“Making a journey from a ‘dead lifeless existence’ to a ‘dynamically passionate living!’”
(Based on 1 Tim 3:1-13 and Lk 7:11-17 – Tuesday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)
“Alice in Wonderland” is a popular 1865 novel.
It tells of a girl named Alice falling through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world.
One of the conversations, in this book, between Alice and a cat goes thus…
Alice: “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here”?
Cat: “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to”
Alice: “I don’t much care where”….”So long as I get somewhere.”
Cat: “Then it doesn’t much matter which way you go!”
Many times, like Alice we are such…
… we don’t really know where are going
… we are not aware of the destination towards which are we moving
As a result, we fail to realise the importance of the “Journey” that we make.
The Gospel of the Day is an invitation to examine our “life as a journey”…
… and to come to a greater awareness, of how the Lord, Who is “The Way”, needs to become “our Road, our Direction as well as our Destination!”
Life is a constant journey.
Our lives are filled with all sorts of journeys…
Short and long journeys…
Journeys in our minds and hearts…
Journeys towards God and away from God..
… Journeys that are as trivial as a trip to a shop..
… or as life-changing, as a trip to the hospital to witness the miracle of birth!
Our lives are made up of many such journeys: journeys that shape and mould us into who we are today.
Our earthly life, too, is a journey that begins at birth and ends with death.
With each passing day, one moves a step closer to the eventual-reality of one’s earthly life: death!
The Gospel of the Day – the incident of the raising of the dead son of the widow in the city of Nain – presents several journeys in an atmosphere of death and life:
- The Journey of Jesus
Jesus the Preacher and Healer was on mission journey.
His words influenced and inspired many people – the sinful, the broken and the hopeless!
His deeds healed and touched many people – the sick, the ailing and the bedridden.
Do I make a journey similar to the Lord in being a messenger of mercy and hope to the suffering world?
Do I make a journey in the ministry of the Lord by reaching out the Gospel of Joy to a depressed humanity?
- The Journey of the people accompanying Jesus
There were many followers and people (Lk 7:11) who were attracted to the magnetic personality of the Lord…
… and who after seeing the amazing miracle of the dead man raised, begin to glorify God with loud acclaims.
Many people were touched by the charm and miracles of the Lord.
Many people were overwhelmed by the grand deeds and mighty works of the Lord.
They make a journey, with Jesus – From a “Curious Following” to realizing the “Divine Presence” in their midst!
Do I make a journey to move from a ‘peripheral following’ of Jesus to a ‘deeper seeking of His Presence’?
Do I make a journey from mere ‘external praises’ to a ‘heart-involved acclamation’ of the Lord?
- The Journey of the crowd accompanying the dead man’s bier
It was a time of sadness and grief for the people who accompanied the dead man’s bier. (Lk 7: 11b)
Some of them would have been his relatives, some his friends, some his neighbours and some just unknown people.
But the reality of death, especially of a young man, hit all of them hard.
Death had cast its pale gloom on the minds of them all!
They however, make a journey with Jesus – from a ‘sad mourning’ over a death to ‘joyful applauses’ over a life!
Am I able to make a journey from dead and lifeless situations to lively and enthusiastic moments with the Lord?
Am I able to make a journey from gloom and sadness to splendid joy and happiness in the Lord?
- The Journey of the Widow
The grieving mother is a widow (Lk 7: 12a)…
… and since it is her only son who has died, she finds herself in dire straits: She has no male to protect or provide for her.
To add injury to sorrow, she is faced with the reality that her family line has ended with the death of her son.
She too makes a journey with Jesus: From absolute hopelessness and despondency to a fresh lease of hope and life!
Do I journey with Jesus to have my situations of total despair be changed to thrilling moments?
Do I journey with Jesus to allow my life-threatening instants to be converted to blessed occasions?
- The Journey of the Dead Man
Death spares no one – regardless of status or age.
The dead man had to undergo this tragic reality at a younger stage of his life.
He would have been the only strong support of his family, after the death of his father.
And now, the bread winner was reduced to absolute starvation!
He too, however makes a journey with Jesus: From the dungeons of death to the glorious castles of life!
Can I make a journey from a “quit-easily” style of life to a “committed” style of life?
Can I make a journey from “luck-dependant” lifestyle to a “God’s Providence-aware” lifestyle?
Life itself is a journey where each day is a step closer to the eventual-reality of one’s earthly life: death!
Let us beautify this journey by constantly travelling with Jesus and undergoing many transformations!
In this life, we have the Church which supports and replenishes us…
… with her life-enriching and life-giving Sacraments – especially the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Let us adorn this journey with the jewels of the Holy Sacraments that our Church provides us with!
Let us not remain ignorant regarding the purpose or destination of our life journey…
… Let us come to a greater realisation that “The Lord is our Road, Our Direction and Our Destination!”
Today, let us ask the intercession of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian…
… whose feast we celebrate.
St Cornelius, as Pope, stood firm in unity and mercy, defending the Church against division and persecution.
St Cyprian, as Bishop, guided his flock with wisdom, courage, and a shepherd’s heart:
Their life witness reminds us that…
… we are called to “journey from a dead, lifeless existence to a dynamically passionate living in Christ.”
God Bless! Live Jesus!
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fifth Commandment – Respect for human life
It is an illusion to claim moral neutrality in scientific research and its applications.
On the other hand, guiding principles cannot be inferred from simple technical efficiency…… or from the usefulness accruing to some at the expense of others or, even worse, from prevailing ideologies. (CCC # 2294)
Reflection Capsules 