Stretch out your Hand

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Twenty Third Week : Monday*

*Gospel : Lk 6:6-11*

*First Reading : 1 Cor 5:1-8*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 5:5-6, 7, 12*

*Stretch out your Hand*

*1) Jesus on withered hand*

In today's Gospel  Jesus was speaking about a man whose hand had a problem

Since his hand had a problem he was not able to use it properly 

We can imagine, the problem when someone's hand has a problem 

Since our hand is one of the main parts of the body, life becomes really difficult when we have a problem with the Hand 

Withered hand is nothing but, incapablity of using it 

*2) Deeper meaning of Withered Hand* 

This concept of withered hand can also be applied to other levels 

The deeper meaning of the withered hand when seen in the spiritual level we can derive new nuances to our life 

*3) The Withered concept and other areas of Life*

The  concept of witheredness is seen in the following way 

*Mind* The witheredness of mind is very dangerous to our life. 

When mind is withered, our vision becomes narrow, our thoughts become unreasonable, our thinking becomes crooked

*Heart* The witheredness of the heart, makes out feelings evil, creates a egoistic behavior, and evil things come out of our hearts 

*Attitude* The witheredness of the attitude makes us arrogant, revengeful, individualistic and self righteous people 

*Values* The witheredness of the values, gives the sin to rule our life and we become greedy and selfish people 

*Morality* The withered morality, will bring down our moral life and moral life become a problem 

Witheredness of the morality leads to immoral life 

*4) Stretch out*

The biggest challenge to all of us today's Gospel from Jesus is to stretch out 

Stretch out your mind, for correct thinking, to know what is good and what is bad 

Stretch out your heart, to become a person of love 

Stretch out your hands, legs, mouth, eyes, ears and all senses to serve, to speak good things, to see the good things, to hear good things, and to do good things 

*5) Am I ready to Stretch out?*

Stretching out is not a easy things 

One needs the willingness and readiness to stretchout the various things in our life 

Each day Jesus calls us to stretch out life in order to make it holy and sacred 

Stretch out is a process, which involves conversion and change of life

So am I ready for a stretch out 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*