22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Sat, 05.09.09

Col 1:21-23

Lk 6:1-5

Let us say that this morning, you met someone and wished him "good morning".

But what you got was a sullen silent stare or some crabby reply like: What's so good about the morning?

There will be 2 things that we might do: either get into a tangle of heated words with that person, or just, let it be and be happy that you tried to make someone's day better.

So in any situation there can be a reaction or a response.

A reaction could be quite scorching, a response could be quite sublime.

The Pharisees reacted to what the disciples of Jesus did.

But Jesus responded to their reaction. He made them think and reflect.

So in all situations, we have a choice: we either react scorchingly, or we respond sublimely.

As Christians, we should know what to choose.

Even St Paul would urge the Colossians to have a new way of thinking and acting because of their faith in Christ.

A reaction to a situation would only result in tension.

But we can only give a Christian response when we "stand firm on the solid base of faith, and not drifting from the hope promised by the Good News".

Jesus is the master of Sabbath. Let Him also be the master of every situation. That is our Christian response.