Mass Readings
Reading 1 – Ezekiel 33:7-9
Psalm – Ps 94:1-2, 6-9
Reading 2 – Romans 13:8-10
Gospel – Matthew 18:15-20
Reflection
The pandemic that we have been going through teaches us a lot about our personal and social lives. Mainly it teaches us ‘how fragile we are without a healthy collaboration of humankind’. Your life depends on others. If one is careless about the required precautionary measures of COVID-19, it is a total destruction of humankind. So, it really matters very much to have a mutual understanding and caring of each other across the world. You have to take care of each other in order to protect our generation and vanquish coronavirus. In other words, you are the guardian of your own dear ones in the family and community.
The readings this weekend become so relevant according to this context today. In the first reading God tells Ezekiel that he is to be a Watchman for the house of Israel. He is obliged to warn Israel of moral dangers. In the gospel Jesus teaches that a true Christian, not only assists his neighbour in the temporal and spiritual needs with material help and prayer, but also with correction and counsel for an erring brother or sister who has damaged the community by his or her public sin. In the second reading, St. Paul points out that the love we should have for one another should be our only reason for admonishing the sinner.
As we reflect on these readings this weekend, let us affirm the responsibility and authority we have been entrusted through baptism by God. As a Christian, we are all God’s prophets, God’s representatives, God’s Sentinels. We are all expected to give warning of approaching danger to our brothers and sisters with love. Because we are the guardians of the new Israel of God, the Church. We have received this authority by being the disciples of Christ that we have the power to bind and loose, to forgive and to reconcile sinners in his name. Therefore, we are the keepers of our brothers and sisters. So be merciful and responsible for others. Let us be concerned not only with the guidelines of this pandemic but inhuman behaviours to defenceless people like child abuse, elder abuse or spouse abuse, etc. Let us be vigilant not to allow inhuman behaviours again in our society. May God bless us in being guardians of each other for the sake of our beautiful life.
Fr. Shymon Thekkekalathungal, Assistant Parish Priest