December 02, 2014
Tuesday,
1st Week of Advent
1st Reading: Is 11:1–10Gospel: Lk 10:21–24
Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and made them known to the little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. I have been given all things by my Father, so that no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said to them privately, “Fortunate are you to see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings would have liked to see what you see but did not, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
With joy derived from the Holy Spirit Jesus gave praise to his heavenly Father in a prayer that was sincere and spontaneous. If we want our prayer of praise to be as sincere and spontaneous, we must possess the joy that comes from the Spirit. Many confuse joy with happiness. No they aren’t the same. The happenings that make us happy by way of satisfying all inordinate cravings of the senses cannot impart joy to the spirit. “Nemo dat quod non habet” is a time tested principle applicable to the inherent incapacity of sin to sanctify the heart and offer it pure joy.
Happenings such as these can be addictive. “Once tasted always wanted” is spoken not of joy but of happiness. Because it is addictive it condemns the person to worldly pursuits to the neglect of the purer desires of the heart. But as soon as happiness fades, something in the person pushes him to embark upon a hunting expedition for more. The direction it takes is always farther away from God.
To praise the Father in the spirit of joy as Jesus did, today’s Gospel suggests that we maintain the attitude of a child. A child is symbol of innocence. While many haven’t lost the attitude of a child quite a number have accommodated selfish motives and turned childish. Being childish turns us into spiritual brats; being childlike endows us with the simplicity that makes the things of the soul so attractive to us. It is when we are childlike that our eyes see the secrets of the kingdom. Jesus was referring to this when he said in today’s Gospel reading: “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see…”
Childlikeness paves the way to the flourishing of joy in the heart. How pleased will the Father be if he finds us day by day offering him prayers of praise like a child moved by joy that comes from the heart! – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.frdan.org.
May comment ka ba sa column ni Father Dan? May tanong ka ba sa kanya? I-type ang BANDERA REACT
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Bandera. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.