“Remaining fresh in the Grace and Peace of the Lord, by finding strength for difficult times, in the ‘school of hardship!’”

(Based on Jer 20:7-9, Rom 12:1-2 and Mt 16:21-27 – 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A)

A story is narrated of a group of students who were taken around different places of a village.

They came upon an orange orchard, where an irrigation pump had broken down.
The climate was unusually dry and many of the trees were beginning to dry and die, for lack of water.

The man who was guiding the tour – himself a farmer – then took the students to his own orchard.

The students were surprised to see the green trees in this particular fruit garden.

To know the reason, one of the students enquired the guide: “How is it that trees in your orchard are so fresh and green; you are not even using irrigation!

Whereas, most of the trees in this vicinity are dying!”

“These trees could go without rain, even for another two weeks!” answered the guide…
…” You see, when these trees were young, I frequently and systematically, kept them away from water for some time.

This hardship, caused them to send their roots, deeper into the soil, in search of moisture.
Now my trees are the deepest-rooted trees in this area!

While others are being scorched by the sun…
… mine are finding moisture at great depth

And thus, they remain fresh and green!”

The early schooling in hardship…
… helped the trees to find strength in difficult times

And thus remained fresh and green!

Christian Life makes us students of this particular school – whose term lasts life-long…
… and seeks to strengthen us, in difficult times.

This school… is the School of Suffering!

Wait a minute….

Do we already see some people telling in their minds and whispering a thought on their lips…

“Oh, Come on… not again a reflection on pain and suffering”..
“Give us something pleasant for a Sunday”…
“We know God is with us in suffering, but we are tired of listening to the same old groans and tales of pain!”

It’s a tough school, right?

But it’s a reality…

As Christians… we are all enrolled in this Grace-filled “School of Suffering!”

The Gospel of the Day is a reminder by our Blessed Lord on how every Christian has a duty to joyfully be a student of the “school of suffering!”

The Gospel of this Sunday is a continuation of last Sunday’s passage (Mt 16:13-20)

Jesus had conducted an opinion-poll to know what people felt about Him

And the World declared its opinion…

… Jesus was a great person like one of the prophets and was acclaimed as a Wonderful Man! (Mt 16: 13-14)

Then, Jesus sought an opinion to know how His disciples felt about Him

And the Heavens proclaimed…
… Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God and was acclaimed as an Awesome God! (Mt 16: 16)

Many of us are satisfied and contented with these two understandings of Jesus:
Jesus as a Wonderful Person…
… and Jesus as an Awesome God!

But the Gospel of the Day presents the opinion and the understanding of Jesus Himself:

He would be the Lord and Saviour, who would suffer many things and be killed and raised on the third day! (Mt 16: 20b-21)

He is not just a wonderful person: an exemplary human…a compassionate individual…a good personality…
He is not just the marvellous God…the astounding Lord… the Merciful Saviour… the benevolent Master…
But He is also the Suffering Servant: The Persecuted Preacher… the Crucified Consoler… the Rejected Redeemer!

This, however, was a great scandal for Peter (Mt 16: 22)

He never expected nor wanted nor accepted that His Beloved Master would go through the “School of Suffering!”

But Jesus rebukes His prime disciple…
… with a very harsh reprimand, ” Get behind Me, Satan!” (Mt 16: 23)

That was a very strong statement made to Cephas – Peter, the rock of the group of Disciples!

But Jesus was clear and crisp in His convictions: “You are not thinking as God does, but as humans do!” (Mt 16: 23b)

Jesus wanted Peter and the other disciples…
… and each one of us to know and digest this seemingly “bitter” truth: Lukewarmness and slackness might help you slid through to win you certificates in the “school of comforts”…

But, patient endurance and unreserved commitment alone win will laurels in the “school of suffering!”

Cheating and shortcuts might ease you through to gain many trophies in the “School of Comforts”…

But, authentic dedication and staunch loyalty only will succeed in the “School of Suffering!”

This is what the Three Readings in today’s liturgy teaches us:

The true follower of Christ…
… will have to deny oneself and take up the Cross. (Gospel: Mt 16: 24)
The true follower of Christ…
… will seek to be transformed by the renewal of one’s mind. (2nd Reading: Rom 12:2)
The true follower of Christ…
… will bear all insults & mockery & yet have the Fire of His Word within! (1st Reading: Jer 20:7-9)

Every School seeks to achieve a great deal of perfection and quality…

The “School of Suffering” too – which is the Christian Way of Life – too seeks to make us perfect and valuable…

The “School of Suffering” is a tough school, but there is…
… much joy and satisfaction!
… immense value and treasure stored!
… plenty of grace and blessings within!

