May the Lord give you peace in the Holy Spirit.
Are we using or abusing God and sacred places?
It is on 14th August 2023. We celebrate the memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest, and martyr. A Franciscan friar volunteered to die for his family in the death camp during the second world war. He is the patron saint of families, prisoners, drug addicts, and journalists.
Showing mercy is not propaganda for being a human but it is a privilege to be humane. God is our praise; God has done for us the awesome things. Charity is a texture of showing the face of God. Embracing immigrants is an awareness of being a pilgrim. Beyond the temple and tax, there is conscience and charity.
We reflect on Deuteronomy 10:12-22; and the Gospel from Matthew 17:22-27.
The first reading reminds us that we must not ignore the foreigners, widows, and orphans in our society. We cannot ignore our past and the help we received when we were under slavery just like that of the people of Israel.
As God went out of His way in looking after us during our oppression, we need to have soft corners for them. Ignoring and abusing strangers, orphans, and widows and not willing to provide what we have acquired will be equally done to God himself. God himself expects us to do this when we live and worship God in the land where we live today,
“God executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt,” (Deut.10:18).
We must reject the political and religious leaders who teach us to hate foreigners and strangers. Our leaders are misleading us and putting us against God.
The Gospel imparts our responsibility towards our worshipping places. Even though Jesus to whom the temple exists, He did not hesitate to pay the temple tax for himself and for Peter. As we care for the poor, so we need to pay attention to taking care of the places of worship.
Have you paid your tithes and promises you made to God? We need to care for the most vulnerable people in our communities and the most sacred worshipping places.
May we be generous to God and those who are needy. May you have a good day.