Shopping malls and Super markets have gained a lot of popularity over the last few years.

One of the attractions in most of these places is the decorative tag-board displaying the word: “FREE”!

>> Buy one shirt, get one FREE…
>> Pick up two items of your choice, and get a gift hamper FREE…
>> Choose any one item in the following, and receive a kitchen set absolutely FREE…

People flock where there are FREE things to be offered.

Sometimes, even in our religion and our spirituality, we look for such FREE offers!

Though, there’s nothing wrong in this concept of FREE offers…
… in the spiritual realm, such FREE gifts also places a demand on the receivers to have a spirit of gratefulness and gratitude.

Every FREE gift in the spiritual world, is a call to cultivate greater, the spirit of Thankfulness!

The Gospel of the Day is a reminder to  grow in this dimension of appreciating & acknowledging the great FREE gifts of God in our lives.

The story of the Healing of the Ten Lepers is a very familiar and popular incident.

In the Biblical days, leprosy, was one of the most dreaded diseases. Leprosy finds its mention in the Bible in over 40 places.

One of the reason why leprosy is talked about so much in the Bible is that it is a graphic illustration of sin’s destructive power.
>>  Incurable by man, many believed that God inflicted the curse of leprosy upon people for the sins they committed.

Leprosy became a disease that was so despised and loathed that those afflicted were not allowed to live in any community with their own people (Numbers 5:2).

A leper wasn’t allowed to come within six feet of any other human, including his own family.
>> The disease was considered so revolting that the leper wasn’t permitted to come within 150 feet of anyone when the wind was blowing.

Lepers lived in a community with other lepers until they either got better or died.
This was the only way the people knew to contain the spread of the contagious forms of this dreaded sickness.

When the Lord travelled through the region of Samaria and Galilee, He encountered the group of ten lepers.

>> In churches, we’ve seen lovely choirs of men & women, who raise their voices to the heavens, with their beautiful & melodious voices.

>> At Christmas, the splendid choir of angels, raised their voice , to announce to the world, of the Birth of the Glorious Saviour of Humanity.

But here is another choir…A dreadful-appearing choir….Of Ten Lepers…

Their patches of skin were discoloured…
… with pink or white shades appearing on their brow, nose, ear, cheeks or chin….
… with spongy tumourous appearances on various parts of the body…
… and deformed hands and feet!

An unsightly and ugly choir….singing their melodious chorus in loud exaltation, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” (Lk 17:13)

The chorus reached the ears of the Divine Choir-Master, Jesus!
>> Their pitiful cry…their hopeless wail…their pleading voice, echoed in the ears of the Divine Healer!

“Go, show yourselves to the Priest” (Lk 17: 14) were the words of the Divine Lord.

Lev 14:1-9 states that the priest must authenticate any cure from leprosy.
>> This was to allow the afflicted person to re-enter the society.

But as the lepers are on their way to show to the priest, they are cured!

>> Miracles occur, when one chooses to put one’s trust in God!
>> Wonders happen, when one obeys the words of the Lord, in faith and hope!

But one of them realizes that He had been healed.

And so he returned and glorified God in a loud voice and fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him (Lk 17: 15)

Here is a big lesson for us all…
> All the ten lepers sought for a FREE blessing from the Lord.
> All the ten lepers expected a FREE miracle from the Healer.

>> Jesus, in His graciousness, did bless all of them with a FREE miracle.
>> Jesus, in His compassion, did shower all of them with a FREE blessing.

But just one among them, acknowledged the worth and value of that FREE gift
>> The rest of the nine, probably completely forgot the source of that FREE blessing.

Every FREE gift in the spiritual world, is a call to cultivate greater, the spirit of Thankfulness!

But perhaps, this is a reality that we very often forget in our lives.

We take for granted the many many FREE gifts and blessings that are showered upon us.

Like the FREE offers, available at shopping malls and super markets, we gladly receive God’s blessings…
… but unfortunately, often, fail to acknowledge them and be grateful for it.

The one who returned back to thank the Lord, received not just physical healing, but also was doubly blessed with the gift of being saved!

