Thursday 1st August,
2019. Bible Study: Ex. 40:16-21; 34-38, Ps. 84 & Matthew 13:47-53)_
_“How
lovely is thy dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yea, faints for
the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.” *(Psalm
84:1-2)
The
Psalmist today sings: “How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place O Lord, Mighty God.”
Does it often occur to me that when I walk into a church I am actually at home?
Am I able to relax knowing that God is right there? In our first reading today,
we are told: “Then the cloud covered the meeting tent and the glory of the
LORD filled the Dwelling. Moses could not enter the meeting tent, because the
cloud settled down upon it and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling.”
The
Israelites had the privilege of seeing the glory of God in the form of a thick
cloud. If only God could open our eyes to see his glory, ascending and
descending upon the tabernacle, we would not be able to contain ourselves.
As the
Psalmist sings: My soul is yearning longing and yearning, waiting to be in
God’s presence. A day in God’s house is better than a thousand elsewhere! I
would rather dwell in the foot-mats of God’s house than have a three-bedroom
suite in the devil’s mansion.
Jesus
compares the kingdom of heaven to a net that is thrown into the river and
catches both big fish and small fish. This parable is similar to that of the weeds
and wheat. In the church, you have all kinds of people; those who are there to
worship God and those who are there to steal, kill and destroy; those who are there
to repent (and begin a new life) and those who are there to recruit souls for
the devil; those who are there to better their lives and those who are there to
attack, divide and cause a commotion.
By giving
us the parable of the small fish and big fish, Jesus is saying that even if you
are a small fish, God will keep giving you a second chance to grow into a big
fish. This is why the fishermen throw back the small fishes into the river.
You
remember Ananias and Sapphira? What sin did they commit that warranted their immediate
deaths? They told a lie. Do you know God can decide to strike you down if you
enter the church after telling a lie? But God hasn’t struck you because you are
just a small fish for now. Repent today. Don’t wait till it’s too late. No one
knows the last day.
Today we celebrate the memorial of
St. Alphonsus Maria de’Ligori, the founder of the Order of the Congregation of
the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists). He was an Italian Catholic Bishop,
spiritual writer, composer, musician, artist, poet, lawyer, scholastic
philosopher and theologian. He was born on 27th of September, 1696
and died on this day 1st of August, 1787 at Pagini, in Italy.
Amongst his favourite quotes include:
“Acquire the habit of speaking to God as if you were alone with Him, familiarly
and with confidence and love, as to the dearest and most loving of friends. Your
God is ever beside you - indeed, He is even within you.”
St. Alphonsus works for which he
holds the title of Doctor of the Church continues to inspire growth in the spiritual
life today. Reading through his Sunday homilies, I felt as though they were
written just yesterday. Indeed, we can only say St. Alphonsus like the writers
of the Sacred Scriptures was inspired by the Holy Spirit. God does great and
beautiful works with anyone who opens himself to be used as His instrument. St.
Alphonsus is an example of the big fish in the net caught by the fishermen.
Let us
pray: Lord Jesus, increase my love and devotion to you. Amen.
Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday
of the 17th week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Ex. 40:16-21;34-38, Ps. 84
& Matthew 13:47-53
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