25.8.24 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time | Year B | Rev. Fr. J Maria Antony's Homilies | S-Word of God

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Joshua 24: 1-2a, 15-17, 18b Eph 5: 21-32 Jn 6: 60-69 A FAITHFUL GOD Theme: As God is faithful in His relationship with us, let us try to reciprocate that fidelity. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Marital Relationship: The Hindu tradition presents God-human relationship through various metaphors. It includes the following three: (a). Dasya Bhava: It is the devotion of a servant to his master. Here God is considered to be a Master before whom we, the servants, have to humble ourselves totally. (b). Vatsalya Bhava: It is the devotion of a child to its parent. Here, God is considered as a parent (father or/and mother). (c). Madhura Bhava: It is the devotion of a lover to his beloved. Here the relationship between God and human beings is presented in the context of love or marital relationship. The Bible presents that the approach of the Israelites towards God was predominantly Dasya Bhava (Master-servant relationship), though God, on His part, tried to invite people to have Vatsalya Bhava (Parent-children relationship). Jesus, in his preaching, made it clear that the master-servant approach in our relationship with God is an oppressive one and does not help us in the long run. The reason is that the basis of such a relationship is not love, but fear. The readings today invite us to reflect deeply the third-type of relationship, namely Madhura Bhava. In the Bible as well as in Christian tradition, the relationship between God and human beings is portrayed in terms of relationship between husband and wife. For the full homily, please click the following link: https://sites.google.com/view/swordof... Daily reflections in Tamil by Rev. Fr. J. Maria Antony (Sivagangai):    / @usermano110