DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

MONDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR (II)

Mystery of the day: Joyful

Saint of the day

St. Francis de Sales

This saint was born in the noble Sales family of the Duchy of Savoy, on August 21, 1567 in France and studied law in Padua. His father was Francoise de Sales, Lord of Boisy and mother Francoise de Sionnz. He was ordained as a priest in the Diocese of Geneva on December 8, 1602, where Calvinist sect of Christians were having very strong presence. Francis took very sincere efforts for converting Calvinist Christians to Catholicism. He became the Bishop of Geneva at the age of 35 years. He often say that perfection in devotion can be preserved even in family life, as in desert life. He started to write sermons and copied them by his hand and slipped them through doors of the houses that did not open for him. This is considered as the first use of religious tracts to communicate with people. He collaborated with St. Jane Francis De Chantal in founding the Congregation of Visitation, an Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary to observe and practice the virtues of humility, piety and mutual charity, in the visit of Holy Mary to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. He was made an official associate of the Capuchin Order, when he was Bishop. He died on December 28, 1622.

He was beatified on January 8, 1661 by Pope Alexander-VII and canonized by the same Pope after four years on April 8, 1665. He is remembered as a patron of journalists because of the tracts he wrote.

Reflection for the day

Theme: ... and He gives life eternal.

"Our Saviour Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel." (2 Timothy 1:10)

One of the most searching phenomenon by man is search for life. Though some search for the longevity of the present life, while others keep on pressing button to behold beatic vision. Putting the two side by side, a thought provoking question arise? 

To what extent have we prepared to behold the life of given to us, whether temporal or eternal? For those seeking for long temporal life are still pursuing shadow, meaning that "no matter how much we desire to have this life in abundance" none of us will leave this ephemeral world alive, we must die. It is not an option but a fact beyond argument. 

On another note, the second camp searching for life beyond what we live now, St. Timothy in his second letter reassures us in the gospel acclamation as he says: 

"Our Saviour Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel." (2 Timothy 1:10)

This implies that, our searching should be rooted in Christ, who is "the way, the truth and the life." And the life in question is beyond what we can all see, but desire of.

For Christ was sent for this very reason, to reconcile man with God and then give life beyond the present life.

However, we are all admonished on this day to be conscious of the fact that we are just passing by. That what we see in this present life is nothing more but the foretaste of what we are yet to see, until we cross the rubicon of this life into the other life which Jesus Himself died for, we cannot have life in abundance.

Peace, be with you

Let us pray

Eternal God, we are thankful to You for the gift of life and for all creatures in creation. We beseech Thee O! Lord to bless us with insight to see beyond the present life, and then ever ready to get into the eternal life. We ask this through Cbrist our Lord. Amen.

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