The Lord showers His FREE gifts on us…

>> Do I return back to thank God for His marvelous blessings?

>> Do I reduce my life to being a clatter of complaints or do I adorn my life with a litany of praises and thanksgiving?

>> Do I take all my blessings for granted and merely groan about my duties?

We love to flock where there are FREE things.
>> We also love to receive the FREE blessings from God.

But, in this process, let’s not fail to also acknowledge and thank Him for His FREE offers.

Ten people were healed that day, but only one came back to give thanks.
> The one who returned to give thanks chose not to forget what Jesus had done for him.

Are we living as this grateful one or as the other nine?

Praise is a choice.
> A thankful heart is a choice.

None is forced.
>> None is compelled.

The secret of a thankful heart is a conscious choice not to forget what God has done for us.

Shall we also possess this Secret?

(Psst…once again…this too is a FREE offer…. )

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Shopping malls and Super markets have gained a lot of popularity over the last few years.

One of the attractions in most of these places is the decorative tag-board displaying the word: “FREE”!

>> Buy one shirt, get one FREE…
>> Pick up two items of your choice, and get a gift hamper FREE…
>> Choose any one item in the following, and receive a kitchen set absolutely FREE…

People flock where there are FREE things to be offered.

Sometimes, even in our religion and our spirituality, we look for such FREE offers!

Though, there’s nothing wrong in this concept of FREE offers…
… in the spiritual realm, such FREE gifts also places a demand on the receivers to have a spirit of gratefulness and gratitude.

Every FREE gift in the spiritual world, is a call to cultivate greater, the spirit of Thankfulness!

The Gospel of the Day is a reminder to  grow in this dimension of appreciating & acknowledging the great FREE gifts of God in our lives.

The story of the Healing of the Ten Lepers is a very familiar and popular incident.

In the Biblical days, leprosy, was one of the most dreaded diseases. Leprosy finds its mention in the Bible in over 40 places.

One of the reason why leprosy is talked about so much in the Bible is that it is a graphic illustration of sin’s destructive power.
>>  Incurable by man, many believed that God inflicted the curse of leprosy upon people for the sins they committed.

Leprosy became a disease that was so despised and loathed that those afflicted were not allowed to live in any community with their own people (Numbers 5:2).

A leper wasn’t allowed to come within six feet of any other human, including his own family.
>> The disease was considered so revolting that the leper wasn’t permitted to come within 150 feet of anyone when the wind was blowing.

Lepers lived in a community with other lepers until they either got better or died.
This was the only way the people knew to contain the spread of the contagious forms of this dreaded sickness.

When the Lord travelled through the region of Samaria and Galilee, He encountered the group of ten lepers.

>> In churches, we’ve seen lovely choirs of men & women, who raise their voices to the heavens, with their beautiful & melodious voices.

>> At Christmas, the splendid choir of angels, raised their voice , to announce to the world, of the Birth of the Glorious Saviour of Humanity.

But here is another choir…A dreadful-appearing choir….Of Ten Lepers…

Their patches of skin were discoloured…
… with pink or white shades appearing on their brow, nose, ear, cheeks or chin….
… with spongy tumourous appearances on various parts of the body…
… and deformed hands and feet!

An unsightly and ugly choir….singing their melodious chorus in loud exaltation, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” (Lk 17:13)

The chorus reached the ears of the Divine Choir-Master, Jesus!
>> Their pitiful cry…their hopeless wail…their pleading voice, echoed in the ears of the Divine Healer!

“Go, show yourselves to the Priest” (Lk 17: 14) were the words of the Divine Lord.

Lev 14:1-9 states that the priest must authenticate any cure from leprosy.
>> This was to allow the afflicted person to re-enter the society.

But as the lepers are on their way to show to the priest, they are cured!

>> Miracles occur, when one chooses to put one’s trust in God!
>> Wonders happen, when one obeys the words of the Lord, in faith and hope!

But one of them realizes that He had been healed.

And so he returned and glorified God in a loud voice and fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him (Lk 17: 15)

Here is a big lesson for us all…
> All the ten lepers sought for a FREE blessing from the Lord.
> All the ten lepers expected a FREE miracle from the Healer.

