Nov 21 (Lk 20: 27-40)

REFLECTION CAPSULE FOR THE DAY (Based on Lk 20:27-40)
Question: Who could be the called as the most ‘blessed’ people in the world?
>> Answer: Christians

The Reason: In Christ we have the possibility to receive great blessings, to have heavenly experiences on earth by living a faith-filled life and to enjoy the most intimate moments with God in the Most Holy Eucharist.

The Biblical Support:
>> John 10:10, “I have come to give life, and life in abundance”
>> John 6:51, “I am the Living Bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever”

Question: Who could be the called as the most ‘pitied’ people in the world?
>> Answer: Christians

The Reason: A Christian who, knowing the great wonders and love of the Lord and yet fails to believe, be convinced of a life in Christ after this earthly life & lives only for this world, is to be pitied  into shame and misery.

The Biblical Support:
>> 1 Cor 15:19, “If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all”
>> 1 Cor 9:16, “Woe to me if I don’t preach the Gospel!”

Am I a Christian who can be called Blessed, because of my faith in Christ which is directed towards Eternal Life ?
>> Or am I a Christian who is to be Pitied, because of my belief in Christ which is only to satisfy my desires of this world?

The Gospel of the Day invites us to dwell on these aspects with the incident of the Question on the Resurrection.

This question on the Resurrection was put forward by the Sadducees.

The Sadducees were the priestly aristocracy among the Jews.
>> They tried to live in close contact with the Roman rulers so that they might as far as possible promote the secular interests of their people.

Consequently they took little interest in religious matters and in many respects clashed with the Pharisees, especially as regards the Pharisees’ attachment to the ‘traditions of the elders’.

Anything which was not taught by ‘the law of Moses’ (the first five books of the Old Testament) was rejected by the Sadducees as forbidden innovations.

Unlike the Pharisees, the Sadducees did not believe in many aspects:
They didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead.

They didn’t believe in angels.
>> They didn’t believe in heaven or hell.

They didn’t believe in life after death.
>> They didn’t believe in the immortality of the soul.

Thus, the doubt on the Resurrection exposes the hypocrisy of the Sadducees.

They were asking Jesus about something they didn’t believe.

They sought to establish that belief in a resurrection from the dead was unscriptural and impractical by putting forward a highly hypothetical question.

But Jesus, the cleverest and smartest Master outwits their malicious plans.

Jesus establishes that eternal life would not be a mere extension of this presently life.
> Rather, there would be a great transformation of all that is earthly.

>> The style and the method of this transformation is known only to God…
>> The manner and the mode of this transformation is known only to God…

But the Lord with logic & reason and a strong scriptural-support champions this Doctrine of the Resurrection from the Dead.

The passage ends with the statement, “And they no longer dared to ask him anything” (Lk 19:40)
>> The Sadducees who came to trap the Lord with their malicious doubts were put to silence.

>>> Maybe a few of those Sadducees would have second thoughts on it.
>>> Maybe a few of those Sadducees got a bit confused between Jesus’ words and their own convictions
>>> Maybe most of those Sadducees felt angered at the convinced reply of Jesus & their unwillingness to let go of their position.
>>> Maybe most of those Sadducees felt threatened by the confident reply of Jesus and their aversion to give up their opinions.

>> It’s a tragedy when one fails to convert oneself, even after knowing the truth!
>> It’s a pity when one fails to change oneself, even after becoming aware of the reality.
>> It’s a calamity when one fails to alter oneself, even after being conscious of the facts.

Are we sometimes like the ‘Sadducees’ in our lives?

>> Do I fail to believe in the power of the Resurrection of the Dead?
>> Do I fail to believe that there is a life beyond our earthly existence?

It is not enough to have a mere verbal belief.
>> This belief ought to be translated in our personal living.

If we really believe and trust in life eternal…
… we need  to prepare ourselves for a glorious eternity by living a holy life.
… we need to avoid any blocks and sins which can hamper my progress to eternal life.

The world is becoming more and more materialistic today.
>> The feeling that “after all we have only one life” and “let us enjoy to the maximum” is widespread.

Certainly, God has blessed us with this life…and we need to enjoy.
>> But we need to enjoy it in the proper manner with a sense of responsibility and decorum.

Let us give up anything that reduces the value of enjoyment to mere sensual and bodily-pleasurable activities.
>> Instead, let us enjoy real freedom and happiness, by living a life of Grace and Love!

We are Christians…
Will my life be the most blessed? or Will my life be the most pitied?

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of our Blessed Mother Mary.

This Feast is a constant reminder for us to “offer ourselves” to the Lord.

Technically speaking, we can’t ‘offer’ anything to God because He is the source of everything.
>> All what we are and what we have is His.

But we can surely make a pledge of our lives to Him and live a life united with Him.

This is the offering that is demanded of us…
… an offering of a faithful life
… an offering of a holy life

Yes, as little children, holding the Hands of our Blessed Mamma, may we cry to the Lord – “For You, Forever!”

Happy Feast of the Presentation of our Blessed Mamma!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

20 Nov (Lk 19: 45-48)

One of the basic requirements of religion is the aspect of Sacredness.

God is Holy.
>  And all matters pertaining to this holy God, has a Sense of the Sacred.

