July 19 –Friday – It’s Time to Revamp – Wilson SVD
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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