Let us win the great prizes of holiness, saintliness, happiness and eternal life…
… by becoming the wonderful students of this School of Suffering!

Our Great Mentor and Master and Teacher and Tutor – Jesus – is in perfect charge of this “School of Suffering.”

Let us be encouraged, because this “schooling in hardship” alone will help us to find strength in difficult times…
… and thus remain fresh and green always, in the Grace and Peace of the Lord!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Constantly seeking to have the ‘beautiful ring’ of our conscience in tune with God’s Will!”

(Based on 1 Cor 1:26-31 and Mk 6:17-29 – The Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist)

There was a certain king who possessed a magic ring.

This ring, looked like any of the other rings that the King wore, except the fact that this ring had some influential powers.

Whenever some evil thought would cross across his mind, or if he was tempted to do some wrong thing, this ring would press painfully on the finger!

This would make the King realize that he was on the wrong track, and would quickly become aware of the paths of danger.

Perhaps, many of us – especially with the ease with which we often slip into the slush of sin – would wish that we too could possess such a ring…
… a ring that would prick us painfully, so that we become aware of the wrong we do
… a ring that would act as a reminder to prevent us from treading on the thorny tracks of sin

But how many of us do realize, that all of us have been blessed and adorned with this beautiful ring?

Perhaps…
… some of us are ignorant of it
… some of us have lost touch with it
… some of us have forgotten its presence

This ring is nothing else but our ‘Conscience!’

Am I aware of the voice of the Conscience prompting me with its timely warnings and admonishing…?
… or have I lost awareness of the Conscience, by my constant rejection and frequent refusal of its still, gentle voice…?

The Gospel of the Day (Mk 6:17-29) is the dramatic re-telling of the story of the Martyrdom of St John the Baptist – a victim of a “Deadened Conscience!”

One of the important focus subject of this “soul-stirring and heart-gripping” incident is the aspect of Conscience.

Conscience is the inner guide to determine the right from wrong.

The Catholic Church, in her teaching on the Conscience says: “Deep within his conscience, man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey.

Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment.
For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God
His conscience is man’s most secret core and his sanctuary.
There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths. (CCC #1776)

The education of the conscience is a life-long task.

However, as a person grows up – going through various experiences in life – there can be…
… errors that creep into the conscience
… areas in the conscience that are never informed

Hence, the formation of the Conscience is to be of utmost importance in the moral life of a person – a formation that has the Word of God as the light for our path!

In the Gospel, we encounter King Herod, who failed to give heed to the Word of God, prophetically spoken by John the Baptist.

The Word of God was directly addressed to him…
… but he chose to reject it.

The Result: His conscience became subdued and the voice of his own personal desires grew louder in the depths of his heart!

The Word of God was put forward to him and challenged his moral integrity and his lustful life…
… but he failed to give any heed to the call to repent or change.

The Result: His conscience was stifled and its gentle voice was drowned in the ocean of adulterous appetite and carnal cravings.

This danger is a possibility in so many of our lives too…

We hear God’s Word telling us not to do certain things, or forbids us from following a particular lifestyle…
… but often, we don’t give any consideration to it, and live life “bindaas” – without any fear!

We are informed by people who care for us, on the need to mend our ways or to live a life which is more disciplined or oriented towards our faith…
… but sometimes, we just don’t bother about it, or pretend as if “We know to live our lives, without anyone’s advices”

We come to know of the many wrongs that we indulge ourselves in, or are made aware of the sinful paths that we may be treading across…
… but quite often, we sink into the waters of lethargy or indifference or climb up the mountain of pride and arrogance

The Result?

Our conscience becomes weakened…
… fails to become a forceful power in our lives
… and slowly, stutters towards a crippling death!

The powerfully intense story of the Beheading of John the Baptist is a mighty call for us to give greater heed to the formation of our conscience.

Can we take some practical resolutions (just to mention a few) to help towards the same…

Making a daily examination of conscience (ideally twice a day – noon and night – or at least at the end of the day)
… consciously going through each activity of the day
… thanking the Lord for all His blessings at every step of the day
… discovering the moments when we have strayed away from His paths and failed to do His Will
… make deliberate and practical decisions to amend them, and to foster actions of goodness

Reading the Word of God – seeking to assimilate and moulding one’s lives as per the Sacred Will of God
… setting apart, strictly, at least a few minutes of the day ( Let’s not forget that “a day consists of 1440 minutes… 86,400 seconds!!) to spend time with the Word of God

Seeking to spend more time in personal prayer (ideally and whenever possible, before the Most Blessed Sacrament)
… The conscience derives strength, clarity and cleansing, when presented before its Creator!