>> Worship becomes meaningful, when one becomes aware of this Sense of the Sacred.
>> Preaching becomes powerful, when one is convinced of this Sense of the Sacred.
>> Liturgy becomes heart-touching, when one acknowledges this Sense of the Sacred.

Today we need to make an examination…
>> Is my Worship of God becoming merely external and losing its inner values?
>> Is my Liturgy more a ritualistic and obligatory exercise than truly an experiential one?
>> Is my Preaching of God reduced to great talks but devoid of conviction and passion?

If the answer to any of the above questions is a Yes…then we are perhaps losing the Sense of the Sacred.

The Gospel of the day presents a classic case of this loss of the Sacred Sense.

The Temple of Jerusalem is desecrated by a loss of the Sacred Sense and Jesus seeks to restore it by cleansing the temple.

“Then Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things” (Lk 19:45)

The Jerusalem Temple was very dear to the faith of the people of Israel.
>> Worshipping in this temple was the ultimate for the Israelites, in their honouring of God.

At the Passover, Jews from around the world came to the temple to sacrifice to the Lord (Ex. 12:1–28; Lev. 23:4–8).

It was highly impractical to bring sacrificial animals long distances.
So they were made available in the Jerusalem Temple!

Most Jews also paid the temple tax during the Passover.

Since, they came from various places and bore pagan Roman seals, money-changers were there in the temple, to convert the Roman coinage into appropriate currency.
>> Pagan symbols on Roman money made it unacceptable for Yahweh’s house.

Where there is money, corruption slowly creeps in…!

Pilgrims had to pay exorbitant rates to change money, and sellers exploited those in poverty, overcharging for the poor man’s offering of pigeons and doves (Lev. 5:7).

To make things worse, these merchants set up shop in the Court of the Gentiles, making it useless as a place of prayer due to the hustle and bustle of the buying and the selling of goods..

Though not inherently evil, these practices became occasions for sin.
>> What started for a noble cause, led to immense corruption.

There began the loss of the “Sense of the Sacred”…

And this is so true in our own lives…
The beginning of the loss of the Sense of the Sacred begins with trivial things.

I allow a little delays and some relaxations in my prayer life…
>> And suddenly, I find no excitement in spending time in prayer.

I allow laxity and silence and indifference in my relationships…
>> And suddenly, I find no meaning in many of my relations…

I allow unpreparedness and disinterest to walk into my celebration and participation of Mass…
>> And suddenly, I find not meaning in the Holy Eucharist.

The loss of the Sense of the Sacred happens in a very subtle and quiet way.
>> And unless, we remain vigilant and careful, we can lose our way in the spiritual warfare.

It is this reminder and warning that the Lord delivers today, by cleansing the Jerusalem Temple.
“It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it into a den of robbers'” ( Lk 19: 46)

Today we have converted many of the places into “dens of robbers”…
>> Today we have badly defiled the “Sense of the Sacred” in many places…

Cinemas and movies have a heavy stench of vulgarity and indecency.
>> They rob the society of its ethical culture and moral innocence.

Posters, hoardings and advertisements have become mediums of immorality and offensiveness
>> They rob its viewers of their principles and convictions in life.

The Internet and new media are badly misused to become snares of promoting life-threatening and life-abusing activities.
>> They rob its users of their proper purposes & instead addict them to many compulsions & cravings  which are hard to be given up.

Families and communities often become places lacking in genuine love, unity and peace
>> They rob one of the chance to grow in a spirit of sharing and understanding.

Our bodies are often manipulated with many addictions, improper practises and ungodly behaviours.
>> They rob the person of the purity and holiness that is engraved deep within.

The Cleansing of the Jerusalem Temple is a strong reminder for us, to check the areas and the manner in which we have lost the Sense of the Sacred…

>> We complain that the world is becoming more materialistic and less spiritual.
>> We complain that the Church is becoming more “worldly” and less inspiring.

One of the root problems lies in the fact, that we perhaps losing the “Sense of the Sacred”

>> Unless I am in awe of the God who has created this beautiful and majestic world, I will continue to abuse and misuse the world.
>> Unless I am in wonder of the God who has gifted the Church with life-saving sacraments, I will continue to blame the Church and lose precious graces that I can obtain through her.

>>> Let us revive the “Sense of the Sacred”.
>>> Let us cleanse anything which diminishes this “Sense of the Sacred”
>>> Let us become a people who radiate with joy and enthusiasm this “Sense of the Sacred”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

19 Nov (Lk 19:41-44)

Aicha Moussaoui had been up all night, weeping and pacing inside her house… “I am wounded,” she said.

Moussaoui was enduring a hard time.

She was the mother of an alleged conspirator in terrorist crimes.

Her youngest son, Zacarias Moussaoui, 33, had been accused of plotting with the 9/11 hijackers which killed thousands of Americans at the World Trade Centre.

“For me, it’s as if he had died,” she said of her son…
“I want to see him so I could ask my son: Why? How? Is it true?”

Moussaoui said she “felt like the roof fell on me”

These are painful and heart-wrenching words of a mother who was shattered by the alleged misdeeds of her son.

She expected him to respect and honour her care.
>> She had brought him up, with much love and affection.
>> She wanted him to become a responsible person of the society.

