Monday 7th December: (St. Ambrose, Bishop, Doctor) 
Reflection: Luke 5: 17-26

SCALE THROUGH THE BARRIERS

Zacchaeus was a man who longed to see Jesus; despite the shortness of his stature, he surmounted his physical limitation and eventually met with Christ (Luke 19: 1-5). Likewise blind Bartimaeus, he needed healing from Christ and refused attempts by the crowd to prevent him from crying out for Christ’s attention. He eventually got his healing through persistence (Luke 10:46-52). Today’s gospel reading presents us with another account of a man that defied all odds to encounter Christ. Through the doggedness of their faith, their expectations were adequately met. Our loving Lord constantly invites all to himself (John 7:37; Isaiah 55:1-2) and has promised never to turn down any one who comes to Him (John 6: 37b). 

Beloved in Christ, do you sense a longing for God deep within you? Do you hear him gently calling you to seek after him? Perhaps you seem to be considering some seeming barriers as preventing you from approaching Him. Dear friend, we must never allow anything to dampen this holy quest. Neither the weight of our sins nor our previous failed efforts to overcome our shortcomings should be allowed to tip us into resignation. Our resolve must daily rise against and above all that threatens to prevent us from a renewed encounter with Jesus. 

In today’s gospel reading, we acknowledge the helping role played by the men around the paralytic man in bringing him before Jesus. Let us also today resolve to be loving arms that help lift our brothers and sisters in their effort to encounter Jesus; let us not be ashamed to seek and accept the assistance of fellow believers in our respective battles of faith.

PRAYER: Please help me Lord to overcome all barriers that threaten my relationship with you. Kindly make me a loving support to my brothers and sisters in their quest to know you. Amen. 

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 34– What should you do once you have come to know God?

Once you have come to know God, you must put him in the first place in your life. And with that a new life begins. You should be able to recognize Christians by the fact that they love even their enemies. 

After all, to know God means to know that he who created and willed me, who looks at me every moment with love, who blesses and upholds my life, who has the world and the people I love in his hand, who waits longingly for me, who wishes to fulfill and perfect me and to make me dwell forever with him—is there. To nod with your head at this is not enough. Christians must adopt Jesus’ way of life.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which cling so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 85: 9-14; Luke 5: 17-26