“Freeing ourselves from the ‘imprisonment of the past’ and, with God’s Grace, living in love and holiness!”

(Based on 1 Cor 8:1b-7, 11-13 and Lk 6:27-38 – Thursday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A nine year old girl was walking through the fields, a little away from her home, when two persons, appearing to befriend her, asked her to help collect fruits from the forest.

Brought up with the good habit of showing courtesy to elders, the girl hurried to obey.

But soon she realised that it was a trick to kidnap her!

“I saw two persons behind me,” she would recall later…
… “One of them briskly grabbed me with one hand, while the other one pulled out a knife and held it to my side.
He told me, ‘If you cry, you’ll die! Follow us!’”

After a forced march, the girl was sold as a slave.

The captors gave her a name, in Arabic, which meant (ironically) “The Lucky One!”

Though this title was intended to be a sarcastic one, it came about to express the girl’s approach towards life.

In the coming years, she gladly accepted the name.

After her release, she amazingly, even thanked God for the good that had come, from her suffering.

“If I were to meet those who kidnapped me, and even those who tortured me,” she wrote, “I would kneel and kiss their hands.
For if these things had not happened, I would not have been a Christian and a religious today!”

The name of the girl is St Bakhita – a Saint for those who are “prisoners of the past!”

She was able to heroically display the Christian virtue of forgiveness…
… especially to enemies – those who had persecuted her and had cause irreparable damages to her life!

In life, so often we get “imprisoned by our past!”

This is true especially from the perspective of relationships…

There are many who cause hurts and pains to us
There are many with whom we find it difficult to relate and extremely hard to forgive

The past, clings to us, in a mighty way…

“Enemies” are, undoubtedly, a reality in most of our lives!

What is our attitude and approach to these “enemies” in our life?

The Gospel of the Day is a bold challenge by Jesus to “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you!” (Lk 6:27)

One of the sayings goes thus, “Divinity cannot be confined to one’s pockets or be contained in one’s purse!”

So vivid is this saying in the life of Jesus, the Fullness of Divinity.

Jesus does not allow to be confined to the tiny pockets of our mind-sets…
… or to be limited to the finite purses of our expectations

His teachings reach a new level…

This is what we come across when we challenge ourselves with the words of the Lord: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you!” (Lk 6: 27)

There are four explicit commands that are given:
Love
Do Good
Bless
Pray

All these four exhortations are very often in direct contrast to what we expect or what we wish

1) Love your enemies
Our natural tendency towards our “enemies” is that of animosity or grudge or at the best, indifference

But Jesus says to go beyond… Love them!

Love them… in a way, that they are able to experience the Mighty Love that God has for each one of us!
Love them… in a way, that no hateful feelings get sown or nurtured in our hearts and we be free in our minds!

2) Do good to those who hate
Our common inclination to those who hate is to say, “Why should I have anything to do with someone who is least interested in me and only keeps hurting me?”

But Jesus says to go beyond – Do good to them!

Do good to them… in a way, that our good actions – little or big, seen or unseen – become actions that evoke repentance and contrition!
Do good to them… in a way, that gestures of charity is a way to crush our own ego and pride feelings and makes us to be humbler, in imitation of Christ who totally humbled Himself!

3) Bless those who curse you
Our first instinct to those who curse us to “give back still strongly” in return and wish the worst for the concerned person.

But Jesus says to go beyond – Bless them!

Bless them… in a way, that our holy wishes may move the heart of the one who offends us and we become a channel and active instrument to allow God’s forgiveness to flow
Bless them… in a way, that our words of grace may heal the vibrations of negativity and hatred and evokes the mighty power of God against the dark forces of Satan

4) Pray for those who abuse you
Our immediate reaction to those who abuse is to abuse in return or to let out a volley of unfit phrases or violent actions and gestures

But Jesus says to go beyond – Pray for them!

Pray for them… in a way, that the grace of God’s mercy and compassion may descend into the relationship
Pray for them… in a way, that the words of abuse may fizzle out in the blazing power of prayer and holiness

Life constantly seeks to “imprison us in our past”

But God’s Grace coupled with our willingness to co-operate with His grace…
… will allow us to “live in love and holiness”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Being ever faithful to all our duties as a follower of Christ, knowing that ‘our journey is assured to be in safe hands, by our offering to the Lord!’”

(Based on 1 Cor 7:25-31 and Lk 6:20-26 – Thursday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A highly rich and influential person was privileged to be one of the special guests to undertake a 21-day cruise on a Majestic Battleship.

