Does my life speak heavenly things or Earthly things

Gospel Thoughts*

*Easter Season : 2nd Week - Thursday*

*GOSPEL -  Jn 3:31-36*

*First Reading - Acts 5:27:33*

*Does my life speak heavenly  things or Earthly things*

*1) Two kinds of things we can speak and live accordingly*

The Gospel of the day makes it very clear that one can adopt either heavenly things in life or earthly things in life. 

According  to the things we adopt in life, we also try to live our life. 

One can't adopt earthly  things and try to live a life of heavenly things. By adopting earthly things one can live avcording to the earthly  things and by adopting the heavenly  things one can live according to heavenly  things 

*2) Jesus spoke and lived according to heavenly things*

Since Jesus  had come from above/Heaven he spoke and lived According  to the heavenly things 

The following are the heavenly things 

Forgiveness 

God's  Mercy 

Love - unconditional  love 

Repentance 

Conversion  of one's life 

Humility 

Sharing 

Sacrifice 

Helping the needy 

Truth and justice 

Simplicity  of life 

Genuineness  of life 

Sincerity  and accountability 

Acceptance of one's weakness

Healing of the sick 

Feeding of the poor 

Sheltering the homeless 

All these are heavenly things and Jesus spoke and lived these things in His life 

*3) The following  are the Earthly  things*

Power, position, wealth, money 

Name, fame, external beauty, pomp and glory 

Luxury,  comfort, easy way of life, short cuts, quick results 

Pride, Achievements, pleasure  principle, eat, drink and merry 

Enjoying life to the maximum, least concern towards my neigbhour, selfish motives, thinking only about the self 

Enjoying life at the cost of another  person's life, subjugating  and controlling another person, taking away the basic rights of another person 

All these are earthly things and those who are immersed in these things they speak  meditate and try to achieve only these things in life 

*4) Earthly things and heavenly  things can't go together*

One can't serve two masters. Either he will hate one and serve the other. He can't serve God and wealth together 

Serving two masters is impossible.  Jesus spoke and lived faithfully  only to one master 

One who tries to serve two masters is a lier and hypocrite 

*5) What is my Language?*

My language  will show where do I belong 

My way of life will show what type of values I have in my life 

There is no question of hiding things from our life when it comes to these things 

Am I speaking heavenly  things or Earthly  things?

*6) The responsibility  of the followers of Jesus*

The very fact we are followers  of Jesus, we are suppose to speak the heavenly language 

We are not of this world. We only live in this world (John 17:16). We belong to heaven and heaven is our home 

So as a responsible  disciple of Jesus we have the obligation  to speak and live according  the the heavenly  things 

Language  of Forgiveness, Sharing, Humility, love, sacrifice, martyrdom, patience, care and concern, etc 

Am I ready to speak and live according the the heavenly things?

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*