Day XXX: Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Gospel Reading of the Day

LOSS AND FINDING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Image from apostolateofstjoseph.blogspot.com

From the holy Gospel according to
Matthew 1: 16, 18-21, 24a

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. [16]

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Alternative reading Luke 2: 41-51a

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"Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" [49]
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The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ


Personal Reflection on the Reading


Sharing for the Day

Today we are on the 30th day of our Lenten journey. It is the Solemnity of St Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The question being asked by the Lord today is: why look for Him in other places when it is obvious where we could find Him. That question may be asked in another way: why look for anything else - particularly mundane things and to some, other types of spirituality - to achieve happiness, satisfaction and contentment when the only thing that will really fill the void that is within our hearts is God? As we have mentioned many times in some entries in this blog, St Augustine has stated what everyone should declare: "Our hearts are made for you, O God, and it shall not rest until it rests in you!"

Each moment of our lives there is that constant search for the fulfillment of one or more of our needs, from the most basic such as food, and the highest, such as the expression of humanity. But to each level of our needs the Lord has an answer: regarding the need for food, for example, He tells us: man does not live by bread alone; and with humanity, He tells us, be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect. There are people who live in order to eat when our duty is to eat in order to live. There are people who believe that their lives would already become perfect when they have fully expressed their humanity when the Lord has already made it clear, perfection can only be in accordance with the nature of God: holiness.

Why do we have to look for the Lord? Hasn't He already infused into us His Spirit, Who guides us toward the attainment of the Father's perfection? Why do we have to look for other things to make us happy, fulfilled, perfect?

As we continue with our journey, let us never forget that we do not have to look for other things in order to be completely happy, really fulfilled and truly perfect for we already have God, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit!

Application of the Message

[1] Prayer

     Pray for the grace to see the presence of God in our lives.

[2] Abstinence

   Abstain from things that lead you away from God in your search for happiness, fulfillment and perfection.

[3] Almsgiving

   What can you share today so that you can inspire others to seek happiness, fulfillment and perfection in God and not in earthly things and activities.