30 VII SUN of the apostles

Lk 13: 22- 30 Jesus declared that entry to the kingdom can never be automatic but is the result and the reward of a struggle.  A man who lives in the Christian civilization is not necessarily a Christian. He may enjoy all its benefits. But the reversal is brought by the fact that the entry to the kingdom depends on the serious efforts one takes to reform and change of the heart.

29 VI SAT of the apostles

 Jn. 21: 15-19 Authority in the church is to be assigned in proportion to one’s love for Jesus, even to the point of dying for the Master and for his flock. Peter here defines authority in relation to love in front of his Master. He is asked to be a good shepherd wit total concern for and dedication to the community(1 Pet 5: 1-4) the good shepherd must be like Jesus who guided, taught, went after the stray sheep, healed, loved and gave his life for his flock.

28 VI FRI of the apostles

Mt. 18: 15-20 If your brother has sinned, the believers must attempt to settle their disputes among themselves first before going to legal arbiters (1 Cor 6: 1-8) Gathered in my name v.20 speaks about Jesus as ‘Emmanuel’  ie. God-with-us’ not only when we engage in mission or do good to the poor but also when we come together to pray in his name as a Christian community, an apostolic group or a Christian family. 

27 VI THU of the apostles

Mk. 1: 21- 28 Jesus’ power as a teacher drive out demons and Jesus’ power of the word is more powerful than the evil power. Thus Jesus imparts and strengthens the disciples by showing that his word is available to many more than he could affect with his physical presence. Whenever his word is read, heard, his power is there to heal people of evil forces which disrupt their lives. 

26 VI WED of the apostles

Lk. 9: 23-26 ‘A man must deny himself’ is like Peter’s denial of Jesus by saying “I do not know the man” which means ‘I do not know myself’ ie to ignore the existence itself. ‘Take up the cross’ men to face any eventuality in life as a follower of Jesus. A man must spend his life not to hoard it. The question that one has to ask always is “How much I can give” not “how much can I get”.

25 VI TUE of the Apostles

Mk. 1: 4-45 Again her we find the sign of the kingdom by curing a leper. Jesus met the desperation of human need with compassion. Jesus toughed him and it shows that he is not ‘unclean’ but a human soul in desperate need. Having cleansed him he advised him to fulfill the prescribed ritual ie. to reinstate to the community. Here we find Jesus having compassion, power, and wisdom –all conjoined.