“OUR HELP IS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD” (Ps 124:8)

⏰Monday of the Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time 1 (17 July 2017)

????Exod 1:8-14, 22; Ps 124:1-3, 4-6, 7-8 (R.v.8a); Matt 10:34 – 11:1

“Every good and perfect gift comes above, from the Father of Light, in whom there is no change or shadow of a change” (James 1:17). With that in mind, it ought to be that we should always thank God for and with someone who has received a special gift from God. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Instead, we always see situations where efforts are made to pull such persons down.

The story of the Israelites in Egypt at the time when there arose a king who did not know Joseph (Exod 1:8ff). The description and the corresponding action of the new king already tells us that the battle is more from envy than from ignorance. So the Israelites suffered because of God’s blessing upon them.

You too may be suffering because of God’s gift to you. Keep your faith with God. Exodus is a story of a movement of the people out of slavery and oppression. As we begin our reflection on that book at the beginning of this new working week, you shall also be moving out for liberation from the oppression and wickedness that keep you sad. Amen.

As for those who derive joy from enviously pulling others down, they must remember that the way the book of Exodus began is not the way it ended. There is a time when the envious Egyptians were found lying dead on the seashore (Exod 14:27ff). All envious persons should remember that and change while they still have the opportunity.

Jesus knows that envy is bound to arise out of God’s blessings but encourages to show love to all instead of hatred (cf. Matt 10:34-42).

May the Lord save us from the hand of all persons and things that try to oppress us, and grant us the grace to desist from oppressing others. Amen.

I wish you a fruitful new working week. Peace be with you.