“Great things happen when God mixes with us”….
… is a popular Christian Hymn.

The stanzas of this hymn goes this way….

>>  Some find life, some find peace; some people even find joy.
Some see things as they never could before…
… and some people find that they can now begin to trust.

>> Some find health, some find hope; some people even find joy.
Some see themselves as they never could before…
… and some people find that they can now begin to live.

>> Some find peace, some are disturbed; some people even find joy.
Some see their lives as they never could before…
… and some people find that they must now begin to change.

One of the important and essential dimensions of an encounter with our Blessed Lord is the “transformation effect” on the person.

If one has had a genuine encounter with Him…
… one cannot be passive
… one cannot just remain the same

>> Either one shakes off the dust of sin and slackness and follows Him in sincerity
… or one tries to cast Him off from life and adamantly remains in one’s own desires!

>> Either one takes radical decisions in life and orients one’s conduct in accordance with His Will
… or one seeks to do away with all Divine inspirations and obstinately sticks firm to one’s personal interests!

In any case, an “encounter with the Lord” causes an effect in life – either for the good or towards rejecting the impulses of Divine Goodness.

Do I respond positively and emphatically to the call of the Lord…
or do I sink into an attitude of grumbling, complaining and disinterestedness?

On this feast day of St Matthew, the Apostle, the Gospel of the day presents these two “contrasting reactions” in the encounter with Jesus…
>> Matthew…. who hears the call of the Lord – “Follow Me” (Mt 9: 9)
>> The Pharisees… who observe the lavishness of God’s mercy and react with grumbling and complaining (Mt 9: 11)

Jesus very emphatically declares, ” Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Mt 9:12)

This verse is the key to understand and gauge the style of reaction, when we encounter the Lord…

>> The one who needs Him – will relish Him!
>> The one who feels no need of Him- will reject Him!

>> The one who acknowledges that one is sick, weak and in need of God’s grace and mercy – will find in Him a Saviour!
>> The one who vehemently says that one is all fine, self-motivated and strong willed – will fail to find any consolation in Him!

Here then is a wonderful check-meter to test my passion, my longing and my intensity of love for the Lord…

>> Have I discovered that by myself I cannot achieve everything that life demands of me….?
… and in the Lord alone, I have the answer to my problem and a solution to the puzzles of my life!

>> Do I realise that as a human person, I often fall into the snares of sin and can get easily caught up in evil traps… ? 
… and in the Lord alone, I have the antidote to sin and a remedy to overcome the pitfalls of wickedness!

St Mathew presents a beautiful picture, of embracing the Lord fully into life because He realised and discovered the intimate need of the Lord in his life.

May we be inspired by him and seek his intercession and imitate his example in surrendering ourselves totally to the Sovereignty of our Blessed Lord.

It is only then that we would truly realise and experience the joy of the words, “Great things happen when God mixes with us”….

Happy Feast of St Matthew!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

There is a story of a tourist who visited a particular church.

He was quite surprised to see the figure of a lamb, that had been carved near the top of the church’s tower.

On enquiring, he came to know the reason…

He was told that when the church was being built, a workman fell from a high scaffold.

> His co-workers, in fear and despair, rushed down, probably expecting that their companion might have died.

But to their pleasant surprise, they found him alive, with just some minor injuries.

How did the workman survive that steep fall?

A flock of sheep was passing at that time, beneath the scaffold of the tower.

>> The worker, fell on the top of one of the lambs!

The lamb was crushed to death, but the man was saved!

To celebrate this miraculous escape, a carved lamb was placed on the tower at the exact height from which the workman fell!

It is unknown whether this story is true or a legend, but one thing is for sure and certain: we need the Lamb for our survival – the Lamb of God!

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, the Lamb of God predicting His passion and death and drives home the message of the necessity of being clothed with humility and innocence, in order to achieve true greatness in life.

Jesus had a very specific purpose in coming to the world – the salvation of all.

> The path chosen to realise this salvific act was the path of suffering and death, leading to glory.

Jesus was always clear in what He wanted and the aims of His Life.