This ship belonged to the former Emperor of the land, and had been modernized with immense facilities and luxurious features.

The man was highly impressed with the comforts that were provided on board.

Among the many things that made a pleasant impact on him was also the Sunday Morning Mass that was attended by all the sailors and attendants, who were not on duty.

It was more so, since the man himself was not so particular about the practise of faith.

At the conclusion of the celebration of the Mass, the man asked one of the sailors:
“Are you obliged to attend these Sunday Morning services?”

“It’s not exactly about obligation, Sir!” replied the sailor, “but our journey is assured to be in safe hands, by this our offering to the Lord!”

Those sailors and attendants had made a conscious and deliberate choice to practise their faith and to surrender themselves to the Higher Power for safety and protection.

Our lives are also similar to such cruises…
… sometimes going through calm and quiet waters
… sometimes struggling in disturbed and turbulent waters
… sometimes encountering dangerous storms and violent gales

Do we make a constant choice for the Lord and live ourselves in surrender to Him?

The Gospel of the Day is the beautiful teaching of the Beatitudes in the Gospel of Luke.

The beatitudes are assurances of blessing and joy to all those who make a conscious choice for the Lord and His Kingdom!

Jesus says, “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God” (Lk 6: 20)

One of the great messages in this verse is the Message of Hope!

The Greek word used for “poor” is “ptochos”

Ptochos means…
… reduced to beggary or asking for alms
… destitute of wealth, influence, position, honour
… helpless, powerless to accomplish an end

It’s interesting to note that this word “Ptochos” has its origin in the word “ptosso” which means “to crouch”

Therefore, the “poor” literally means, “one who is crouching” – a position where the knees are bent and the upper body is brought forward and down

It’s a position that is very often defied and despised, in the worldly standards, which emphasizes on being proud and haughty!

Thus, when the Lord says, “Blessed are the poor,” it is a tremendous message of Hope…
… To those who find themselves at the peripheries of life
… To those lost in the miseries of life and find no hope – materially, spiritually, mentally, and socially

Of course, the word “poor” does not mean…
… that one simply becomes timid and passive or be simply submissive to any social evils without any resistance
… that one adopts an attitude of being “always hands folded” in surrender or “faces cast down” in defeat

“Poor” instead refers to the fact that one has God has one’s greatest strength and treasure

Being “poor in the Lord”, contradictory as it may sound, is the greatest richness that one can have.

How true is the saying, “One who kneels before God, can stand before anyone!”

One who is dependent on God and His Grace…
One who is willing to challenge the society’s unjust norms with the mighty trust in God…
One who is aware of one’s strengths and weaknesses and yet offers oneself entirely to the power of God…

Such a one, in the eyes of the world may be “poor”… but is “Blessed” in the sight of God!

It takes courage to be a Christian who is committed!

Let us be ever faithful to all our duties as a follower of Christ, not just in fulfilment as an obligation…
… but knowing that “our journey is assured to be in safe hands, by our offering to the Lord!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Deepening our love towards Mother Mary, and walking in the path of God, more faithfully!”

(Based on the Feast of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother)

A teacher in her classroom of Second Standard students, once explained and gave a lesson on the ‘magnet’ and its functions and uses.

The next day, the teacher conducted a written test.

One of the questions in this test was:
“My full name has six letters.

My name begins with ‘M’
One of my functions is to pick up things.
Another function is to attract things towards me.
Who am I?”

When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to see the answer that was given to this question by over half the class.

Any guesses as to what answer did the children write?

Hmmm….

They wrote the word – “Mother!”

The little children, with their own personal experience had seen and witnessed a Mother being the person..
… who would pick up things ( and especially the children!)
… who would attract to herself (especially the children themselves!)

The name “mother” evokes a lot of feelings and emotions…

Love, affection, tenderness, self-giving, warmth, kind-heartedness etc.

The name “mother” also evokes a lot of characters, functions works and tasks…

A life-giver, a care-giver, a consoler, a strength, a forgiver, a refuge etc.

A simple word – Mother – yet evokes so many powerful functions and feelings.

Today we celebrate the Birthday of the Most Beloved, the Most Loving and the Most Lovable Mother of all – Blessed Mother Mary!

Our world, in the modern trend, fluctuates between two contrasting approaches towards our Blessed Mother.

A) Minimal devotion to Mother Mary
On one side, there is a highly sad and deplorable ignoring of the honour and the status that is due to our Blessed Mother.

