SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2016, 16TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, "HOSPITALITY & ATTENTIVE LISTENING"

FIRST READING : Genesis 18:1-10 / SECOND READING : Colossians 1:24-28 / GOSPEL : Luke 10:38-42

Whenever I hear about hospitality and attentive listening I remember my 'MOTHER'. When guests come she prefers to cook snacks as well as gives them a ear and would make  conversation. It's really difficult gift to be able to attend to the guest with attentive listening as well as by refreshing them with snacks and drinks. 

Jesus tells Martha, 'you worry and fret about so many things... Mary has chosen the better part.' Friends Mary has chosen the better part but not the best. Jesus did not tell Martha to put a stop to whatever she was doing instead he did not want her to be fully occupied by what she was doing. Thus balancing of Hospitality and Attentive Listening is the best part. In the world today, there are lot of people around us who want others to listen to them. More than food and drink people want their sorrows and joys to be poured out to someone. How do I find myself when someone talks about their problem? Do I listen to them attentively or just feel indifferent to the feelings of others? 

Let's be both Martha and Mary. Let us listen to whoever wants our attention and our hospitality, in a Christian Spirit.

Quote: "Genuine listening is hard work; there is little about it that is mechanical...We hear with our ears, but we listen with our eyes and mind and hear and skin and guts as well."-Alfred Benjamin

SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2016, DO YOU RUN OR STAND AND FACE?

First Reading: Micah 2:1-5/ Gospel : Matthew 12:14-21

We all have small worlds of ours. There are people who pour out everything and love and appreciate us. There are few people who always tell us what to do? There are people who simply but can't stop blaming us! There are people who always find mistake in us and people who try to just pull our legs always. 

It depends on how I look at what is happening in my world. But the most important question is do I get depressed and destroy my beautiful world or do I continue my work. Let's take insight from the Gospel where we see Jesus not worrying to what the would happen to him and continues to do his mission. Though he withdraws from the district but not from the people. He heals, preaches, sings and continues to live. 

Let us also take courage from him who lived and showed us to live our life to our fullest. Let us not stress on what people would do or think, but do our work with love and dedication.

Quote: If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life - Marcus Gravey