But…
….her affection bruised with pain
… her love was answered with disgrace
… her expectation shattered with humiliation

The heart of a mother is broken when her child strays away from the ways of truth and honesty.

If this is the experience of an earthly mother, how much more will be the pain and suffering of our God, if we stray away from Him, who loves each one of us deeply with a motherly affection?

>> If a human mother has so much pain, how much more will God, with a motherly heart suffer!
It is this sorrow and grief that is strongly expressed by Jesus in the Gospel of the day.

Jesus laments over the City of Jerusalem.

St Luke records this lamentation of the Lord with a powerfully sentimental verse:
“As Jesus drew near, he saw the city and wept over it” (Lk 19: 41)

Jesus is usually an epitome of great joy and rejoicing.
>> But this joyful Jesus being made to shed tears shows the gravity of situation.

What made Jesus to shed tears?
The pain and the hurt He experienced because of the ill-response and harsh reaction of His  chosen people, Israel, represented by the city of Jerusalem.

God had chosen Israel as His people. 
>> Out of all the civilizations on the earth, He chose them as His beloved.

Through them He promised that the Saviour of the human race would come. 

This promise ignited the hearts of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
>> God wiped out their enemies even in the most extreme of circumstances! 

Time and again, God blessed them with judges, kings and prophets. He even provided them a place to worship. 

But as the quote goes, “Familiarity breeds contempt!”

Israel, God’s own people no longer delighted in being His distinctive people. 
>> For them, He became routine.
>> They began to consider Him of little value. 

They allowed their hearts to grow hard, over and over, again and again.

Finally, Jesus, the long-promised Messiah came, the One whom God the Father had sent.
>> But most of the Jews by then, had grown stubborn and complacent in their ways.  
>> They had no room for One who came to fulfill their Law and the Prophets.  

>> They maltreated the Saviour of the World.
>> They rejected the Chosen One of God.
>> They abused the Anointed One of the Lord.

And this led, Jesus to shed tears.
…like a mother, whose heart is broken in seeing her child choose wrong ways.
…like a mother, whose soul is crushed in witnessing her child engaged in misdeeds.
…like a mother, who cries in agony when her child strays away from the path of goodness.

This story of Jerusalem could well be our own life-story.

We have been specially chosen and loved by the Lord. 
>> He has taken us through many dangers, sicknesses and accidents.

> In times when everything seem lost, He has been our refuge.
> In moments when all seemed totally blank and dark, He has been the glowing light.
> In occasions we felt like quitting life and escaping from realities, He held us in good stead.

But we tend to easily forget all these good deeds and wonders of the Lord.

Yes, it’s a sad thing, but a sure reality…. “For us, He often becomes a routine!!”

We fail to be grateful and thankful to the Lord….
…by living a holy and virtuous life.
…by deepening our bond of love and affection with Him
…by translating His graces into deeds of charity and concern for our people.

We instead persecute and torture Him…
…by living a lethargic or unholy or even scandalous life
…by abandoning many of His commandments and the teachings of the Church
…by harming our brothers and sisters and being highly indifferent in situations.

God’s heart, like that of a broken mother weeping for her child, is crying out for us…
Perhaps, He is telling us, “I am wounded!”

>> We have strayed much….it’s time to come back to Him

>>> He calls us.
>>> He longs to have us with Him always.
>>> He wants us back in His loving embrace.

As little children, let us run, in sincere repentance and honest contrition, to the welcoming motherly heart of our Beloved God.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

18 Nov (Lk 19:11-27)

And they lived happily forever….

This is an ending that we read in many fairytales and kids stories.

As kids we felt that life is always going to be happy as in these fairytales.

But as we grow, we realize, that life often is the other way!

> Life grinds us with problems and difficulties…
> Life crushes us with tensions and worries…
> Life squeezes us with struggles and labours…

Sometimes, we have a very fairytale understanding of God too.

We experience His love and read about His deeds of power and greatness. And we draw up a fairy-tale image of God…

> A God who is always goody-goody and smiley-faced.
> A God who is always lenient and closing His eyes to any of our misdeeds.

We take God for granted.
We assume God to give us a free-hand always.

But the Gospel of the Day reminds and warns us of demanding side of God!

>> The Lord is gentle and kind…but HE is also challenging.
>> The Lord is soft-hearted and loving…but HE is also tough and firm.

The parable of the Ten Gold Coins begins with a nobleman who is about to make a trip to a distant country.

He leaves his servants in charge of his kingdom.
>> While he is gone, he expects them to make the most of their opportunity to serve him.

He calls ten servants and gave them ten gold coins.

The phrase used for 10 gold coins’ is “ ten minas” which means “10 units of money” equivalent to about 3 months wages. 

They were told to put the money to work, to invest the money, until the nobleman returned. 

How well did they do? 

The first two gave their financial report…

The first man came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned ten more.”

“Well done, my good servant!” he replied. “Because you’ve been trustworthy in a small matter, take charge of ten cities.”

The second came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned five more.” His master answered, “You take charge of five cities.”

And then come the third servant… Mr Play-it-Safe.
> He felt that he knew his master very well… but in fact, he failed to understand his mind.
> He felt it was easier to play safe, than to invest…but in fact, he failed in his poor calculation.

