Depart From me You accursed

Gospel Thoughts

*Lenten Season : C Cycle : First Week: Monday*

*GOSPEL - Mt 25:31-46*

*FIRST READING - Lv 19:1-2, 11-18*

*Depart From me You accursed*

*1) Depart and accursed are strong words*

In today's Gospel we have these words. 

These are rather very strong words, at times very scary words, which create some kind of fear and anxiety in our life 

We hardly find such words in the Gospel, but there are few times where these words are referred. So we need to note these words. 

*2) Come to me all who are weary and burdened*

Jesus is the one who always called people to Himself and never chased away people at any time 

There is only one occasion, where Jesus chases people from the temple when they were doing the business in the temple 

Jesus also chased the demons when people brought to him those who were possessed by the devil 

Other than these we find very strong words in today's Gospel. They are *Depart and accursed*

*3) Context of these Words*

First of all we need to realise that all of us created in the image and likeness God 

Therefore, when some one fails to see this God's image in others we fail to recognise, to see God in others

People those who appear in the last part of the parable, had failed to recognise the image of God, in the others, especially in the least and the lost ones. 

In such a situation the parable makes use of these above words, *Depart and accursed*

*4) Greatest blunder of our life*

The whole judgment of our life depends on how much we were able to reach out others 

The moment we fail to reach out others, we fail to reach out to God. 

When we fail to reach out to God, we are far away from God. 

So it is not God who is us to depart, but we ourselves make God to depart from us. 

A life which is not in touch with the Divine is equal to a life which is accursed 

So it is our basic attitude with others makes us to *depart and to be accursed*

*5) God can be experienced only through others*

When the *other* is taken away from our life, the way towards God is closed 

Here the other represents the following

The Hungry

The thirsty 

The stranger 

Naked 

And those who in prision

These are the people who will help us to experience God in our life 

Going away from these people means departing from God, which results in a curse 

*6) What is the role of others in my Life?*

*Other* is a possibility of experiencing God? 

Or have I turned this other as a block in experiencing God?

Will I be blessed or will I be departed from the Lord? 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*