Breaking the Word

30th Week in Ord. Time, Monday – 30th October 2023 — Romans 8,12-17; Lk 13,10-17

Becoming Adopted Children
In the first reading, Paul emphasizes beautifully about our relationship with God through faith in Christ (Rom 8,15). He describes how God has changed every Christian’s relationship with Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. All those who have God’s Spirit are God’s children. The Spirit, then, leads everyone in a specific direction away from their sinful choices. Why does God do this? It’s because we are God’s children. Therefore, God’s children are led by the Spirit of God. Earlier, Paul wrote that through faith in Christ we are freed from slavery to sin and become “slaves to righteousness” (Rom 6,18) or “slaves to God” (Rom 6,22). God rescued us from sin to make us His children. In other words, God legally changed the status of those who come to Him by faith in Christ as sons and daughters. Further, Paul insists that God gave us the Spirit of adoption as his children. This Spirit of adoption is another name Paul gives to the Holy Spirit. This Spirit allows us to cry out to God as a loving daddy. That’s the relationship God wants with us, and He has made it possible through the Spirit.

Feasts of Sts. Simon and Jude, Saturday – 28^th October 2023 — Gospel: Lk 12,35-38

Zealous Apostles

Today the church celebrates the memory of two of the twelve apostles. In the Scriptures, little is known of Jude and Simon except that their names are included in the list of the twelve apostles. Jude is mentioned in the list by Luke, whereas Matthew and Mark mention Thaddeus. Therefore, Jude or Thaddeus are the same person. Simon is mentioned in the list by all the four evangelists. In two of the Gospels, he is referred to as “a zealot” but the Scriptures do not speak of his activities as a zealot. This title probably indicates that he belonged to a Jewish sect that represented an extreme of Jewish nationalism. Jude is regarded as patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes. Simon is identified as a man of great religious zeal.

Like others, Simon and Jude responded generously to Jesus’ invitation to join him in his healing work and missionary endeavour. Jesus called them out of the crowd “to himself” (Lk 6,13) for a mission that would include founding or building his Church and dying one day for the faith. He drew them close to befriend them, to teach them and to train them for their mission. A disciple who remains close to Jesus will be sure to accomplish His will.