“Being ready to be ‘compatible’ with the Ways and Commandments of God!”
(Based on Acts 15:1-6 and Jn 15:1-8 – Wednesday of 5th Week in Eastertide)
“Compatibility” is a term that is increasingly becoming a common word in our everyday vocabulary, thanks to the widespread usage of computers and mobiles.
Compatibility refers to a state in which two things are able to exist or occur together without problems or conflict.
It is the capacity for two systems to work together, without having to be altered to do so.
Eg. A computer which has a Windows 98 Operating System (the very old version) will not be able to support many of the latest programs and softwares…
It is because of a “compatibility” issue.
Eg. A mobile, like the old Nokia 1100, without an Android-base, will not be able to have many of the new applications like WhatsApp or Signal etc…
It is because of a “compatibility” issue.
This compatibility issue can also appear in our spiritual life…
When we are not in proper terms with God, we fail to understand many of His plans for us.
When we are not in line with God’s Will, we lose out on grasping many of His aspirations for us
And that is why the Lord will tell, in today’s Gospel, “Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own, unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in Me!” (Jn 15:4b)
The modern trend is often to “do things by one’s own capability!”
With the advancement in science, technology and communication…
… human beings seems to be becoming more and more independent and self-reliant.
This tendency, however, also hampers a Christian’s understanding of God and His “undeniable” Role in the affairs of the world.
God is often forgotten and side-lined…
… when there is economic prosperity!
… when there is abundance of luxury and comfort!
… when there is a “false sense” of surety that “all is well” in life!
But when such “materialistic comforts” are lost…
… people rush to God and “cry out for His Favour!”
The Lord, however, in today’s Gospel clearly points out…
… that “unless we remain in Him, we can never be truly successful!”
God is the only Foundation on which can be built the Towers of Success!
God is the only Compass that can lead to the proper destination of Joy in the journey of life!
This “remaining in Him” requires “Compatibility!”
Are we ready to be “compatible” with the Ways and Commandments of God?
Very often our life is not “compatible” with the requirements of Jesus, and His Gospel!
Our thought-pattern often fails to be “compatible” with the teachings of the Church….
Our relationship with others, often fails to be “compatible” with the command of love of all…
Our personal following of Jesus, often fails to be “compatible” with our dual mind of seeking also the pleasures of this world….
A great deal of “incompatibility” is often experienced by us, in the spiritual realm.
Let us seek to “update” our lives with the love and power of the Holy Spirit.
Let us pledge to “upgrade” our lifestyles with the convictions and truths of the Holy Gospel.
Let us thirst for Him.
Let us long for Him.
God Bless! Live Jesus!
Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
THE VISIBLE WORLD
The hierarchy of creatures is expressed by the order of the “six days”, from the less perfect to the more perfect. God loves all his creatures and takes care of each one, even the sparrow. Nevertheless, Jesus said: “You are of more value than many sparrows”
Man is the summit of the Creator’s work, as the inspired account expresses by clearly distinguishing the creation of man from that of the other creatures.
There is a solidarity among all creatures arising from the fact that all have the same Creator and are all ordered to His glory.
The Sabbath – the end of the work of the six days. The sacred text says that “on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done”, that the “heavens and the earth were finished”, and that God “rested” on this day and sanctified and blessed it. These inspired words are rich in profitable instruction.
In creation God laid a foundation and established laws that remain firm, on which the believer can rely with confidence, for they are the sign and pledge of the unshakeable faithfulness of God’s covenant. For his part man must remain faithful to this foundation, and respect the laws which the Creator has written into it.
Creation was fashioned with a view to the Sabbath and therefore for the worship and adoration of God. Worship is inscribed in the order of creation.
As the rule of St. Benedict says, nothing should take precedence over “the work of God”, that is, solemn worship. This indicates the right order of human concerns.
The Sabbath is at the heart of Israel’s law. To keep the commandments is to correspond to the wisdom and the will of God as expressed in his work of creation.
The eighth day: But for us a new day has dawned: the day of Christ’s Resurrection…
… the seventh day completes the first creation.
… the eighth day begins the new creation.
Reflection Capsules 