10th Week in Ordinary Time
13th June 2023 (Tuesday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 2
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
Brethren: As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
Psalm 119:129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135 (R.135a)
R/. Let your face shine forth on your servant.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. Let your light shine before others,
so that they may see your good works
and give glory to your Father who is in heaven
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Matthew 5:13-16
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Faith is a “Yes” always!
Indicative: God is not a wavering, unclear and indecisive God. He is clear, firm and faithful. Christ is the greatest sign of God’s Yes{alertSuccess}
1. Human life oscillates between ‘yes’ and ‘no’ depending on the nature and demands of situations. There is no permanent ‘yes’ in the normal sense. ‘No’ may indicate various factors. It may be a result of assessment and a decision not to do a thing.
2. But in a deeper spiritual sense, “no” indicates an inability, unwillingness, failure, or an act of unfaithfulness. When I say ‘no’ to God, it means I am not able to obey His commandments, I am not willing to follow His will, I fail to be right and righteous before Him, and thus I turn unfaithful to Him.
3. This happens often in our spiritual life. Often we are caught between “Yes” and “No’. We waver. We are so unsteady in our decisions in favour of God. Since “Yes” to God demands a lot, we easily tend to say “No” to Him.
4. But the life and mission of Christ have always been an unfailing “yes” to God. God’s will always finds in him a prompt, willing, radical and positive response and fulfilment. Faith is nothing but a wholehearted “Yes” to God. This is manifested in a life of purpose and fidelity to one’s own identity.
5. In the words of Jesus, it is to be salt and light. Jesus does not say, Be like salt and the light. He demands to “be” salt and light. So it means to live according to what we are by our essence and identity.
6. It is a ‘yes’ to the very purpose of our life. It is to add taste to life, like salt, and brighten life, like light. St Antony of Padua, a very popular saint, whose memory we celebrate today was a symbol of this “yes” to God. In his life, there was never a “no” to God’s will and ways. That ‘yes’ to God also showed itself in “yes” to others through charity.
Imperative: The ultimate purpose of our life is to glorify God. This is possible only through a witnessing life of abundant good works{alertSuccess}