Month: December 2015

Dec 12 ( Mt 17:10-13)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS1 Comment

It was December in the year 1903.

After several attempts, the Wright brothers – achieved success in getting their “flying machine” off the land.

They were very much thrilled!

They telegraphed this message Katherine, their sister, informing her of the great invention:
“We have actually flown 120 feet! Will be home for Christmas”

The sister was also super-excited.

She rushed to the editor of the local newspaper, to share the great news and showed him the telegraph message.

The editor glanced at the message and said:
“How nice! So the boys will be home for Christmas!”

Oh! The Editor had completely missed the big news – that man had flown for the first time in history!!

How often is this our experience too in life – Missing the Important Points and settling for lower ones!

We fail to give attention to the most important things of life…
>> Instead, we get carried away by some other less priorities of life!

This is so true, especially with respect to the Word of God…
>> The Lord promises so many wonderful things in His Holy Word..
… but often, we miss the point.

Something similar had happened to the  people of Israel as well…

>> God had promised them of the coming of the Messiah…
… but they missed the point..
… and thus, failed to recognise the Saviour He came!

God had promised that Prophet Elijah of old would return…
… but they missed the point…
… and thus, failed to recognize the Prophet when he came!

This is what Jesus points out to His disciples in today’s Gospel, when He says:
“… I tell you, Elijah has already come and they did not recognise him; but did to him, whatever they pleased” (Mt 17: 12)

John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, had come, preaching the message of repentance and conversion of heart (Mt 3:1)

The Gospel says that John the Baptist…
… wore a clothing made of camel’s hair
… had a leather belt around his waist
… had food of locusts and wild honey (Mt 4: 4)

This appearance was very similar to that of Elijah, the Prophet  (2 Kings 1:8)

But in their encounter with John the Baptist, the people failed to recognise him as the “Elijah who was to come”

And thus John the Baptist came to be …
… rejected
… derided
… finally killed!

Many times in our life, we too “miss the point” in our encounter with the Lord…
>> He gives His Beautiful Word to us…
… but we fail to be encouraged by It and live by It

>> He makes many wonderful promises of assurance and guidance…
…  but we fail to live a life of trust and confidence

>> He offers Himself wonderfully in the Sacraments, especially Confession and Holy Eucharist…
… but we fail to derive the necessary fruits from Them

Today, the Gospel invites us, to look at God’s Promises, God’s Word’s and God’s Will…
… and discover the true purpose of it in our lives.

This is more true as we prepare for Christmas….
Jesus is the BIG POINT of the Christmas
>> Let us dare not “miss Him”!

May we prepare our hearts to receive His Word as He wishes, in our life…
… and seek to live, in total accord with Him!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dec 11 (Mt 11:16-19)

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Children are an interesting lot!

They love to play, to quarrel, to engage in arguments, to tease, to show love and affection etc…

Children indeed amaze us…with their simplicity, innocence, curiosity and their power of wonder.

Jesus in the Gospels time and again invites us to grow in our spirit and spirituality of being like a Child!

The famous artist, Picasso, once said:
“All children are artists.
The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”

>> Many of us, as we age in years, tend to lose many of the good qualities and merits of a child.
>> Many of us, as we mature, tend to fritter away the precious pearls of simplicity and openness of a child
>> Many of us, as we advance in life, tend to paint our inner innocence with many external shades of duplicity.

But the Gospel of the Day shows us another dimension or rather, warns of a distortion in this striving to be a child…

One can easily stray away from the path of being child-like and transgress into the danger of being Childish!

Child-likeness is a beautiful virtue which is to be cultivated and nurtured to grow in our love of God!
>> Childishness is an ugly vice which is to be weeded and cast away to grow in our relationship with God!

What is child-likeness?

>> To be like a child is to possess a kitty of trust, faith, innocence and straightforwardness.
>> To be like a child is living in the present moment with a deep sense of wonder and admiration over life.
>> To be like a child is to have a faith which is matchless and a great amount of dependence on the One who cares!

But what is childishness?

>> Childishness is a child-like behaviour which has grown sore and strays away from honest qualities of life.

>> Childishness is having selfishness at its core: a vice that wants the world around to always dance to its tune!

>> Childishness is sticking on to ignorance and unwillingness to learn from people and situations!

>> Childishness is being glued to being stubborn and adamant at all aspects to suit one’s desires and comforts!

>> Childishness is being unmindful of the value and preciousness of people, things, feelings and situations.

This danger of Childishness can sometimes creep into our spiritual life and can hamper and cause havoc in many areas of our Christian life.

How can childishness in spirituality become a dangerous ploy?

Childishness in spirituality…
…  can make people to suit teachings for one’s own desire, at the cost of the Truth.

… can prevent people from being open to receive new insights from the Divine.

… can cause people to remain obstinate and block the moving of the Spirit.

… can prohibit people from recognizing the providential care of God.  

And this is what we come across in today’s Gospel Passage: the exposition of the Childishness of the people!

