Word: The Kingdom of God belongs to those who submit to His authority.
Order: “Blessed are you who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways …” (Ps 128:1)
Reflection:
God calls us to keep His commands and reminds us that His laws are not hidden from us or beyond our reach. We can expect opposition as we submit to God’s authority. To guard against these pressures, we must rely on God for strength and pray to Him daily for wisdom to see through these deceptions.
The community word for the month of October “The kingdom of God belongs to those who submit to His authority” shows that every believer must have their hearts set on God’s authority, in spite of our imperfections. Immature spiritual growth and limited fruitfulness are but the consequences of a careless disregard of God’s authority. God never grants further light to one who ignores the light he already has. God will not show us the second step unless we take the first. The steps of a (good) man are directed and established by the Lord and God has promised guidance to those who submit to His authority. As expressed in our Community Order, “Blessed are you who fear the Lord, who walks in his ways.”
Our theme for the 1st week says: We submit to God’s authority when we maintain childlike obedience and humility. What qualities of children make them so open to God? In their helplessness, powerlessness and vulnerability, children are by nature trusting, guileless, and totally dependent. The heart of a child is a loving sanctuary of the Holy Spirit. And we are exhorted to present ourselves before God in the same manner. Faithful followers of Christ allow themselves to be childlike in relating to Him, confident that His ways and plans, His power and providence are in their best interest. They put their faith in His words. To be fully surrendered to God, we are therefore to be childlike in obedience and in following the footsteps of Christ, and live as He lived His life on earth.
Our theme for the 2nd week says: We submit to God’s authority when we share our blessings with those in need. To do good to others and our neighbors is an expression of our love and concern for them. What Jesus did on earth -doing good and sharing God’s goodness with all, should serve as our inspiration, as we endeavor to make our life fruitful and pleasing to God, as in the following verses assure us: “Helping the poor touches the heart of Jesus, ” (Ps 41:1-2). Compassion for the sick touches the heart of Jesus, (Mat 20:34). “He who has compassion on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed,” (Prov 19:17).
Our theme for the 3rd week is: We submit to God’s authority when we become the servant of all. Jesus told James and John – “Are you ready to drink the cup that I drink, to be rejected and despised for continuing my work? Would you stand by me before false accusations and malicious intrigues? Would you still trust and tread my footsteps if the cross were to be laid on your shoulders?” Jesus was telling His disciples that greatness lies in our ability to suffer with Him and for Him. To be great is to be of service to Jesus and His flock. Greatness is not about power or authority, but about service, being responsible, and fulfilling one’s responsibilities with love. Greatness is not about holding an exalted position, or having people under one’s control. It is not about lording over them, or dominating them. Greatness is the ability to serve, and the readiness to be of help. Greatness is bearing one’s burden without complaint or strings attached, but with loving commitment and concern. Jesus tells the apostles (and us) that bringing His redemption into the lives of people is part of the mission of discipleship. We are to be partners with Christ in spreading the work of His redemption, and that entails suffering – “of the cup I drink, you shall drink” says the Lord. Anyone of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy can be a mission statement of a Christian life.
Our theme for the 4th week is: “We submit to God’s authority when we take courage to witness to our faith. In the gospel Jesus calls Bartimaeus and asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Similarly, Jesus is asking each of us, “What do you want of me?” He longs to see us cast aside anything that limits our vision and expectations. Jesus has marvelous plans for our lives. He wants to heal our hearts and fill it with the fire of His love. Like Bartimaeus, we too can be blind. Our blindness may be compared to those of the crowd who rebuked Bartimaeus, telling him to be silent (v.48). Sometimes we too, keep quiet and silent when we ought to be speaking out against what is morally and legally wrong. Likewise, we often turn a blind eye to what is good in other people, and are quick to notice their mistakes, sometimes even discrediting those who are more effective, more acceptable, and more credible than we are. If we cannot see these bad traits in ourselves, then we are spiritually blind. Let us thank God for the gift of sight and resolve to take care and respect not only the gift of physical sight, but the greater gift of moral insight called “conscience” and the gift of spiritual sight called “faith”.