And so very plainly, He forewarns His disciples, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He is killed, He will rise after three days” ( Mk 9: 31)

Unlike some popular preachings, Jesus preached to the world…
…. not ordinariness or littleness; rather a Gospel of Greatness
…. not being satisfied with the minimum or with the least efforts; rather a Gospel of the Maximum.

But His understanding of “Being Great” and His way of “achieving the maximum” was unlike how the world thought.

>> The world views greatness in being powerful with power, wrapped in wealth, possessing positions and clothed in vain glory
>> The world views achieving maximum in life by means of exploitation, dishonesty, cheating and trickery 

That’s the way also the disciples of Jesus thought, when they were quarrelling on the way, as to “who was the greatest” (Mk 9: 34)

But Jesus defines a “new” way of being great – by being little, by being humble and by lowering oneself.

And so He says, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be last of all and the servant of all” (Mk 9: 35)

>> He preaches the “Gospel of Greatness” – being great in the sight of God, by doing His will and following His commandments
>> He preaches the “Gospel of Maximum” – achieving one’s maximum by depending and trusting in the power of God at all times

In tune with His preaching, Jesus lived a life of immense humility, daring innocence and bold holiness!

He was the mighty Lion of Judah…..but He humbled Himself to become the Lamb of God!

>> Clothed in mighty glory and rapturous splendour, He emptied Himself to live a life of sacrifice, gentleness and surrender to God’s Will!

This is true greatness:  the higher that one wishes to become, the lower must one humble, to allow the grace of God to fill one’s life!

>> The Lord wishes that we all become “great” in life…
… but “great” in the proper sense of the term.

>> The Lord desires that we all achieve the “maximum” in life..
… but “maximum” in the true sense of the term.

May we cherish and follow the example of our Blessed Lord in leading a life of humility and scaling the heights of true ‘greatness’ and achieving the ‘maximum’ in life.

Jesus, the Lamb of God – by His sacrificial love and total surrender has given us life and salvation, at the cost of His own life.

>> Shall we not reciprocate and commemorate this tremendous sacrifice, by “carving” our lives, in the image of “this Lamb” – being humble, committed to our cause and trusting fully in the power of God?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A devout woman, once bought a Bible in her native language.

She was very much afraid of her husband who was deadly against God and sent forth atheistic vibrations.

>> In fear, she would read the Bible in his absence, and would stealthily hide it away from his presence and sight.

One day, however, by mistake, she failed to hide the Holy Book, and her husband saw it on the table.

Without saying anything, the husband opened the pages of the Bible, scanned through some and read a few lines.

As the wife stood, a little away – stunned and trembling- not knowing what he would tell her, the husband said, “Hmmm.. This seems to be a good book!”

And it so happened, that every night, the man demanded for That Book when he returned back from office.

A few weeks later, the man suggested his wife that he wished to meet her parents, as for nearly 3 years, he had stayed away from them.

A tremendous and miraculous wonder had taken place.

> A woman’s persistent faith had been rewarded…
> A man’s heart had been finely melted …
> A relationship had been restored…

That’s the power of the Word!

>> The Word can work in unexpected ways…
>> The Word can transform in unknown places…
>> The Word can bear fruits in unexplored areas…

Are we ready to Sow the Word, everywhere, any time?
Are we open to allow the Word to work, anywhere, any time?

The Gospel of the Day is the classic presentation of the power of the Word through the Parable of the Sower and its explanation.

This is a parable that, probably we have read, reflected and meditated several times.

One of the striking messages of this Popular Parable is the “unknown, unexpected and unexplored” manner in which the Word is Sown.

Going through the various places in which the Seed was sown would probably make one to say..
… “why was it that so much Seed was simply wasted – on the wayside, on the rock, among the thorns – places where there was hardly any possibility of growth?”

… “Why was it that the Sower was so unscientific, so lacking in common sense and so careless in simply broadcasting the precious seeds haphazardly?”

Probably, a logical answer and a reasonable explanation to these questions is to be found in the fact that the Seed has a tremendous power and potential.

>> And therefore, the Sower ‘takes the risk’ of broadcasting the Seed everywhere.

