Fifteenth week in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 38:1-6,21-22,7-8; Matthew 12: 1-8
How many of us are well prepared if in case disability
or death happens to us? Do our children and grandchildren know what to do if
in case we get incapacitated? King Hezekiah
became sick and was at the point of death, the Lord sent a message through
prophet Amos, ‘set your house in order, for you shall surely die.’
Set your house in order:
The Hebrew verse כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ צַ֣ו לְבֵיתֶ֔ךָ (Isa
38: 1 - ) means, ‘command your house,’
that is your family. Hezekiah has to command and bring order to his family. In
the case of Hezekiah; if he has to give any directions to the members of his
family, he is to do soon. This warning came to king Hezekiah. What is God
telling us today? Is our house in order? Or is disorder the order of our
houses? King Hezekiah ruled well, however, in the midst of king’s magnificence
and prosperity, the inner house of the soul as well as the outer life required
ordering. There was a collective and personal conflict in the house of
Hezekiah, which he had to address before it was too late. Someday, sooner or a
little later, we will have to face death, it is better to order our house than
to regret later.
Disorder curtails prosperity:
Today’s gospel narrates to us the various conflicts that existed between Jesus and
the religious authorities. The conflicts regarding fasting, purity laws, and observance of the sabbath were dominant. The houses that are not in order spend
their energies focussing on the conflicts, dos and don’ts, pains and problems.
An ordered house prosperous in the Lord, for the Lord is the order. A House is
a blessing. Our house is our strength. The members of the family make the house
a home to live in. The members of the house impress, inspire and influence each
other. When parents read the bible daily, say the family prayers daily and go
to church, the entire family does the same. Parents are the key to the
spiritual health of the family. When parents read the bible, recite family
prayers, go to church, and discipline their children, the society flourishes. If not, the society suffers.
Hezekiah turned his face to the Lord:
Hezekiah turned his face to the Lord and prayed. Hezekiah prayed with tears. The
entire household turned their face to the Lord.
God adds fifteen years of life:
Hezekiah prays. The Lord says, ‘I have heard your prayer. I have seen your
tears. I will add fifteen years of life.’ The Lord removes the death and adds
life. Death is replaced by life. The Lord’s answer is a very personal response;
‘I have heard, I have seen, I will add.’ The entire household of Hezekiah is
blessed because of the prayer of one man Hezekiah. Prayer of a father, or mother
or any one member of the family can bring blessings to the entire family. And
if every member of the family is ordered and turns to the Lord, the house will become
a heaven on earth.
Our Takeaway
1. It is time to revamp. Someday, sooner or a little
later, we will have to face death, it is better to order our house now than to
regret later. We do not know what tomorrow has in store for us.
2. A House is a blessing. Our house is our strength. The
members of the family make the house a home to live. The members of the house
impress, inspire and influence each other.
3. And if every member of the family is ordered and turns
to the Lord, the house will become a home and heaven on earth.
Wilson SVD
Divine Word Missionary
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