1st Week in Ordinary Time : Thursday 13th January 2022

The Israelites lost the battle to the Philistines, and Eli’s sons were killed. Earlier God promised, “I will choose a faithful priest who shall do what I have in heart and mind.’ No one fulfils this prophecy more than Jesus. Throughout His life, Jesus was totally and unconditionally absorbed in one preoccupation – doing the Father’s will.

In the Gospel, we see Jesus and the leper who He heals and warns him not to report this incident to anyone, for He knew that the people would place a political-economic or a magical glow on His Messiahship as news of His healings became known. However, we know that Jesus was more interested in intense cleansing. Later, He reveals to His disciples that He is a Messiah who must suffer and then die.

Jesus never asks us to do anything which He has not done. Did He not say, “What I just did was to give you an example: as I have done, so you must do”  (Jn. 13:15). As Jesus did what the Father had in heart and mind, so for us, a genuine devotion must be a dedication to the Father’s will. “Thy will be done” must be more than a phrase on our lips. It must be a way of life.

Lord, give us the grace to enable us to say our continuous ‘Yes’ to the Father.  Amen.