“Preparing our hearts to receive God’s Word as He wishes, and seeking to live, in total accordance with Him!”

(Based on Sir 48:1-4, 9-11 and Mt 17:9a,10-13 – Saturday of the 2nd Week in Advent)

It was December in the year 1903.

After several attempts, the Wright brothers – achieved success in getting their “flying machine” off the land.

They were very much thrilled!

They telegraphed this message Katherine, their sister, informing her of the great invention:
“We have actually flown 120 feet! Will be home for Christmas”

The sister was also super-excited.
>> She rushed to the editor of the local newspaper, to share the great news and showed him the telegraph message.

The editor glanced at the message and said:
“How nice! So the boys will be home for Christmas!”


Oh! The Editor had completely missed the big news – that man had flown for the first time in history!


How often is this our experience too in life – Missing the Important Points and settling for lower ones!

We fail to give attention to the most important things of life
>> Instead, we get carried away by some other less priorities of life!

This is so true, especially with respect to the Word of God
>> The Lord promises so many wonderful things in His Holy Word..
… but often, we miss the point.


Something similar had happened to the people of Israel as well…
>> God had promised them of the coming of the Messiah…
… but they missed the point..
… and thus, failed to recognise the Saviour He came!

God had promised that Prophet Elijah of old would return…
… but they missed the point…
… and thus, failed to recognize the Prophet when he came!


This is what Jesus points out to His disciples in today’s Gospel, when He says:
“I tell you, Elijah has already come and they did not recognise him; but did to him, whatever they pleased” (Mt 17: 12)


John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, had come, preaching the message of repentance and conversion of heart (Mt 3:1)

The Gospel says that John the Baptist…
… wore a clothing made of camel’s hair
… had a leather belt around his waist
… had food of locusts and wild honey (Mt 4: 4)

This appearance was very similar to that of Elijah, the Prophet (2 Kings 1:8)


But in their encounter with John the Baptist, the people failed to recognise him as the “Elijah who was to come”

And thus John the Baptist came to be …
… rejected
… derided
… finally killed!


Many times in our life, we too “miss the point” in our encounter with the Lord…

>> He gives His Beautiful Word to us…
… but we fail to be encouraged by It and live by It

>> He makes many wonderful promises of assurance and guidance…
… but we fail to live a life of trust and confidence

>> He offers Himself wonderfully in the Sacraments, especially Confession and Holy Eucharist…
… but we fail to derive the necessary fruits from Them


Today, the Gospel invites us, to look at God’s Promises, God’s Word’s and God’s Will…
… and discover the true purpose of it in our lives.


This is more true as we prepare for Christmas…
Jesus is the BIG POINT of the Christmas
>> Let us dare not “miss Him!”


Let us prepare our hearts to receive His Word as He wishes, in our life…
… and seek to live, in total accord with Him!


God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON – THE GIFTS AND FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
>> The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them.
>> They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations.
>> “Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.
>> For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. If children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.” (CCC # 1831)
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