This caused great anger for the Master…

What angered the servant was not that the servant did not make profit…but because…
…this servant did not even try to use his money…
…this servant had a very lethargic attitude…
… this servant was overly-cautious and hesitant for any risks…

The focus now turns to us…

All of us have been entrusted by God, with great resources, which needs to be invested.
>> Some of us might put them into good use, and gain rewards from the Lord.
>> But some of us, might want to keep it securely and imitate the third servant, Mr Play-it-Safe.

> We may think that we know God well…
> We may think, that He is always a forgiving and kind-hearted one…and so all my inactivity and sluggishness will be overlooked
> We may think, that He is all too sweet & compassionate…and so all my failures to do my duties will be ignored

But the Lord warns us of serious consequences, as the third servant, Mr Play-it-Safe had to face.
“With your own words, I shall condemn you” (Lk 19:22) were the harsh words addressed by the Master to the servant.

Our inability to respond to His grace…Our failure to make attempts to use our talents…Our lethargy to try to utilize God-given gifts…Our apathy to acknowledge God’s manifold blessings…
…all these will be very severely condemned and punished by God.

> The Lord doesn’t care for results…but He demands a try.
> The Lord doesn’t look for profit…but He demands an effort
> The Lord doesn’t ask for success…but He demands an attempt
> The Lord doesn’t fret over victories…but He demands commitment.
> The Lord doesn’t bother about accomplishments…but He demands faithfulness

We have perhaps very rosy and fairytale images of God.

But along with it, let us also become aware of the tough and challenging dimension in God.

> His deep love and mercy will save us….But His unfailing justice can condemn us.
> His deep compassion will protect us…But His impartial righteousness can destroy us.

>> Let us be on the guard. Let us be on the watch.
>> Let us make the best use of the resources that God has blessed us with.

And may we be privileged to hear the soft words of our Lord, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

And thus…we can truly, live happily forever…..

God Bless! Live Jesus!

17 Nov (Lk 19:1-10)

Biblical stories are interesting and motivating.

One of the Biblical story which is not just interesting & motivating, but also greatly popular is of the little man – Zacchaeus.

The Gospel of the Day takes us through this life-changing incident of this Little Man.
>> Thought little, this person teaches us big things…. Though small, the story tells many great lessons.

The story begins with Jesus coming to Jericho and intending to pass through the town (Lk 19:1)

Jericho has a long history, especially seen in the Old Testament.
>> Jericho was the first city to be conquered by the Israelites under Joshua. (Josh 6:1-27)

It was surrounded by a huge wall. However, with directives from God & under the leadership of Joshua, the city was laid siege.

On the appointed day, Joshua ordered the people to shout & the walls of the city collapsed and the Israelites destroyed it.

Joshua laid a curse on the one who would rebuild this city.
>> Thus, Jericho bore the brunt of a curse.

It is to this ‘place of curse’ that Jesus makes his entry.

As Jesus makes his entry to this cursed place, a little man named Zacchaeus climbs & hides himself behind the leaves of a tree.

Now this incident of Jesus entering an accursed city and a man hiding behind the leaves of a tree, has quite striking similarities with another incident, seen at the start of the Bible – the incident in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3)

In the book of Genesis, when Adam and Eve sinned, God moved about in the garden.
>> But they hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden (Gen 3: 8)

God comes to a place, which has been now cursed because of sin.
But two persons hide themselves in the trees of the garden.

Interesting similarity, isn’t it?

God comes to a place of curse… the Garden… and two persons (Adam and Eve) hide in the trees.
>> Jesus comes to a place of curse… the city of Jericho… and one person (Zacchaeus) hides in the trees.

But with the similarity, there are also striking differences…

Adam and Eve hid from God, in order to stay away from God, because of the guilt of sin.
>> Zacchaeus hid from Jesus, in order to see him better, because of his own complexes.

Adam and Eve were fearful to hear the words of God addressing them.
>> Zacchaeus was surprised and joyful to hear the words of Jesus addressed to him.

Adam and Eve wanted to remain hiding even after God sought for them in the garden.
>> Zacchaeus jumped down from the tree after Jesus sought to come to his home.

Is there some similarity of these incidents to my life too?

Am I, like Adam & Eve, hiding from God, because I am scared of Him due to some of the sins which I am unwilling to give up?
>> Or am I, like Zacchaeus, seeking refuge in the leaves of trees like money, pleasure, evil habits and yet have a desire to see the Lord?

The Lord is gazing at us… like He gazed at Adam and Eve and Zacchaeus.

Am I, like Adam & Eve, fearful to hear the words of God, in the Bible or through the teachings of the Church or the words of other people, because of the pain to get rid of my sinful tendencies and evil practices?
>> Or am I, like Zacchaeus, joyful to hear God’s words addressed to me, & also ready to make changes for a better spiritual life?

The Lord is addressing each one of us…like He addressed Adam and Eve and Zacchaeus.

Am I, like Adam & Eve, wanting to remain in my sinful and lethargic state of life even though I experience that God’s mercy and compassion is readily available?
>> Or am I, like Zacchaeus willing to jump down with joy, from the tree of pride, complexes, sin and fear, and welcome the Lord into the home of my life?

The Lord is seeking for us…as He sought Adam and Eve and Zacchaeus.

