Boasting is a sickness

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : 28th Week - Thursday*

*GOSPEL - Lk 11:47-54*

*First Reading - Rom 3:21-30*

*Boasting is a sickness*

*What occasion is there then for boasting?  It is ruled out.*

*1) St Paul on Boasting*

In the first reading of today, St Paul calls us to reflect about the issue of boasting 

He is asking the question about, what are the occasions we have to boast about ourselves? 

May be this is one of the important questions, which we need to reflect very often since all of us suffer from this problem

*2) What is Boasting all about?*

Boasting means excessively proud and self-satisfied talk about one's achievements, possessions, or abilities.

A boasting person looks at only the self and self achievements

Such a person thinks that everything happens because of him/her, which is not the case at all 

*3) The problem in Boasting*

Boasting is either a problem or it may become a sickness 

Problem because, the person is not able to see any goodness in others  

In fact others exist only to appreciate and to recognize his/her achievement. But he/she will never see that others also are contributing to the growth 

Boasting is a sickness because it makes a person to slave to some things 

*4) The I problem in boasting*

In particular the boasting problem exist in *I*

I did everything

I am responsibile for this work 

Without me nothing can happen 

If I am not there who will do it? 

It is because of my efforts things happened.

*I* problem can't accept the goodness and greatness of others 

*5) Boast in the name of Crucified Christ*

*Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”* 1Cor 1:31

St Paul says, if we want to boast, boast about the Lord, boast about the crucified Lord, boast about what the Lord had done to u 

Ultimately St Paul says, we have to boast about the crucified Christ, and His mission 

Other than this we have nothing to boast 

*6) In fact there is nothing to boast in our life*

If we think seriously there is nothing in our life to boast about 

Our life is not ours, it is of the Lord

Our body is not ours, it belongs to this World 

Our talents, skills, intelligence, and capacities are the gifts of God to us. They are not ours 

Our wealth, power, position, money and everything is the gift of God. We can only use it. That's all 

You name anything in this world it does not belong to us. It belongs to God. Only God gives us these things for some time to play our role in a fruitful way 

Then what is there to boast? 

*7) Do I Suffer from this problem?*

It is not only a problem, but it is also a kind of sickness 

Boasting does not allow Him  to know the person's problems, sentiments and goodness. 

Am I suffering from the problem of boasting?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*