Strengthening our Sacramental life especially in the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Holy Confession
… making it a point to participate in the Holy Eucharist more often (with wholehearted preparation and due reverence)
… resolving to make a Confession at very regular times (probably, once in a month), realizing that Confession is not only for “forgiveness of sins” but also “for grace to be stronger and courageous in one’s spiritual life)

Let us constantly seek to have the ‘beautiful ring” of our conscience in tune with God’s Will…
… and thus help us to live a life of complete commitment and courageous passion, like St John the Baptist.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Ensuring that our lives, burning with the Lamp of Christ, becomes a constant melody that sings, ‘keep me burning till the end of day…’”

(Based on 1 Cor 1:17-25 and Mt 25:1-13 – Friday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

One of the common songs that many of us know is…
“Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning… Keep me burning till the end of day…”

Every Christian is called to become a beacon of light in the darkness…
…. and to be a shining star in the ambience of every night.

The Gospel of the Day teaches this aspect and reminds the aspect of being watchful for the Coming of the Lord.

The Lord presents the parable of the ten virgins…
… with five of them being wise in keeping the lamps ready, with sufficient oils
… and the other five being foolish, in failing to make any efforts to have the lamp lit `

The parable of the Ten Virgins has its setting in a Jewish Wedding.

In the time of our Blessed Lord, the wedding was probably one of the greatest events in a typical Palestinian village or an Israeli town.

This was a time of great social celebration!
All got together…
… friends, relatives, villagers..
It was a time of great festivity, abounding happiness and overflowing celebrations.

A Jewish marriage consisted of three parts or elements:

1) Engagement
It was sort of an official contract between the two fathers, who would be giving their son and daughter to each other.

2) Betrothal
This second element consisted of the friends and family members coming together and the couple making vows and promises that were binding.

This phase onwards, they would be officially considered as husband and wife.

3) Marriage
The time after Betrothal lasted up to a year, which was for the bridegroom to prepare a place for his bride – either an addition to his father’s house or to have his own

It was to be his concrete expression of showing his love to her – preparing a home for her and preparing his heart and life for her!

At the end of the time that he needed to get it prepared, he would go to take her and bring her to his place – and they would thereafter, live together.

This third phase, therefore was the fulfilment of the eager longing of the bridegroom and bride, in being together for the rest of their life!

The Wedding set-up that is mentioned in today’s Gospel is this scene of the third phase of the wedding.

This is the climax of the wedding festivity where the bridegroom goes to get his bride.

This was done in a grand procession through the village, so that all in the village could be part of this festivity.

The Ten Virgins (or bridesmaids) who are mentioned in the Gospel Passage, had the role of performing one of the acts of entertainment.

They would have to perform a wedding dance – “torch dance” around the bride and the groom, holding torches.

It would symbolize the light of their love, wishing them a luminous future.
Then the wedding party would go into the house, and the celebration would last for seven long days!

In the parable, it is mentioned that “since the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep” (Mt 25:5)

It was only when the call that the Bridegroom had arrived was given, that five of the virgins realised, that “they brought no oil with them” (Mt 25:3)

It’s so ironical that the wedding which was such a well-prepared and a long-awaited event, had these five virgins who were so unprepared and so unequipped for the grand moment!

The story of these five virgins who were unprepared (whom our Blessed Lord calls as ‘foolish”) could well be our own stories too…

In Lk 12:35, we read: “Be ready, dressed for service, AND KEEP YOUR LAMPS LIT…”

To keep our lamps lit – is the reminder and challenge of the Gospel to all of us.

At our Baptism, we all have received the Light of Christ.
This light, is not just to be preserved, but is to be nurtured and fostered daily.

But we live in a world when there are many winds seeking to put off this light in us.

We live in a world, where there is a strong engulfing of the darkness trying to drown the light in us.

Let’s examine our own lives…
Am I allowing the wind…
… of “losing the focus from God” to put off the light in us?
… of “being focused on one’s own selfish interests” to put off the light in us?
… of “false principles and ideologies” to put off the light in us?

As the saying goes, “We can’t prevent birds from flying over our heads…
… but we can certainly prevent them from laying a nest on our heads!”

We cannot prevent these winds to rage and hit our lives…
… but we can certainly prevent them from blowing off the Light of Christ in us!

This strength comes from our determination, perseverance and commitment…

But above all, being united with Jesus, the Source of Light…
…. in daily prayer
…. frequent sacraments,
… constant nourishment with the Word of God
… and faithfulness to our daily duties of our vocation and life!