This then is the challenge that is thrown open to us also…

>> Can I be a person who is willing to “broadcast” the seed of God’s Word even in the most unfavourable or the most unexpected areas – to people who are hostile, arrogant or even closed ?

>> Can I be a person who does not count the fruits in advance or get discouraged and disappointed at the possible failures in the future; instead boldly sow the Seeds of goodness, kindness and service?

The Book of Isaiah 55: 11 says, “… My Word that goes out from My Mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

We need to submit ourselves to this mysterious power and strength of God’s Power…
…and be willing to “sow them” generously…
… to all
… at all times!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

There is a particular type of a caterpillar called as “Pine Processional Caterpillars”.

These “Processional Caterpillars” walks in long lines, each one following closely the next in front.

A noted French naturalist named Jean Henri Fabre, once conducted an experiment on them.

He took a flowerpot and placed of a number of these “Processional Caterpillars” in a single-file around the circumference of the rim of a flower-pot.
>> Each caterpillar’s head touched the one in front of it.

He then placed the caterpillar’s favourite food in the middle of the pot.

He was surprised to observe that each of the caterpillar followed the one ahead, thinking it was heading for the food.
>> Round and round went these insects – for several days!

Finally, after many days of this absurd activity, the caterpillars started to drop dead – because of exhaustion and starvation!

All that they had to avoid the snare of death was to stop the senseless rounding around the pot and head directly to the food, that was placed less than six-inches away from them!

However, these “Processional Caterpillars” were trapped in a lifestyle which made them to only follow the one ahead, and were unable to “disentangle” themselves from the habit of ‘blindly’ following others!

Am I turning out to be a “Processional Christian”?
> claiming to follow Christ, just because others are doing the same or I have got into the “rut” of a system?
> aimlessly following Christ, without any conviction or sometimes even awareness of why I am doing so?

The Gospel of the Day presents to us  a beautiful set of “Followers of Christ” who pursued Him in faith, in conviction and with a sense of clear purpose.

The Gospel of St Luke gives an interesting list of people (of course, there would also have been others), who followed Jesus closely and were part of His Kingdom Ministry (Lk 8: 1-3).

1. The Twelve Apostles
2. Mary Magdalene
3. Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward
4. Susanna and many others

Its edifying to learn some aspects from each of these sets of people…

1. The Twelve Apostles

> They were people of opposing temperaments, differing characters, conflicting backgrounds and divergent personalities.

Yet, the “glue” of ‘belonging to Christ’ kept them together

Can I learn the aspect of..
… going beyond my personal differences and accidental characteristics, to forge together beautiful and faithful relationships, in my family, my workplaces, my communities etc, in order to follow Christ closer?

2. Mary Magdalene

> She had personally experienced the power of Christ’s healing

This made her to keep her focus on the Lord, her God and to be intimately following Him for the rest of her life

Can I learn the aspect of…
… recognising, cherishing and sustaining the many ‘miraculous and wonderful’ encounters of the Lord’s healing and care, that I experience on a daily basis, in order to passionately follow the Lord?

3. Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward

> She was the wife of Chuza, who was the steward of King Herod Antipas.

To follow Jesus involved a high level of risk for her, as there was a danger from King Herod, who was wicked and had expressed his displeasure by the murder of John the Baptist.

Can I learn the aspect of…
…. being daring and courageous in following the Lord, even at the risk of my life, the risk of being exposed to humiliation and the risk of bearing discouragements, persecutions and indifference from others?

4. Susanna and many others

> There is not much information on their identity but they were part of a section of the society i.e. women who were terribly maltreated and were given an unfair, unequal and unrecognisable positions in the Jewish religious hierarchy.

Can I learn the aspect of…
… being ready to break the mental barriers and the paralysing thought-patterns in the society which cripple one’s freedom, in order to become an authentic follower of the Lord?

These followers of Christ teach us vital lessons…

> of making radical transformations
> of valuing God’s wonderful workings in life
> of being courageously bold
> of overcoming challenges and barriers

… in order to Follow Christ – with conviction, with commitment and with certainty!