>> Jesus, in His graciousness, did bless all of them with a FREE miracle.
>> Jesus, in His compassion, did shower all of them with a FREE blessing.

But just one among them, acknowledged the worth and value of that FREE gift
>> The rest of the nine, probably completely forgot the source of that FREE blessing.

Every FREE gift in the spiritual world, is a call to cultivate greater, the spirit of Thankfulness!

But perhaps, this is a reality that we very often forget in our lives.

We take for granted the many many FREE gifts and blessings that are showered upon us.

Like the FREE offers, available at shopping malls and super markets, we gladly receive God’s blessings…
… but unfortunately, often, fail to acknowledge them and be grateful for it.

The one who returned back to thank the Lord, received not just physical healing, but also was doubly blessed with the gift of being saved!

The Lord showers His FREE gifts on us…

>> Do I return back to thank God for His marvelous blessings?

>> Do I reduce my life to being a clatter of complaints or do I adorn my life with a litany of praises and thanksgiving?

>> Do I take all my blessings for granted and merely groan about my duties?

We love to flock where there are FREE things.
>> We also love to receive the FREE blessings from God.

But, in this process, let’s not fail to also acknowledge and thank Him for His FREE offers.

Ten people were healed that day, but only one came back to give thanks.
> The one who returned to give thanks chose not to forget what Jesus had done for him.

Are we living as this grateful one or as the other nine?

Praise is a choice.
> A thankful heart is a choice.

None is forced.
>> None is compelled.

The secret of a thankful heart is a conscious choice not to forget what God has done for us.

Shall we also possess this Secret?

(Psst…once again…this too is a FREE offer…. )

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The Pope is the Head of the Universal Church.

He is recognized by many titles… Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles,  Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church etc.

Another prominent title among these is: the Servant of the servants of God.

Servanthood is an important dimension in being a follower of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of the Day is an invitation and reminder to this great aspect of our Christian Lives: Being a Servant.

The Lord narrates the Parable of the Unprofitable Servant.

In this parable, Jesus tells about a servant who works all day long out in the field, or out taking care of the flock.
And after he works all day long, he comes into the house…

Is he expected to sit down and rest and eat his own meal?
>> No

Rather, he is required to serve his master by providing him the meal first.

And after doing all that work – all day long – there’s no word of thanks, no gratitude.

Jesus closes out this parable by saying that the servant was unprofitable because he only did what he was told to do.

>> Is it something practical?
>> Is it something easy?

Our modern-day psychology would speak of the concept of a “positive stroke” that is to be given to those working or those who undertake some labour.

>> It’s important that the employers in a company are given a “positive stroke” by appreciating their good works…

>> It’s important that the servants in a house are given a “positive stroke” by encouraging with good words and a cheerful countenance…

>> It’s important that the workers in a firm or factory are given a “positive stroke” by acknowledging their worth and constantly boosting their confidence level…

But the Gospel of the Day seems to be demanding much more from a Servant…

>> A servant who works whole day long ploughing in the field or tending the sheep…
>> A servant who delays his needs and instead prepares and serves meals for his master…
>> A servant, who after all his works, doesn’t expect words of gratitude…

The Parable is surely a tough one!

But, we need to remember, and take into account an important aspect:
The One who preached this Parable was not a mere preacher, but was a ‘practicer’!

Jesus, the one who preached this Parable, practised perfectly, this life of being a servant.

>> He is the Servant,  who works in the field ploughing…
…sowing the seed of the Word of God, ploughing the Gospel in the hearts of people and toiling in the hot sun of oppositions and mockery

>> He is the Servant, who tends the sheep in the field…
…providing pasture for His people, protecting them from the wolves of the evil and going after any of the sheep which are lost in the wilderness

>> He is the Servant, who prepares a meal and serves at table…
…nourishing those at table with His own body, strengthening them with His own blood and constantly reinforcing in the journey of life

How are we to be such a Servant of the Lord?

•         Having a mind of being a Servant of God:
The world of a servant centers not around himself, but around the Master.
Whatever pleases the Master, the servant does.

