Twenty Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Lk 9: 43b-45
While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
PAYING ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD IN HUMILITY: Jesus is telling his disciples what is to happen to Him. However, being used to him speaking in parables, they neither understand nor ask him any question. This shows that, they may not be paying attention to what he is telling them. Jesus loves us in a unique way and that is how he speaks to us. He has a message to each one of us. How do we listen to His Word? Does it have some impact in our lives? We are called to pay attention to the Word of God that is delivered to us during Mass and also receive Him in the Holy Eucharist. When we are united with Him, we are ready to suffer with Him.
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TRUE DISCIPLE OF CHRIST: A disciple of Christ is not a person who is merely a baptized person, but the one who follows Him more closely until the end of his life. Jesus was already telling the disciples about His passion and death on the cross. Jesus also told them to follow carefully his teachings (Lk 9:44). The disciples did not understand the words of Jesus (Lk 9:45). They were surprised at the words of Jesus and they were afraid to ask him about the Cross. The same fear of the cross, sufferings and persecutions is there among the people today. Their faith in Jesus at times is set on His miracles and not on His person. The message of the Cross is the will of God for salvation. We need to know the message of God through Cross by His grace, which is the heart of our life of faith as Christians. Let us take our daily cross and follow Jesus (Lk 9:23) and let us the glory in the Cross of Christ (Gal 6: 14).
DAILY GOSPEL 