Importance of a Gate Keeper to once own Life

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : 16th Week - Saturday*

*Importance of a Gate Keeper to once own Life*

*GOSPEL -  Mt 13:24-30*

*FIRST READING - Jer 7:1-11*

*1) Jeremiah was asked to function as Gate Keeper of the Temple*

The first reading of the day speaks about the concept of Gate keeper. 

Jeremiah was asked to become the Gate Keeper of the Temple of the Lord, by God Himself 

The entire first reading of the day is speaking about the importance of Gate Keeper 

*2) Jeremiah's work as Gate Keeper*

He was asked by the Lord to remain at the main Gate of the Temple to communicate a very important message to the People 

He remained at the entrance of the temple gate and these following words 

*Reform your ways and your deeds, so that I may remain with you in this place.*

*Put not your trust in the deceitful words:*

*3) We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit*

St Paul says that *do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you* 

Since our body and our life is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, it should have a gate through which one can enter and come out 

So it is our duty to stand at the gate of our life, like Jeremiah and to proclaim  the same words like *Reform your ways and your deeds, so that I may remain with you in this place.*

*4) Various gates of our Life*

*Mind* could be considered as the main gate of our life 

Heart is the another gate of our life 

All our senses are nothing but the gates of our life, through which various things enter into our life 

*5) Various  places to perform our duty as gate keeper*

Stand at the gate of Mind and check that only good things are entered into the mind 

Stand at the gate of heart and filter all that poisonous things from entering into the heart 

Stand at the gate of all senses and screen all that unwanted things and allow only that good things into life 

*6) Unholy Holy People Entering into the Temple*

The first reading of the day makes it very clear that when the unholy people enter through the gate to go into the temple, God does not remain in that place 

Only when people reform their life, the Lord remains in the temple 

Like wise even in our life, when life is reformed, Lord stays in our life and we can experience the Lord. If not we can't experience 

*7) My Responsibility as Gate Keeper*

I am the gate keeper of my Life 

I need to stand at the various gates of my life inorder to check the unwanted things entering into life 

Am I ready to work as gate keeper of my life? 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*