Our Blessed Lord says:
“To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children…” (Mt 11:16)

Two persons who had committed themselves totally to the cause of the Kingdom are under the scanner today – John the Baptist and Jesus.

>> John the Baptist lived in the wilderness and in preparation for the arrival of the Messiah.
>> John did not drink wine, and he and his followers fasted regularly.  He baptized people in the Jordan River.

But John also preached repentance and gave a clarion call to turn away from one sins!
> And this irked the people…

The elders of the Jewish community dreaded him because he recognized the corruption of the priests, and publicly called them to repent and be baptized.

They refused, because they wanted to keep their power, their wealth, their full stomachs and their fine clothing!

>> Jesus went around the cities and towns healing the sick and curing the lepers and doing many mighty works.
>> Jesus shared in the table-fellowship of many people regularly. Jesus preached the Kingdom of God.

But Jesus also challenged people to let go off their sinful and corrupt lives and turn to God in penitence!
> And this annoyed the leaders…

The Pharisees hated him because he preached with much authority and his new understanding of the law was highly challenging!

They rejected Him, because they wanted to stick to their traditions, empty hearts and their inhuman practices!

Jesus and John both would have hit high on the popularity charts if they had “lightened up” or “played nice” or “would have allowed things to be little more easy”!

But both of Them did not budge…

This is what Jesus says:
“We played the flute for you, you did not dance;
We mourned to you, you did not weep.” (Mt 11: 17)

This reaction by the people to Them was a song of derision… a tune of mockery…a melody of ridicule!

>> John the Baptist and Jesus, both, failed to let this Spiritual Childishness to overpower Them and to give in to silly demands!

We all can fall victims to spiritual childishness or we ourselves can fall into the trap of being spiritually childish!

Let us beware of the dangers of this ‘subtle and sly’ vice – CHILDISHNESS …
… and seek the grace of God to make efforts to rather be CHILD-LIKE in the Presence of God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dec 10 ( Mt 11:11-15)

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There is an interesting legend of how a mother was cleaning the house in preparation for Christmas.

Not a speck of dust was left and even all the spiders were banished from their cozy homes in the ceiling.

It was Christmas eve and the Christmas Tree and the Crib was also decorated.

But, at the farthest end of the attic, the spiders, after having been chased away and taken refuge in that corner, were feeling miserable.
>> They too wished to see the Christmas Tree and especially have an encounter with Baby Jesus.
>> But they were afraid, since the mother of the house would chase them away.

The oldest spider among them, however came up with a proposal, that they could perhaps peep across the side door and have a glimpse of Baby Jesus.

So, the spiders, silently crept out of the attic, down the stairs, across the floor and waited in the crack in the side door.

But suddenly the door opened was opened by someone, and the spiders, in fear, ran to the room.

But all them still desired to see the Christmas Tree from close.

>> So they decided to make a bold attempt…
… They quietly crept over the whole Christmas tree.. over every branch and twig, till their desire to see its beauty was fulfilled.

But to their dismay, each of them had left their webs behind.

When Child Jesus saw the Christmas Tree marred by the spider webs, He was in a dilemma.

On one side, he was impressed by the simple desire of the spiders..
… on the other side, he did not want the mother of the house to be offended.

So He touched the spider webs, and they all turned to sparkling and shimmering, silver and gold!

(This is probably the origin of hanging colourful tinsels on our Christmas Trees, and sometimes even including a spider!)

One of the important dimension seen in this legendary story is the intense desire of the spiders and their willingness to take the chance, be bold in their attempts and even be ready to risk their lives to have their Divine longing fulfilled.

Such is to be the readiness of every Christian…
>> Having an intense desire
>> Being willing to take chances
>> Being bold
>> Ready to even risk their lives
…  in defence of faith and in growing to be a Disciple – in the likeness of Christ.

This is reflected in the words that Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent are taking it by force” (Mt 11: 12)

This verse is one of the most mysterious and thought-provoking in the entire Bible.

What was this violence that Jesus was referring to?

The Greek word for the word “violence” is “biazo”.

This word “biazo” is described as “using power to forcibly seize” i.e. “laying hold of something with a positive aggressiveness”.

In the context of the Kingdom of God, it refers to the fact that ” share in the heavenly kingdom is sought for, with the most ardent zeal and the most intent exertion”.

>> Historically, the “violence” refers to the manner in which the Kingdom was rejected by the Jews – the chosen race, and the Gentiles gained access.

>> In our own times, the “violence” refers to the manner in which the entry to the Kingdom causes the people to suffer, undergo hardships and even bear hostility.

That’s why Jesus would say in the Sermon of the Mount, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs” (Mt 5: 10)

St Ambrose beautifully describes the meaning of this violence:
“We do violence to the Lord…
> not by compelling Him but by weeping before Him
> not by provoking by injuries, but by entreating with tears
> not by blaspheming through pride, but by sorrowing through humility.

We attack him, not with swords, nor staves, nor stones…
…  but with meekness, good works, chastity.

