Source of encouragement!! Positive influence!

An angel of the Lord touched Elijah while he was in the wilderness, wishing he were dead. Twice the angel encouraged him to eat food and drink some water provided for the journey. In this way, Elijah was able to reach his destination – the mountain of the Lord (cf. 1Kgs 19:4-8). St. Paul encouraged the Ephesians as he encourages us today not to grieve the Holy spirit of God who has marked us with his seal for us to be set free when the day comes. He further says, ‘never have grudges against others, or lose your temper, or raise your voice to anybody, or call each other names, or allow any sort of spitefulness, be friends with one another, and kind, forgiving each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ…Try, then, to imitate God as children of his that he loves, and to follow Christ by loving as he loved you, giving himself up in our place as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (cf. Eph 4:30-5:2). Jesus tells us in the gospel to, ‘stop complaining to each other’ (cf Jn 6:41-51). 

Beloved People of God, we must find ways of becoming a source of encouragement to one another. We must become positive influence on others. The energy to do this is grace and can only come from God. It is freely and willingly given by God in Christ Jesus. We must be grateful in accepting this grace.

May we strive, by the grace of God, freely and willingly given, to become like an ‘angel of the Lord’, giving food and drink which may be in the form of love and or words of encouragement to those who despair. May we learn to imitate God and to love others as he loves us. May we learn not complain to each other but become grateful beneficiaries of God’s favours, here, in form of the Bread of Heaven, the real food for our pilgrim journey to heaven, the mountain of God and to the Father. 

 Fr. Ted

All to Jesus – Through Mary our Mother

19^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

11^th August 2024