St Paul powerfully reminds us of God’s Amazing Power and Providence, as he tells:
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom…
… and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength!” (1 Cor 1:25)

The Saint of the Day – St Augustine – discovered that His life was lacking the “burning Light of Christ.”

But He was touched by the Lord, and was transformed!
Today his life, is indeed a Blazing Beacon of God’s Wisdom…
… not just externally, but also wonderful in the eyes of God and His people!
Let us seek his intercession…
Let us be inspired with his example
Let us be hopeful with his life!

May our lives, burning with the lamp of Christ, become a constant melody of “keep me burning till the end of day…”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Taking care that my life is neat and clean, so that the Lord may find me worthily waiting and He may dine with me!”

(Based on 1 Cor 1:1-9 and Mt 24:42-51 – Thursday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

Let’s get into some visual imagination to help today’s reflection process…

Imagine a Person comes into the room of your heart, this evening.
He is charming…
He is there with a purpose…
He is imposing with His charisma…

As this Fascinating Person approaches the door of your room, ready to step-in, some flash thoughts pass through your mind…

“The magazines and the books on my table…

Do I need to hide them or keep them away, so that He doesn’t feel shocked at the kind of materials I read?

The wallpaper on my laptop and mobile, and the pictures that are pasted in my room and stored in my phone…

Do I need to change them or dispose them off, so that He doesn’t realise the ‘visual food’ that is often fed to my mind?

The music that is blaring in my room, and to which I tap my feet…

Do I need to put it off and plunge the room into a silent mode, so that He doesn’t feel offended by the ‘audio junk’ that I dance to?

The websites that I go through, the history of webpages that I browse, the chats that I engage in and the jokes that I think of…

Do I need to forcefully shut-down my system or delete all the unnecessary files, so that He doesn’t come to know the ‘e-waste’ that I bombard my life with?”

Well, the time is too short…’cos He is fast approaching me!

Have I made a mess of my life…
… filling it with filth or unwanted aspects of life…?
… missing out on opportunities to do good or render service…?
… engaging in activities that are just not worth being exposed to…?

The Charismatic Person is all set to enter my room…

Have I made myself worthy and prepared, to allow Him to enter…?

Well, no prizes for guessing who this Mysterious Person is, that we are imagining about…
… Yes, JESUS – the Lord and Saviour, and the Judge who is coming into this world!

Is my heart ready to receive Him?

The Gospel of the Day is a powerful preaching by Jesus on the need to remain ready for His second coming.

Chapter 24 of the Gospel of St Matthew…
… begins with Jesus addressing His disciples on the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple (Mt 24:1 ff)
… and continues, with Jesus further explaining the forthcoming persecutions and calamities that were to befall

With this background, Jesus speaks of the need to be “watchful” at all times (Mt 24: 42)…
… and explicates it, with the help of the Parable of the Unfaithful Servant (Mt 24: 45-51)

One of the important realities of human life is “unexpectedness”

“Unexpectedness” strikes at many turns of life…
… an unexpected sickness or disease which pushes people into the pit of anxiety and worry
… an unexpected misunderstanding which damages and crushes our relationship with one another
… an unexpected financial crisis which drowns individuals or families into the sea of hopelessness

This “unexpectedness” can also strike our spiritual life!

And this is the danger, that to which the Lord raises our attention towards, by means of the parable of the Unfaithful Servant.

In the parable, the servant was entrusted with the duties of the household, while his master was away.

But when the worm of wickedness crept into the mind of the servant, he said, “My Master is delayed” (Mt 24: 48)

This is very much possible and practically happening in many of our lives.

As Christians, our Blessed Lord, the Great Master has entrusted many responsibilities and duties, to us, His servants.

But often, we tend to live in the comfort of telling ourselves that “My Master is delayed” or that “My Master is not watching me”

This feeling of the “Lord not being around me” makes us to somehow get into activities and engage in pastimes that are not worthy of our lives…

We let our moral lives be loosened..
We allow our prayer lives to be haywire…
We permit our sacramental life to be lethargic…
We enable our social life to be without the power of the Lord…

But the consequences of such “letting loose” can be disastrous, as the parable teaches us.

What is needed therefore….
… is a constant vigilance and a relentless perseverance in being faithful
… is an unfailing performance of our duties and being on the guard at all times

The Lord is knocking at the door of our hearts (Rev 3:20)

Is my life neat and clean to allow the Lord to enter in…?
… or do I need to make suitable alterations and necessary repentance
… so that the Lord may find me worthily waiting and He may dine with me?

We celebrate today the Feast of St Monica, that exemplary mother-saint, who was ever-vigilant in interceding for her child, to get back to the ways of the Lord.