If we truly acknowledge God as our Master, then we too…
…will do the works which please Him
…will think and seek to do His Will
…will speak the words which are worthy of His grace

•        Being Committed in this task of being His servant
The world of a servant centers around total availability and openness to the needs of the Master.
If we truly accept God as our Master, then we too…

…will give ourselves to Him totally at all times
…will place His priorities over ours
…will avoid anything that blocks my complete service of Him

The Call is to be a Servant…who is dedicated and selfless.
>> Jesus is our model and example in being a Servant.

It’s a demand placed on us.
>> Servanthood is an important dimension in being a follower of Jesus Christ.

Let us seek for this grace of growing in the Service of the Lord.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A money-collection drive was being been conducted in a particular Church for a particular intention.

The people were free to put in as much contribution as they wanted for the noble cause.

One gentleman stood up and announced a rather large contribution, and the people applauded greatly.

A few moments later, an old lady stood up and announced her donation.

But it was greeted with silence.

The priest, however, in reply to the cold response of the people, stood up and said emphatically, “Ladies and gentleman, I believe I hear the applause of the nail-scarred Hands!”

The people understood what the priest meant, and slowly but surely applauded the old lady’s generosity.

The Gospel of the Day presents such a similar act of appreciation by Jesus over the apparently “tiny” yet really “great” contribution by a widow to the Temple Treasury.

The passage of the day is the culmination of the 12th Chapter of the Gospel of St Mark.

This has been a volatile passage…

                     
1. Jesus tells the parable of the Tenants (Mk 12: 1-12)
… thereby giving out a sharp message to the Jews to accept the Messiah and not forfeit the many graces and blessings that they had been blessed with.

2. Jesus gives a fitting response to the question of paying taxes (Mk 12: 13-17)
… thereby exhorting the concerned people to not get stuck to earthly obligations and instead gear one’s life in total allegiance to the Lord Creator

3. Jesus corrects the false notion regarding the teaching on Resurrection (Mk 12: 18-27)
… thereby challenging to live a life in worthiness of eternity and to have the correct and deeper faith in the Living God and His Teachings

4. Jesus makes clear the greatest commandments (Mk 12: 28-34)
… thereby inviting all to understand that there is only one true God and He deserves all the love and affection of our being and this love ought to be expressed in love of neighbour.

5. Jesus points out from Scripture that He is the Messiah, the Lord (Mk 12: 35-37)
… thereby opening the eyes of the people to read Scripture with greater openness to the Spirit and an invitation to accept Him as the Lord of their lives.

These five pronouncements finally concludes with Jesus denouncing the action of the scribes especially in devouring the lives of the poor widows.

Jesus says, “The scribes devour the houses of widows, and as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers” (Mk 12: 40)

•      Widows were an easy trap to be cheated…
•      Widows were easy pickings to be exploited…

However, the chapter ends with a beautiful counteract…

A widow – symbol of all the other widows, who have been cheated, or oppressed or facing humiliations  – comes in to the Temple and drops in her ‘everything’ in the treasure!

This is indeed a powerful symbol of faithfulness and duty…

•      She is a symbol of being oppressed – yet she is heartily generous
•      She is an object of being condemned – yet she is mightily liberal

And she becomes a symbol of self-giving and total-emptiness.

This poor widow becomes a great challenge for us in our lives…
•      Life may bite us hard with cruel luck and bad destiny…
•      Life may oppress us through various elements in the society…
•      Life may cheat us in the form of many people or circumstances…

Yet, through all this…
Like this poor widow,
•      Can I be firm to still give to God in gratitude?
•      Can I be faithful to do my responsibilities even if unrewarded?

May the Blessed Mother Mary, who Herself was a poor widow, and gave Herself entirely to the Lord…

And Jesus, who like the poor widow, gave Himself entirely to His people and in doing God’s Will…
… be our inspiration, our strength and our hope!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Its a blazing hot noon-time…

The sun is fiercely casting its rays upon the earth…

The situation appears to be very tense and the emotions are running high.