These are the weapons of our faith, by which we strive in our contest.

But in order that we may be able to make use of these arms in doing violence…
>> let us first use a certain violence to our own bodies
>> let us carry by storm the vices of our members
… that we may obtain the rewards of valour.

For to seize the Saviour’s kingdom we must first reign in ourselves”

St Francis de Sales speaks of a similar “violence” when, filled with a deep zeal to conquer back Geneva from the clutches of Protestantism, he says:
“We will breach the walls of Geneva with our ardent prayers and storm the city with mutual charity” 

This then is the zeal and the passion – the fire – that we need to carry in our hearts…
>> A powerful zeal that makes no compromise in the values of the Kingdom…
… and makes it willing to suffer any hardship or difficulty for the sake of the Lord!

>> An aggressive passion that is willing to let go of any attachment or sinful desire…
… that comes in the way of being worthy of the Kingdom!

>> A blazing fire that rages across every wicked and evil action…
… and seeks to restore holiness and sanctity of life!

Yes, Christian Life is a warfare…
… against the forces of evil
… against our own worldly desires

That is why the Church on earth who are living – who struggle against sin and devil and…”the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph 6:12) is called as the “Church Militant” (“Ecclesia Militans”)

May our Blessed Lord ignite our “often tired, dreary and weary” lives with a blazing passion and a fiery enthusiasm, so that we may energetically prepare for His coming into our lives!

The Lord will surely bless our every attempt and every desire to seek Him
We will have to leave behind…
… our webs of vain desires
… our webs of sinful pleasures
… our webs of undue attachments

But our Master will touch all those webs and turn them to sparkling and shimmering blessings and graces!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dec 9 ( Mt 11:28-30)

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Many of us would have come across the acronym “RSVP” in Invitations for marriage, baptism, birthdays, wedding anniversaries or some other social events.

>> RSVP stands for  Répondez S’il Vous Plaît ( in French) which is translated as
Reply, If you please!

The purpose of this RSVP is that the person sending the invitation, wo¬uld like you to tell him or her, whether you accept or decline the invitation.

Today, Jesus, the King of all Hearts, presents a thrilling  and a pleasant invitation…”Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden…”(Mt 11:28)

Every invitation is to contain “By Whom”, “To Whom”, “What” and a “When”!

Lets analyse these aspects in the Invitation of the Lord

By Whom is the invitation:
Jesus came into the world, primarily as a Saviour!

>> He’s in deep love with us!
“…You are precious in my eyes…and I love You!” (Is 43:4).

As a Beloved Lover, it is He who tugs at the strings of our hearts & beckons us to Himself.

To Whom is the invitation:
He extends His cordial and warmest invitation to each one of us who is weary and heavy-burdened….personally!

The Greek word for Weary is Kopiao…which means to toil & become weary to the point of exhaustion! .

>> Weary could refer to the internal exhaustion caused by seeking Divine Truth through mere Human Wisdom.
>> Heavy Laden could be the external burdens caused by futile peripheral efforts & works to seek the Divinity. 

Many of us certainly, reach the point of exhaustion and fatigue in our everyday works and life and in our search for salvation.

Yes, You and I, each one of us, is today, an honoured and a privileged Invitee!
“Behold, I stand at the door and Knock!” (Rev 3:20).

What is the invitation:
To rest in His Sacred Heart & to Learn from Him Gentleness and Humility.

A haughty heart robs the person of spiritual insights…
Pride renders a person to look only to oneself; the gaze on the Lord is considered meaningless.

This is where the Pharisaic Mentality went wrong. They saw legalism as the vehicle to heaven. They lost sight of God’s desire for the heart.

>>They glorified the Law of Moses, but failed to see the Glorious God of the Law!

The Kingdom belongs to the Gentle and Humble…and that’s what Jesus invites us to learn!

When is the invitation:

“Why delay good things in life?”
The Yoke of the Lord is easy.. because it is HE who takes up the burden…
… we are only sharers in His Divine Yoke!

He gives us a yoke which is made to fit our needs and abilities perfectly well!

And the Time is NOW!

The Invitation is already posted and the Master is waiting!
What is our Response….
RSVP…. Répondez S’il Vous Plaît?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dec 8 (Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Blessed Mother Mary)

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A legend goes thus…

There was once a great debate in heaven as to who was the Greatest Monument of the Grace of God.

Each of the redeemed, began to speak of their experience with the Grace of God.

Each one told of their story of life…
>> how they were so steeped in sin
>> how they had immersed themselves in wickedness
… and how the Grace of God had rescued and redeemed them!

Many of them also spoke of how, at their deathbed, a conversion had happened and it was purely the bountiful Grace of God that had saved them.

But just before voting was conducted, another of the redeemed stepped forward to tell of his story…

He had come to know of the love of Christ as a child
… He had followed it all the days of his life
… By His grace, He had also sought to keep away from sins and transgressions.

Then the vote was taken.

The result declared that it was not the thief or the cheater or the blasphemer or the murderer…
… but the man who had followed Christ, all his days.

