Tuesday of the 15th Week - A (Matthew 11:20-24)
What sometimes disturbs me when I celebrate the Mass is to see a good number of people rushing to leave the church after communion. I instructed some of the volunteers to remind the people in their welcoming and announcement of the importance of each part of the Mass, but still, people seem to be indifferent and they just do what they want to do. Is this a sign that the word of God and the Eucharist didn't take root in the hearts of some Christians. Why they attend Mass without any intention of participating till the very end? Do they really consider that attending the Sunday Liturgy is just an obligation to fulfill? But, where is the real encounter with the Almighty?
The people of Chorazin and Bethsaida, in today's gospel, were given the privilege of witnessing and experiencing marvelous gifts of healing and teachings of Jesus, but those miracles and teachings were not enough to transform the hearts of the people of these town. They failed to believe in Jesus. Here, we can really feel the hurt that is coming from the words of Jesus, because, after what He had shared with these communities, people are still indifferent and contented with their hardness of heart.
This reminds of some people in our time, not only those who don't attend the liturgy, but also those who attend but still indifferent of the meaning of the encounter they can have with God in the celebration.
Each of us is called to have a change of heart, to live always in the presence of God and be faithful. Each of us is also called to encounter the revelation of God in His word, in the Liturgy and in our encounter with our fellow believers. Attending Mass is not enough, we are challenged to witness in our lives the message of the Eucharist. Let the Word of God, and let the Eucharist touch you!
Chorazin
What sometimes disturbs me when I celebrate the Mass is to see a good number of people rushing to leave the church after communion. I instructed some of the volunteers to remind the people in their welcoming and announcement of the importance of each part of the Mass, but still, people seem to be indifferent and they just do what they want to do. Is this a sign that the word of God and the Eucharist didn't take root in the hearts of some Christians. Why they attend Mass without any intention of participating till the very end? Do they really consider that attending the Sunday Liturgy is just an obligation to fulfill? But, where is the real encounter with the Almighty?
The people of Chorazin and Bethsaida, in today's gospel, were given the privilege of witnessing and experiencing marvelous gifts of healing and teachings of Jesus, but those miracles and teachings were not enough to transform the hearts of the people of these town. They failed to believe in Jesus. Here, we can really feel the hurt that is coming from the words of Jesus, because, after what He had shared with these communities, people are still indifferent and contented with their hardness of heart.
This reminds of some people in our time, not only those who don't attend the liturgy, but also those who attend but still indifferent of the meaning of the encounter they can have with God in the celebration.
Each of us is called to have a change of heart, to live always in the presence of God and be faithful. Each of us is also called to encounter the revelation of God in His word, in the Liturgy and in our encounter with our fellow believers. Attending Mass is not enough, we are challenged to witness in our lives the message of the Eucharist. Let the Word of God, and let the Eucharist touch you!