The people of Israel have greatly offended the Lord by erecting a golden calf as their god!

Moses is right at the gate of the camp, emotionally charged and full of zeal and rage!

In a loud voice, with passion engulfing his entire self and bubbling with deep righteous anger, Moses, the man of God roars, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!” (Ex 32: 26)

Whoever  is for the Lord, come to me….It is a time of making  a decision.

The Israelites are to make a choice:
> Choose to be with God or to follow other idols.

> Choose to obey His laws and commandments or to stray away from His paths.

This choice will lead them to either life or death….

A similar question is presented before us too…
Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!

This choice will lead us to either life or death!

The Gospel of the Day presents this Call of the Lord to make a clear-cut and distinct choice in life: Choose between God and Mammon!

“No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other or, be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Lk 16: 13)

More than anytime before, the world faces this deep-rooted problem of a “divided heart”

We say we obey God…but we fail to abide by His commandments and teachings in the Church!

Am I serving both…?
>> God in His Church and the ways of the world…

We say we love God…but we fail to express this love in a faithful lifestyle of prayers and devotions.

Am I serving both…?
>> God in devotion and the pleasures of our interests…

We say we serve God…but we fail to extend His love and compassion to our people in need.

Am I serving both…?
>> God in His people and the comforts of our own self…

We say we honour God…but we fail to witness to His Gospel values and dilute them to serve our petty interests.

Am I serving both…?
>> God in His values and the welfare of our own selfishness…

Let’s not be afraid to look at the naked face of reality staring at us today…

> Most people today serve something besides God.

> Most people serve sin instead of God.

> Many people serve music instead of God.

> Many people serve sports instead of God.

> Many people serve money instead of God

> Many people serve themselves instead of God.

> Many people serve power and positions instead of God

> Many people serve the cravings of their bodies instead of God.

Am I also serving something else instead of God?

In the Old Testament, one of the greatest accusations made against the people of Israel was the Sin of Idolatry – abandoning the Living and True God and rendering worship and honour to some non-living thing as a god.

Though, as Christians,  we may not be explicitly worshipping some idol or running after some gods or crazy over some tantras-mantras, it is not a bad idea to examine our conscience and check whether we really have formed some gods in our lives and thus entering into “practical” idolatry….

>> Maybe I am too much attached to my electronic gadgets like the phones, tv, music players, cams…and use them way beyond my “need”!

The idol of gadgets?

>>Maybe I am too much obsessed with my looks, my styles, my clothing and food habits, my make-up styles…and “over-conscious” than the minimal requirements!

The Idol of the Self?

>> Maybe I am crazy about gaining over-popularity through an “n” number of picture displays and posts on many social networking sites…and “get totally upset” when I fail to receive the expected appreciations and “likes”!

The Idol of Attention-seeking?

>> Maybe I am too much occupied with my work, business and other undertakings, that I fail to give attention to my family, my community, the needs of my own spiritual self etc…and lose out on the little joys and happiness of life!

The Idol of Money and Work?

There could be many more idols in our life..

> The Idol of Laziness…
> The Idol of Immoral Lifestyles…
> The Idol of Bad Habits…
> The Idol of losing a Sense of Sin…
> The Idol of Power-obsession…
> The Idol of Criticizing and Judging…etc…

The Gospel of the day places a great choice before us…
>> Choose to be with God or to follow other idols?
>> Choose to obey His laws and commandments or to stray away from His paths?

We cannot serve both God and other things…

One leads to life..the other to death.

Which side are we on?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Chalta Hain”  (pronounced as “chal-ta hay”) is a common phrase in Hindi that is uttered in many of our circles.

In its general use, Chalta Hain (meaning: It’s ok!)…
… refers to an attitude of just being casual in important aspects of life
… refers to an attitude of not taking life too seriously and just float through

>> A Chalta Hain attitude allows lethargy, sluggishness and disinterestedness to creep in…

>> A Chalta Hain attitude dampens enthusiastic hearts and excited spirits…

There is a great danger that such a Chalta Hain Attitude can move stealthily into our spiritual lives and corrode it.