The one who had sought to remain faithful to God all his life, was considered as the Greatest Monument of the Grace of God.

Well, this is just an imaginary legend.

But it also tells an important message:
Being Faithful to the Mercy of God, all the days of one’s life, is to be considered as belonging to a high degree of holiness and grace.

And Who else
but the Mother of God – Mamma Mary – deserves this title of being “the Greatest Monument of the Grace of God?!”

Today, we celebrate the Solemn Feast of the beginning of the faithful life of the Most Beautiful and Loved Creation of God: The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother.

Sin is part of every human life.

St Paul testifies to this fact when he says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23)

By themselves, human beings are incapable of freeing themselves from sin.

Therefore…
… Everyone needs a Saviour
… Everyone needs a Redeemer

But God, in His infinite wisdom had thought of the most excellent way of redeeming humanity.
>> Salvation was to be accomplished not through any magical power
>> Salvation was to be brought about not through some superhuman force

Rather, the salvation of humanity was to be won by a Human Himself – the most perfect Human.

>> This perfect Human deserved and required the most sinless of all wombs for being born
>> This perfect Human demanded and necessitated the most immaculate of all lives to be nurtured

Thus, God in His perfect wisdom, applied the Grace of Redemption and Salvation to the One He had chosen – Mary of Nazareth.

Therefore…
>> Mary is the first recipient of the Redemption of Christ!
>> Mary is the first fruit of the Salvation, won by Christ!

This is the story of the Immaculate Conception of Mother Mary.

The Holy Scripture testifies to this Immaculate nature of our Blessed Mother through the words of Angel Gabriel to Her, “Hail, FULL of Grace!” (Lk 1:28)

Thus, the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother points to Her sinlessness, Her being full of Grace, Her perfection in holiness and Her absolute adherence to the Will of God.

But, hey.. wait a moment….!

>> Are not all these things pointing to Mary simply being somebody “too-special” and almost like she being “supernatural”?
>> Are not all these things telling us that Mary was simply just “not like us” and we can never ever achieve or even aspire to be what She was?

Well… Undoubtedly, Mary lived a life that was “too-special” and a life that  was “supernatural” in holiness.

But we need to bring to our mind a very vital aspect….

Though the birth of being sinless, was a gift granted to Her…
… the fact of remaining sinless all through Her life, was Her choice!

Though the birth of being full of grace, was a gift bestowed on Her…
.. the fact of remaining always in the Grace of God, was Her choice!

Though the birth of being perfect in holiness, was a gift endowed on Her…
… the fact of remaining holy, was Her choice!

Though the birth of being absolutely adherent to the Will of God, was a gift approved to Her…
… the fact of remaining obedient to His Will, was Her choice!

Like any other human person, She too…
…  went through the crises of life
… faced humiliation and rejection in life
… had to face the rock of uncertainty and doubts of life

But, it was Her radical choice for God and Her absolute preference to the Will of God, that made Her to remain Immaculate all through Her Life.

“Yes, Lord… Thy Will be done” (Lk 1:38) was a chorus that She sang in all the moments of life!

Today, on this Feast day, this our Blessed Mother invites and exhorts us, also…
… to make a choice for God, always, and lead a sinless life
… to always opt for God alone, at all times, and being immaculate in life
… to unswervingly be faithful to God’s Will, and thus seek to be perfect in life

The challenge is great… the efforts required are radical.
But we are not left alone in this “pursuit of holiness” (1 Cor 9:24)

Our Blessed Mamma – the Beautiful Lady in blue and white – grace in holiness and immaculate in love – holds our hands and tells us:
“My Little Child, I am with you!
I love you, and together, we shall walk in this exciting path of Holiness…
… towards My Son and Your Brother…
… towards Our Saviour Jesus!”

Yes, may we give heed to the loving call of our Blessed Mother – the Greatest Monument of the Grace of God – and be fervent and zealous to lead a holier life, pleasing to God!

Happy Feast of our Immaculate Mamma!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dec 7 (Lk 5:17-26)

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A young man went up from his home in the countryside to the city to join the University for a degree.

As a resident student, he had his own room in the hostel.

After he had settled in, his Mother, a godly, devoted Christian, decided to pay him a visit.

•      She was delighted to see the campus and felt good with the ambience.
•      She was also happy that her son was taking a keen interest in his studies.

However, when she went to his room, she was greatly shocked.

The kind of pictures that he had fixed to the walls of his room in the hostel made the mother feel embarrassed!

They were portraits of semi-dressed artistes, film stars, and suggested much that was sensual, and unbecoming a young man who had been devoutly trained at home, as he had.

The mother said not a word.

Instead of expressing her displeasure, she went home.

The following day, sent across a framed picture of the Divine Mercy of Jesus, with the request that he would hang it in his room.

A few weeks later she visited again him.

This time, however all the other pictures in the room were gone…
Only the picture of the Divine Mercy was there!

