“Let the experience of the ‘Divine tug’ keep us moving forward and to depend on Divine Presence for strength in life!”
(Based on Hos 11: 1,3-4,8c-9 and Mt 10:7-15 – Thursday of the 14th Week of Ordinary Time)
A story is told of a blind boy who was flying a kite.
He enjoyed this pastime along with others of his own age.
A passer-by, knowing him and wanting to mildly tease the blind-fellow, said:
‘Hey, boy! Do you know where your kite is?
You don’t know whether it is on the ground or up in the sky, do you?’
‘Oh yes,’ said the blind lad, ‘I do know! It is now quite a fair height up in the air.’
How do you know that?’ asked the passer-by, ‘you surely can’t see it.’
The boy replied, ‘I can’t see it, it is true, but I can feel the tug of the string!’
The ‘tug’ of the string help the boy to realise the presence of the kite and to sense its height in the air!
The awareness of the presence of the Divine power in our lives, is such…
One may not be able to always see the presence of the Divine, but the believer can surely experience its power and strength!
This experience of “the Divine tug of the string” keeps the life of the believer moving forward and helps to depend on the Divine Presence for strength in life.
The Gospel of the Day is an invitation by Jesus to grow deeper in this “awareness and dependence” on Jesus in our life as a missionary of the Kingdom of God.
After having summoned, authorized and named His Twelve Apostles, Jesus sends them ahead of Him, to the places of mission.
The Gospel of the day begins with the phrase, “Preach, as you go…” (Mt 10:7)
Some other translations would read as “As you go, make a proclamation…”
This is such wonderfully practical, and yet at the same time, a phrase that is often overlooked: “Preach, as you go….” / “As you go… make a proclamation”
Preaching or Proclamation in our times, is often pictured with a limited understanding…
Preaching or proclamation that takes place…
… only from the pulpit or during a service in Church
… only in the form of speaking and explaining the Word of God
But the words of the Lord are worth noting:
“Preach, as you go….” / “As you go… make a proclamation”
Preach, as you go about doing your daily duties and activities
As you go about your responsibilities and works, make a proclamation
Preach as you go around meeting different people by sharing His love and joy to all
As you go about engaging in numerous actions, make a proclamation by sharing His presence
The act of preaching and proclamation of the Kingdom of God is to be reflected in our every action and movement…
• Whatever we do, may it become an act of proclaiming God’s abundant blessings!
• Whatever work we take up, may it become a moment of preaching God’s amazing providence!
Such an act of Preaching and Proclamation makes it mandatory that one grows deeper in the “awareness and dependence” on Jesus in the life as a missionary of the Kingdom of God.
The act of proclamation needs the “awareness” that I am continuing the Great Mission work that has Jesus as the “Initiator”, the “Sustainer” and the “Finale”!
The act of preaching needs the “dependency” on the Lord to realize that the Lord alone can provide all the graces, strength and courage for the mission!
One needs to feel the “tug and the pull of the Divine Lord”…when one goes through
… hardships and difficulties in being a missionary of the Kingdom, in hostile situations
… problems and challenges as we seek to live a true Christian life in the modern world
… meaninglessness or emptiness as we go through the ‘deserts’ and ‘darkness’ in life
Prophet Hosea beautifully depicts the affectionate love of the Lord for each one of us – represented by the nation Israel…
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms…
… I led them with cords of compassion, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one…!” (Hos 11:1-4)
Yes, it is an experience of “the Divine tug of the string” that keeps the life of the believer moving forward and to depend on the Divine Presence for strength in life!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Love renders the charm of what we love so pleasing…
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