Am I weighed down by this casual and dispirited attitude of Chalta Hain?
>> Or Am I filled with a great zeal and passion and a spirit of resolute determination in my life?

The Gospel of the Day is a Parable of a person who was filled with a great amount of courage, preparedness and zeal for a secure future…The Parable of the Unjust Steward.

The Steward, who was working under a rich man, has been reported for deceitful service.

He realizes that the writing is on the wall…
>> He needs to produce his accounts.
>> He is to be terminated from his job.
It’s a tense situation for him…

But this steward is a wise and shrewd fella!

He doesn’t allow the tense and apprehensive situation to overpower him!
>> Rather, he takes stock of the situation and becomes a manager of the entire crisis-situation…

His brain worked super-fast…his shrewdness gained momentum!
He called his master’s debtors..and his pen was set to work…

>> The debt of one hundred jars of olive oil, was manipulated to fifty…
>> The debt of hundred measures of wheat was reduced to eighty…

It’s interesting to know how business was done in the first century…

In those days, the amount charged to a customer who purchased on credit would include three things:
1. The price of the product
2. The interest charged by the owner
3. The commission to be earned by the steward.

The steward could add whatever commission he thought he could collect.
>> That was his profit.

In this case, the shrewd steward probably reduced his commission, and perhaps some of the interest added to the loan.

>> The rich master lost no money as he made sufficient profit…. The customers gained happiness as their debt was reduced.

>> The steward lost some of his profit…but he gained much more: an enhanced reputation, some friends, and lots of security.

It was a win-win situation for all – the Master, the Customers and the Steward!

Well.. so far, so good, with this shrewd steward and his crafty style of management.

But what is the message in for us?

The Steward never went into a lethargic or casual mode…

>> He never allowed the “Chalta Hain Attitude” to conquer him.
>> He never let the “Chalta Hain Attitude” to control his life.

> He was pro-active.
>> He was courageous.
>>> He was bold.

Here is the challenge…
>> If this is what the Steward could do, to earn those things that are temporary, how much more should we be doing for those things that count for eternity?

>> If this is what the Steward could do, to please his boss & for a secure future life, should we not be doing much more, to please God?

Sometimes, it’s incredible to see the great efforts undertaken by people to gain expertise and mastery in the skills of the world…

>> Sportspersons slug it hard and exercise and practise for many many hours to become adept in their sporting skills…

>> Singers and musicians put in many many continuous hours of practise and performance to gain proficiency in their fields…

>> Students preparing for competitive exams spend nights & days into varied studies & preparatory techniques to crack the tests…

Do we put that same kind of love, energy and creativity into building up the Church, the Kingdom of God and into the things that are to serve God?

We can’t afford to get lethargic in matters related to God, to eternal life, to spirituality etc.

However, most of the times, this is our attitude….”Chalta Hain…”

>> Chalta Hain…when we skip a prayer time or two… (We are tired!)

>> Chalta Hain…when we fail to read sometime of Word of God…(There are so many other works!)

>> Chalta Hain… when we skip a Sunday Holy Eucharist…(It’s the only day I get to relax more!)

>> Chalta Hain…when we fail to go for confessions… (God will understand me!)

>> Chalta Hain…when we don’t care much about our spiritual life…(God is after all, lenient and nice!)

The Parable of the Shrewd Steward has some negative shades…
>> But still it has a very powerful and challenging tone to shake us off from our “Chalta Hain Attitude” to Life.

Let us have a deeper conviction about our faith and the importance of serving God, so that we would put as much heart and soul into our faith as we do into the many other things that we do!

Its time to say ta-ta, bye-bye to the listless and slothful “Chalta Hain Attitude” in life!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

One of the fast grown trends in many restaurants is the Buffet System.

A buffet is a system of serving meals in which food is placed in a public area where the diners generally serve themselves.
Buffet restaurants typically offer all-you-can-eat food for a set price.

Buffets make it possible to choose the item one likes, in the quantity one likes and to serve in the style or combination that one likes.

In our modern society, such a Buffet System, is however, extended beyond the taste buds..
>> The trend, today, is also to have a Buffet Style for our Souls!

