29th OCTOBER. THURSDAY OF WEEK 30

1st Reading : Romans 8:31-39

Nothing can separate us from the love of God

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? As it is written, " For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus or Lord.

Gospel: Luke 13:31-35

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to Jesus, " Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, " Go and tell that fox for me, ' Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.'

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stone those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ' Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

REFLECTIONS AND MEDITATIONS ON THE READINGS

In today's gospel we hear some of the Pharisees alerting Jesus to flee from the wrath and destruction of King Herod. However, instead, warns them about spiritual disaster and how to avert it. In the gospel we have heard that Jesus went so far as to call Herod a " fox." This is simply because the fox was regarded as the slyest of all animals and the most destructive as well. The fox was also a symbol of a worthless and insignificant individual. Jesus knew he would suffer the same fate  as the prophets who came before him. He not willingly exposed himself to such danger, but he prayed for his persecutors and for those who rejected the prophets who spoke in God's name

Since  Jesus is talking about spiritual destruction and how to avert it, here are the brief summary of some of the main principles, that are helpful in our struggle for spiritual victory and salvation that may help us.

First, Let us know our enemy. Some of our most dangerous enemies we carry within are our : laziness, fear, discomfort, pride, oversensitivity to what others think of us and so on and so forth. But Satan is our greatest enemy and therefore, we " should not be ignorant of his designs," St. Paul advices us to be well acquainted with his character and never ignore his active destructive work. Jesus advises us to watch and pray against temptation and pray to God to " deliver us from the Evil One."

Second, Let us keep ourselves in the love of God. We should not be afraid of Satan's power because if we walk in the light of Christ and keep ourselves in his love, we have nothing to fear. The evil one will not touch us.

Third, Let us be filled with the Holy Spirit. Pride easily dominates our thinking. We are shocked by the sins of other Christians and yet we are blind to our own weaknesses. Thus we need the gifts of the Holy Spirit to equip ourselves against anything that is evil and depend on Him to overcome the Evil one.

Fourth, Let us be active in Christian witness and service. We need to know the will of the Lord and do it.

Fifth, Let us be quick to put right a wrong relationship. Hurting others and feeling hurt ourselves cannot be avoided. That  is why Jesus teaches us that there is a need to forgive others not only seven times but seventy times seven. For example if we let anger dominates us, we may be sleepless, and being depressed. This state of consciousness give the devil an opportunity to exploit our anger. So let us be quick to put it right.

Sixth, Let us be constant in prayer.  Let us pray to God at all times through Jesus Christ in the Spirit. We must come to Him, wait upon Him, renew our strength in Him listen to Him, trust in Him and then go out into the world to face the enemy. If Jesus knew the constant need of prayer for his own ministry how much more should we acknowledge our weakness by humble, persistent prayer?

In our today's gospel, Jesus give us a concrete example of praying His persecutors and for those who rejects the prophets whom God has sent. Do we pray for our enemies and for those who oppose the gospel today?