Daily Reflections- June 30, 2012

GET UP AND BEGIN SERVING

 

The First Reading from the Book of Lamentations reminds me of a line of the song, “Cry Me a River.” I googled it out of curiosity and found out that there are at least six contemporary singers who belted out songs that had this very same line from the Book of Lamentations: “Let your tears flow like a torrent!”

Sometimes in life, one really has reasons to cry a river and, as a therapist, I do know that a certain level of emotional catharsis is needed. “Tears,” wrote Henry Ward Beecher, “are often the telescopes by which men see far into heaven.”

The Jews had every reason to be engulfed in tears. Enemies hemmed them in from all sides. It appeared like God had forsaken them. Or so they felt. They were lamenting and complaining. But they did the right thing — lament and complain to God Himself through torrents of tears and prayers.

The centurion could have cried a river himself. A sensitive and compassionate soul, he pleaded on behalf of his servant. He took up his case in a prayer as plaintive as it was faith-filled. “Sir, my servant is lying at home paralyzed and in great pain.” Not only did he look for Jesus. He

prayed but he worked for what he prayed for, and was willing to do whatever the Lord would have asked.

Peter’s mother-in-law was in some sort of discomfort, too. Matthew’s account is silent about it, but someone surely whispered something to the Lord, who was on a roll, curing and healing people in Capernaum. She was healed. Pronto.

But there is something about the centurion and Peter’s mother-in-law that should convict us. They got favors from the Lord. And what does one do after getting a singular favor from Him? Surely not what the nine out of 10 lepers did, or did not do! Instead, one gets up, like Peter’s mother-in-law did, and began serving! Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Have you received a favor from the Lord lately? What did you do afterwards?

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for all the blessings You’ve been pouring into my life. May my gratitude flow into service.