First Reading - Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
Gospel - Luke 9:18-22
We all love to be happy and be in happy moments always. However, we are reminded today that change is inherent in the nature. Therefore, we can't permanently hold onto the same situation perpetually. The readings invite us today to be ready to accept change in our lives in order to encounter the wisdom of God behind it.
The first reading tells about the transitory of everything; because time changes. The life encompasses happy moments and sad moments, success stories and failures, pressures in life and relaxation. However, the passage reminds us that all such situations in our lives are apt for the given situation. Moreover, people are to considere the significance of each moment. It is to say, we should not be stuck to one situation or to the other but be ready to accept them as lessons and memories because they are not permanently implanted in our lives and are short lived. Therefore it's important to accept every moment as God's gift, be it good or bad. It's by accepting every situation and facing them as it is, we can encounter the wisdom behind every event of our lives.
In the gospel, Jesus discloses his glory which lies not in the magnificent crown but on the wood of the cross and on the the betrayal of the people that ultimately would result in his resurrection on the third day. Jesus recounts his suffering as the way paving to his glory. The fascinating part of the glory of Jesus seems to be hidden from others because they don't recognise him as some take him for John the Baptist, or Elijah, or or one of the prophets but his disciples, represented by Peter, seem to have recognised him as the Messiah or Christ. Perceiving their belief in him, Jesus discloses himself to them as the suffering Messiah.
Dear friends, we discover a very connection between both the readings of today. the first reading reminds us to accept the transitory of moments in life; to accept that we can't cling on to the same state of life permanently. It's not so in the nature itself. We can't have only happy moments but sad moments aldo, so also other events in our lives. When we learn the lessons of acceptance of our situations, we can see the great wisdom of God. The gospel continues with the message of accepting the wisdom of God in the sufferings of Jesus. Jesus relentlessly embraced his fate and that's why he could openly admit that he is a suffering Messiah rather than a glorious Messiah. The suffering, as Jesus viewed, is to be seen from the perspective of the manifestation of God's love for humanity.
Many times we are challenged by the struggles and sufferings of our lives. Many are broken in their tragedies but a message of assurance is given to us that things will change and every suffering and pain will become the sign of God's glory in our lives as the cross of Christ or suffering of Jesus on the cross is the glory of God for humanity. Let's not boast of our success stories or happy moments because they are transitory but it does not mean we should not enjoy them. Certainly, we do have to but remind oneself at the same time that as we receive our good times with joy, may we be able to accept bad times as well with courage and confidence.
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