Jumat 03 Aug 2018
Hari Biasa, Pekan Biasa XVII

Bacaan 1 : Yer  26:1-9
Mazmur : Mzm  69:5.8-10.14
Injil : Mat  13:54-58

Yer. 26:1-9; Mzm. 69:5,8-10,14; Mat. 13:54-58.

"Karena ketidakpercayaan mereka, tidak banyak mujizat diadakan-Nya di situ"

Mukjizat itu nyata dalam hidup kita. Namun, untuk benar-benar mengalaminya dibutuhkan iman. Iman itulah yang akan memampukan kita untuk melihat kehadiran dan karya Tuhan dalam hidup kita. Tidak selalu dan tidak harus dalam bentuk peristiwa yang besar, seperti sembuh dari penyakit, dibebaskan dari masalah besar, dianugerahi rejeki melimpah, dll. Hidup kita sehari-hari, struktur badan/tubuh kita, aktivitas penafasan dan peredaran darah kita, adalah mukjizat. Namun, sekali lagi: kita harus punya iman agar mampu menyadari bahwa hal-hal sederhana dalam hidup sehari-hari pun merupakan mukjizat, kemudian mensyukurinya. Orang-orang Nazaret sama sekali tidak mengalami mukjizat Tuhan karena tidak punya iman, hati mereka tertutup dan tidak mau menerima kehadiran Tuhan. Semoga kita senantiasa membuka hati pada kehadiran Tuhan agar kita pun semakin mampu mengalami, merasakan, dan mensyukuri mukjizat-mukjizat-Nya.

Doa: Tuhan bantulah kami untuk selalu membuka hati menerima kehadiran dan karya-Mu. Amin. -agawpr-

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Are you critical towards others, especially those who are close to you? The most severe critics are often people very familiar to us, a member of our family, a relative, neighbor, student, or worker we rub shoulders with on a regular basis. Jesus faced a severe testing when he returned to his home town, not simply as the carpenter's son, but now as a rabbi with disciples. It would have been customary for Jesus to go to the synagogue each week during the Sabbath, and when his turn came, to read from the scriptures during the Sabbath service. His hometown folks listened with rapt attention on this occasion because they had heard about the miracles he had performed in other towns.
Jesus could do no mighty works in his hometown because the people who were familiar with him were closed-minded and despised his claim to speak and act in the name of God. If people come together to hate and refuse to understand others different than themselves, then they will see no other point of view than their own and they will refuse to love and accept others. How do you view those who are familiar to you? With kindness and respect or with a critical and judgmental spirit?

"Lord Jesus, your love conquers every fear and breaks the power of hatred and prejudice. Flood my heart with your mercy and compassion, that I may treat my neighbor with the same favor and kindness which you have shown to me."

Salam Damai Kristus