Friday 30th July 2021. Read Leviticus 23:1-37, Ps.81 and Matthew 13:54-58
“Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us?” (Matthew 13:54-56).
Once upon a time, a native doctor set up his shrine very close to a Church. So, every day, the members of the church would pray against the activities of the native doctor asking God to send down fire on him and burn down his shrine. This went on for many years. One day, the native doctor’s shrine burnt down completely and nothing was left of it. So the native doctor took the church to court accusing them of arson.
On the day of trial, the members of the church showed up in the court denying any involvement in the fire incidence but the native doctor argued that they had burnt down his shrine (his source of livelihood) with their powerful prayers. Bewildered at the case, the judge said: “Here is a very special case – church members who do not believe in the power of prayers but an unbeliever who is fully convinced that prayers are powerful.”
When you do something continuously for a while, you soon begin to take it for granted. It is not surprising to see many Christians today who do not believe in the power of prayers anymore; Christians who look down on God and on His ability to intervene in their lives. Even though most of us pray, we do not even expect the things we pray for.
In our Gospel passage, Jesus is not happy with his own people as a result of their over-familiarity. Have I become too familiar with God? Do I still have the fear of God in me? Do I value the Bible or treat it as just one of those books?
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may I never take you for granted. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of week 17 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Leviticus 23:1-37, Ps.81 and Matthew 13:54-58).
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