By Thamajoy Reang csc –
Readings: Hag 1: 1 – 8; Lk 9: 7– 9
“Seeing God without seeing the self, one sees only mental image. Only he who has seen himself has seen God, since he has lost individuality, and now sees nothing but God.”
-Ramana Maharshi
Herod the tetrarch was perplexed after hearing what was happening in Jerusalem, and then he sought to see Jesus. I really do not know the reason why Herod sought to see Jesus. Was it to kill Jesus, for he was said to be one of the prophets? Or was it to find peace and consolation from Jesus, for he was said to be one of the prophets? Herod may have sought to see Jesus to know who he really was, and clear his doubts about Jesus, so that he may be good to himself and to Jesus as well.
Similar things have happened in my life too while living in the community. I sometimes fail to recognise others in whom Jesus dwells.
Sometimes in the community, I discourage others through my silent actions and bring them down from given responsibilities so that they may be insulted by others. I also acknowledge that many times I judge them wrongly, just because I have heard other people speaking bad about them. Sometimes, I purposely try to find fault in my own friends because they perform better than me. Sometimes I have doubted my own friends and failed to see them as prophets who support me and who give peace and consolation in my life.
Therefore, today’s gospel teaches me to seek Jesus not anywhere else but within myself and in my own friends with whom Jesus’ presence can be found.
O God and my Lord, please help me to find you within me and my friends, so that we may become your loving children.