When she asked him about it, he replied, ‘You see, mother, I could not have those pictures along-side this Sacred picture. They would be out of place!’

Evil cannot exist beside the Sacred!
>> Where there is the presence of Holiness, evil finds itself disturbed and distances itself!

But human life often finds itself engaged and engrossed with evil things…
>> The pull to be bad constantly lurks in human minds…
>> The urge to be sinful often prowls in human hearts…

The Gospel of the Day is an exposition of this evil side of life that often endangers human hearts, and pops its head up, especially when encountered by goodness and holiness.

The Gospel is the healing of the paralytic, when Jesus comes into His own town.

Seeing the paralytic being brought on the stretcher, and admiring their faith, Jesus had said, “Courage child, your sins are forgiven” (Lk 5:20)

However, some of the scribes got irked hearing these words and said, “Who is this who speaks blasphemy?” (Lk 5:21)

But Jesus, who knows the hearts of people…. who reads the thoughts of all.. said:
“What are you thinking in your hearts?” (Lk 5: 22)

In the Gospel of Matthew, we read the parallel verse, in the following way:
“Why do you think evil in your hearts?” (Mt 9: 4)

Another translation of this verse would read:
“Why do you harbour evil in your hearts?”

“Harbour” is a place on the coast, where ships may moor in shelter, especially one protected from rough water by piers, jetties, and other artificial structures.
•      It is also to keep a thought or feeling, (typically a negative one) in one’s mind, especially secretly

The Lord exposes the evil intention of the Scribes in questioning His action of cleansing the paralytic.

For the paralytic, it was a great moment…
… of being cleansed from sin, and being restored to holiness
… of having a very personal encounter of the Saviour and receiving wholeness

It was a sacred time…a holy instant!

But where there is the presence of Holiness, evil finds itself disturbed and distances itself!
>> Evil cannot exist beside the Sacred!

Therefore, when the paralytic was encountering goodness and holiness, the evil side in the scribes popped its head up, and questioned and quizzed our Blessed Lord.

The same question that Jesus asked the scribes is now thrown to us:
“What are you thinking in your hearts?” or “Why do you think evil in your hearts?”  or “Why do you harbour evil in your hearts?”

•      Am I a person who is unable to tolerate the good things happening in other people’s life?
•      Am I someone who gets irked and irritated when the other person prospers in happiness?

We sometimes adorn the walls of our hearts with many filthy stuff -uncharitable thoughts, indecent words and jokes, hurtful views of people or crude perspectives of situations.

The Lord feels hurt and sad by this our “harbouring of evil in our hearts”

Are we ready to throw of all those unbecoming stuff from our hearts, and place the Divine Mercy of the Lord, enthroned in our hearts?

May we seek the intercession of St Ambrose, whose feast we celebrate.
>> This Saintly and Courageous Bishop of Milan had become instrumental in the conversion of St Augustine, who had been deeply influenced and touched by the latter’s spirited preaching.

>> May His words help us to reflect deeper and give ourselves, more and more, to the Lord:
“By Christ’s Passion our weakness was cured.
By His Resurrection death was conquered.
Still we have to be sorrowful for the world, as well as joyful in the Lord – sorrowful in penance, joyful in gratitude”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dec 6 (Lk 3:1-6)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS2 Comments

St John Maria Vianney is the patron saint of priests.

As a model priest, he made it a point to help all the needy in his parish or in the region around him.

Once, word was sent to him that a very sick man of his parish was seeking to make confession.
>> However, this man was pretty far off from the place where the church was.

It was a time when vehicles were too sparse.
>> The climate was bitter cold and the rain storm was blowing in.

But the zeal in the heart of the Saintly Priest was still greater.

So, he picked up his cloak and started his walk to the sick man’s house.
>> The freezing cold pierced through his frail bones
>> The lashing winds wrenched his body in frosty pain

Yet, St John Vianney trekked on…

Finally he reached the house of the sick man.

By the time he arrived, St Vianney himself was shivering and wobbly with high fever.
.>> He fell so ill, that he had to hear the confession, lying down, beside the sick man’s bed.

Many in fact, even thought, that the priest was more sick than the penitent ill-man!

The determination and the willingness of the Saintly Priest made sure that the sick man would experience God’s immense mercy and forgiving love.

The Season of Advent is a time of preparation of this abundant mercy and forgiving love, that our Blessed Lord displays at Christmas.

The Lord is willing to brave any odds to extend His mercy and love to us…
… are we ready to receive it?
… do we prepare ourselves to accept it?

The Gospel of the Day reminds and exhorts us to become aware of this aspect: making a true preparation to realise and receive a God, who wants to be intimately involved in our lives.

The Gospel of the Day begins with the mention of a series of names: political and religious leaders, which formed the context of the birth of Christ.

” In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas…” (Lk 3: 1-2)

What do these names of the political and religious figures point to?