The Lord is gazing, addressing and seeking for us.
>>  Am I ready to encounter, to listen and to be found by Him?
 

A Yes to the question, will also mean taking some radical decisions in our life, just like Zacchaeus did…
>> Giving up of possessions…
>> Letting go of my undue desire for money, cheap popularity, the riches in my life etc.
>> Repaying those whom I have cheated…
>> Forgiving and accepting those whom I hurt, whom I don’t like, whom I am not in good terms etc.

Zacchaeus was a despised man.
>> He was despised because of his short stature.
>> He was despised because as a tax collector, he worked for the enemy-government and would cheat and defraud people.
>> He was despised because Jesus came to his house – a house of a sinner.

But the encounter with Jesus made him a transformed person
>> The encounter with Jesus made him to go beyond all complexes and filled him with deep joy!

This same transformation is at hand for us…

Let, us, learn from the Little Man and make significant changes in our life, in order to experience the magnanimous wonders and graces from our Big God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

16 November (Lk 18: 35-43)

Every person in the world faces a moment of darkness.
>> Some of us get encompassed by it.
>> Some of us get dejected by it.

The Gospel of Day presents the healing of a blind man.
> The blind man, faced immense darkness, but did not allow to get encompassed  or dejected by it.

Let us travel with him through this exciting journey of moving  from “Tamas”(darkness) to “Jyothi”(light)…

These blind man takes us through four stages of a spiritual life:

1. A State of Blindness

The man was stuck with blindness.
There is no idea as to when or how or why he became blind.

>> Maybe he was blind from birth.
>> Maybe he was blind  due to some sickness as he grew up
>> Maybe he was blind  as a result of some accident or calamity

The reasons for his blindness is unknown

Perhaps, many of us are in a state of blindness….
>> Blindness of being rejected and not accepted…
>> Blindness of inferiority complexes…
>> Blindness of inner brokenness…
>> Blindness of family crisis…

> Some of us maybe experiencing this darkness from the time of our birth.
> Some of us maybe experiencing this darkness due to calamities striking our lives as we grew

2. A State of Seeking

A life of blindness meant a life of total dependence on others…
…at times facing the ire of the people…at times facing the rejection of the people.

> The blind man could have become dejected and totally depressed.
> He could have given up in life and cursed their destiny.

But the blind man, did not allow the darkness to cloud his lives.
>> He probably would have heard about Jesus and the wonders He had done.
>> He sought with hope, the One who could banish his darkness.
>> His sought with faith, the One who could heal his gloominess.

Our state of blindness should not become a hindrance to seek the Lord.
>> We need to seek the Lord with our entire being…
>> We need to seek the plan of God and His providential care in our shadows..
>> We need to seek the road ahead with Hope and Faith in His Divine plans…

3. The State of Faith

The blind man, after making a deliberate choice to seek the Lord, expressed his deep faith in the healing power of the Lord.

The Lord makes a test of his trust and hope in Him.

“What do you want me to do for you?”
He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight” (Lk 18:41)

Our seeking for the Lord, needs to be supplemented greatly with the vitamin of Faith!
>> Delays in our prayer requests, should become an incentive to grow deeper in faith.
>> Addition of more problems in life, ought to be a moment to have more faith in Him

4. The Stage of Proclamation

The blind man, who was healed by Jesus, now, was filled with tremendous joy and enthusiasm.

> His happiness is so much overflowing, that he goes beyond the words of Jesus, and proclaims His wonderful miracle to the peoples.

“And immediately, he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God” (Lk 18: 43)

> Once we are touched by the Lord, our happiness would know no bounds.
> Once we are healed by the Lord, our enthusiasm would get highly contagious.

The Blind man in the Gospel take us through these four stages…
The Stage of Blindness… The Stage of Seeking…the Stage of Faith…the Stage of Proclamation.

Let us be inspired and challenged by him

>> Let us seek the Lord of Light in our darkness.
>> Let us seek the Lord of healing in our sicknesses.
>> Let us seek the Lord of holiness in our blindness.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

15 Nov (Mk 13:24-32)

There is an incident from the American Revolution which beautifully illustrates the tragedy that can follow from procrastination – the habit of postponing or delaying something.

It is reported that a Colonel who was the commander of the British troops in Trenton, New Jersey, was playing cards when a courier brought an urgent message stating that General George Washington was crossing the Delaware River.

The Colonel put the letter in his pocket and didn’t bother to read it until the game was finished.

Later, realizing the seriousness of the situation, he hurriedly tried to rally his men to meet the coming attack, but his procrastination was his undoing.

>> He and many of his men were killed and the rest of the regiment were captured.

Just a “few minutes of delay” cost him his life, his honour, and the liberty of his soldiers!

Any profession…any activity…to achieve its goal in the best manner possible…requires a tough preparation, unabated determination, a constant movement and an unwavering vigilance!

The Gospel of the Day, speaking of the Second Coming of the Son of Man, is a strong exhortation to be “constantly on the watch”, being vigilant and ready, to receive the Lord in His glory.

Our Blessed Lord draws the illustration of the Fig Tree to point to the fact that “one must become aware of the signs of the times” and be constantly “on the watch”.