We cannot simply remain as “Processional Christians” –  being trapped in a lifestyle which makes us to “claim to follow Christ” and being unable to “disentangle” ourselves from the habit of ‘blindly’ following others!

We instead need to become…
> “Practical Christians” – who put into practice the preachings of Christ!
> “Praiseworthy Christians” – who live our lives seeking to please the Lord in every act and deed!
> “Precious Christians” – who live with a deep conviction of belonging to the Lord and making efforts to share His love to all!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

One night, a little girl knelt for her bed-time prayer.

She was a good girl, who would do a lot of good deeds – helping her Mom in her works, keeping the newspapers tidy for her Dad, sharing her chocolates with her younger brother etc…

The mother went close to the child and suggested things to be thankful for.

The Mother also added, “Won’t you ask the Lord to help you love Him more?”

The child lifted up her large button-shaped eyes with a puzzled look.

“What is it, dear?” asked the mother.

“Did you tell me to ask Him to help me love Him more, Mamma?” said the little girl, innocently.

“Yes, my little dear”

“But how can I love Him more, Mamma?” replied the little child, ” I am just crazy about Him now!”

The little child had, very early on in life, grasped the meaning of “falling in love” with God!

Have I “fallen in love” with the Lord and remain faithful to the love-life in the Lord?

The Gospel of the Day presents a wonderful expression of love towards Jesus and the subsequent acknowledgement of this gesture of love, by the Lord of Love!

The incident of sinner woman, washing the feet of Jesus in the house of Simon the Pharisee, ends with a statement, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” (Lk 7: 49)

The answer of this statement is probably what is expressed by the woman in her gesture of love.

Jesus was a guest in the house of Simon, the Pharisee.

It was probably one of those meals whereby a respected and wise host would invite several of the socially elite to dine with an important guest.

>> At this meal, they would recline along the table, laying down on their sides, to eat.

The meal would also involve a series of debates and discussions, over many crucial issues, centred around the special guest.

However, suddenly, out of nowhere, a lady enters in the scene.

It was one of those highly embarrassing and highly disgusting moments for the Host!

The lady was a known sinner…
… In the society, she had earned a notorious reputation

> Her very presence was causing terrible insult.

Her ensuing action..
> wiping the feet with the ointment from the alabaster jar
> wiping them with her hairs
> kissing them with tenderness
… caused still further damage to the reputation and honour of the host and his Guest!

However, what followed later, was like adding salt to the wounds of the host…

Jesus publicly recognises, acknowledges and appreciates the action of the sinful woman.

He says, in solemn tones of approval of the action of the woman, “…She has shown great love! The one to whom little is forgiven, loves little” (Lk 7: 48)

Jesus had openly and publicly acknowledged the tremendous and daring love of the woman for Him!

And in doing so, she had given an answer to the question that would be put forth later, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”

Her actions of love gave an answer…
… that He was the One worthy of receiving the highest and deepest love – one that counts no humiliation or hardships!
… that He was the One deserving the sweetest and the most priceless affections of our hearts – one that is limitless!
… that He was the One meritorious of every expression of endearment and fondness – one that is passionate and pure!

What is my level of love for the Lord?

>> Am I courageous to express my love for Him in actions that trespass humiliations or shame or guilt?
>> Am I bold to show that I truly love Him by living a life in accordance with the virtues of the Gospel?:
>> Am I credible enough to say that I really love Him by extending His care to all those who are in need?

May the words of the great Doctor and Saint of the Church, St Robert Bellarmine, who feast we celebrate today, be our inspiration and motivation to live a life of courageous and daring love of the Lord:

“The school of Christ is the school of love.

In the last day, when the general examination takes place…Love will be the whole syllabus”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The General Electric Company is a multinational conglomerate company, which caters to the needs of home appliances, financial services, medical devices, life sciences, pharmaceutical etc.

>> Every year, this company uses more than one and a half million sapphires for bearings in meters and other delicate apparatus.

However, it is highly necessary that there should be a detection to separate the synthetic gems from the natural ones.

Towards this end, a cathode ray tube has been developed by a team of researchers.

>> If, in a dark room, the rays from this tube are thrown for a few seconds on a tray of stones, they all glow.

