33rd Week in Ordinary Time (B) : Thursday 18th November 2021

In the worst of times, when, as a community, we find it difficult to believe in God, heroes arise. Mattathias, about whom we read today, is one such hero. We can never condone the violence that he takes to. Violence is never an answer to injustice, and should never be. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, in the book of Daniel, exhibit courage in a non-violent way by choosing to suffer rather than to put others through suffering.

Even today, the Dalai Lama and scores of his Buddhist monks show their dissent through non-violent means. Jesus sets the standards by His act of love on the Cross. Young people protesting against authoritarianism in Hong Kong and Myanmar also protest in non-violent ways.

Lord make Me an instrument of Your peace

Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair,hope.

Where there is darkness, light. Where there is  sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to  understand, to be loved as to love

For it’s in giving that we receive, and it’s in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it’s in dying that we are born to eternal life.