Where are our Enemies?

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : 15th Week -  Monday*

*GOSPEL - Mt 10:34-11:1*

*First Reading - Ex 1:8-14, 22*

*Where are our Enemies?*

*One’s enemies will be those of his household*

*1) What comes to my mind when I think of the enemies?*

Usually we think that enemies are far away from us and we hardly meet them 

At times we think our enemies are outside of our country who attack us for different reasons 

But are we right by thinking in such a way? Where are our real enemies? We need to ask this question and find out an answer for the same 

*2) Where do we fight in our daily life?*

Usually we fight in our neighborhood and in the society where we live 

At times we fight within our family, which creates lots of uneasiness and problems

So usually our enemies are found where we fight and where we have various types of disputes

Usually we fight for wealth, property share, money, position, and so on. All these happen either within the family or in the neighbourhood. 

So our enemies are within the family or in the neighbourhood

*3) Jesus says our enemies will be from our Household*

This makes it very clear that most our enemies are from our family itself 

Because lots of issues take place with in the family and at times these things give rise to many of the disputes which ultimately results in enmity. 

*4) Enemies from Household also involves enemies within myself*

When we see our own individual life it is clear that there are many enemies within ourselves which creates a kind of enmity between me and my God 

The following are some of the enemies from within myself 

The enemy of Sin 

The enemy of arrogance

The enemy of pride 

The enemy of bodily desires and temptations

The enemy of greed for wealth, money, position, possession, 

The enemy of hatred, revenge and narrow mentality 

All these enemies are found within my self, which do not allow us to grow in our spiritual life 

*5) Jesus too had enemies from with in*?

Some of the examples would be 

Judas Iscariot

His own Jewish people 

His own native people 

But Jesus conquered all these enemies and became a great person 

*6) How do I deal with my enemies?*

Do I allow them to grow, without making any efforts to destroy them? 

How do I handle the enemies which are within myself?

We need to be more careful about those enemies, which are within ourselves than outside of us

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*