By Sharon Piuse A csc –
Readings: Ecl 11:9-12:8; Lk 9: 43b-45
The first reading tells us that when we are alive in Christ, we rejoice and allow ourselves to remove anger from our hearts. We all know that a coin has two sides; so too our life. Our life has happy and bitter-angry phases. One who lives in this world must go through these two phases and feelings in life. The reading assures us that when we are weak, God will be there to help us.
The gospel reminds us about the passion of Jesus.
In the Gospel, after Jesus chased out an unclean spirit from a boy people marveled at the work Jesus. Then, Jesus tells his disciples, “Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.” Jesus directly prophesies his own betrayal and crucifixion in the hand of others. But disciples did not understand what Jesus was talking about. It shows that his own disciples were not prepared for the passion of Jesus. But the disciples were afraid to ask him about it.
Most often we also behave like the disciples, afraid to ask corrections or concerns from our parents or superiors. So the gospel invites each one of us to reflect upon Jesus’ passion, and ask ourselves, are we ready to take part in the passion that so many people are going through during this pandemic?