We need to compete well, to improve our spiritual things

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : 24th Week - Friday*

*GOSPEL - Lk 8:1-3*

*First Reading -  1 Tm 6:2c-12*

*We need to compete well, to improve our spiritual things*

*Compete well for the faith*

*1) Competition in our daily life*

The word competition has become very common and relevant to all of us in today's world

The word competition has entered into every sphere of life. There are no areas which are untouched by the word competition

The word competition also tells us that, unless we compete in our day today life, we will not grow. So competition is very essential in our life 

*2) Competition in the 1st Letter of Timothy*

In today's first reading St Paul uses the word, competition for the spiritual things 

As we use the word competition for the secular or wordly things, St Paul uses this word for spiritual and divine things 

So once again we can understand the importance of competition even in the area of Spiritual things 

*3)  To which things we need to Compete?*

In the first reading of today, St Paul gives us a list of spiritual things, to which we need to compete. They are the following 

Righteousness,

Devotion,

Faith,

Love, 

Patience, 

Gentleness.

Eternal life,

St Paul gives us this list of things to which we need to compete in our day today life. Only then we can improve in our lives

*4) We compete not to break others records, but to improve our own records*

The word competition may be misunderstood at times 

Here we do not compete for breaking some ones record, but we compete to improve our own record 

Competing with our own previous records will help us to improve these spiritual and divine qualities, which will ultimately help us to live a holy life 

*5) The Effects of competition* 

We are able to over come from the verbal disputes.

We can also over come from envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions, and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds, who are deprived of the truth. 

So there are many good things happen when we compete for  good things 

*6) Competition needs hard work*

Any competition for that matter is not easy. It needs hardwork 

Like wise competition in the area of spiritual things, it needs more hard work 

Only those who are ready to undergo hard work can participate in competition and they are improve their records. 

*7) What about my part in competition*

Do I compete at all in the spiritual areas? 

Am I a competitionless person or with full spirit of competition? 

Is my competition to improve my own quality of records or to compare myself with others? 

In what level the competitions take place  for spiritual things in my life?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*