May the Lord give you peace and health in the Holy Spirit.
It is on 17th February 2024.
We reflect on Isaiah 58:9-14 and Luke 5:27-32.
Our true and lasting happiness depends on the way we handle the Lord and the others.
Lenten time encourages us to reach out to God to reach people around us. Lent without the poor in mind and the poverty inflicted into charity are to be closely looked into to enjoy the fruits of the season of Lent.
If our sacrifices, penance, and prayers do not satisfy the hunger around us, cover the nakedness of the vulnerable among us, and provide an ample, affectionate embrace of warmth and love towards the broken and bruised humanity, it is a waste of time and endeavour.
The change that happens within must resonate in the depth of life in others, especially in the poor. Our conversion needs to penetrate channels of charity in society.
The first reading instructs us that our happiness lies in following and honouring God in our lives. It is time to shun gossip, character assassinations, pathological lying, overindulging in eating and drinking, and being indifferent to the sacred time of praying and listening to the Word of God.
Lent is the time to give credit to God’s space to settle the liabilities of the poor and the needy. God vows to bless us all when we have decided to honour God during this Lent.
The responsorial Psalm prays, “Show me, Lord, your way so that I may walk in your truth.” (Ps.85:11).
The Gospel encourages us to encounter someone who needs our help. Jesus wants us to go after people who have lost hope, love, and direction in life. There are not many good to help the number of evil people.
Every one of us has a responsibility to clean the mess we have created in our lives and in others. As there is something sick in us, so there is someone is sick out there too.
Our repentance and conversion take us through to the ones who are broken and bruised by sinful, selfish humanity. Our conversion needs to culminate in uplifting the life of the poor. (Mt. 15:8).
It is not enough we come out of sinfulness but at the same not to lead others to sin is also the true effect of the conversion.
May the Lord help us to be gentle, thoughtful, loving and kind to all those whom we encounter.
May you have a good day.