“Choosing the ‘Good Book’ of God’s Word and living it in our lives!”

(Based on Prov 21:1-6, 10-13 and Lk 8:19-21 – Tuesday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

There was a wealthy old man, who on one of his birthdays invited his servants to his house, to receive gifts.

“Which will you have” he asked, addressing the security guard, “the Bible or the two thousand-rupee note?”

“I would have taken the Bible, but I cannot read, so I think the money will do me good” came the reply.

“And you?” he asked the gardener.

“My poor wife is so ill that I sadly need the money,” responded the gardener.

“You can surely read”, said the old man to the cook, “Will you have the Bible?”

“I can read, Sir” she replied, “but I never get the time. Moreover, the money will fetch me a fine dress”

Finally to the table-boy, the master said, “My boy, will you take this money and replace your old clothes with a new pair of fine dress?”

“Thank you Sir” said the young boy, “but my mother used to read to me the Bible when I was small, at home. I still have good memories of that, and therefore would like to have that Good Book, please…”

“God bless you, my boy!” said the old man, “and may your wise choice bring you more riches and blessings”

As the boy received the Bible, and unclasped its covers, a bright gold piece rolled to the floor.
Quickly turning its pages, he found them thickly interleaved with bank notes!

The other servants, discovering the mistake of their worldly desires, hastily departed, in sadness!

The one who makes a choice to live by the Word of God, receives blessings galore – spiritual and material.
… Spiritually, with gifts and graces to love the Lord more and live a life in deeper union with Him
.. Materially, with a grace to be satisfied with the needs of life and trusting on the Providence of God

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus exhorting to make a choice for God’s Word in one’s life…
… and to tune one’s conduct in accord with the Will of God, in order to be graced and blessed by Him.

One of the primary focus of Jesus, in His teachings as well in His life, was to shift the focus from the mere peripherals of life…

Often, we are deeply prejudiced, limited, caught-up, with the external factors of life.

We are unable to transcend just material dimensions…

This applies to any of the aspects in life…

We get stuck with our own customs, cultures, languages, races, castes etc, and fail to move beyond them…
… and see the possibilities of cherishing and nurturing these differences

We remain fixated in our own mentalities, conditioned set-ups and set patterns of lifestyles…
… and fail to recognize that life can be greatly celebrated by valuing others opinions and adopting a lifestyle in tune with God’s Will

This principle Jesus also applies to his own material and physical relationships.

He defines a new understanding of familial relationship and bonding: A relationship based on those who “hear God’s Word and do It” (Lk 8: 21)

What a wonderful invitation this is, isn’t it?

Jesus says, that we can be part of His family… be His own!

This is a lovely invitation extended to each of us…

Shall we not welcome this invitation with glad hearts and follow the exhortation of the Lord – to Hear His Word and to Live It?”

The book of Proverbs reminds us: “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice!” (Prov 21:2-3)

Let us seek to move beyond the peripherals of life and focus our attention on the higher and important demands of life.

The Lord’s assurance is with us, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things shall be added unto you” (Mt 6: 33)

Let us make a choice, not simply for worldly desires…
… instead choose the “Good Book” of God’s Word and live it in our lives.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE EUCHARIST IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION – The sacrificial memorial of Christ and of his Body, the Church

In the sense of Sacred Scripture, the memorial is not merely the recollection of past events but the proclamation of the mighty works wrought by God for men.
In the liturgical celebration of these events, they become in a certain way present and real.

This is how Israel understands its liberation from Egypt: every time Passover is celebrated, the Exodus events are made present to the memory of believers so that they may conform their lives to them. (CCC #1363)