1. It shows extent of the religious decay of the Israelites.
>> The Chosen People, who were to have God alone as their King and Ruler, are now ruled by pagan and foreign rulers
>> The Chosen People, who were to have God’s selected persons as Priests and Religious, are now guided by people who had been illegally appointed by the Roman Government

What do we learn?
>> When we fail to listen to God’s commandments and adamantly choose the path of sin, we are bringing upon the wrath of God’s justice on us
>> When we do not give heed to what God wants of us in our lives, we give the governing authority in our lives to Satan and his party, and thus give in to misery and slavery.

2. It also shows that Jesus is not any abstract entity, but One Who was part of our real, historical world
>> The mention of the religious and the political leaders is a clear proof offered by St Luke that Jesus truly, came in flesh and blood, in our history.
>> He is unlike any other godly figure whose historicity can be questioned. He, the God of History, chose to be born, live and be part of our real world – the world we live in.

What do we learn?
>> Jesus, as a historical person means that He can identify with our real problems and difficulties of life. In Him, there is truly Someone who understands us and has experienced what we ourselves undergo in life
>> Jesus, shows that God is not some philosophical abstract or a “creation of the mind” or some utopian idea; rather, Jesus is a God, Who became Emmanuel (= With us, God)

To welcome the birth of this God who wishes to involve in our lives, the messenger, John the Baptist, is sent ahead of Him.

The Gospel says, “John the Baptist went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a Baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Lk 3: 3)

He also echoed what Isaiah the prophet had spoken, “Every valley shall be filled and every mount and hill made low” (Lk 3:5 & Is 40: 3-5)

Thus, we see, the message of John the Baptist can be shortly summarised into a short refrain: Repair and Prepare!

This then, ought to be a message that we carry for our lives…
… as we are exhorted to make ready a place for the Birth of the God, Who wants to be intimately involved in our lives – Repairing and Preparing!

>> Repair….the dark areas of our life, where sin and evil reigns…
… and Prepare… a place, where holiness and God’s sanctity can dwell!

>> Repair… the broken relationships which suffer for lack of forgiveness…
… and Prepare… a heart, which accepts the failures of people and gives them more space!

>> Repair… the bad inclinations and addictions, to which we cling on and find it hard to let go…
… and Prepare… a mind, which is focussed on having Jesus alone as the Lord of one’s life!

Yes, the Lord wishes to come to us.. with His comforting presence and His forgiving love.
>> All that He wishes is that, we be ready to receive Him worthily.

He braves much difficulties… He humbles Himself immensely…
>> Are we ready to bow and accept this magnanimous love of the Divine?

As the hymns goes, “Great things happen, when God mixes with us…”
… Let us Repair & Prepare our lives, so that “God can mix in our lives” and we can truly experience His Greatness in our lives!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dec 5 ( Mt 9:35 – 10:1, 5-8)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS1 Comment

REFLECTION CAPSULE FOR THE DAY
( Based on Mt 9: 35 – 10:1, 5-8)

One of the exciting things in life, which many of us have gone through, is learning a bicycle.

These days, bicycles come with a special set of training wheels that are attached to the back wheels.
>> The two little wheels attached to the back wheel are there to help provide balance and confidence to the rider.

But many of us, would have also learnt the bicycle in the old-fashioned way…the parent or a friend who ran alongside the one learning, until the rider got under way.

This person, who would be accompanying, would most often say three things, while learning this art of cycling…

1. Always keep the eye on the road…
…to keep the focus

2. Don’t lean to the left or the right side…
… to have proper balance

3. Remember, I am always there with you…
… to feel the confidence and trust

These three principles would help the person to learn quick this art of cycling.

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus sending out the Twelve…to learn the Art of Mission…

Like the art of cycling…the Apostles are also given some basic principles…
…the principle to keep focus
… the principle to have a proper balance
… the principle of confidence and trust

The ministry of Jesus had gained a lot of popularity.
>> There were crowds of people following Him…
>> There were multitudes of persons attracted to Him…

The Heart of the Lord is moved in empathy for these people.
>> The Gospel says, “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Mt 9:36)

The ministry of Jesus had also gained a lot of opposition.
> Many of the religious leaders were greatly taken aback by the raw authoritative power of Jesus
> Many of the Scribes and Pharisees were greatly offended by the blunt and open challenges by Jesus
> Many of the local and family people were greatly scandalized by the boldness and courage of Jesus

But as the saying goes… “Challenges are what makes life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful!”

Though opposition and challenges were raging hard against the ministry of Jesus…
… He remained courageous and determined.

And so, He chose the Twelve…
… who would be with Him and to be sent out (Mk 3:14)

The Twelve were to be His extension – of His Teachings, of His Works

And so, He not only chooses the Twelve…but He also sends them on a mission

A mission…
…with an authority over unclean spirits
…to proclaim the Kingdom of God
… to preach repentance and peace

In this art of mission, the Lord gives a few instructions and principles…
… and “also gave authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness” (Mt 10:1)

The Twelve were to learn…
… to keep focus on the preaching of repentance and bringing healing to people
… to have a proper balance by not getting discouraged in the face of any sort of rejection
…  to have confidence and trust in the Lord Who was with them to provide what they needed

Each of us, by virtue of our following Christ, is a missionary…

>> Am I focussing on preaching only His Gospel and living only His life….
…or do I get distracted with other agenda and motives?