Many consider Her only as an “egg-shell”, whose role and relevance completely ceased, after having given birth to Jesus
Many consider Her as just any ordinary woman, who “happened” to be picked by God, so that He could “use” Her to fulfil His plan.
Many consider Her to be worthy of absolutely no honour, and even mock at Her only as being a cause of distraction from God.

B) Exaggerated devotion to Mother Mary
On the other side, there is a “comfortable” and dangerous trend towards exalting Mother

Mary to such an extent that She is sometimes accorded the worship of a goddess or a deity!
Many consider devotion to Her being much more important, much more satisfying and much more easier than to God Himself!
Many consider expressing their actions of piety and affection to such an extent that even God is sometimes neglected (especially God in the Blessed Sacrament or in the Holy Word)!

But both these extreme understandings and approaches towards Blessed Mother Mary need to have a refinement, filtering and restoration towards the right perspectives!

Towards this end, the name “MARY” could be expanded, in the following manner, to help in having a truer appreciation, a genuine devotion and a deeper love for Her: MARY…
… a Model, an Apostle, a Revolutionary, a Yeast

1) Mary – is the Model for every Christian
Her life becomes a wonderful example to every person who wishes to follow our Blessed Lord.

She remains the perfect Model of being attentive to the voice of God, being actively response to His call and being faithfully committed to every task entrusted to Her

2) Mary is the Apostle-par-excellance
As an Apostle of Her Son and Saviour, She always remained in His presence – either physically or in Her thoughts or through Her constant longing for Him

She is the Beloved Apostle who had offered Her whole body, mind and soul to the glory of God and fulfilling His every plan

3) Mary is the Revolutionary who dared to do God’s Will
Her Yes to the Plan of God, at the Annunciation and Her continual Yes to His Will…
… even in the moments of the most extreme suffering had the tenacity and the passion of a True Revolutionary
… and is beautifully reflected in the words of the Magnificat!

It is hard to follow God’s Will, especially in some moments of crisis;

It requires extreme courage and unfailing commitment to be always walking in the path of God
Mary is the wonderful Revolutionary who dared to always seek and do God’s Will in Her life!

4) Mary is the Yeast who silently fulfilled Her role in the plan of salvation
In the Bible, the words of Mother Mary are fairly minimal; yet Her few words and above all…
… Her dedicated life speaks volumes of Her role in the Salvific Plan!
She is the unseen Yeast through whom the mighty Grace of God wonderfully worked to raise up the Author of Salvation!

Blessed Mother Mary is our wonderful and beautiful Mother…
… who deserves our greatest affection and love, in a way that draws us more and more towards Her Son, Jesus.

Let us be encouraged by the words of St Maximilian Kolbe:
“Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much.

You can never love her more than Jesus did.”

May the celebration of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother, help us to deepen our love towards Her…
… and may we, holding Her Hands, walk in the path of God, more faithfully and strongly committed!

As Fulton J Sheen says:
“The less we think of Him, the less we think of Her.

The more we adore His Divinity, the more we venerate Her motherhood.
The less we acknowledge His divinity, the less we have respect for Her!”

A wonderful Birthday to our Blessed Mother!

We Love you, Dearest Mamma!

Happy Feast day to all Her children!

Let us deepen our love for Her Beloved Son and our Saviour, Jesus!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Breaking the chains of ego and pride, and in humility and gentleness, reach out to the lost ones!”

(Based on Ezek 33:7-9, Rom 13:8-10 and Mt 18:15-20 – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A)

It’s a Friday…
… the scene over a small hillock.

The mid-day sun shining bright and hot but preparing itself to slowly fade into darkness and tepidity…

A sparse number of people were around…

Some indifferent ones gazing from far…
Some proud ones standing on the ground…
Some broken ones on their knees…

Three were suspended on the Cross…

One of them…
… in Excruciating Pain, yet Majestic and Glorious in His Character and Nobility…

With a disposition of Graciousness and Goodness, spelled out into a loud, yet compassionate exclamation: “Father, forgive them…
… they know not what they do!”

This cry of the Son of God – Jesus – from the Cross to His Father, on behalf of the sinful and strayed humanity…
… was a statement that summarized His life-long mission: To forgive, to bring back the lost and to give hope to the strayed ones!

The Gospel of the Day presents this teaching of the Lord, which He lived in His life and perfectly climaxed on the Cross: To forgive, to bring back the lost and to give hope to the strayed ones!