Jesus says, “From the fig tree, learn the lesson…”  (Mk 13:28)

When we look into our lives, we find that we are highly disciplined and “well-prepared with respect to professional disciplines and careers…

> Sportspersons sweat it out and slog their bodies through a strict routine…to achieve the best!
> Army personnel undergo a hard grilling and a grinding through tough situations…to achieve the best!
> Musicians train their voices and are extremely cautious in avoiding bad food habits..to achieve the Best!
> Scientists meticulously chalk out their experiments and are very careful in minute aspects…to achieve the Best!

But very often, it is seen, that such an attitude & such a principle is not  applied to Spirituality or our Christian Life?!

>> There seems to be a tendency to take our Christian Life as a routine and for granted….
>> There seems to be a feeling to live our Spiritual Lives in relaxation and lethargy and sluggishness…
>> There seems to be a trend to give least botheration to the aspects of God, Soul, Sin, Grace, Salvation etc…..

>>> Why does Spirituality most often find the least place in our lives?
>>> Why do thoughts of Holiness be entertained least in our minds?
>> Why do talks of God, figure so little in our daily chats?

It’s time to wake up from our sleep…

“… know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. 
For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand.”– Romans 13: 11-12a

These words from the Letter to the Romans, which had awakened St Augustine from his slumber of paganism, sexual immorality and loose living into the freedom of Holiness and Sanctity… is addressed also to each one of us….

>> In Mt 24: 42-44, Jesus says, “Stay Awake……and Be Alert!”

With respect to the coming of the Son of Man…
… No one knows the time or the hour
… No one knows the context or situation

Therefore….we need to be alert and watchful at all times – Any time, Any Context!

>> When Abraham was prepared to give up his Beloved Isaac… he encountered the glory of God!

>> When Moses was ready to follow God and trust Him completely… he encountered the power of God!

>> When Israelites were ready to cleanse themselves and prepare…they encountered the Majesty of God!

>> When the Prophets were willing to let go and abandon fully to God’s hands…..they encountered the Voice of God!

>> When Mother Mary was consenting to God’s Will in Her life…she encountered the ‘Grace’fulness of God!

>> When  the Apostles were eager to wait in humility and prayer….they encountered the Spirit of God!

Yes, when we are willing to be prepared and be ready… we will experience the mighty touch and presence of God!

One of the biggest reasons why a Christian fails to take one’s faith seriously is because of Procrastination…

>> We mould ourselves to thinking that there is time for all this later…
… we still have years ahead to repent and atone!

And this certainly is one of Satan’s most successful strategies in today’s world: To show there is still time!

>> Satan doesn’t prevent us from having thoughts of prayer…
… but he says: not now, do it a little later.

>> Satan doesn’t prevent us from having aspirations of fasting and other pious devotions…
… but he says: not now, do it later

>> Satan doesn’t prevent us from engaging in works of charity….
… but he says: not now, do it later

And we, busy with our daily schedules……like ignorant fools… find that suggestion, practical and feasible!

>> Today the Lord gets  serious in His tone…and warns us ,”Watch! Be alert!”

As someone said, “those who hope to repent and amend at the eleventh hour, may perhaps, die at ten-thirty!”

We give the best in our workplaces… in areas of sports and music… army people & scientists slog to be the best…
>> But why are we slackening when it comes to our Faith and our Christian Life?

We invest our time and money and energy, often only for materialistic and passing things of the world!
>> But today, let us seek to invest of ourselves in service of the Kingdom and to prepare for the Lord’s coming

> Our souls are searching…
> Our bodies are agitated and distressed…
>>> Money, positions, power, sex, drugs, alcohol, pleasures, films, criticism….. none of these will satisfy or gratify us!

Let us seek and thirst for the the One whom our souls are searching….
.. and be constantly on the “watch and vigilance” preparing for the Coming of our Blessed Lord!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

14 Nov (Lk 18:1-8)

One of the common technique of understanding and personalizing a Biblical text is by, what could be called as the Method of Assuming a Character.
One puts oneself in the shoes of one of the characters in the Biblical passage and draws reflections and thoughts for one’s spiritual growth.

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son…
>> One could assume the character of the Younger Son…and identify as one having gone away from God.
>> One could assume the character of the Father….and identify as one who longs for the return of those lost and those gone away from us.       
>> One could assume the character of the Elder Son….and identify as one who gets irritated and even angry at the apparently “unjust” side of God’s love of being overly merciful!

In the Parable of the Good Samaritan…
>>One could assume the character of the injured man….and identify as one who is beaten up and lying helpless, seeking for assistance
>> One could assume the character of the thieves….and identify as one who engages in wicked activities and harming the lives of others
>> One could assume the character of the Levite or the Priest….and identify as one who fails to set right the priorities in life.
>> One could assume the character of the Good Samaritan….and identify as one who reaches out to people in their dire need.
>> One could assume the character of the inn-keeper….and identify as one who remains generous in allowing the injured man in the inn, despite a possible loss of money.

The Gospel of the Day is the Parable of the Persistent Widow.
>> For our reflection, we shall use the similar Method of assuming a Character.

The Parable speaks of a judge and a widow.

The judge is characterised by some features:
> He did not fear God.
>> He did not fear humans.
>>> He was initially adamant in his refusal.

