3 October, Friday — Walking the Path

Friday of Week 26 in Ordinary Time

Bar 1:15-22
Lk 10:13-16

“… did you want to be exalted high as heaven?…”

I have always been the ‘chubby kid’ and constantly struggled with my weight. Actually, that’s not really true. I just hadn’t cared. For years, I had continued to enjoy my food, but I didn’t exercise because I didn’t really appreciate it.

At the same time, my grandaunt (and others concerned about me) consistently advised me to “eat less, move more”. She tried to prepare healthier foods and encouraged me to go for walks.

While I knew what my grandaunt told me was true and was for my good, I chose to ignore her guidance. Was I ignorant? Not at all. Instead, I effectively decided to ignore her concerns. She passed away some seventeen years ago, but it must have pained her to see me go down that path.

Perhaps I have been gifted a small glimpse of what our God, our Father, may have gone through. My children are now in their 20s. When they were young, I remember watching over their first steps, eager to prevent them from falling and hurting themselves. As they grew up, this eagerness extended to trying to protect them from emotional falls as well.

I realised however, that, at times, it was important for my children to go through the experience of falling. So that they could pick themselves up, learn from the experience, and go on. At other times, I must step in to cajole, warn, challenge and correct.

Today’s readings appear to be God stepping in to do so for us, His children.

The first reading talks about this recognition by the people — that only God is right, which is how, as a people, we have chosen to sin. Our Lord Jesus, talks about the consequences of this choice.

I am reminded, however, of the depth of God’s love for us. He could have made it such that we, as God’s creations, live our lives and make our choices go along with His plan without any deviation. Yet, He gives us the choice, whether or not to follow His commandments. 

Brothers and sisters, let us exercise this ability to make our choices fruitfully, aligned with the plans God has for us. 

(Today’s OXYGEN by Paul Wee)

Prayer: Dear Father God, help us resolve to walk the path You have in mind for us. 

Thanksgiving: Thank You for the freedom to choose; to live our lives according to Your plan. Thank You Father, for the strong reminders in today’s readings.