>> Am I having the proper balance in living the Christian life even though I face many pressures…
…or do I lose the balance and fall into the pits of lethargy, disappointments and laxity?

>> Am I having the confidence and the trust in the Lord and bank on Him at every turn of life…
… or do I experience perplexities of anxiety, despair and despondency?

The art of missions is exciting.
>> We may feel a little afraid at times…
>> We may sometimes even fall..

But we only need to follow some of the basic principles, coupled with His Grace…
… to be focussed on the Lord alone
… to be balanced in prayer and faithfulness
… to be trusting and being confident in His awesome power

And when we embark on this art of mission…
…Just like a caring parent, who is happy to see one’s child cycling confidently…
…our Heavenly Father will also look at us with much happiness and joy and be proud of us!

Are we ready to cycle our way, with our Heavenly Father, in this exciting art of Mission?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dec 4 (Mt 9:27-31)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

A little child, during a forest expedition, was asked by his father to get across a letter urgently to the village.

The father pointed over a trail, over which the boy had never gone.

“But Father” protested the child, “I have never been through this way.
I do not even see the path that will reach our village.
Will it be reasonable for me to travel along this path? ”

“Do you see the trail” replied the father, “as far as that big tree down there?”

The boy replied, “Oh, yes, I do see that far”

“Well” continued the father, “when you get there by the tree, you will see the trail a little further ahead; and so on, until you get within sight of the houses of our village.

Just have faith in me and obey my words!”

This is the journey of our Christian life…
… where the element of faith has to take over the aspect of seeing!
… where the element of obedience has to take over the aspect of rationality!

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful exposition into these insights, which are highly essential for our life as a Disciple of Christ and a Missionary of His Kingdom.

The Gospel passage under consideration is the healing of the two blind men in the Gospel of St Matthew (Mt 9: 27-31)

One of the strange aspects that we could notice in this incident is what happens after the healing has taken place.

St Matthew says that, after their eyes were opened, “Jesus sternly charged them, ‘See that no one knows it'” (Mt 9:30)
>> He forbids the two men from making his fame known to others.

The Greek word that is used here for “sternly charged” is very interesting and revealing.

St Mathew uses the word, “embrimaomai”.
>> “Embri-mao-mai” literally means to snort with anger/displeasure(like a horse)!

In other words, Jesus “roared with rage” when He ordered the men to not proclaim about Him.

Why did Jesus adopt such an “angry stance”?

The Jewish people were longing for a Messiah who would save them from the pagan Roman Rulers.
>> Their understanding of the Messiah was purely from a temporal perspective – a prince who would wage a war and destroy the Roman enemies

If it was known outside that the Messiah, the much-awaited King had arrived, many Jews would undoubtedly seek to enthrone Him.
>> They would make efforts to usher in a physical kingdom with a violent expulsion of the Roman rulers!

We see such a tendency on many occasions in the Gospels, but more explicitly after the multiplication of the loaves in the Gospel of St John…

>> “Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry Him off to make Him King, He withdrew to the mountain alone” (Jn 6:15)

But, such a move would have jeopardized the Mission of the Lord!

>> He came not to be a king as any other king…
… rather He, the King of kings, came to reign over the hearts and lives of people!

>> He came not to be someone who would merely rescue from material oppression…
…rather, He came to be the Saviour who would free the world from sin and every bondage!

It is also to be seen that the two blind men addressed Jesus as “the Son of David” (Mt 9:27b)
>> This was the first time, in the Gospel of St Matthew, that Jesus was proclaimed by someone as “Son of David”

“Son of David” clearly pointed that Jesus was the Messiah.
>> The two blind men were confessing that Jesus is the Messiah!

Therefore, if the two men, excited and overjoyed as they were, with their miraculous healing, had gone around proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah…
… there was a grave danger, that the people would be instigated to a rebellion against the Romans

(Such an explanation is also supported by the fact that while healing or performing wonders among the Gentiles, Jesus did not forbid them.
>> The Gentiles, unlike the Jews, did not have any Messianic expectation as such.

For eg: After healing the Gerasene demoniac, Jesus tells him, “Go home to your family and announce to them, all that the Lord in His pity has done for you” –  Mk 5:19)

There is also another point of consideration…

Jesus was the Perfect Physician.

He knew that the blind, when healed, cannot be exposed to the light, all on a sudden.
>> The exposure to the Light has to be gradual.

Jesus, the doctor-par-excellance and the Light of the World (Jn 9:5) knew, that there was great danger, if these spiritually blind would try to immediately go and spread about their experience with the Light
>> The Light would only end up harming them and also those to whom they preached!

And therefore, “Jesus sternly charged them, ‘See that no one knows it'” (Mt 9:30)

What do these things entail for us?