The Widow is characterised by some features:
> She had a genuine need.
>> She was denied justice.
>>> She remained persistent till the end.

In our usual understanding, we assume the character of the Widow and God as the Judge and draw some of the following conclusions:
> We are often in many and true needs.

But we often, find ourselves, a bit depressed at the delays in receiving the answers to our prayers.
The parable encourages and exhorts us to remain persistent in our prayer life and not to get discouraged by God’s delays, which apparently appears as God’s denials.

Yes, God’s delays are certainly not His denials!
>> God’s pauses are certainly not His refusals!

But for a change, for our reflection, we shall try to reverse our roles…

Let US assume the role of the JUDGE…and GOD as the WIDOW!

Sounds strange?
Me as the Judge? God as the Widow?

Widows in the first century found themselves at a very sad state.
They were quite literally unprotected. Many became homeless and destitute after the death of their husbands.

Often they were at mercy of cunning men, including some religious leaders who would “devour widows houses” (Mark 12:40)
> A widow couldn’t count on anyone to come to her aid.

She represents the hopeless….the unaided…the oppressed.

In Mt 25:35, Jesus identifies Himself with the one who was hungry, thirsty, naked, stranger and the imprisoned.
>> Jesus in the poor, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the stranger and the imprisoned…. is the hopeless one…the unaided one..the oppressed one.

Jesus, like the widow in the Parable…comes knocking at our door: Behold I stand at the door, and knock… (Rev 3:20)

As the oppressed and justice-deprived widow, Jesus, knocks at our door – we the Judges.

What is our reaction and response?

The cry of the one in pain and suffering reaches our hears…
>> Do I reach out my heart to them and seek to ease their troubles and hardships?

The moaning of a broken family or a lost teenager or a spoilt child comes to us…
>> Do I pray for them and help them, in ways possible for me?

The sad tear of the abused or oppressed people with whom we work is seen by us…
>> Do I get out of my comfort-shell to make them feel comforted and consoled?

The disturbing reports of violence, corruption,  injustice in the society falls on our senses…
>> Do I remain indifferent to them and become saturated with such atrocities?

Yes…the widow – the hopeless, the unaided and the oppressed one… keeps knocking at our doors…
>> As a Judge…do I keep refusing?…do I keep getting irritated?…do I feel life as a botheration?

The Parable of the Persistent Widow is certainly a big lesson to remain firm and perseverant in our prayer life.
>> But this parable, when looked from another perspective, is also a big challenge to become a people who reach out in justice and give comfort and consolation to the needy.

Knock….knock…
Do we hear the knock, seeking for help?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

13 Nov (Lk 17:26-37)

Spending time along little streams can be a fascinating pastime.

When along these streams, one can observe tiny flies that come and bathe in it.

If one notices carefully, it can be seen that while they plunge their bodies, they keep their wings high out of the water and fly away, with their wings unwet!

The wings are kept safe from getting wet, so that there is no hindrance in flying again!

How beautiful a lesson is this for us Christians…
…. who live in the world, yet are called to be out of the world.
… who live amidst possibilities of wealth, yet are called to be detached from them.
… who live with the prospect of gaining immense power, yet are exhorted to not be attached

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus highlighting this essential element of Christian living : Being in the world, but living out of the world, with eyes firmly set on heavenly realms.

Jesus says, “Whoever seeks to gain his life, will lose it, but whoever loses his life, will preserve it” (Lk 17:33)

Very often our lives get too attached to material riches and attachments.

•      We fall prey to seeking great honour and fame in being a Christian…
… but are unable to grasp the fact that ‘to be a Christian is to be living a life of simplicity’.

•      We yield to temptations of being obsessed to seek power and positions of futile vanity…
… and fail time and again to live up to the Christian virtues of humility and modesty

•      We often become victims of engaging in dirty politics and authority-grabbing games…
… and become an anti-witness to the Lord who ‘came to serve, rather than be served’

We need to give heed to the words of the Lord who prayed that “we are in the world, but do not belong to this world” (Jn 17: 15)

A Christian life…. ought to be hallmarked by detachment and separation…
… detachment from too much of worldly distractions and vain glory
… separation from sinful ways and evil tendencies

Instead, a Christian life… ought to be radiated with total focus and complete dedication…
… total focus on the Lord who ‘walked the talk’ by giving up His life in service
… complete dedication to the Kingdom of God which calls for a humble way of life

The world today is being ‘gripped in sin’, “as it was in the days of Noah” (Lk 17:26)
>> We need to open our eyes to realise the warning given by the Lord and be ‘on the watch’ after the example of the destruction of the sinful city of Sodom.

Perhaps our own life… or our family… or our community… our society…
…  is resembling the city of Sodom

>> There is much drunkenness in worldly pleasures…

>> There is much ‘eating and consumption’ of corrupt practices…
>> There is much neglect of honest ways and of truthful conduct…
>> There is much enjoyment of bad, inhuman and cruel behaviours…

May we seek the intercession of St Frances Xavier Cabrini, whose feast we celebrate today, in order to be bold and firm in following the ways of the Lord.
She was the first American citizen to be canonized a saint.

Let us deepen…
… our faith in the Lord
… our love for the Kingdom
… and our detachment from riches
… echoing her words: We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone.”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

12 Nov (Lk 17:20-25)

In the 1990s, there came an advertisement in promotion of the fizzy drink: Coca-cola… especially during the thick of some cricketing action.

