Devotional Thoughts for the second Sunday after Soonoyo - 28th Aug 2011
Reading: From the Gospel according to St. Luke 11: 9-20
Dear and Respected Brethren,
Today’s reading starts like this: “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock it shall be opened unto you. (Verse 9) For everyone that asks receives; he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. (Verse-10) If God is promising so, what else we want. We know how to ask and when to ask, we know when to seek and where to seek and finally we are so sure of the place where we will have to know and when to knock. Human needs are plenty and unending. So naturally we all tempted to ask, seek and knock more and more for our earthly needs.
Though we would sing the hymn “my Lord is the giver of all my needs and He is fully capable to give me what I need”, we all fail in accepting this truth in our practical lives. And hence our prayers and worships turn to be self- centered. Unfortunately we all think and believe that our spiritual life and its perfection are for the worldly riches and blessings. The most unfortunate thing is that we train up our youngsters also similarly. The knowledge that our lives on earth are temporary and the humanity as a whole are supposed to leave this world to enter our permanent domicile in the Kingdom of Heaven is not new to each and every one of us. The truth is that we ignore what we know or we do not take what we have learned seriously.
The modern tendency of the contemporary world is to depend some other means other than asking, seeking and knocking. People across the globe, irrespective of caste, creed and color are running after wealth and its accumulation without any sort of principles and morals. In this condition our Lord’s exhortation to ask, seek and knock for the abundant supply of the Holy Spirit is worth listening.
In verse 13 our Lord asks: “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.” We all could justify ourselves that we have inherited Holy Spirit in us as and when we received the Holy Baptism and Holy Chrism. But we forget the fact that we had not taken any steps to nourish the growth of Holy Spirit in us. First of all we failed in providing nourishments for the growth, though we were so particular about the growth of the body by in taking good food for the growth from time to time. Though we lived as Christians having regular prayers and other spiritual rituals, we did not consider the Holy Spirit in us and its growth in us. We have to realize and feel the urgency to have the full-fledged presence of the Holy Spirit in us and the mind to obey Him.God has provided His Holy Spirit in us to give us advices and to guide us to the perfection of spirituality. If we do not give heed to Him, He cannot work in us effectively. The Holy Spirit in us needs our full support and co-operation. So let us ask, seek and knock at the door of compassion of our Lord God for the abundant supply of Holy Spirit in us always.
In verses 14 onwards we listen what had happened when and where our Lord casted out a devil from dumb man. The people in the surrounding could not appreciate the good point in casting out the devil from the poor guy. The dumb spoke immediately. We could imagine how much happy and thrilled the man would have been, though we do not know him personally. But many who raised their voices against the noble deed might be his friends, relatives or people known to him. Still they could not appreciate a blessing he achieved through the compassion of Lord Jesus. Do we have such a nature? Let us examine ourselves. In experience we could find so many.
In verse 16 we read, “And others tempting Him sought of him a sign from heaven.” These days we could find so many who claim to be spiritual gurus attracting crowds by showing signs and miracles. And many run after them to watch and enjoy the signs and miracles without understanding the cunningness behind them.
In verse 20 we hear our Lord’s saying: “And if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the Kingdom of God is come upon you.” It is to be doubted how many of the listeners then and there could grasp the meaning then and there. How many of us are confident that we are living or better say we are supposed to live in the Kingdom of God? We do pray every day and so many times: “thy kingdom come…” Through our virtuous lives, we are supposed to be members of the Kingdom of God. And we must continue the same status of being citizens of the divine Kingdom until eternity. Let us ask, seek and knock at the door of compassion and mercy of God Almighty to convert us worthy of being fit for His call and separation. May God bless us all Jose KurianPuliyeril Kottayam.