Devotional Thoughts for the 7th Sunday after the feast of the Holy Cross. 30th Oct 2011
Reading: From the Gospel according to St. Matthew 5: 21-126
Dear and Respected Brethren,
In today’s reading we find our Lord’s teaching about one’s relationship with his or her fellowmen. Our Lord insists us to love our brethren sincerely and honestly. Our Lord incarnated in this world as God is real unselfish love.
In St. John 3: 16 we read, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have ever lasting life.” In the Ten Commandments also the need of love was emphasized, but it is clearly exposed in Lord Jesus as He has summarized the Ten Commandments as two, in which He insists to love God and love our fellowmen. The world made it sure that God is love as and when it witnessed the thoughts of love, words of love and deeds of love from Lord Jesus. In the first verse of today’s reading we listen our Lord’s saying: “You have heard that it was said by them of old times, Thou shall not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of judgment.” So in the early centuries men got afraid of killing his people. When we will examine the history, we could notice that the fear of killing another person or persons was getting low. Now we are living in an era when and where there is no fear at all in killing others. If one is not capable or courageous to kill another, he could seek the assistance of quotation groups, provided he has enough funds to feed them. Day by day we hear about the cruelty of the quotation groups and their illicit activities.
Our Lord forbids us from getting angry with our brethren. When we lose our love to others, we lose our heavenly nature and we might become animal natured. When we lose our heavenly nature, we could use any sort of ridiculing words or we could abuse others like anything. This is what is happening these days. Our Lord cautions us: If you call your brother fool, it is a serious crime for which you will have to face judgment. When we find other human beings, we are supposed to segregate the Godly nature in him or her and we will be forced to honor him or her and to accept him or her as our real brethren. When false pride and selfishness might dominate our brains, we will become slaves of the satanic influence and inspirations. If so we will forget God and we might act like omniscient and omnipotent and might consider others good for nothing. Let us examine the number of sins committed by us day by day. If we would concentrate on a Christ centered life, we will be real Christians doing the will of God. Let us put an end to abusing, ridiculing and ignoring others. Let us accept all around us as our brothers and sisters. When we would read verse 23-24 of today’s reading (Therefore if you bring your gift to the Altar and there remember that your brother has ought against you, leave there thy gift before the Altar and go thy way; first be reconciled with your brother and then come and offer thy gift.”) we might think that this is bound only for the priests and High Priests who often offer gifts before the Altar. We should not forget that this is applicable both for the clergy and the laity. Our hearts are the Altars where God is dwelling. Whenever we offer gifts before God, we are obliged to have perfect reconciliation with one and all.
In the first epistle of St. John (Chapter 2 Verse 16) we read that one who loves his brother abides in the light. During these days people love others for the sake of their own hidden agendas. God loved us and still loves us with innocent and unselfish love. And He wants us to care and share the heavenly love. One who cares others as the children of God only could share the heavenly love. Love and forgiveness are the two faces of the same coin. If we create a mind to forgive others we could retain our love with them for ever and ever. One who do not love his brother on earth cannot love God who is not visible to the human eyes.
Let us try to practice the real love and let us try to get well versed in sharing His love. Our God grants us love freely. We are obliged to share the love freely with our fellowmen.
May God bless us.
Jose Kurian Puliyeril
Kottayam.