>> The promotion lines went thus: Eat cricket, sleep cricket, drink only Coca-cola.

The ad was to infuse a greater mood of the game and to promote the use and consumption of the cola drink.

The Gospels, with Jesus as the greatest promoter, would have a promotion line, with a similar phrasing: Eat Kingdom, Sleep Kingdom, Drink Kingdom, Work Kingdom, Live Kingdom!

Are we ready to collaborate with Jesus, to infuse a greater spirit of the Kingdom in the world and to promote the reach and spread of the Kingdom of God?

The Gospel of the Day is a teaching on the Kingdom of God.

The Pharisees ask “when” the kingdom will come  (Lk 17:20)…
>> Jesus however explains “how” the Kingdom will come (17:22-35)

Jesus does not give an answer to the question of the Pharisees.
>> Rather, He makes to realize what should be the proper question.

It’s the style and technique of the Lord to get right the priorities and focus in life!

The people searched for Jesus after the miracle of the multiplication of loaves…
> Jesus sets right their intentions by speaking of the need to hunger for the bread of life (Jn 6)

The disciples of John came to clarify whether Jesus was indeed the Messiah to come…
> Jesus sets right their focus by turning their attention to all His signs and deeds (Lk 7:19ff)

The two disciples, James and John, sought for privileged places in Jesus’ future reign…
> Jesus sets right their priorities by exhorting them to grow rather in humility and service (Mk 10: 35-45)

Nicodemus, in his encounter with Jesus, remained on peripheral questions and doubts…
> Jesus sets right his doubts by calling his attention on living a life in the Spirit and being born anew spiritually (Jn 3: 1-21)

The Lord loves to challenge our doubts, theories & even convictions…in order to be in harmony with the priorities of the Kingdom.

>> Am I willing to allow the Lord to work in me to change some of my thinking patterns, that would be in accord to His Will?

>> Am I flexible to let the Lord to mould and shape my lifestyle and thus be in tune with the focus of His Kingdom?

The “Kingdom of God” is an oft-repeated phrase in the New Testament and especially in the Gospels.

What is the Kingdom of God?

A kingdom normally brings to picture a geographical territory, with its clear-cut boundaries and its rulers and citizens.

The Kingdom of God, is however, quite different!
>> The Kingdom of God is not a geographical dominion like worldly kingdoms!

The Kingdom of God is a spiritual reality where God’s Will is done.

It is a person; it is He – Jesus!

“Jesus leads people to realize the overwhelming fact that in Him, God is present among them and that He is God’s presence.” (from the book, “Jesus of Nazareth – Part I” by Pope Benedict XVI)

The Pharisees who asked Jesus on “when” the Kingdom would come, were probably expecting an external sort of a Kingdom.

>> They probably expected a Kingdom which would overturn and overthrow the Roman Government.

>> They probably expected a Kingdom where perfect peace and harmony would reign all over the world.

But Jesus clarifies the nature of this Kingdom…

He speaks of a Kingdom which is much more internal & spiritual, and whose impact would be felt and experienced in the external world.

One experiences the Kingdom of Heaven first in one’s inner life…and this is manifested in one’s external lifestyles…

The Samaritan Woman experienced the power of the Kingdom of God within herself, when she spoke to Jesus, the fountain of life…
>> And this experience of the Kingdom led her to proclaim the name of Jesus to all her villagers & bring many to the saving fold of the Lord.

The Disciples experienced the power of the Kingdom of God within them, when the Holy Spirit descended on them…
>> And this experience of the Kingdom was manifested in their bold and powerful witnessing life!

St Paul experienced the force of the Kingdom of God within him, when he encountered the Risen Lord on the way to Damascus…
>> And this experience of the Kingdom was displayed by him through his passionate life of preaching and missionary works.

In the Prayer, the Our Father, we pray:
“Thy Kingdom Come,
Thy Will be Done…”

>> The Kingdom of God is, where the Will of God is fulfilled.
>> The Kingdom of God reigns, where the Will of God is in control.

The whole ministry of Jesus was centered around this “Kingdom of God” concept.
>> He began His ministry preaching that the Kingdom of God is near.

>> He spoke parables and spoke many teachings of the presence of the Kingdom of God.

>> He performed great signs and wonders to tell that the Kingdom of God is in our midst.

The question arises before us:
Is the Kingdom of God here?
>> Or is the Kingdom yet to come?

This is where we speak of the concept of “Already and not yet”

The Kingdom of God is already here, but not yet!
>> The Kingdom of God already reigns now, but not yet, in its fullness!

As St Paul says in 1 Cor 13: 12, “At present, we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present, I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known”.

Do I experience the Kingdom of God in my life?

The Kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17)

>> I need to experience the joy and the peace of the Lord in my life…
>> I need to place the priorities of God over all else in my life…
>> I need to radiate the precious love of the Lord to all in my life…
That’s the Kingdom of God.
>> That’s the Reign of God.

We are invited today “to radiate heaven on our faces”!

Yes, let us Eat Kingdom, Sleep Kingdom, Drink Kingdom, Work Kingdom, Live Kingdom!

May we become a “Kingdom People!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!