>> However, when the rays are turned off, the artificial sapphires continue to glow and may be picked out of the tray, while the natural sapphires cannot be seen.

This is an easy way of picking up the artificial ones from those which are natural.

Is not something similar that happens to our Christian lives?

The authenticity of our life is exposed and revealed when the rays of Christ’s teaching are made to fall on us!

> Some of us may be seen shining brightly and appearing to have dazzling lustre
> Some of us may be seen to be apparently very good and being seen to be externally righteous.

But when the rays of Christ’s teaching fall on us, will our hypocrisy and duplicity get exposed… ?
… or do I have the credibility and integrity, in my life, to be recognised as an authentic follower of God and an ardent missionary of the Kingdom?

The Gospel of the Day is an exposition on the attitudes of duplicity and being double-standard that can cram our Christian lives.

Jesus gives an illustration…  of “children sitting in the market place and calling to one another, ‘We piped to you and you did not dance; we wailed and you did not weep'” (Lk 7: 32) 

It was a tragedy of that generation…
… that two of the great leaders – John and Jesus – though came with apparently contrasting, found themselves rejected!
… that these two great messengers of the Kingdom, met with a tragic end – one beheaded, the other crucified!

And it shows an important philosophy that underlies many lives: an attitude of indifference to the truth and an attitude of rejection of those who challenge our lives!

This tragedy affects our generation too…
We wrap ourselves often in the garment of hard-heartedness and arrogance…
… and fail to allow the message of the Truth to bring a transformation in our lives

We neatly hide ourselves in the dark shadows of indifference and apathy…
… and remain unconcerned with the workings of God’s power and grace in our hearts

But the Lord today renders a wake-up call to shake off the dusts of apathy, hypocrisy and indifference from our lives.

In the power of the rays of Christ’s teaching,  our hypocrisy and duplicity will get exposed…
… But can I seek to mould my life to possess  credibility and integrity, in order to be recognised as an authentic follower of God and an ardent missionary of the Kingdom?

May we seek the intercession of St Cyprian and St Cornelius, whose feast we celebrate today.

>> They offered their lives in defence of their Faith in Christ and for the sake of the Kingdom.

May the words of St Cyprian inspire and ring the bells of true repentance and honest contrition in us:

“When once you have departed this life, there is no longer any place for repentance, no way of making satisfaction.

> Here, life is either lost or kept.
> Here, by the worship of God and by the fruit of faith, provision is made for eternal salvation.

Let no one be kept back either by his sins or by his years from coming to obtain salvation.
To him who still remains in this world, there is no repentance that is too late.”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A prayer meeting was on.

The participants were reciting the Rosary of the Seven Dolours (the seven sorrows of our Blessed Mother Mary).

It came to the fifth sorrow, which is “Jesus dies on the Cross”.

However, the one who was leading the prayer, by mistake said, “Mary dies on the Cross”.

A few participants, who heard this mistake, burst out into laughter.

But in hindsight, if we consider that statement, there is so much of truth and meaning in it – “Mary dies on the Cross!”

While on earth, there was no one who was closer to our Blessed Lord than His Own Beloved Mother.
> He received His body from Her.
> He received His training from Her

With Him, she rejoiced… With Him, she suffered.

And finally, in those deepest agonizing moments on the Cross, there was none who suffered more than Her!

Every pain of Her Little Child, was experienced by the Blessed Mother

> Mary was the Woman Who was most happy at the birth of the Lord
> Mary was also the Woman Who was most sorrowful at the death of the Lord!

Today, Holy Mother the Church keeps the memorial of Mary, the Sorrowful Mother of Jesus.

This feast is dedicated to the spiritual martyrdom of our Blessed Mother.

The title “Our Lady of Sorrows” focuses on Mother Mary’s intense suffering during the Passion and Death of Jesus.

The Gospel of day also presents the intense pain and heart-brokenness of a mother…. a widow….for her only son ( Lk 7: 11-17)

Jesus encounters the Widow of Nain who had lost her only son to harsh reality of death.