She becomes an example for us to be always be focused on the Lord, and wait in patience and hope!

Her prayers bore fruit in St Augustine, the Great Doctor of the Church

May her intercession and example inspire us to live authentic and sincere Christian lives!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Beautifying our lives not just with an external show, but with an inner glow!”

(Based on 2 Thess 3:6-10, 16-18 and Mt 23:27-32 – Wednesday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

Wooowww!! Wooooaaah!!!

These are expressions which conveys feelings of surprise, wonder and great acclaim!

These feelings are articulated particularly when we come across a fascinating building or a great piece of architecture or a grand monument!

When we scan across through some of the fine buildings or monuments or structures around the globe, we find that many of these majestic edifices and constructions are actually tombs…
…or the burial places of many people.

A quick glance at some of those imposing constructions:

The Westminster Abbey in London…
… tomb for the monarchs and the famous people of England
The Terracotta Army…
… tombs, as sculptures, of the armies of the First Emperor of China
The Great Pyramids of Giza…
… tomb for the Pharaohs and the Kings of ancient Egypt
The Taj Mahal…
… tomb for Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of Shahjahan in Agra, India.

All these great wonders of human making, though tombstones, evoke feelings of Wooowww!! Woaaah!!
…Isn’t it?

The Gospel of the Day too, presents before us tombstones…
… in the form of the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law!

But what is the feeling of Jesus that is evoked?
… Not of surprise or wonder…
… but anguish and sadness… WOE!!

“WOE TO YOU!”

HE says….. “You are like whitewashed tombs!!”

We are at the last part of the condemnation of the Pharisees in Chapter 23 of Matthew.

And today, Jesus comes down heavily on them by describing them as whitewashed tombs!

They are beautiful in appearance from the outside…
… but full of dead bones and uncleanness inside!

It was the custom of the Jews to whiten graves, especially if they were in unusual places, so that people might avoid them…
… because of the ceremonial pollution contracted by the touch of a grave.

Num. 19:16, ” Anyone…who touches a grave shall be unclean for seven days”.

To avoid defilement by accidentally stepping on or touching a grave, the tombs in Palestine were painted with a lime paste or whitewash at the beginning of every year.

Whitewashing accomplished two purposes:
1) It identified tombs so they could be avoided
2) It beautified tombs so they could be admired.

Today, the Lord calls the Pharisees and the Teachers as these Whitewashed Tombs….

They were like tombs…
… dead, filthy.
But they were whitewashed…
… apparently beautiful and lovely outside!

They did many things to win people’s admiration…
… but they failed to please the Lord of the Law!

They exercised many times the practice of fasting…
… but they missed out on being merciful and charitable!

They performed many actions of prayer…
… but they were unsuccessful in helping and serving other people!

Human life has all through the ages been fascinated and attracted with the beauty of externals…

Anyone, anything which APPEARS good and captivating has captured the minds and hearts

Eve was tempted by the Serpent…
… with the delicious and good looking fruit

She got trapped!

Lot asked the whole Jordan plain from Abraham…
… because it looked nice

He got trapped!

Israelites made the golden calf as their god…
… because it appeared more attractive

They got trapped!

Today we are invited to check and examine…

Am I making my life a whitewashed tombstone..
… beautiful outside, but filthy within?

My life is adorned with a good house, fat-chequed job etc…
… but is my house is in tatters with fights and conflicts?

My prayer life is beautified with constant prayers and praises…
… but within, do I experience unforgiveness and hatred?

My works are decorated with frequent appreciations and admirations…
… but do I give in to corruption and insincerity?

My community life is filled with laughter & good words…
… but do I fail to be accepted and loved by anyone in the community?

My friendships are many & decked with parties and fun…
… but deep within, do I miss out on having a true and genuine friend?

If any of the above is true…
… then I need to really be wary!

Is my life being a whitewashed tomb?

The world loves to enjoy and appreciate the great monuments and architectures like The Westminster Abbey, The Terracotta Army, The Great Pyramids of Giza, The Taj Mahal etc…

No wonder they are beautiful and amazing.

But deep within, there are merely tombs…covering dead and decayed bodies!

Our lives may be a great structure…
… a wonderful edifice, in the eyes of the world…

But am I pure and holy within…?
… Do i seek for authenticity and genuineness deep within my heart?

Yes, Let us beautify our lives!

Let us truly beautify our lives…
… but not just with an external show, but with an inner glow!

May the Lord look at our lives and not say, “WOE TO YOU”…
… rather let Him declare and proclaim, “WOW TO YOU!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!