“Bringing back the ‘spotlight’ on the essentials of Christian Life!”
(Based on Heb 7:25-8:6 and Mk 3:7-12 – Thursday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)
It was a tense afternoon in the September of the year 1594.
The Bishop of Geneva in France, had convoked a meeting of all his clergy.
There was an urgent need for priests to go to a place named Chablais.
Chablais was a territory in Geneva, which had been under political and religious siege.
Around fifty priests in this place had been banished.
Many churches had been burnt and devastated.
Chablais had become a place of terror for the Catholic Church.
It had become infamous for its terrible persecution of the Catholic Faith.
It’s in this horrifying situation, that the Bishop of the place had called for a meeting…
… to ask for volunteers to go to this place and renew the faith.
But none came forward…
None were willing to risk their lives…
It’s at this point, that there came a gentle yet firm voice – “My Lord, if you think that I am capable of it, command me, I am ready!”
The voice was of St Francis de Sales.
His own father considered this decision as “utter madness”
Perhaps, the other priests and clergy would have also felt this decision as a “crazy one”
The risk of being driven out, failing in his undertaking and of becoming a laughing stock of the world was great indeed.
But St Francis de Sales stood firm to His decision.
It was a decision which perhaps defied reasons…
It was a decision which perhaps seemed out of senses…
But this decision was to become the turning point of a spiritual revolution!
St Francis de Sales was convinced, that nothing is greater than “seeking and doing” the Will of God.
He would in fact, later in life, say:
“Do everything calmly and peacefully.
Strive to see God in all things without exception, and consent to His will joyously.
Do everything for God, uniting yourself to him in word and deed.”
What about our Christian Life?
Is it centered on seeking and doing the Will of God, at every moment, in every situation?
The Gospel of the Day is a narrative of Jesus displaying His conviction and commitment to the Kingdom of God…
… and his tremendous zeal and passion in doing His Father’s Will!
Jesus was in the thick of His ministry…
… and was attracting a large number of people.
St Mark beautifully presents this attractive power of the Lord through the words:
“A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.
Hearing what He was doing, a large number of people came to Him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan and from the neighbourhood of Tyre and Sidon” (Mk 3: 7-8)
The popularity of the Lord was spreading far and wide…
His power over sin had many to look up to Him…
His authoritative teaching was astonishing to many…
His dominance over evil spirits was awe-inspiring for many…
His amazing healing power had caused a stir among people…
Such fame also brought along with it…
… jealousy and hatred
… animosity among the leaders of the time
… divisions among His followers and His detesters
Yet…
… with all such external fame and popularity
… with all such outer dangers and threats
Jesus remained focus!
Jesus brings to focus the importance…
… to seek and do God’s Will
… to always say YES with respect to the works of the Kingdom!
What is our own attitude and mentality…
Am I concerned more with worldly affairs or do I engage myself more into spiritual realities?
Am I disturbed more by earthly concerns or do I share more the anxiety for spiritual growth?
Am I obsessed more with worldly gains or do I be zealous for spiritual graces and blessings?
Very often we lose our focus…
Very often we lose sight of the proper track…
The Lord, today, brings back the “spotlight” on the essentials of Christian Life.
Christian life sometimes gets diluted with too many “social” concerns…
… at the expense of spiritual realities.
Christian life sometimes gets polluted with too many “interdisciplinary” matters…
… at the expense of true faith and teachings.
Christian life sometimes gets ruined with too many “compromising” practices…
… at the expense of Gospel values and standards.
May we seek the mighty intercession of the Gentleman Saint to “Seek and Do” God’s Will at all times and thus “soar in the skies of sanctity”
God Bless! Live Jesus!
Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
SPEAKING OF GOD IN A MEANINGFUL WAY
In speaking about God, our language uses human modes of expression…
… nevertheless it really does attain to God himself, though unable to express him in his infinite simplicity.
Likewise, we must recall that “between Creator and creature, no similitude can be expressed without implying an even greater dissimilitude”…
Reflection Capsules 