A very important principle as Missionary of Christ and His Kingdom is implied here:
>> “Go only when we are sent to and to whom we are sent to”

This is one of the important basics of any publicly ministry of the Kingdom!

We need to know and realize…
>> The Mission belongs not to me…the Mission belongs to the Lord
>> The works and ministry are not my initiatives…they are solely entrusted to me by the Lord

It is His Work… It is His Ministry… it is His Mission!
>> We are to be His active instruments… We are to be His lively tools… We are to be His dynamic channels!

This realization is highly essential for an effective and faithful Missionary life.

Such a realization, therefore,  directly implies the necessity of Faith and Obedience!

Yes, our life as a missionary ought to be one..
… where the element of faith has to take over the aspect of seeing!
… where the element of obedience has to take over the aspect of rationality!

May our Blessed Lord touch and open our eyes, to “see the trail” that is on ahead of us, in our journey of faith…
… and may hearken to His Words, “Just have Faith in Me and Obey My words!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dec 3 ( Lk 10:1-16 & Feast of St Francis Xavier)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

A story is told of a blind boy who was flying a kite.

He enjoyed this pastime along with others of his own age.

A passer-by, knowing him and wanting to mildly tease the blind-fellow, said:
‘Hey, boy! Do you know where is your kite?
You don’t know whether it is on the ground or up in the sky, do you?’

‘Oh yes,’ said the blind lad, ‘I do know! It is now quite a fair height up in the air.’

How do you know that?’ asked the passer-by, ‘you surely can’t see it.’

The boy replied, ‘I can’t see it, it is true, but I can feel the tug of the string!’

The ‘tug’ of the string help the boy to realise the presence of the kite and to sense its height in the air!

The awareness of the presence of the Divine power in our lives, is such…
>> One may not be able to always see the presence of the Divine, but the believer can surely experience its power and strength!

This experience of “the Divine tug of the string” keeps the life of the believer moving forward and helps to depend on the Divine Presence for strength in life.

The Gospel of the Day is an invitation by Jesus to grow deeper in this “awareness and dependence” on Jesus in our life as a missionary of the Kingdom of God.

After having summoned and authorized  the disciples, Jesus sends them ahead of Him, to the places of mission.

In the Gospel of Matthew, the same passage beings with the statement, “Preach, as you go…” (Mt 10:7)

Some other translations would read as “As you go, make a proclamation…”

This is such wonderfully practical, and yet at the same time, a phrase that is often overlooked: “Preach, as you go….” / “As you go… make a proclamation”

Preaching or Proclamation in our times, is often picturised with a limited understanding.

Preaching or proclamation is often understood as that which takes place…
… only from the pulpit or during a service in Church
… only in the form of speaking and explaining the Word of God

But the words of the Lord are worth noting:
“Preach, as you go….” / “As you go… make a proclamation”

•      Preach, as you go about doing your daily duties and activities
>> As you go about your responsibilities and works, make a proclamation

•      Preach as you go around meeting different people by sharing His love and joy to all
>>  As you go about engaging in numerous actions, make a proclamation by sharing His presence

The act of preaching and proclamation of the Kingdom of God is to be reflected in our every action and movement…
•      Whatever we do, may it become an act of proclaiming God’s abundant blessings!
•      Whatever work we take up, may it become a moment of preaching God’s amazing providence!

Such an act of Preaching and Proclamation makes it mandatory that one grows deeper in the “awareness and dependence” on Jesus in the life as a missionary of the Kingdom of God.

>>The act of proclamation needs the “awareness” that I am continuing the Great Mission work that has Jesus as the “Initiator”, the “Sustainer” and the “Finale”!

>> The act of preaching needs the “dependency” on the Lord to realise that the Lord alone can provide all the graces, strength and courage for the mission!

This is what was epitomized by St Francis, Xavier, whose feast we celebrate today.

>> This Patron of the Missions, was filled with a tremendous zeal for salvation of souls and contained in him a contagious enthusiasm of giving Christ to all.

One of his testimonial statement, while undertaking missionary activity in Japan, goes thus: “Sometimes I have lost my voice and strength altogether with repeating again and again the Credo and the other forms.”

May we give heed to the words of the Dynamic Missionary Saint…

>> “It is not the actual physical exertion that counts towards a one’s progress, nor the nature of the task, but by the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken”
>> “It is impossible to find a saint who did not take the “two P’s” seriously: prayer and penance”

…. and seek to grow deeper in our missionary commitment!

Yes, one needs to feel the “tug and the pull of the Divine Lord”…when one goes through
… hardships and difficulties in being a missionary of the Kingdom,  in hostile situations
… problems and challenges as we seek to live a true Christian life in the modern world
… meaninglessness or emptiness as we go through the ‘deserts’ and ‘darkness’ in life

And it is this experience of “the Divine tug of the string” that keeps the life of the believer moving forward and to depend on the Divine Presence for strength in life!

Happy Feast of St Francis Xavier!

God Bless! Live Jesus!