitive to God’s invitations. Jesus would not chastise the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum if they were incapable of choosing their response to witnessing his “mighty deeds.” Somehow, their hearts had been hardened and God’s loving voice couldn’t penetrate. And this mattered to Jesus. We are free, and we can choose to follow God’s call or to accept God’s invitation of mercy.  However, His heart is not indifferent to the indifference of the people he loves and wants to fill with His grace and blessings. In this manner, God is constantly intervening in the life of his people, constantly calling them to trust him and follow him. And even though they often do not or will not hear and heed him, he will not give up simply. He continues to call, to invite, to speak out because he cares for each of us individually and as a community. Choice to listen to Him depends upon each one of us.

Archangels Michael, Gabriel & Raphael, Tuesday – 29^th September 2022 — Gospel: Jn 1,47-51

Transformation in Revelation

Engagement between divine messengers and humanity is not a new phenomenon. An angle of the Lord found Hagar by a spring of water in the wilderness 9Gen 16,7). An angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flaming bush (Ex 3,2). Today we honour the three “messengers” who are named as the archangels in Hebrew Scriptures.  Michael is seen as the one who battles against the satanic forces in the world (Jude 1,9; Rev 12,7).  The name “Michael” means “one who is like God.” Gabriel is the messenger who is sent to announce the birth of both John the Baptist and Jesus (Lk 1,19.26). Gabriel means “Strength of God.” Raphael brings God’s healing to the family of Toby by healing Tobit of blindness, uniting Tobias with Sarah and reuniting the family of Tobit (Tob 3,17; 5,4; 8,4). Raphael means “Healed by God.”

In the Gospel, we find the descriptive narration of Nathanael’s encounter with Jesus. It is a beautiful example of how Jesus treats his followers as individuals. He knows each of us by name and what is deep down in our hearts. Nathanael seems to be overcome with amazement because Jesus knew him more deeply than anyone had ever known him before. Jesus’ intimate knowledge of Nathanael and the revelation that he makes of him leads to a transformation in Nathanael and he responds to Jesus with different levels of faith.  He begins his confession with “Rabbi,” he moves on to recognizing Jesus as “Son of God” and finally as “King of Israel”. In giving permission to God to enter into the depths of our hearts, we truly experience the unfathomable personal love of God, which allows us to transform and lead us to union with him.