Last Sunday, the Gospel exhorted us to “deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him” (Mt 16:24)

This exhortation is given a practical dimension in today’s Gospel…
… with a strong accent on the need to grow ourselves in the aspect of Active Forgiveness and to make eager and earnest efforts to bring back a lost person and to render hope and optimism to the wayward hearts.

Just a few verses before today’s passage, we have in Mt 18: 10-14, the Parable of the Lost Sheep.

The shepherd loves all his hundred sheep…
… yet, when one gets strayed, he makes “an out-of-the-way effort” to get the lost one back.

He doesn’t give up on the strayed.
He doesn’t desert the lost.
He doesn’t abandon the one gone from his circle.

This attitude of “taking an extra pain” and “dripping an extra sweat” would seem weird and strange to a calculative, pragmatic and business-minded head of ours, in this modernistic period…

Is it not a waste of time to go after the “lost sheep” – of an obsessed drug-addict or a habitual drunkard or a consistent smoker?
Is it just too futile to awaken a “lost sheep” – of a soul in slumber, where there is no focus on spiritual life, where there is slackness of prayer and sacraments and where worldliness and materialism have crept and conquered?
Is it of any use to go after the “lost sheep” – of a couple who are constantly bickering and a family which is broken up with regular fights and misunderstandings?
Is there any sense in trying to restore the “lost sheep” – of a community whose members seem disinterested, who are lethargic, who have their own personal agenda and who always back-talk and back-bite?
Is it just not meaningless to revive the “lost sheep” – of a society or a nation where corruption has taken deep-roots in hearts of people and all sincere efforts of transformation often gets dumped into the bin?

The True Shepherd however, in all such situations, of the sheep being lost, makes an extra effort in getting them back.

This same Shepherd today invites us, through the Gospel of the Day, to be partakers in restoring the lost ones.

A series of steps are enshrined to make this “seemingly not-so-pleasant” task happen!

Engaging in a mutual dialogue
Engaging in a small-group interchange
Engaging in a communitarian initiative

Why is it a “seemingly not-so-pleasant” task?

Mt 18:15 says,” If YOUR brother sins against YOU…“

Can we read it again…
… YOUR bro sins against YOU….

Now that sounds crazy, isn’t it?

Why should I… I be doing that?

Someone hurts me… should I go?
Someone wounds me… should I restore?
Someone harms me… should I go to reconcile?
Someone kills me mentally… should I patch up?
Someone spoils my name… should I take the lead?

Well.. the Gospel of the Day…simply says, ” If YOUR brother sins against YOU…”
…Then….YOU TAKE THE LEAD, TO GET THINGS RIGHT!

YES… You!

But we ask WHY?

WHY ME?!

This WHY may not get answered so easily or convincingly..

But the One who gave this exhortation, makes us to focus our attention back on the small hillock, on the Friday…

With the mid-day sun slowly fading into darkness…
… with hands stretched on the Cross with deep pain, crying: “Father, forgive them…they know not what they do!”

Tough words to hear on a relaxed Sunday, right?

Christianity is wonderful…
… but Christianity is also a task!

Yes, the obligation of Sunday duties ought to get actualized and lived in all the other weekdays of our life!

St Paul tells us: “Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law!” (Rom 13:8)

The Lord reminds us through Prophet Ezekiel of the noble yet great responsibility entrusted to us to be accountable to one another: “O you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me!” (Ezek 33:7)

Let’s embrace this task of the Lord…
… to forgive, to bring back the lost and to give hope to the strayed ones!

The Good Shepherd preached it…
The Good Shepherd lived it in His life…
The Good Shepherd perfected it on the Cross.
We, His little Sheep, are now exhorted the same!

Let us break the chains of our ego and pride…
… and in humility and gentleness, reach out to the lost ones!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Seeking the Grace to uncover many ‘Diamond Vases’ contained in the Holy Scripture!”

(Based on 1 Cor 4:6b-15 and Lk 6:1-5 – Saturday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

The story goes of a large castle which lay abandoned for a large number of years.

Being considered haunted or jinxed, it failed to have buyers.

But a young man, without giving heed to any of those fears, purchased it.

The castle had a large attic, with a huge number of things being dumped in it.

The man decided to take up the task of cleaning this attic.

While cleaning, the man found, in the corner of the attic, a very old vase, fully covered with dust!

Taking it in his hands, as he began to wipe it with a cloth, the man discovered that it was a priceless item that he was holding on!

It was a Diamond Vase!

Unnoticed, uncared and undiscovered…
… the Diamond Vase, on being dusted, became a priceless “bonus” for that man.