The Gospel says, “When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep” (Lk 7: 13)

The woman was a widow…
She had lost her only son.

Being a widow meant being subjected to a life of extreme insult, torture and hardships.
>> Now the loss of her only son, meant being subjected to further disgrace, humiliations and rejections!

When our Blessed Lord saw this painful scene, probably, His thoughts would have fast-forwarded to a similar scene that would occur in a short time… On Mount Calvary

The only Son of a Widow would be dead
….and the Widow would be rendered helpless!

> The widow of Nain would have her son restored back to life, by the power of Jesus.

> The widow of Nazareth also will have Her Son back to life…by the power of the Heavenly Father…
… and it would be a inauguration of a promise of a glorious life to all who place their trust in Him!

Suffering is an immense and an intense reality of our lives.

Many times, sufferings hit our lives when…
… we least expect it
… we are least prepared for it

Such moments of pain and agony…when encountered without any faith….
… can cause us to lose any meaning in life and renders our life to be shorn of hope
… can cause us to question God and His goodness and strips our faith of its strength
… can cause us to have recourse to “unbecoming” means to relieve ourselves from pain

However, such moments of suffering and difficulties…. when faced with deep faith and trust…
… will become occasions of God’s overflowing grace filling our lives and making us stronger
… will become occasions for us to depend deeper on our Creator and to feel His power more strongly
… will become occasions for us to realise the value of life and become more compassionate towards others

This is what we learn from the life of our Blessed Mother Mary  – the Mother of Sorrows and the Mother of Compassion.

She had every reason to complain and fight against God…
She had every reason to protest and abandon God and His Will…
She had every reason to murmur and let go of the plan of God for Her…

But, the “Yes” that she pronounced at the Annunciation was echoed all through her life.. at every step
.. be it in times of joy and calmness
.. be it in times of sadness and calamity

The “Yes” she said was the Final Profession she made…
… just as the Religious make on the Day of their Profession
… just as the Priests make on the Day of their Ordination
… just as the Married make to each other, on their Day of Wedding

It was binding for life.. It was committed to, with conviction… It was lived in sincerity, with dedication.

The Feast of the Mother of Sorrows is a beautiful reminder and reflection on “Two Hearts that were united to each other, burning with love” – the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Blessed Mother Mary!

These two hearts have undergone immense pain and suffering… and still rejoiced in Love!

We are invited to live a life…
> free from sin
> filled with love
> firm in conviction
> fashioned in grace
… like our Beloved and Blessed Mother Mary!

May we be filled with a courage and grace to truly make it our prayer:
“Holy Mother, pierce me through
In my heart, each wound renew
Of my Saviour Crucified!”

Wish you a Happy Feast of our Compassionate Mother, who is ever with us in our every sorrow…
…. and helps us, to follow Her Crucified Son and Our Strengthening Saviour, Jesus!

Bless! Live Jesus!

A small boy made a toy sail-boat.

He fashioned it with a great care.

With much pride and love, he admired his creation – with its fresh blue and white paint as he was ready to sail it in the nearby stream.

Unfortunately, as the toy boat set sailing, a strong wind rushed on, and the boat escaped from the little boy’s fingers and from his sight…
…. Down the stream went the boat from it’s grief-stricken owner!

The boy gazed in shock and dismay, but was unable to get it back.

A few weeks later, the boy happened to be walking down the street near his house, when his eyes chanced upon something blue and white in colour, that was displayed in a toy shop.

He went to look closer… and to his grand surprise, he recognised it as his own boat – his lovely creation!

He rushed inside the shop and demanded that the man give his boat.
> However, he was accorded a blunt refusal.

The shopkeeper claimed that he had paid for the little boat and if the boy wanted it, he would have to pay.

The boy was saddened.
> He knew that the shopkeeper was lying to him.
> He knew that it was his boat – the one he had shaped with his own hands, with much love.

“I have to get back my precious boat”, said the boy to himself.

With this determination, the boy went to join for work in a nearby shop, and in a few weeks time, managed to collect the required amount.

With money in his hands, the boy, once again, entered the toy shop and demanded his boat.

The shopkeeper had to accept the money and hand over the boat.