Spirituality and religion is also, today, under the great influence of being enclosed in a buffet system!

Too often religious aspects, spirituality, the Church and our Christian Faith are treated like a big buffet.

We take as much of what we like and want, but leave behind what we do not like.

We skip off what’s too hard to swallow, what we disagree with, or what does not fit our personal opinions and beliefs.

The Gospel of the Day, however, warns against opting such a “Pick-n-Choose” Buffet System in our Spiritual Life.

The Passage begins with the verse, “Great crowds were travelling with Jesus and He turned and addressed them…” (Lk 14:25)

Crowds gather where there is something new and exciting happening…

The crowds looked at Jesus as a great wonder-worker.
>> Jesus was the new buffet for them…
>> Jesus had a great variety in His menu…

> He offered healing for those in sicknesses and in distress…

> He offered exorcisms for those in bondage and captivity…

> He offered teaching to those lost in life and inspired a renewed zest for life…

He had…
… bread for the hungry
… wine for the saddened
… hope for the crushed ones
… freedom for the oppressed
… new vision for the wayward
… and new energy for the lifeless

>> Some followed Jesus for His mighty healing works…

>> Some for His power as a prophet and preacher…

>> Some for His bread-multiplying abilities and nature-arresting potentials…

>> Some for His power to arouse curiosity and generate excitement…

He had what they wanted.
>> And they gathered around, surrounded, and pressed on him.

But the Lord was clear in His intents…

>> He chose neither popularity nor quick fame nor cashed in on reputation and recognition…

>> He would not let the crowds to adopt a Buffet Spirituality in following Him.

>> He would make sure that the crowds realized that a such a spirituality would not win His approval.

And so, He clearly proclaims, “If anyone comes to me, without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14: 26-27)

Jesus wants a clear priority from the part of His followers.
>> He demands a radical choice for Him.

This choice would mean a love and a priority for Jesus, which goes beyond one’s blood kindred, one’s emotional relations,  one’s attachments to various entities and even one’s own very self!

We need to have a hard look into ourselves…

>> We sacrifice many years to study and gain education

>> We sacrifice many sleeps and many weekends to have a successful career

>> We sacrifice much time, money and energy to gain many skills and improve talents

>> We sacrifice desserts and tempting food to have a healthy and wholesome lifestyle

All these are great and important aspects of our life.

But what costs are willing to pay, to follow Jesus wholly?
>> What sacrifices are we willing to make, as the disciples of Jesus?

Very often, we are content with a Buffet Style of Spirituality…
… Serve ourselves a tiny measure of occasional petitions and time with God in our needs
… Serve ourselves a few morsels of forwarding some Bible verses and messages
… Serve ourselves a little bit of the Gospel values and teachings
… Serve ourselves a handful of prayers and devout practices

And we feel that our Life as a Christian is “pretty tasty” with this Buffet Serving.

The Lord, is perhaps telling us…”It is not enough!“

>> Unless you take a few more steps in self-renunciation, you can’t be my disciple.

>> Unless you seek to give the first priority to me in all aspects, you can’t be my disciple.

>> Unless you involve yourself more deeply into spiritual matters, you can’t be my disciple.

The Buffet Meal is more cheap, but a Buffet Spirituality will certainly deprive us in becoming His authentic disciples.

>> Let us cease the “pick-n-choose” method in our spirituality.

>> Let’s prioritize Jesus in all the dimensions of our life.

Let us give heed to the words of St Charles Borromeo, the saint of the Day: “If a tiny spark of God’s love already burns within you, do not expose it to the wind, for it may get blown out…!”
        
                                      
God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Excuses are the nails that are used to build the house of failure”

We often, run our lives, basing ourselves on many excuses and justifications…

>> Politicians sometimes make excuses for failure to undertake developmental works blaming their opposition parties.

>> Citizens sometimes make excuses for their inability towards nation-building by purely blaming the corruption among politicians.

>>  Motorists or car-drivers sometimes make some excuses and jump signals and violate traffic rules.

>> Traffic inspectors sometimes make some excuses and escape from duties and dump it on someone else.