How often in our lives, we too have many such “Diamond Vases” – unnoticed, uncared and undiscovered.

It’s highly essential that time and again, we dust off these entities in life, to discover their preciousness!

One of such “Diamond Vases” are the precious and timeless truths that can be discovered from the Holy Bible.

Today we shall attempt to “wipe off” the dust from a precious teaching – the Sabbath – to reveal its greater implications in our life and to discover its preciousness!

The Gospel of the day is another Sabbath controversy.

While going through the grain-fields, the disciples of Jesus plucked and ate some of the heads of grain (Lk 6: 1)

But this supposedly forbidden “act of work” was “caught” by the Law Policemen – the Pharisees.

Probably, the disciples had not thought of the fact that they were now enjoying the status of being “special celebrities” – since they were the close associates of the Rising mega-star – Jesus!

And mega-stars and special celebrities always get followed, isn’t it?

Each of their movement is followed…
Each of their talk is taped!

Thus, Jesus and His disciples also found themselves being followed and observed, in all their actions and talks!

The point of contention was the Sabbath Rule – which as per the Pharisees…
… rendered the “work of the disciples” – plucking and eating the heads of grain – as being unlawful and therefore, culpable!

When we seek to trace the the original purpose of “Sabbath”, we could consider a couple of aspects:

1) The “Law” of Sabbath at Creation
If Sabbath can be considered as a “Law”, then it goes to say without doubt that the Law of Sabbath was a “principle of creation” itself.

Gen 2: 3: “So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it, He rested from all the work he had done in creation”

This “Law” of Sabbath therefore, even precedes the Mosaic Law!

It is very interesting to note the pattern of creation that is mentioned in the Book of Genesis.

The Creation is mentioned as happening on a seven-day format.

It can be observed that on all the 6 days, it is mentioned, “evening came and morning followed” (Gen 1:5b, 1: 8b, 1:13, 1: 19, 1: 23, 1: 21b)
The phrase or the usage, “Evening came and morning followed” refers to the completing of a day.

But the 7th day doesn’t have this mention!

What is this pointing towards…?

The 7th day is not complete… it is being continued.

It is unending… i.e. Everlasting!

Therefore, the 7th Day… the Day on which God “rested” is being continued…. into eternity!

So when God calls to “rest” on a Sabbath day, it could be a reference and a reminder to enter “a rest into eternity!”

That’s wonderful, isn’t it?

The Sabbath becomes a reminder that we are created to “enter into a rest with God” which is eternal and unending!

The Sabbath becomes a prefiguration of eternal life – the purpose of all our works and activities!

Can we cultivate this understanding so as to have a stricter observance of the Sabbath Rule?

Every time we faithfully keep the Sabbath Law….
… we express our willingness to God saying: ” Yes Lord, I am readying myself for the Eternal Rest that you are promising me”!
… we display our eagerness to God saying: “Yes Lord, I am constantly preparing myself to enjoy an Eternal bliss with You!”

2) The Law of Sabbath in the Mosaic Law
The Book of Deuteronomy explicates this Sabbath Law:

“Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God….
… You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.

Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.” (Dt 5: 12-15)

The Sabbath Law in the Mosaic Law was a reminder that God was their Rescuer from the land of slavery and therefore, He was their God and they, His people.

Can we also cultivate this understanding so as to have a stricter observance of the Sabbath Rule?

Every time we faithfully keep the Sabbath Law….
… we are reminded that we were also once, slaves – to sin.

Our Blessed Lord, has rescued us from slavery and wishes that we deepen our love, commitment and faithfulness to Him, Our Saviour!
… we are exhorted that it is very much possible that we can become slaves again – maybe to sinful tendencies, to money, to power, to position, to various vices etc.

With constant examination of oneself and a renewing of one’s dedication and pledge to God, we can remain as His own people.

Knowingly or unknowingly, we have sometimes failed to keep the Sabbath Law or perhaps, failed to attach any special importance to it…

The Sabbath Day, sometimes, becomes…
… just another “ordinary” day for us
… a day to indulge in laziness and lethargy
… a day to complete pending works and even ending up doing extra works!

But can we grow beyond such practices and seek to restore the original intents of the Sabbath.

A faithful and dutiful keeping of the Sabbath Law is a vital expression of we, as Christians, being a distinct people – chosen to lead all others towards the Love of God!

Let us seek the Grace to uncover many more “Diamond Vases” contained in the Holy Scripture, by wiping off the dusts of ignorance and indifference!

God Bless! Live Jesus!