As the little boy, with a beaming face, left the shop, he made a tender statement to the little boat:
“You are mine, little boat..You are mine!
Twice mine; once because I made you, and twice because I bought you”

How beautiful is this an illustration of our own lives…..
> We have been bought by Christ…. at the price of His life and His blood!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the instrument that was employed by Divinity in buying our souls to Himself – the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

In today’s Gospel (Jn 3: 13-17), Jesus tells to Nicodemus, “.. as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (Jn 3: 14)

Centuries before Jesus was crucified, Divinity in its Immense Wisdom was already preparing for the plan of salvation!

Having been powerfully freed from the slavery in Egypt, the people of Israel were travelling to the Promised Land through the wilderness.

>> However, this difficult journey cause the people to lose their patience, and they murmured against God and His servant, Moses on the lack of comforts!

The result of this sin was the plague of poisonous serpents, that caused suffering and death to them.

However at the intercession of Moses, God had him lift up a bronze serpent on a pole, so that all who looked it would be healed!

This was the foreshadowing of the Cross of Christ!

Like the people of Israel, our life is often a journey through the wilderness.
> Sometimes there is a lack of comfort.
> Sometimes there is an inflation of hardships
> Sometimes there is an increase in uncertainty.
… And we begin to complain, grumble… falling into many sinful ways and habits!

But Divine Love, wanting to have us back to Him, provides us the means to be rescued from the deadly effects of such sins…
… The Holy Cross is the Symbol of this redemption and salvation that is won for us, by Christ!

Are we ready to take refuge in the shadows of this Holy Cross, and affirming our sincere acceptance of Christ in our lives, do we live a holy life, worthy of our salvation?

Usually the heart is considered to be the symbol of Love..
>> But, from a Christian perspective, probably, the Holy Cross is the most beautiful and apt symbol of the Immense love of God for each one of us.

> The Cross demands sacrifice…
> The Cross demands an self-emptying nature…
> The Cross demands a complete commitment…
.. And this is indeed the true nature of love  – sacrificial, self-emptying and committed!

As we honour and venerate the Holy Cross, may we hear the words of our Crucified Lord, tenderly whispering to us, with deep love and affection:
“You are mine, little one… You are mine!
Twice mine; once because I made you, and twice because I bought you”

Wish you a very Happy Feast of the Holy Cross!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

We’ve all been to hotels or cafeterias.

Hotels or cafeterias provide a menu book or a menu card, which allows the customers to select and choose their choice of food or drink.

> This choice of food depends on various factors : The availability of food, the company of friends we have, the mood and feelings of our mind, the time and occasion of the meal etc…

The choice of food varies based on several changing factors!

This cafeteria mentality works out very well for our food taste and our appetite.

But sometimes, we adopt a similar attitude, even in our Christian Lives!

>> We like to pick and choose aspects and portions of Christ and Christianity to fit into our choice…

>> We like to prefer and select parts and segments of Christ and Christianity which are more comfortable…

We follow a “Cafeteria Spirituality” in Christianity!

The Gospel of the Day warns and cautions against choosing this attitude of a Cafeteria Spirituality in following Christ and instead demands a total commitment – “If anyone would follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me” (Mk 8: 34)

Today’s Gospel is the familiar passage of Jesus enquiring His disciples with the dual-query, “Who do people say that I am?” and “Who do you say that I am?” (Mk 7: 27b, 29)

The world may have innumerable answers when the question “Who do people say that I am?” is posed.

>> Many saw Jesus preaching zealously on repentance…and considered Him as John the Baptist

>> Many saw Jesus being mighty in deeds and wondrous acts…and considered Him as Elijah

>> Many saw Jesus powerfully authoritative in his words…and considered Him a Prophet

But most of them failed to see Jesus truly as the One He really was! The SON OF GOD!

This can easily happen to any one of us too.

> We may find Jesus as a source of many powers and many blessings and with many qualities.
… And we may tap this source for our various needs and wants.

