A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings

Genesis 50:15-26

Have you ever been forgiven by someone but couldn’t forgive yourself? When Jacob died, Joseph’s brother began to wonder if Joseph had really forgiven them or if he still bore a grudge against them. As a result, they lived in fear - afraid that one day Joseph would pay them back in full for all the wrong that they did to him. They even offered to live as Joseph’s slaves as long as Joseph agreed not to destroy them. To this Joseph replied - "Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones." Why is it so hard for us to forgive ourselves? Do we live in fear of others judging or condemning us for our past mistakes? If we are stuck in the past, then how will we be able to move forward?


1 Corinthians 12:1-11

What are spiritual gifts? Let’s begin by stating what it is not. When we have a spiritual gift we do not curse Jesus Christ. Rather, our spiritual gift helps us declare that "Jesus is Lord". There are a variety of spiritual gifts but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. The purpose of spiritual gifts are for the common good. God alone chooses how to allot spiritual gifts, and does so individually. This diversity in spiritual gifts is to be embraced as God’s gift to the world. The more time we spend in prayer and discernment, our spiritual gift will become clear to us. Seeking the help of a spiritual director can help us in discovering our specific spiritual gift.


Mark 8:11-26

How many signs must we be given before we confess that Jesus Christ is Lord? Over and over we test God’s patience by questioning his authority and power. After all that we have seeen and experienced, do we still not perceive or understand? Are our hearts hardened? It is quite unfortunate that we have eyes but fail to see. We have ears but fail to hear. Like the disciples who not only forgot God’s miracles but also kept testing Jesus’ power and authority, we repeatedly forget the miracles God has unfolded in our life and the mysterious ways by which God has provided for us. Just as Jesus healed the blind man from Bethsaida, Jesus longs to heal us of our doubts so that we might see and accept Jesus for who he truly is - our Lord and Saviour.


To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.

Fr. Thomas+



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