03/03/23 | Reflection 1735 | Fr Avil Lobo OP | Matthew 7:7-12
DO NOT DOWNLOAD THESE VIDEOS & RE-UPLOAD THEM ON OTHER CHANNELS. YOU CAN SHARE THE LINKS. Do support us to produce these videos. If you wish to support us in our mission to spread the Word of God, kindly write to us: [email protected] or drop a WhatsApp message: +91 7559384942 Dear friends, Jesus in today's Godpel exhorts us time and again with words like : do not be angry, do not insult, reconcile with your brother or come to terms with your accuser. Now why did Jesus the noble flower of Judah say these words? Is it to frighten or threaten us? Beyond these. He had the most noble reason. Eph 6:12 gives the reason why the need to come to terms with our neighbour quickly. For the Word of God says "For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens." Dear friends, let this truth not escape our minds. Lets keep this in mind firmly that my struggle is not with my spouse or brother or sister or parents or grandparents or children or grandchildren or inlaws or relatives or friends or neighbours. No, rather it is with the powers of darkness that influences and blind, me and the person I struggle with. When this realisation takes place in each of us then there will be a drastic reduction in the enmity that we struggle with. If Adam had known this he would have dealt with the accusing spirit rather than accuse Eve, Caine would have dealt with his anger than kill his brother, King Saul would have dealt with his envy than revenge after David, authorities would have dealt with their hypocrisy than condemn Jesus, nations would have dealt with their ego and insecurity than wage war with the other. And this is exactly what Jesus taught from the Cross when He excused His executioners and engaged His battle with the powers of darkness. Similar understanding was shown by St. Stephen with his executioners, St. Maria Goretti with Alessandro, Pope St. J. P. II with Mehmet Ali and so on. I have to fight not with my neighbour rather together with my neighbour. Lord Jesus give me the wisdom to know that my struggle is not with flesh and blood who is my neighbour, rather with powers of darkness that have blinded me and my neighbour. Amen. Like us on Facebook at / indiandominicans Website: www.dominicans.in #dominicanmediamission #DOMINICANFRIARSINDIA
