Do You Find Time To Recall The Marvellous Deeds The Lord Has Done For You?

Leviticus 23:1,4-11,15-16,27,34-37
Matthew 13:54-58

Today the Church celebrates St, John Mary Vianney, a humble and simple man who carried out the priestly ministry with great zeal and dedication. He is especially known for his selfless ministry of celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation at his parish in Ars, France.  He regularly spent long hours at Confession with thousands of penitents who at times traveled great distances to spend just a few graced moments with him.  His loving priestly ministry flowed from his intense spiritual life, based on both prayer and mortification– leading him to be named in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI as the “patron of priests” and parish clergy.

In today’s first reading, the Israelites are told to remember and celebrate the special festivals throughout the year, so that they and their descendants will never forget what God has done for them, throughout the whole Exodus journey to d Promised Land. On these solemn festivities, they were to celebrate Sacred assemblies, consume unleavened bread, refrain from work, make sacrifices and other mortifications:  to help give vitality to their relationship with God who loves and saves them. 

In today’s Gospel passage, our Lord Jesus Christ was not exempted from rejection even in his hometown-Nazareth. Despite the fact that Christ showed great wisdom and insight that surpasses anyone at His time, the saying is true that “familiarity breeds contempt.” The people who had known Him, and who knew His relatives, would not accept Him; His teaching would not take root, His words were misconstrued, His divinity was not recognized and His humanity knew rejection by the members of His own community. God’s message challenges His listeners then and now because deep faith is required to accept Him.

Today, Jesus, Moses, and St. John Vianney challenge us to be zealous in living our vocations and sharing our faith.  Do you take time to remember – to recall how God has touched your life or do you only remember d ordinary experiences without seeing God’s action in them? Do we give ourselves special times of faith renewal and celebration? Do we seek personal retreats or spend time with the Lord in prayer and adoration? Do we seek and offer forgiveness for the sinfulness we experience in ourselves or others? 
Let us not be carried away with opportunities that lay bare before us simply because we are used to them, When we constantly believe in God’s word, the many troubles and trials may not be completely avoided but in Him, we will surely find strength. Count your blessings!

Fr Joseph Osho