>> Students sometimes make excuses for their poor performance by blaming the education system.

>> Teachers sometimes make excuses for their loopholes in work by blaming the students and parents for non co-operation.

Are we becoming a Generation of Excuse-givers?

The Gospel of the Day brings our attention to this grave and urgent issue that we need to tackle: The Issue of making Excuses for Escapism.

We have the Parable of the Great Wedding Feast in today’s Gospel.
“A man once gave a great feast and invited many guests” (Lk 14:16)

Here was a big and great feast being organized and invitations were sent out to many guests.

>> This was no simple feast.
>> This was no ordinary event.

It’s similar to someone today, being invited to a lavish and a grand party by the President of the Nation or some highly dignified person.

It was kind of a once-in-a -lifetime opportunity.
>> The people waited with eagerness to get such a chance.

In those days, it was the custom to send two invitations.

The first invitation was to tell everyone that the event was being planned.
Those were the days when Time was a lavish commodity.

Clocks were scarce and time management techniques were still unheard of.

The actual day and the actual time of the event were left open.

It would depend a lot on the preparation time for the killing of animals, their cleaning and cooking….getting all the vegetables and everything needed to get the meal ready.

And so there was a need for a second invitation…

The second invitation was to tell everyone that everything was ready and about to begin.
>> This second reminder was for to those who had been given the first invitation and had indicated that they would attend.

                                                                                                                                                                                                      
But the Gospel says, that when the second invitation was sent to the pre-invited guests, they began to make excuses!

Making excuses is nothing new!
It has existed right from the first days…

>> Adam and Eve made excuses before God in trying to hide the sin of disobedience.

>> Cain made excuses before God in trying to hide the sin of killing his brother Abel.

>> Moses gave excuses before God in trying to escape from the task being entrusted to him.

>> Jeremiah gave excuses before God that he was only a small boy to take up the responsibility

Those who were able to overcome the excuses, found true meaning and joy.
>>> But those who got stuck with their excuses, lost out on discovering greatness!

The guests who had been invited for the grand feast, gave silly excuses….

One said, “I have purchased a field and must go and examine it”…
>> Silly excuse, isn’t it?

Does anyone enter into land dealings without having seen it in prior?
>> And even if one has not, was it so urgent, so as to miss the grand feast?

Another said, “I have purchased five oxen and am on my way to evaluate them”…
>> Silly excuse, isn’t it?

Does anyone purchase land animals, without having examined them?
>> And even if one has not, was it so immediate a need, so as to skip the great feast?

Another said, “I have just married a woman, and I cannot come”…
>> Silly excuse, isn’t it?

Was the Jewish husband so henpecked and subjugated to the wife’s orders?
>> Or was this couple so much exclusive, that they failed to have any social contacts, so as to avoid the fine feast?

> Here was an invitation so grand.
>> Here was a generosity so lavish.
>>> Here was a preparation so extensive.

But unfortunately, it was responded with excuses which were baseless, childish, illogical and quite ridiculous!

We might sometimes laugh at those excuses made by the people.

But perhaps, we are also no different, or if not, worse.

We are in a trend of being a Generation of Excuse-givers….

>> We make excuses of physical tiredness, to avoid saying our personal prayers, our family prayers and being faithful to our spiritual activities.

>> We make excuses of  saying that “it’s impossible to live an honest life” and give into many corrupt malpractices, which go against the Gospel values.

>> We make excuses of being too busy to find time to participate in the Holy Eucharist with greater devotion and preparedness.

>> We make excuses to reach out to the needy ones in their necessities by citing our own hardships to get out of our comfort areas.

We have a strong exhortation from the Lord today, to get rid of our Excuse-giving Tendency.

It’s easy to escape from responsibilities by giving excuses.
>> But by doing so, we end up missing out on many graces from God…
… causing much pain to God who expects much from us…
… and also disturb the plan and purpose of God for our lives.

We have a duty to overcome this tendency of making Excuses for Escapism.

The Lord gives us many opportunities to grow in holiness and grace.
>> Let us not make silly and baseless excuses and throw them away.

God Bless! Live Jesus!