> We may be deeply impressed with Jesus and His huge treasury of teachings
… And we may admire and appreciate Him as a Great Moral Teacher

> We may look at Jesus as being a wonderful person, like many other great people in the world
..  And we may engage ourselves in studying about Him, collecting quotes on Him and reading various books on Him

But with all these “varied” qualities and dimensions, sometimes, we tend to forget the fact that our Blessed Lord…

… came not merely to be a storehouse of blessings and favours to be delivered

… came not simply to give some teachings and bring some societal transforms with some philosophies

… came not simply to be called as a “great man” and become a subject of many books, articles, talks etc

He primarily came to be Our Saviour!
> He came to help us gain eternal life
> He came to save us from our sins
> He came to win us back to God

But sometimes, we adopt a “Cafeteria Spirituality” in our understanding and following of the Lord.

We choose the qualities we like but in the process, we might sometimes lose the very person Himself!

The Cafeteria Spirituality in our Spiritual Life may cater to many of our wants.
>> But it might be found short of answering our basic need of salvation and redemption!

Jesus is primarily our Messiah…the Anointed one..the Saviour of the World!

This is what Peter boldly expressed, “You are the Messiah of God”!

>> This understanding of the Real Jesus can be experienced only through our complete commitment to the cause of Christ and a faithful following by taking up our crosses.

The Lord encounters each one of us today personally and puts forward  the same question,
“Who do YOU say that I am?”

Am I going to adopt the “Cafeteria Spirituality” and answer vaguely, imprecisely and abstractedly
depending on my moods and likings and situations?

Or I am ready to give a bold and convinced answer to the Lord, from the depth of our hearts,
“Lord, you are truly the Messiah of God…You truly are my Saviour and Lord!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

It is said that “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment”.

Discipline, in general, ought to be based on four F’s:
> Firmness
> Fondness
> Frankness
> Fairness

The Book of Proverbs 13: 24 says, “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them”.

Disciplining a person, with the principles of firmness, fondness, frankness and fairness, is an act of charity and an expression of genuine love.

The Gospel of the Day presents a verse of disciplining by the Lord – the One Who deeply yearns that we always walk in the right path and in the ways of perfection.

Jesus says, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, and not do what I tell you?” (Lk 6: 46)

The test of true love consists in a faithful obedience to the one who is loved.
> The spouses may exchange gestures of love and affection…
… but do they also exhibit true love by caring for each other, respecting each others’ opinion and accepting one another as they are?

> Children may say that they truly love and care for their parents…
… but do they also exhibit it in action, by being obedient to them and taking practical heed of their advices?

> Students may express their concern and acknowledgement for their teachers…
… but do they also display it in their life, by faithful abiding to what is expected of them as students?

To say “I love you”, but failing to show it forth in actions of obedience, is mere farcical!

There is therefore, a great need to examine – in honesty and sincerity – when we say “I love you” to the Lord.

Our Blessed Lord raises a tone of pleading when He asks, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, and not do what I tell you?”

It has tones similar to…
… a parent who tells the child, “Why do you say, you like me, when you constantly disobey me and fail to give heed to my words?”

… a teacher who tells the student, “Why do you say, I want to be a good student, when you fail to make efforts to learn and do your
works,in the proper time and in the right manner?”

… an elderly person who advises a young person, “Why do you say, I wish to lead a happy life, but still continue to walk in the paths of immorality, dishonesty and lethargy?”

The Lord is deeply interested in the well-being of our lives…
.. but somehow, we fail to understand this aspect, and continue to live a life, as per our own wishes and fancies!

And therefore, the Lord raises the rod of discipline, and makes it very clear – a stern warning – with the parable of the Two Foundations.

>> Unless you live a life, founded on the rock of obedience, the “house” of your life will not stand!

>> If you seek to base your life on the “sands” of disobedience, be assured, that soon it will have a tragic collapse!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy name of Mary, the Mother of God.

> Mother Mary always points us to God, reminding us of infinite goodness of God
> She helps us to open our hearts to the ways of God, wherever those may lead.

May we seek the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary to give heed to the “disciplining call” of the Lord, and reform our lives, so that our love for the Lord may show forth in true obedience and sincere submission!

God Bless! Live Jesus!